Srinagar Magazine

DUBLIN – March 9, 2020 – Smartbox Group, Providers of gift experiences across Europe, announced today that customers in France are opting away from romantic weekends in Paris for something a little different when surprising a partner.

New data from the Smartbox Group suggests that customers purchasing Smartbox romantic weekends prefer to get away from the city and opt for a rendezvous in the French countryside. While the French capital has in previous years been the go-to destination for couples in search of a little romance for a day for two, this new trend may point to a growing need for the opportunity to disconnect for a few days.

The lead up to Valentine’s Day 2020 saw Bretagne, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine as the top regions for a couple’s break or hotel spa experience, with Île-de-France (where Paris is located) not making the Top 5 for the first time ever.

While other regions are now showcasing what they have to offer, especially when it comes to hotel experiences in the country, the capital is still leading the way when it comes to patented food & drink experiences, as well as city spa breaks and days out for two.

Such a shift seen many couples opt for staycation style weekends, where destinations only a few hours drive away, were preferable to having a city hotel break. Many couples also went for one & two night stays rather than experiences that would usually be done within a day, highlighting the growing trend of having staycations that provide a fuller experience.

The shift also seen more experiences ordered in the “Week-end en Amoureux et Séjour Romantique” category than ever before, with Smartbox seeing their boxes bought in the lead up to key dates in the calendar as customers were looking for more non-traditional Valentine’s gifts.

With Mother’s Day and Easter in the calendar soon, Smartbox expects customers from the UK (where the company operates under the BuyaGift name) and France to take advantage of these romantic experiences closer to home, rather than booking last-minute getaways.

About Smartbox

Smartbox, the European No1 in experience gifts, offers over 180 000 unique experiences, selected by the company to create unforgettable memories. The company offers experiences in 12 European countries, with a focus on giving customers a more natural process of finding and trying out new experiences that usually aren’t always available on an easy access basis to the public.