Words by Jenny Williams

A romantic getaway can do wonders for a relationship. Whether it’s for a honeymoon, an anniversary or just because, taking your partner on a romantic trip to Europe is always a good idea. Europe is full of romantic destinations for you and your partner to explore. Here’s a list of the best places to be in love and fall in love in Europe.

Santorini, Greece

(Image by Raphael Lopes)
Considered by many to be the most romantic place in Greece, Santorini is an amazing destination to visit with your partner. Its stunning water views and breathtaking sunsets create an ideal atmosphere for lovers. It’s one of the most sought after locations for weddings and honeymoons for a reason. Picture you and your partner sipping a glass of wine while watching the sunset over the Aegean Sea. It can’t get any more romantic than that.

Venice, Italy

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Imagine you and your partner absorbing the magic and history of the canals and architecture while on a romantic gondola ride. Afterwards, you can explore Venice’s incredible gardens, enjoy a scoop of gelato, and exchange sweet nothings with your partner. The floating city’s beauty and history-rich buildings make it one of the most romantic places to visit with your better half.

Paris, France

Known as one of the most romantic cities in the world, couples flock to Paris with good reason. Couples can explore the timeless art in the museums together, take romantic and scenic strolls along the Seine, or eat dinner by candlelight at one of the many first-class restaurants that Paris has to offer. With its stunning architecture, incredible restaurants, and impressive museums, you and your partner will never run out of things to do during your romantic getaway in Paris.

“Paris is known as the city of love for a reason,” explains Karen Tran, a travel blogger at Gumessays and Lastminutewriting. “Love is always in the air in Paris. It’s in the food, the art, the architecture. The city’s entire atmosphere is romantic.”

Florence, Italy

Full of the history and art, Florence is one of the most charming destinations in Europe.

“Florence is the perfect city to immerse yourself into the passions of the Renaissance, its history, culture, architecture, and art,” according to Thomas Crawford, a writer at Researchpapersuk and Lucky Assignments. “You and your partner can fall in love all over again while appreciating the beautiful works of Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo.”

Vienna, Austria

The grand palaces, museums, and gardens of Vienna provide the picture-perfect setting for a romantic getaway with your partner. Couples can take romantic walks through palace gardens while being serenaded with classical music or take a sightseeing tour on a horse-drawn carriage. The beauty and splendour of Vienna promises you and your partner a romantic vacation straight out of a fairytale.

Rome, Italy

As one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the world, Rome remains one of the most romantic destinations for a couples. There are plenty of things for lovers to do such as renting a vespa together, eating gelato while strolling through the historic streets, and making a wish for eternal love at the Trevi Fountain. Rome’s delicious food and historic sites makes for a memorable and romantic getaway with your partner.

Bruges, Belgium

If you and your partner love old medieval towns, Bruges is an amazing romantic destination. Similar to Vienna, couples will feel like they’re in fairytale while exploring this lovely city. You can take your partner on a romantic carriage ride, feed swans in the lake, or eat delicious Belgian chocolates together. If you are planning a romantic trip to Bruges, consider going in December to catch their amazing Christmas market.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is another historic European city renowned for its beauty and romance. There are plenty of things to do for couples such as watching a performance at the opera house, taking a romantic cruise down the Vltava River, and exploring the castle.

These cities are some of the most romantic places to visit with your partner in Europe. They are ideal destinations for a romantic couples getaway, but ultimately, romance should follow you and your partner everywhere you go.

Introducing the new Crep Protect Sneaker Bag, the only way to keep sneakers protected on the move. The newest addition to the premium sneaker care brands’ range makes transporting your sneakers easy and convenient, whilst delivering the highest level of care and protection to your kicks on the go.

Extending its range of sneaker protection and care products with the new Sneaker Bag, Crep Protect stay ahead of the game with a premium duffle-style bag delivering durability, shoe care and elite style. The Crep Protect Sneaker Bag doesn’t fall short on space, with the ability to accommodate up to four pairs of sneakers. Five fully adjustable velcro dividers allow for the bag to be tailored to user’s needs, from a quick weekend getaway, hand luggage essentials, or gym kit.

With a host of unique features and over 25 ways to tailor your bag use, the new Crep Protect Sneaker Bag is fast becoming a favourite of many sneakerheads, including UK rapper and record breaking artist Tione Wayne. The artist features in Crep Protects newest YouTube series ‘Secure The Bag’ showcasing what the number one artist always keeps with him in his Sneaker Bag.

We’re heading into autumn and it’s not quite as warm as we would like it to be. It’s always handy to have an extra layer around for when the sun goes in. Recent figures shows that searches for men’s sweatshirts have increased by 18.72% in the last month compared to the same period last year. Castore sportswear could have exactly what you’re looking for with a great selection of super soft and comfy tracksuits and sweatshirts perfect for training or relaxing! 

Castore’s Technical Lifestyle range takes elements of their performance wear and applies to everyday clothing. Every piece is crafted with comfort in mind and are both lightweight and breathable perfect for the warmer months. Made in Castore’s signature colour palette of black, white, grey and navy any item would fit seamlessly into any wardrobe.

With its slogan “Better Never Stops”, Castore was founded by sporting brothers Tom and Phil Beahon in 2015. Tom, 30, played football for Tranmere Rovers and Jerez in Spain and Phil, 27, played semi-professional cricket. 

The brand’s mission is to build the lightest, most durable, highest performing sportswear in the market and to achieve this they test products the hard way. All garments have been tested by elite athletes to ensure they excel at the highest level, worn for 100 consecutive days before being approved for full production.

They hold partnerships with Sir Andy Murray, McLaren, the West Indies team, and most recently, Rangers Football Club, is launching its Technical Lifestyle range. 

GREY APEX SWEATSHIRT 

This sweatshirt is stylish and simple. It is made using ultra-soft fleece which is unique and has a caron finish for a luxurious feel and touch. It is a relaxed fit so can be thrown over t-shirts as it begins to get cooler, perfect for everyday wear!  

BLUE APEX HOODY 

This hoodie is perfect for throwing on for journeys to and from the gym but can also be paired with jeans for a night with your mates. It’s made from super soft fleece and has a relaxed fit as well as adding a splash of colour to your wardrobe.  

NAVY APEX SWEATPANTS 

These sweatpants are perfect as the evenings get a bit cooler. You can throw them on after showering or getting in from the office, relaxation begins now! They have a relaxed fit and are super soft.  

BLACK AMC CORE MEN’S TRAINING HOODY 

This hoodie is made from a cotton blend that is soft, lightweight and breathable. It’s perfect for chilly morning starts or using for workout warmups. It is warm and offers insulation when you need it as well as easy to layer and relax in. 

MINT PRO TEK 1/4 ZIP 

This ¼ zip is perfect for your workouts as a light pre-and-post training layer. It is lightweight and super stretchy as well as quick-drying and comfortable. It’s great for warming up or cooling down or even wearing with jeans to the pub.  

NAVY VOLTERRA RUNNING JACKET 

This running jacket is a great addition to your wardrobe, especially as we head in autumn. It has mesh side and back vents for increased airflow as well as being made from lightweight fabric. It is water-resistant and has an adjustable hood to keep you dry.  

Charlotte Rhys maybe not be a name you are familiar with, just yet, but they are South Africa’s leading luxury bath, body and lifestyle brand and is rapidly establishing within the international market.

Founded in 1999 by partners Janet Rhys and Shaun McDermott, Charlotte Rhys is a premium lifestyle brand known for its offering in luxury fragrance, home, bath and body products. The brand takes pride in growing internationally as a collection with sustainability at its core. From its home in South Africa, the brand develops luxury products with a conscience. 100% endorsed by Beauty without Cruelty and The Vegan Society, the company is committed to creating products that are ‘Kind to you and Kind to Nature’.

For years, Charlotte Rhys’ fragrances have adorned elite retreats and luxury hotels across South Africa. And now, the range is available to fill UK homes with unique aromas which can be enjoyed as a single scent or layered to help elevate your wellbeing, making your home look and continuously smell divine. All the whilst products are vegan friendly, cruelty free and created with sustainable practices such as biodegradable packaging.

Hero product within the Mens range include Eau de Portugal – Charlotte Rhys’ Eau de Portugal is a fantastic find for those that love their strong, masculine fragrances.

Or the De-Stress Aftershave Balm – This multi-active balm is ideal for soothing, moisturising and toning post-shave skin. Whilst minimising irritation, it will also leave behind a rich scent of your choice, transforming the shaving routine into an uplifting experience.

The past year has redefined the meaning of ‘busy doing nothing’. Between lockdowns, cancelled holidays, and exercise limitations, people have flocked to social media to divert their attention away from the adversity that the pandemic has brought. As the good weather comes into fruition, and the UK slowly eases out of coronavirus restrictions, the future is looking brighter. Now, we should take the opportunity to reinvigorate our lives and prepare for the no restriction life ahead. How can we enjoy this time? It starts by putting down your mobile phone and watching the benefits flow in.

If you’re dragging yourself through hours of TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram every day, find out why you need to stop social media and re-join the real world.

The damage of social media

The effects of social media on our mental health is known. Our favourite apps are often fuel for anxiety, depression, and isolation. This is because the feeling of getting a notification or like can release dopamine to the brain. This drug creates a happy feeling, similar to food, drugs, or gambling. While in the short term this happy feeling may be considered positive, over the long term the need to get this dopamine fix increases. We become addicted to social media, desiring the next like or retweet. Over time, it becomes difficult to get the same satisfaction from anything else other than our phones.

The same satisfaction can be created through alternative and healthier methods, such as education, exercise, and social interactions. Although some of these aspects are limited by the current social restrictions, there are some positive virtual alternatives to social interaction. Plus, we can plan activities for when life returns to normal.

Using our time for something better

Did you know that the average Brit spends 110 minutes on social media every day? This means that every year, we spend nearly a month dedicated to our online lives. Ask yourself if you want to dedicate a full month to scrolling through Facebook. At the same time, there are a variety of better activities you could be doing.

International holidays are difficult at the moment, but we can use this time to plan a real adrenaline adventure when life returns to normal. For example, you could become a ski instructor over a four-week course. Education, exercise, and adventure are key to recreating the dopamine feeling that social media demands. With the added benefit of adrenaline, this is certainly a more productive use of your time than sitting on your phone. Even more, this is an opportunity to get away when we can travel more freely.

You can prepare yourself for this adventure by beginning an exercise regime. Some gyms do have limitations on the number of visitors but there are so many ways to exercise at home, alternatives such as yoga and running are vital for your mental health and will make giving up social media easier. Exercise releases endorphins which relieve pain and reduce anxiety. They also create a happy feeling similar to morphine, making sure that your start to summer 2021 is as positive as possible. The long-term benefits of exercise are more than that of social media.

Staying in touch

Social media cannot replace real social interactions. Currently, we can only meet up to six people or two households in an indoor setting. This isn’t ideal for the biggest social butterflies, but there are still better ways to stay in touch with the real world than a message on Facebook. Video calls with friends, although virtual, are the best alternative to seeing your friends you can’t see in person. The beauty of video calls is that it allows you to see a face, interact with your friends, and practice real verbal communication while protecting yourself, your friends, and everyone’s families. Even better: there’s no limit on group sizes.

There are also opportunities to volunteer, which can help take time away from social media antics. The Office for National Statistics has measured that Brits spend on average one hour and seven minutes a day completing unpaid work such as care or volunteering. There are opportunities across the country to help those in need, particularly during the pandemic. Shopping for elderly neighbours is one simple way to help out and makes a real difference in the world, something which is more difficult to do on social media.

While 2021 hasn’t been all too exciting, we can plan for a productive future ahead. This starts by ditching social media to help your mental and physical health, your social life, and your community. Whether you want to take on an adventurous course or volunteer for a noble cause, this summer is the best time to dedicate yourself to becoming a better version of yourself.