Beautiful and I’m no great fan of Paris

Beautiful (and I’m no great fan of Paris).” Where: Place du Palais Royal, Paris 750001, France (nearest Metro: Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre). How much: free.38INN ON THE GREEN, BERKSHIRE”This `restaurant with rooms’ is perfect for an overnight trip from anywhere in the south-east,” says Tracey, “and has dirty weekend written all over it. The food is wonderful, too, under executive chef Garry Hollihead.” The a la carte tends to feature signature dishes from Garry’s tenure at the Embassy in London, such as fillet of venison “Wellington” with truffle sauce, but the romantically inclined may also want to try rock oysters with Merlot vinegar, or a cherry souffle with white chocolate ice-cream – all to be taken in a wooden-walled, white-linened room of suitably intimate proportions. Where: Sacher-Eck cafe, Hotel Sacher, Philharmonikerstrasse4, A-1010 Vienna, Austria (00 43 1 51456 699; ); daily 9am-1am. You might not be able to tell whether it’s a sugar-high or love, but you’ll end up dizzy all the same.” Should you feel the need to lie down, totter back to a room at the Hotel Sacher, where the five- star surroundings, should prove romantically emollient. The staff are attentive, the food in the restaurant is excellent, and the decor is charming, in a non-designer way.” Where: Teffont Evias, nr Salisbury, Wilts (01722 716392; ). How much: pounds 145 (pounds 165 for the four-poster).37ROYAL PALAIS, PARIS”The gardens of the Palais Royal would be a perfect outdoors choice,” says Kate, “especially if you’re trying to take a romantic walk with children in tow (as I was recently).

“In a delightful village near Salisbury, this quirky, early-17th-century building, with its steeply pitched, broad-eaved roof, stands idyllically in a pretty garden near the little River Teff. How much: double rooms at the Hotel Sacher start at 320 euros B&B. Tickets to see the Klimt are 4 euros 50 cents (2 euros 50 cents concs).36HOWARD’S HOUSE, WILTSHIREFor a combination of history, peace and intimacy in an attractive rural setting, Caroline Raphael recommends this small country-house hotel. Osterreichische Galerie Belvedere, Prinz Eugen-Strasse 27, A- 1030 Vienna (00 43 1 79 5570; ). There’s a rickshaw to take customers back to the office – but then everyone would find out, wouldn’t they?” Where: 27 Coldharbour, London E14 (020-7515 5222). How much: starters from pounds 4.50, main courses from pounds 12.50.35A KISS IN VIENNA”Load up with das echte Sacher-Torte at the Hotel Sacher’s cafe to elevate your levels of phenylethylamine,” says Thomas, “and then go to stand in front of Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss at the Osterreichische Galerie for 10 minutes.

For two people working in Canary Wharf it would be perfect for an illicit rendezvous – as long as your colleagues haven’t had the same idea. Everywhere you look, there is something to catch the eye – velvet drapes, exotic lamps, light fittings, a collection of buddhas, beaded table lamps, potted plants, and, naturally, mixed-gender lavs. Cosy little rooms overlooking the river, with deep leather armchairs, log fires and good ales. Once something of a rough diamond, it has now been beautifully restored and given gastropubby polish to make a lovely and discreet destination.

How much: around pounds 50.34THE GUN, LONDON E14Caroline Stacey recommends history-lovers head for this ancient riverside pub “where Nelson is supposed to have trysted with Lady Hamilton (though they wouldn’t have had an eyeful of the Millennium Dome). Take a torch to see what you’re eating – tiny spring rolls and coconut chicken soup – and whom you are eating it with.” Where: 374 North End Road, Fulham, London SW6 (020-7386 8950) Daily 6.30pm-12mdn’t (last food orders 9.30pm). How much: free.33SUGAR HUT, LONDON SW6″Push open the antique door and enter this darkly romantic Aladdin’s cave of a bar/restaurant,” says Terry, “practically pulsing to lush contemporary sounds. How much: from 720 euros (520 euros weekend rate, excluding breakfast).32COUMINEOL STRAND, CO. KERRY”Few films capture the rugged beauty of Ireland’s most south-westerly tip as well as the David Lean classic Ryan’s Daughter,” says Sophie. “One of the locations used in the film is the picture-perfect cove of Coumeenole Strand, hidden under the imposing cliffs of Slea Head at the end of the Dingle Peninsula.

On a sunny day it’s one of the most perfect locations for a picnic, and weather (and wetsuits) permitting, even a wintry dip in the Atlantic. Just follow the signs to `Ryan’s Daughter Beach’.” Where: Fahan, Co Kerry, Eire (tourist info: 00 353 21 425 5100; ). How much: free.31THE FOUR SEASONS, MILAN, ITALY”A man can indulge his girlfriend’s inner diva,” says Jackie, “with a stay at this five-star hotel minutes away from La Scala. Converted from a 15th-century cloistered convent, it boasts vaulted ceilings with some beautiful original frescoes Impressive yet intimate. How much: classic Martini pounds 5.75.30PONTE VECCHIO, FLORENCEThe beautiful, medieval “old bridge” over the Arno was a favoured spot of Dante, perhaps the poet most commonly associated with love – whether unrequited or not. Florence being the tourist draw it is, Stephen is well aware that the Ponte Vecchio can be “a nightmare by day in high season (hucksters selling Prada handbag rip-offs), but at this time of year, or during a summer dawn or late night, you can appreciate why Dante stood here and felt so wistful about Beatrice.