Life is short and Sunday week is Valentine's Day.

Why not sweep the love in your life away for a weekend to Cape Town, Clarens or Sun City. If you can afford the time and the money, there are some great bargains around, such as buying one return air ticket to Madagascar and getting a second one free.

If time is not a problem then several islands are just waiting for lovers - Mauritius, Reunion, the Maldives, Madagascar and the string of island pearls that makes up the Seychelles.

Okay, so you can't afford a trip, then why not just go away for a weekend. There are several romantic just-around-the-corner places. In fact, for something very different, why not give your partner a treat and book him or her into a hotel in Johannesburg, Irene or Pretoria and enjoy dinner, bed and breakfast. Make it naughty and nice.

Failing that, do something unusual like taking your dearest for a balloon trip, or on a picnic into the Magaliesberg.

Here, you'll find several delicious hotels, hostelries and bed & breakfast establishments, so why not stay overnight and enjoy the country atmosphere.

If you are thinking game reserves, then take note: Sabi Sabi private game reserve is offering a special for the Valentine weekend of R2 943 per person a night with all sorts of romantic extras such as sparkling wine, depending in which lodge you are staying.

But many of the lodges are offering specials for the Valentine weekend, so do a little phoning around.

If you want to go further afield, how about a ski trip to the Alps, South America or even Aspen in the US. Prices are competitive because airlines want people to fly and there are several specials available. South Africa is still great value and there are so many places to which you can escape just for a few days.

One ideal Valentine gift would be a cruise. I love cruising, all and every kind of cruising, whether it's a large cruise ship or a small intimate river boat. I enjoy being pampered, not having to worry about anything, having all meals catered for, sleeping in a comfortable airy cabin, or stateroom as they always call it now.

Another Valentine treat would be a weekend in the bush. I'd like nothing better than to pack our ancient vehicle with camping gear and drive to a game reserve and camp among warthogs, impala and kudu. And, at night, listen to the sounds of the bush, hyena, lion and leopard. How privileged we are in South Africa that we can do this with relative ease.

The thing is, be pro-active. If you're broke, then plan a special lunch or dinner. Pick some flowers, put them on the table, arrange them around your and your loved one's table setting and it will set the scene. A glass of light wine will be special but if you're not into alcohol, then how about some sparkling grape juice? Just for romance.

An alternative is to take your Valentine out for brunch. Always a treat and you can always present him or her with a rose. It's the thought that counts.

That said, a thought in the form of a little or big excursion (near or far) would be rather nice...