TWO’S COMPANY

Planning the perfect couples’ trip is a fine art, crafted and perfected from years of hard work and with plenty of trial and error along the way – but at least you’ll get some good anecdotes out of the errors.

Although securing a destination suited to couples seems easy on the surface, remember you’re seeking out a place that ticks enough boxes to interest two people who likely have at least a few different preferences and holiday requirements – while also hitting a few ‘romantic’ notes.

Some couples will settle for nothing less than an array of top-notch restaurants to choose from each night, and perhaps great cocktail bars to follow, while others will be focused on an outdoorsy trip that offers a choice of exhilarating activities.

Sunshine will be non-negotiable in some cases, while galleries and museums will be more important to others. You might need to factor in travelling with children – because it is possible to combine a couples’ trip and family holiday to some degree – and that’s before you’ve even broached the question of whether to stay within the UK or venture abroad.

Essentially, there’s a lot to think about so we’ve whittled down the options and come up with four couples’ getaways. We’ve tried to take account of different interests and budgets by selecting two UK spots and two European destinations, one of which can be reached via easy train journeys, and one further afield if you’re looking for a real change of scenery.

BATH, SOMERSET

All couples will struggle not to fall in love with Bath, such are its romantic credentials. This is a city that housed Jane Austen – who knew a thing or two about romance – and as you wander storied streets, glancing around at buildings near-gleaming with Bath Stone (the honey-hued limestone that gives Bath’s architecture its distinctive, warm look), it’s easy to feel like you’re in one of her novels. The Jane Austen Centre reveals how the city inspired her work.

If that sounds a little too twee, fear not, as Bath has enough to fill a weekend – or week-long – break without encountering any hint of 19th-century romantic fiction. One essential is to stroll the Royal Crescent’s arc, a handsome stretch ofGeorgian houses and a defining image of the city. Or go further back in time and explore the city’s ancient Roman credentials at the Roman Baths archaeological complex, where people bathed and worshipped 2,000 years ago. Then take afternoon tea – Sally Lunn’s is the go-to, serving locally famous brioche- like Sally Lunn buns. But there’s also the Pump Room Restaurant, a classy spot attached to the Roman Baths, serving fancy afternoon teas.

FOWEY, CORNWALL

This historic harbour town on Cornwall’s south coast is effortlessly charming and full of impossibly attractive scenes that could persuade most people to move to Fowey without having set foot there first. All of which means it’s a prime destination for couples to lose themselves in for a few days.

Meandering the cobbled streets and stopping in at artsy shops and homely pubs – perhaps treating yourselves to a locally produced wine or beer – is undoubtedly appealing, but wait until you make your way to the waterfront of Fowey Estuary. Stretching for 11km, the estuary is an unspoilt marvel, showcasing Cornwall’s flora and fauna at its most diverse, as well as providing the perfect scenic setting for leisurely boat trips, hikes – long or short – or even watersports.

You also don’t need to go far for a great beach. Par Sands’ spacious sweep and Polkerris’s sheltered crescent are less than ten minutes by car and both great for families, while tucked-away Lansallos and Polridmouth Cove both offer tranquillity and wild scenery – a fictional version of Polridmouth is also featured in Daphne du Maurier’s timeless novel Rebecca, as the author lived in and loved Fowey.

BORDEAUX, FRANCE

The default option for a couples’ getaway in France will always be Paris, but something more peaceful and no less romantic is found in Bordeaux where you’ll be greeted by historic streets and elegant architecture in this handsome city. Enjoy an evening stroll over Pont de pierre, Bordeaux’s first stone bridge which is lit-up at night by classic-style French streetlamps. More fine illuminations sit within Place de la Bourse, a huge public square overlooked by grand buildings, including Palais de la Bourse (the city’s former stock exchange) and Miroir d’Eau, a vast ‘water mirror’.

You may also have heard whispers that Bordeaux produces a drop or two of its own wine – five million hectolitres, in fact. This will, of course, be a selling point for many couples, not least because Bordeaux really does present its wine tourism superbly. Dotting between many chateaux and vineyards is delightful – try Château de Malherbes, and a visit to Cité du Vin.

Finally, remember you can easily reach Bordeaux by train. Simply take the Eurostar to Paris and change on to a two-hour TGV/high-speed train to Bordeaux.

KOTOR, MONTENEGRO

Although the popularity of this gorgeous town on Montenegro’s southwestern coast has risen hugely in recent years, Kotor still feels, if not undiscovered then certainly still an invaluable find. This is especially true for couples, who’ll love getting lost among the winding streets of a wonderfully preserved medieval old town and gazing at soaring mountains and waterside scenes surrounding the Bay of Kotor.

If you’re looking for a more active couples’ trip then Kotor can deliver on that front, thanks to numerous hiking trails around the region and plenty of opportunities for swimming, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding in the Adriatic.

There’s plenty of romantic waterside dining to be enjoyed here, plus lovely bars for sipping Montenegrin wine, with lots of gems to be discovered in that field. But as enchanting as Kotor is, don’t ignore the idea of going further afield. Visiting nearby, picture-perfect Perast by boat makes a fantastic day trip.