Ah, Valentine’s Day…

An occasion for romance, affection and panicking about what to get the lad or lady in your life.

Is dread setting in at the prospect of having to choose a gift for your beloved, so soon after you found them the perfect Christmas pressie?

Don’t stress. We’ve handpicked some unusual experience gifts that we’re pretty sure they won’t have tried before.

Whether you’ve committed to cutting clutter from your home (Mari Kondo wouldn’t get a look-in) or your partner is the sort who owns everything, you can’t go wrong with a special activity or day out.

Treat them to something they wouldn’t treat themselves to and earn yourself some serious brownie points in the process.

Win-win!

1. A flying lesson

Does your guy or gal harbour an ambition to take to the skies? Do they really love the movie Top Gun? If so they’ll jump at the chance to jump into the cockpit and fly a plane for themselves.

BOOK IT: The Atlantic Flight Training Academy in Cork offers introductory lessons from €99 – check them out here.

2. A fermentation course at Ballymaloe Cookery School

Hardcore foodies will love getting to grips with the biggest trend in food right now; fermented, gut-healthy goodies such as sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir. Penny Allen will take participants through all things fermentation in this half-day course and with some luck, you might even get to enjoy regular kombucha at home.

BOOK IT: Booking is open now here.

3. A session with a professional stylist

Your fashion-loving better half will be weak to have some face time with an expert who can advise them on what will make them look and feel their best. Just make sure they don’t take this as a dig and you’re golden.

BOOK IT: Some of our favourites Cork-based stylists include Opera Lane’s Natash Crowley (appointments with Natasha are free and can be booked here) Charlene Corkery of Style Me Image Consultancy and The Art of Style’s Martha and Jessica Healy.