17 October 2008

Spring edition of Holidays For Couples magazine

While tropical escapes and island holidays continue to dominate the couples' holiday landscape, recent Holidays For Couples reader research has unearthed the fact that many couples are now also wanting to experience new - and in some cases quite surprising Ã¢â¬' destinations.

Perhaps not so surprising is the Mississippi Delta, Costa Rica and Oman, all of which in some shape or form ooze the romantically exotic.

Not so romantically perceived - but equally capable of producing 'the goods' - New Zealand's capital city, Wellington and Northern Ireland's Belfast, both of which are proving strong performers when it comes to attracting the couples market.

Each of the five destinations and the many uniquely romantic opportunities each one provides those couples looking for something alternative have come under the spotlight in the spring edition of Holidays For Couples which comes out tomorrow - Tuesday 14 October.

Featured accommodation in the Mississippi Delta includes the Monmouth Plantation in Natchez, a two-storey Federal-style house built in 1818, Costa Rica's TabacÃƒ~³n Grand Spa Thermal Resort and two five-star resorts in Oman, the Chedi Muscat and Zighy Bay.

Belfast's stylish Merchant Hotel and Wellington's Bolton Hotel round out the Northern Ireland and New Zealand suggestions.

According to Holidays For Couples Editor-in-chief Rhonda Bannister, time-honoured couples venues, and particularly those in SE Asia and the Pacific islands, still rule the romantic roost.

"Our research indicated more than 70 per cent of couples listing these types of venues as their major preference," she said.

"But the couples market is definitely changing and new destinations to one side, we're also seeing a major shift in the number of couples looking to combine a 'soft adventure' or 'eco' travel experience with a luxury element."

Ã¢â¬ÅâœOur research also shows that the majority of couples these days are taking two holidays a year - one to relax and one to explore and experience."

"The Mississippi Delta. Costa Rica, Oman, Wellington and Northern Island are just a few of the ever-growing list of destinations featured in the current Spring edition of Holidays For Couples."

The new edition also shines the spotlight on Luang Prabang in Laos, Ã¢â¬ËœIndian Island GemsÃ¢â¬â¢ featuring Mauritius, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, European cottages, castles, farmhouses and hideaways, cruising Tahiti, trekking in Nepal, and locally, a cameo on Brisbane and driving the Victorian goldfields.

A Report by The Mole