It must be sickening for those of you not in love but for we that are; Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to relish in schmaltz and romance.
Like the price of roses on the 14th, everything seems more costly than on any other occasion (with the exception, perhaps, of New Year’s Eve).
I’ve noted previously that the more one pays for something the more added value one receives. Take our Valentine’s Dinner at the Mount Nelson Hotel’s Cape Colony restaurant. Asking price was R375 for five courses, glass of bubbles, a rose (for the ladies) and a goodie bag with fragrance samples, chockies and a chance to win a diamond from Shimansky. Yes, with a bottle of wine and tip the evening cost about R1000 but when you consider the added value (great music by Mike Perry Jazz Trio) and a splendid room (possibly the most splendid in town), there’s value to be had.
Notable on the food menu were tea-smoked duck with mango carpaccio, watercress salad and foie gras mousse to start, the roasted beef fillet (first steamed with a crust of chicken and mushroom mousse) was outstanding and for dessert a divine chocolate fondant with oozing centre served with a soufflé-style berry-topped ice cream.
Cape Colony, The Mount Nelson Hotel, 021-483-1000.

Travelling with a partner stretches the fibres of romance to taut, near fraying lengths. Fastidious planning and punctilios attention to detail will help minimise travel-weary fallout but not as much as great luggage will, especially if you have to carry it across Europe yourself.
Samsonite’s Skywheeler Upright weighs in at 4kgs for the 67cm (and retails for R3795) compared with the American Tourister’s 5,2kgs for the 74cm in Blue (R2,695.00).
I preferred using the Tourister’s Four wheels that roll neatly at my side while walking.
Fully laden both cases are heavy to move unless on smooth surfaces like Florence’s train station. A lack of planning and attention to aforementioned detail meant we had to schlep for what felt like 30 minutes along Venice’s Grand Canal (and across almost as many bridges before reaching the Hotel Cipriani’s launch.)
The thud-thud of my case hitting the sharp edge of each stair sounded like canon fire. Despite the noise and my angry disposition, it did nothing to part the crowds nor, amazingly, to damage the cases.
My experience is they’re as near to invincible as they come and gorgeous to look at. The doorman at Four Season’s George V in Paris cheered when we saw our red and blue cases - “the colours of France”
www.samsonite.com

Kloppenheim Country Estate in Belfast in the Highlands Meander of Mpumalanga is a wonderfully romantic location.
Perched on top of a hill with dams and endless views across the Eastern Highlands, couples can canoodle in front of their suite’s fireplace when not taking walks or fly fishing.
There are many activities like archery and clay pigeon shooting but I most enjoyed the walk to the summit to see the game (owners continue to stock Kloppenheim with gnu, springbok, zebra and other wildlife. There is also a mountain-stone venue with 360 degree views, perfect for weddings or corporate getaways.
www.kloppenheim.co.za
013-256-9001.