10 Low-Key Date Ideas for Couples Who Don't Like Crowds

(SPOT.ph) If you're like us and are allergic to the never-ending stream of people in most restaurants and malls on V-Day, then you might want to read on. We get it, you want to shower your S.O. with all the appreciation and love they deserve on the day of hearts, but let's be honest, it's the traffic and the crowds that really ruin the mood. Imagine waiting for hours on end just to get to your reservation and then having to share a cramped space with tons of strangers. If going out is a non-negotiable for the 14th, you might want to opt for a more low-key date, i.e., one where it's not as crowded so you can focus more on your partner and actually have fun together. We rounded up 10 date ideas that are perfect for couples who want that feeling of being alone together. 

Also read:
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Here are date ideas you and your S.O. can try if you're not into crowds:

Go for an elevated movie night at VIP cinemas

Okay, okay, you might be thinking, what's so special about a movie date? Well, level up your usual movie nights by taking your beau to a VIP cinema. Yes, go bougie this love month with the reclining seats, leather upholstery, and, best of all, a smaller number of patrons. There are a number of luxe cinema options out there. You just have to choose which one is most convenient for you. But hey, worse comes to worst, and all of them are already booked for the 14th, don't fret. You can have your own movie night at home by bingeing the latest shows on Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime and then make it up to your S.O. with a post-Valentine's date.

Also read: /10 Low-Key VIP Cinemas Perfect for Solo Watching

Get some deserved R&R with a spa package

You and your S.O. might be stressed out lately due to school, work, or just life in general, so why not release all the bad juju and get some much-deserved rest and relaxation?  Nothing says love like a massage, especially when you can indulge in pampering together.

You can book spa-cation packages like the I'M Onsen Spa's Spateafy which includes access to the onsen, steam bath, and sauna, a 90-minute whole-body massage, and a 24-carat gold mask face massage. End your spa day with afternoon tea and snacks at I'M Hotel's The Common Good restaurant. All this is packaged together with rates starting at P2,800 per person. Or go all out and book an overnight spa-cation package starting at P9,999 for two people, inclusive of accommodations, a 60-minute massage, buffet breakfast, afternoon tea, and access to the wellness suites. 

For more information, visit the I'M Hotel's Facebook page.

Release your inner artist in this drink-and-paint activity

Get artsy, show your artistic skills off to bae, and then exchange artworks as gifts! Try out the Metro's many paint-and-sip activities and get creative with your loved one. One in particular that caught our eye is Drip Splash. It is one of the newest paint-and-sip activities in the country, which lets guests enjoy a fun night of painting and drinking while bopping to sick beats. You can bring your own drinks and snacks, but if you're feeling spontaneous, you could also check out what drinks and food they have in stock at their in-house cafe and bar. 

This Valentine's week, try out their Valentine's Painting event and Paint-Your-Pet event. Each event costs P2,000 and includes all the materials needed for the three-hour painting session, guides and stencils, and 2 cocktails/ drinks per person.

For more information, visit Drip Splash's website.

Go for a picnic under the stars

Add a romantic twist to your usual dinner date by preparing a spread and going on a picnic in your backyard, your local park, or anywhere you can be under the twinkling light of the stars.

If a DIY picnic is not your cup of tea, you might want to consider The Podium's Under the Stars dining event this week until the 14th. With rates starting at P3,500, guests can partake in a set meal for two courtesy of Southern European dining establishment Bom Gosto. If you're willing to pay a little extra, you can also opt for a four-course menu courtesy of Wolfgang's Steakhouse. All this extravagant dining is accompanied by live music, serenades, and bright romantic lights. Two seatings are available every night, one at 6 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. 

For more information, visit The Podium's Facebook page.

Book a place and have a romantic staycation

Ready to simulate living together? Go on a staycation at a romantic Airbnb or bed and breakfast and get up in each other's business. Kidding, don't annoy your partner too much but hey, nothing says romance like doing mundane everyday tasks together. Go on a quick trip, forget the complicated and busy itinerary, and just spend the day in each other's company. It also wouldn't hurt if your temp home is hella aesthetic. 

Also read: Weekend Spot: This Tagaytay Airbnb Is Perfect for Romantic Sunset Dinners and Wedding Photoshoots

Hit the town and get your drinks from speakeasies and low-key bars

There's no better day to go out and have cocktails than Valentine's Day, but it's just so annoying when all your favorite spots are at maximum capacity. Take this as the opportunity to discover under-the-radar drinking spots in your area, like speakeasies and hidden rooftop bars.

Also read: 
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Relish in the beauty of nature by going hiking, camping, or diving

There's nothing like the vastness of the great outdoors to put your relationship into perspective. If you're looking to avoid crowds, your safest bet would be up a mountain, a remote countryside, or a deserted beach—and we have tons of that here in the Philippines. Plan an instant getaway or road trip to the many nearby mountains or beaches in the Metro. If you're not a fan of hiking or diving or any of the physical stuff but are dying to see majestic views, you can look into spots that have a view deck or restaurants with a view. That way, you still get the beautiful landscape just sans the tiresome climb or swim.

Make each other's go-to mug in a ceramics class

What's more romantic than putting your lips on something your S.O. made just for you? That's making one for them too! Make your personal mugs and have coffee in them together once they're done. Everyone alive in the '90s would be familiar with the iconic pottery scene from Ghost, but if you're a Gen-Z and you don't get this reference, just think: building something together with your bare hands and getting assistance from your bae when things don't work out as you planned.

There are tons of pottery studios and workshops that offer basic pottery classes, either with or without the wheel. If you and your partner are avid crafters, challenge yourselves with a workshop using the pottery wheel, but if either of you is creatively challenged, hand-made pottery lessons are the way to go. 

Go on a reading date

Ever heard of a reading date? Well, if you haven't, it goes like this, you and your S.O. each pick out a book to read from a bookstore, and you buy it for each other. Then, you spend the next 24 hours reading your respective books together. Plus points if you guys are reading the same title; that way, you can discuss it after. This type of date would totally impress a bookworm S.O., and TBH, staying at home reading while the rest of the world is outside sounds like heaven.

Also read: 10 Reads to Match the Drama of the Rainy Season

Memorialize your relationship by taking your own couple portraits

Take snaps for your scrapbooks, frames, and Instagram at your nearest self-shoot studio. These studios usually require reservations, so there's a small chance you'll run into a long line or an extended waiting period. Not only that, but you and your bae can be as cringe, weird, and derpy as you want in your photos because, hey, it's just you and the camera after all. But don't knock it 'til you try it. The photos you take would make excellent keepsakes reminding you of the relationship and the person you spent this season with. 

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