Sydney hotel offers a range of Valentine's Day experiences - and a view

Whether you just want a drink, a stylish treat, or an overnight stay to mark Valentine's Day, Sydney's five-star InterContinental Hotel probably has something to suit. 

Available year round - including limited availability over Valentine's Day - for those planning something special guests are invited to upgrade their stay with a Signature Suite Experience. 

Think a suite with  sweeping Sydney harbour views along with a bottle of Champagne, petit fours, breakfast for two, an Aster Rooftop bar experience and a late checkout. 

Or check out the Valentine’s Day experience in the historic Treasury sector of the hotel.. 

This experience includes half-dozen freshly shucked oysters and two glasses of Champagne for 
$80 per person. 

The Aster rooftop bar, meanwhile, offers panoramic harbour views with a half dozen oysters and two glasses of Champagne for $99 per person, or a Premium Experience featuring a 10g tin of caviar with brioche and a half a bottle of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs for $169 per person. 

For details see https://www.sydney.intercontinental.com/promotion/valentines-day-intercontinental-sydney/

Sofitel adds some festive romance to your hotel stay

Soiftel hotels want to add a little fragrance and romance to your stay.

This festive season, Sofitel is offering special packages that combine sound, light, and scent "to create a moment of true connection".

The Candle Experience is described as an immersive in-room ritual "that transforms guest rooms and suites into a shimmering sanctuary of candlelight, scent and sound".

Designed for those seeking calm during the holiday rush, the experience aims to blend "Parisian romance with modern luxury, inviting guests to pause, reconnect and savour an intimate escape".

The Candle Experience begins flickering light as hundreds of LED candles bathe your hotel room in a soft glow.

The air is perfumed with the Signature Sofitel fragrance, a blend of bergamot, white rose and sandalwood, while a curated Devialet soundscape envelops guests in high-fidelity calm.

With a bottle of Pommery Champagne chilled and waiting, and specially crafted festive treats, your suite "becomes a private stage for an unforgettable shared moment".

“The Candle Experience is Sofitel's invitation to experience luxury as a sanctuary - a moment of peace and presence,” says Nicolas Gronier, a global brand experience leader.

Every Candle Experience includes a room filled with candles, the signature Sofitel Scent and a bottle of Pommery Champagne, with a high-tech Devialat speaker in-room offering a soundscape. 

Each participating Sofitel then adds its own touch. The experience is ultra-exclusive, with only one Candle Experience Suite available per hotel per night, so guests are encouraged to book early.

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour offers the Candle Experience, along with chocolate-coated strawberries for $250 on top of your room rate.

At Sofitel Sydney Wentworth the experience is $199 and includes the Candle Experience, a box of Christmas-themed chocolates and a Sofitel Candle to take home.

Sofitel Queenstown also offers the Candle Experience for $250 NZD on top of the room rate.

Kirkton Park aims to bring some romance to the Hunter

The Hunter Valley is renowned for its fine food and wine but voco by IHG Kirkton Park wants to add some romance to the mix. 

Set on a 70-acre estate with rolling lawns and mountain views, the hotel has unveiled Beneath the Roses, a collection of romantic experiences created for couples who want to "reconnect in nature, surrounded by beauty and calm".

The hero experience is a private floral dining dome in the rose garden. 

Guests can start with a slow wander through the gardens, then settle in for high tea or a three-course dinner created by the Locavore Restaurant team, where estate-to-plate flavours take the lead.

They can make a night of it with the Dine Amongst the Roses package which sees couples enjoy country accommodation and breakfast for two, along with a rose-inspired treat set that includes a locally made Hunter Valley soap, a bottle of First Creek Cuvée and a macaron and strawberry tasting plate scattered with rose petals. 

Summer is peak time in the garden with the estate promoted as being ideal for "slow walks and long conversations". Presumably not about rugby league. 

Just a short drive away, Hunter Valley Gardens offers another floral experience, with its Rose Garden and seasonal displays. 

Overnight packages start from $495 per night and including accommodation for two, and breakfast for two at Locavore Restaurant, along with a choice of high tea or romantic three-course dinner in the floral dome, and treat sets. 

  

See https://huntervalley.vocohotels.com/

Which Asian destinations fit the bill for romance on Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is one of the most romantic dates on the calendar, so which destinations are searched for and booked in the lead-up to a big day for lovers?

Digital travel platform Agoda has unveiled the top 10 most searched international destinations for Valentine's Day and Asia's eclectic cities seem to be getting the most love from travellers this Valentine's Day with eight out of the top 10 Asian destinations being a cosmopolitan hub.

Bangkok (above) wins most hearts, with Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, and Hong Kong making up the rest of the top five.

Bali and Phuket are the only two beach destinations feeling the love and making it to the top 10. 

The list reveals a significant trending interest in Japan and Thailand, with three Japanese cities - Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka - making the top 10, and two Thai destinations - Bangkok and Phuket - also in the mix.

"Valentine's Day is a special time for couples to explore and create new memories together," says Andrew Smith, senior vice president, supply (really silly job title), at Agoda.

"The diversity in this year's top searched destinations highlights the broad spectrum of experiences couples are seeking, from the bustling streets of Tokyo and Bangkok to the rejuvenating beauty of Bali and Phuket.

"At Agoda, we're excited to help lovebirds see the world for less by facilitating memorable romantic journeys with our extensive range of accommodations and travel options."

The inclusion of cities like Seoul, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur certainly reflects interest in exploring dynamic urban environments, while the presence of Bali underscores the enduring appeal of tropical getaways.

This trend suggests that quality time can come in many forms, with couples looking for a mix of adventure, culture, relaxation, and culinary delights.

Top 10 searched international destinations for couples checking in on Valentine's Day 2024: 1. Bangkok, 2. Tokyo, 3. Osaka, 4. Seoul, 5. Hong Kong, 6. Bali, 7. Phuket, 8. Singapore, 9. Fukuoka, 10. Kuala Lumpur.

The way to destroy Valentine's Day romance

 

It's Valentine's Day and you ae ready to pop the question. 

You've enjoyed a romantic three-course restaurant dinner and a couple of glasses of wine. The mood is right. 

You lock eyes with your loved one and are suddenly aware that your server is hovering. 

"Excuse me guys, but you've exceeded your two-hour time slot. You'll have to leave now."

Limited-time slots in eateries are the new normal, but to insist on them on a night when romance is in the air just doesn't seem right. 

Particularly when loving couples are already being charged inflated prices for "special menus" just because the date in February 14. 

But that doesn't worry the Hyatt Regency Sydney: which sent out a press release saying the hotel has "lot's to love this Valentine's Day".

Not only do they not know how to use an apostrophe, they apparently don't like romance much either.

Here is one of their offerings: a Valentine's Day Seafood Dinner at Sailmaker Restaurant:

"Treat your date to Sydney's most indulgent and sustainable seafood experience at Hyatt Regency Sydney's Sailmaker Restaurant, with an unforgettable evening of wining and dining.

"Enjoy a glass on [I think they mean of] premium sparkling on arrival, then tantalise your tastebuds with an elevated three-course seafood dinner featuring seasonal produce from local suppliers that is fresh, flavourful and sustainable. To finish your evening, a sweets trolley will see Valentines-inspired desserts prepared and served tableside.

"Wednesday 14 February from 6pm-9:30pm (2 hour sitting). $99 per person."

We've got your $200+. Get out. We need your table.