Surprise your sweetheart with a Valentine’s weekend

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28/01/2001

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and Cupid’s arrows will be falling in Ghent too. If you would like to surprise your partner with an original weekend with plenty of romance, our city has it all. Here is a taste of the possibilities that are bound to start you daydreaming already…

Hotel promotion until end of February

Through the unique winter accommodation promotional campaign 'Gent, te veel voor één nacht' (Ghent, too much for just one night) by the Ghent Tourism Office, the Eastern-Flanders Tourism Office and the hotels of Ghent, until 28 February 2010, visitors who spend one night will receive a 50 per cent discount on the second night. So what are you waiting for, celebrate Valentine’s Day in the ultimate historic-romantic setting.

Interested? Surf to the special promotional site www.gentteveelvooreennacht.be , book an overnight stay at one of the 20 participating hotels and stay a second night for half-price. Extra advantage: book right away and if you buy a ticket for the hottest exhibition of the moment, you’ll get a second ticket for free. In January, this is 'Artel en het Tsjechisch Kubisme' (Artel and Czech Cubism) at the Design museum Gent, in February 'De Chinese verleiding' (the Chinese seduction) at the St Peters Abbey Arts Centre.

Valentine’s packages

In addition, many hotels in Ghent offer special Valentine’s packages. An overview of the most irresistible among them:

Villa Cento Passi (Krijgslaan) offers a three-course Valentine’s menu and romantic overnight stay with a breakfast buffet (105 euros p.p. not including city tax) - www.villacentopassi.com

At Hotel Harmony (Kraanlei) awaits a specially decorated room with rose petals, a welcome drink in the bar and a full breakfast buffet (deluxe double room 228 euros, exceptional double room 247 euros, junior double suite 285 euros, not including city tax) - www.hotel-harmony.be .

Express by Holiday Inn (Akkerhage, near UZ) offers dinner à la carte as well as a four-course buffet, and overnight stays at 99 euros per room per night, including breakfast. In addition, on Valentine’s Day, (Sunday 14 February 2010) between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., the hotel will be organising a luncheon with dancing featuring the Bobby Setter Band (65 euros p.p., including extensive menu and beverages). Reservations available through info@bobbysetter.be . You can reserve a room at the Holiday Inn, tel. 09 222 58 85 (mention St. Valentine’s Dinner).

The Valentine’s package at Hotel Astoria (Achilles Musschestraat) (from 97 euros p.p., not including occupancy tax) includes an overnight stay with breakfast, a three-course dinner at an excellent restaurant in the heart of Ghent, an information pack about the city and more. Booking available via www.astoria.be

At Hotel Cathedral (Sint-Jacobsnieuwstraat) you can enjoy a three-course menu and an overnight stay at the hotel with breakfast (139 euros p.p., must be booked before 10 February). Reservations: www.hotelcathedral.be

For the entire month of February, Hotel de Flandre (Poel) is offering a Valentine’s promotion entitled ‘Passion and erotica in Ghent’ (double room 69 euros p.p., extra night 59 euros p.p., breakfast in bed + 5 euros p.p., champagne-breakfast + 15 euros p.p.). This package includes an overnight stay with breakfast, a sensual surprise in the room, a map of Ghent and more.

At NH Gent Belfort (Hoogpoort) on Valentine’s Day (Sunday 14 February 2010) starting from 12 p.m., you can enjoy a generous brunch with a flute of Piper Heidsieck Brut or Rosé Sauvage upon arrival, followed by soup and an appetizer buffet, two hot dishes (meat & fish), a dessert buffet with chocolate fountain and an extensive cheese board. Selected wines and mineral water are complementary throughout the meal including coffee. Price: 45 euros p.p. all-in (food, beverages and parking), 50% discount for children under 12. Reservations: 09 233 33 31.

For those who prefer somewhat smaller scale accommodation, a romantic B&B is just the thing. The options are listed on www.bedandbreakfast-gent.be

Romantic spots

Ghent is just full of romantic spots for a tête-à-tête with your sweetheart. A few examples:

• Appelbrugparkje (across from the Design Museum Gent), with a view of the Old Fish Market and the Great Butchers’ Hall
• Rodetorenkaai, with a view of the Portus Ganda marina
• Graslei and Korenlei
• Muinkparkje, with a view of the St Peters Abbey Arts Centre
• Patershol: the oldest district in Ghent is a charming place to stroll, and offers a wide selection of romantic restaurants (Valentijn, De 3 Biggetjes, Bij den Wijzen en den Zot, Karel de Stoute, Klaverblad, De Blauwe Zalm…). To top it all off, you can savour a drink by candlelight at café Rococo.
• Other romantic restaurants include Allegro Moderato, The House of Eliott, Korenhuis, Korenlei Twee, Domestica, C-Jean, Belga Queen, Café Théâtre, Pakhuis… and the trendy champagne bar Chez De Beir is the ideal address for a before-dinner drink.

Other romantic tips

Gifts for him or her can be found in the many shops in the lively pedestrian shopping streets (open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). On Sunday 14 February, you can also enjoy browsing at the various markets (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.):

• Flea market at Sint-Jacobs
• Bird market at Vrijdagmarkt
• Small pets and farm animals at the Oude Beestenmarkt
• Second-hand book market at Ajuinlei
• Flower market at de Kouter. Here you can enjoy the sea of flowers and a delicious glass of champagne with oysters at the Blauwe Kiosk.

If you have something more cultural in mind, try the exhibition ‘De Chinese Verleiding’ (the Chinese Seduction) at the St Peters Abbey. And afterwards, why not head to the sauna Aqua Azul (www.aqua-azul.be ) or bathhouse Raj (www.raj.be ) to set the right mood …

We wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day in Ghent!