Crazy little things for love

It's that time of year again. Despite your best attempts to convince your other half that true love is an all-year phenomenon and not something to be forced into a commercial event, it's time to get real and get organised. Your views on the shallowness and futility of Valentine's Day are irrelevant now it's nearly here, so what are you going to do about it? Here Simon Hertson suggests 10 ways to say those three words, some traditional, others a little less predictable...

Say it with...

1. Quality bubbles
What says, "I love you" and "how about a romantic night in?" better than a bottle of bubbly? Try to forget that supermarkets are shifting reasonable Blanc de Noir for under a tenner. This is a time for making an impression not a saving. For a stab at sophistication why not indulge with some real quality? Try Bollinger's La Grande Année 1999, the latest prestige cuvée from the house favoured by the Ab Fab girls. At £60 a pop it's not cheap, but that's the point.

2. A bespoke engagement break
Sometimes it's better to get out for a romantic break. Even more so if you're thinking of popping the big question to someone special-and that's not "shall we go halves on the meal?"—The Landmark Hotel in London is the place to go. The hotel has launched a bespoke engagement package, which includes a personal appointment with top jewellery firm Hirsh. With all usual champagne and roses you'd expect, this might be the way to make asking that difficult question a little easier. If next week is a little early in your relationship, the package is on offer all through 2007, so there's no rush. The package starts from £560. www.landmarklondon.co.uk

3. A singsong
Do you like to belt out your favourite tune in the shower? Were you mesmerised by the video for Rennée and Renato's 1982 number one hit Save Your Love? In the very unlikely event that the answer to both these questions is yes, then head down to Lucky Voice next week, book a private karaoke room and serenade away. It might be the longest hour of your life, but it might just be a laugh. Go on, you know you want to. www.luckyvoice.co.uk

4. A curry
Forget the cop out, "let's just go to the local curry house and keep it low key". If Indian food is on the menu, then why not make a night of it at one of the recent crop of swanky Indian Restaurants? Mint Leaf is offering to help you "wine and dine your loved one". Not the most original sales approach, but alongside the usual line up of great cocktails they're offering top-notch nosh in the form of a five-course degustation (tasting) menu with champagne. www.mintleaf.co.uk

5. A website
The cynics say that nothing lasts forever—although they clearly haven't ever sat through a whole Dido album. But some things last longer than others. The fleeting perfume of freshly cut grass on a summer's morning barely makes it to lunchtime, and is tricky to package as a gift. Chocolates evaporate just as fast. Flowers fade and start to smell all too quickly, unless you cheat and buy artificial ones. So what better way than to leave a lasting impression than online? No, stick with me. Niche firm Valentine Websites will create a page in honour of your loved one and then send them an email or text on the day to prompt them to view it. www.valentinewebsites.co.uk 

6. A decent bottle of wine
For some, the appeal of champagne remains a bit of a mystery. The same money that buys you an average bottle of bubbly will get you a corking bottle of flat wine. So why not eschew the traditional bubbles in favour of a gorgeous, melt-in-the-mouth Montrachet or a deep, sensuous Italian stallion such as a quality Barolo.

7. Chocolates
Yes they make you fat if you eat too many and don't take any exercise, but then so do chips and they're not half as romantic. Plus, if you opt for the right quality and keep it in moderation, they can even be good for you. And who doesn't love a decent, sensuous chocolate? Click here to see our round up of this year's best offers.

8. A trip to Paris
Of course it's a cliché. But this is Valentines Day, and once you've done the champagne, roses and chocolates (remember, no strawberries at this time of year—you've got food miles to think about) why not go the whole hog? There's no end of great places to stay and limitless places to eat. So do it your way.

9. A romantic trip to remember
A weekend in Paris can be memorable—a trip to the Hotel Cotton House in Mustique, St Vincent in the West Indies will never be forgotten. It offers a special honeymoon package, but that might be taking things too far. It may be a bit much to get it organised by next week, so get your holiday planner on to it and get a brochure to give over dinner. You might even be forgiven for those bedraggled roadside roses you offered last year. www.cottonhouse.net

10. A magazine
It may not be top of the average romantic's list, but the latest issue of the always engaging Arty magazine is an exception. With contributions from a host of leading artists and any number of new ideas about the nature of love and romance, it's bound to get your other half thinking. www.artymagazine.com