Extravagant V-day gifts
2013-02-07 16:04
So, you've found the love of your life: the one, your soul mate, your other half, the yin for your yang. Whatever you choose to call them, the point is you finally found them and you won't stop at anything to celebrate your love. Well, here are a few over-the-top Valentine's Day gift options for every sort of romantic soul.
Traditional: Whisk them away to Paris for a night
There's no denying that the French capital oozes a special sort of magic that has made it world famous as the city of light and love. If you're the traditional sort, I bet you see it as the ultimate romantic getaway. So, here's the plan: you surprise your love with return airplane tickets, whisk them away for one night only, which you will spend (part of at least) at the ever so dreamy Hotel Lancaster.
Budget: Counting only flights, accommodation and visa costs, you can expect to pay at least R40 000 for your quicky. A pretty penny or, more accurately, beaucoup d'argent if you ask us!
Movie mad: Declare your love on a giant screen in Times Square, New York
(Rovenko Photo / Shutterstock.com)
If you are or your soul mate is a fan of Hollywood rom-coms, you're bound to have a slight obsession with the Big Apple. In that case, it's safe to say that there really is no better way to declare your undying love than writing it in big, bright lights on a gigantic screen above Time Square.
Budget: Well, let's just say, it will save you a whole lot of money to just sit through yet another screening of The Notebook in your girlfriend's tiny flat.
Adventurous: A romantic scavenger hunt... around the world
So, your other half is the type who likes things to be as spontaneous and spur-of-the-moment as possible? This is guaranteed to grab their imagination, capture their hearts and get their adrenaline pumping. Imagine a large-scale amazing race right around the world with a stop or two on each continent where they will collect instructions, a romantic memento, a check, and a ticket to another location. Of course it will conclude in their dream destination with you waiting there like a knight in shining armour... or something.
Budget: Your life savings, inheritance, future kids' education fees and then some.
Dreamer: Buy them an island
Ever dreamed about having a special, tropical place where just the two of you can escape from all the madness? Somewhere to hang a hammock between two trees, have a jetty to park your raft and a little Robinson Crusoe type dwelling. Well, the good news is there's an entire website dedicated to the selling of islands from right across the globe.
Budget: This depends greatly on whether you're looking for a developed or non-developed island and which part of the world it's located in. If you want something close to home to save on transportation, we suggest checking out the East African coastline - for instance, this 3,34ha little gem just off the Kenyan coast near Funzi. It's non-developed and goes for R2,5m, which is cheaper than a city-centre flat!
Fairy Tale: Invest in a castle
(Le Nail)
Remember that scene in Beauty and the Beast when the beast gives Belle an entire library. Well, we were thinking of going with that, but then, seeing we're really going all out with these gifts, we thought, why not just an entire castle? What better way to make your loved one feel like a princess or a king?
Budget: We really love the look of this castle-style chateau in Poitiers, France up for sale by Le Nail International Real Estate for only €4,75m (R57m). It's located on a 32ha piece of land is 800m² big with 21 rooms, of which 13 are bedrooms. The gardens contain a greenhouse, swimming pool, tennis court and orangery. There are also a variety of outbuildings, including horse stables, barns, an authentic laundry and cellars, but you will probably never have to enter them yourself.
Futuristic: Book a romantic trip to outer space
So, they may have to wait a couple of years for this gift to be realised, but you can put down a refundable deposit for a trip on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic so long!
Budget: The starting price for tickets is $200 000 (R1,7m), with refundable deposits starting at $20 000 (R170 000). With our very own Virgin Galactic sales agent located in Joburg, you need not even worry about international call costs!
