Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day has conditioned us to buy gifts. Yet, according to a recent KAYAK survey, most people would rather travel with their sig-O than exchange gifts for Valentine's Day. We put together a few getaways with that in mind, plus some outside-the-chocolate-box gifts they'll enjoy, use, and remember long after February.
Escape on a super romantic tropical getaway.
Baros Maldives
Double down on love in the World's Most Romantic Resort (as voted by the World Travel Awards, seven years in a row) in one of the most romantic places in the world. Baros, located on a private island in the Maldives, has over-the-water and garden villas and can't-miss sunsets. Relax on a sun lounger by day and in the evening, indulge in a private dinner on a sandbank or on the Piano Deck built directly over a turquoise lagoon.
Nosh on some heart-shaped waffles together.
Add a little extra TLC to breakfast with this Dash mini-waffle maker ($15), which will let you and your loved one dine on made-to-order heart-shaped treats.
Celebrate the art of napping.
If your partner is a champion sleeper, make them feel appreciated for their talent with this Calhoun & Co. Woven Throw Blanket ($108) that will perfect for their next nap.
Give your dumpling a little dumpling.
Brighten up the day (and kitchen) of your favorite foodie with this adorable little Smoko dumpling light ($16).
Taste test your wine collection.
Taste a few different wines without worrying about open bottles going to waste. The Coravin Model Two Premium Wine Preservation System ($284) allows you to pour wine without removing the cork, so you can enjoy just a glass or two and preserve the rest of the bottle until you're ready to drink the rest.
Find adventure in the rainforest.
Kura Hotel
Luxury meets sustainability at Kura, an adults-only hotel located high in Costa Rica's Uvita rainforest. Go whale-watching, horseback ride past waterfalls, surf the country's renown waves, or simply embrace Pura Vida at one of the resorts eight private suites that all have "tropical minimalist" style.
Indulge in an at-home massage.
Let your significant other enjoy the benefits of deep tissue treatment, whenever and wherever they want. The Theragun G3 ($399) is a handheld percussive therapy massage device that can help work out tight and sore muscles within minutes.
Practice more gratitude.
Practice a little more thankfulness in your relationship and life with the gthx app ($70/yearly subscription), which helps people learn and express gratitude toward others. There are guides, journals, and stickers to help you appreciate both the things and people in your day to day.
Catch better zzz's.
Give your partner the gift of a good night's sleep with a ZonLi Weighted Blanket ($75) that comes in various sizes and weights. They'll wake up on the right side of the bed, which is a win-win for both of you.
Spend a weekend skiing and après-skiing.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Hit the slopes for the day and then recover at a slope-side spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, a ski in-ski out hotel on Northstar. The guest rooms have mountain views and fireplaces, and the bar is the ideal place for an après cocktail. For a true splurge (and a hefty $45,000 price tag), The Ritz-Carlton is offering a Valentine's Day "Winter Wonderland" package in February that includes private roundtrip flights from select locations, couples massages, a private chocolate-making class, a moonlight snowshoe tour, and more.
Drink cocktails like a Hollywood icon.
Sip on a blended whiskey named after a Hollywood legend. But there's more than just a famous name, Bogart's Whiskey ($35) has also won numerous awards. Each bottle also features one of his quotes about drinking like "I defend my American right to take a drink when I feel like it."
Spice up your dinner plans.
Spice up date night, literally, with a Make your own Hot Sauce Kit ($35) that includes cayenne, ancho, curry, and chili spice packs. You'll be able to create six different bottles that will add an extra kick to your meals together.
Lounge around in the matching PJs.
Make a night or weekend even cozier by lounging in matching MeUndies Onesies ($72) with your "significant otter."
Relieve stress with a little acupressure.
After a long day, help relieve tight or tense muscles with a ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set ($20) in the comfort of your home. This mat has almost 8,000 acupressure points to help stimulate blood flow and relieve stress.
Binge your favorite TV shows together.
Stream your favorite shows in 4K wherever you go. The Fire TV Stick 4K ($50) is also Alexa-enabled, so you can resume your TV binge session with minimal effort.
Surround yourself with avocado toast.
Sit down and eat your favorite avocado toast recipe together and share this Squishable Avocado Toast ($20) plush pillow with your little or big love.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
More From Lifestyle
Fall is right around the corner, and we're getting amped up for our next session of Selfmade, Brit + Co's 10-week interactive startup school. Designed to help you create a new business or grow your existing one, this course is personally led by Brit + Co founder Brit Morin and co-founder Anjelika Temple, and supported by more than a dozen of the top female entrepreneurs, creatives, and investors in the country. Students receive personalized coaching on everything from how to get out of your comfort zone to how to scale your business, and everything in between. And now, thanks to Office Depot, even more of you can join the course!
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To nominate yourself or someone you know for a scholarship, head to our nomination form right here. The deadline for scholarship nominations is September 27th — it's time to take the leap!
Beyond the scholarship, Office Depot is all about helping you accomplish more. Whether it be the start phase, growth phase or keep businesses going phase, Office Depot offers a full suite of business solutions, including services and products, to help you work from anywhere, organize and save time and help build your brand.
So what are you waiting for? Take a chance on yourself and get yourself one step closer to truly being selfmade. Learn more about the Selfmade program, apply for a scholarship and prepare to be inspired :)