21 easy ways to surprise your partner on Valentine’s day

There’s nothing quite like a Valentine’s Day surprise, especially when it includes chocolate gifts.

Ignite a spark of excitement this Valentine’s Day with a surprise that will take your partner’s breath away. Organise a romantic activity or find a fun, creative way to present your Valentine’s Day gifts. Don’t forget to include a few chocolate nibbles, too.

How to surprise your partner this Valentine’s Day

Planning a surprise for your partner can sometimes be a little tricky, especially if you spend most of your time with them. Whilst the obvious date night choice would be going to a nice restaurant for a fancy dinner, there are plenty of more inventive, affordable options to choose from too.

1. Stargazing

What better way to rekindle the romance than under the sparkling open sky? Ideally, you want a spot with a clear view, away from light pollution. Take a blanket and get comfy!

Up to 5,000 stars can be seen by the naked eye, so you don’t need any special equipment. Although, handy stargazing apps can help you spot constellations. Stay warm and fuzzy with a flask of one of our decadent, velvety-smooth hot chocolates. 

Choose from our selection of romantic, indulgent flavours like our Black Forest Gateau Hot Chocolate Sachets, or our Salted Caramel & Clementine Hot Chocolate Sachets. Whip these sensual flavours up in your Velvetiser for a frothy, luxurious mug of hot chocolate that’s sure to elevate your Valentine’s stargazing date up a notch.

2. Create your own planetarium

If you can’t get out for stargazing, either due to the weather or your location, why not use a star projector to cast images of the galaxy onto your walls and ceiling instead? Turn off the lights, set up an ambient playlist to set the mood, and let the majesty of the universe envelop you both in the comfort of your own home.

To make things even cosier, consider getting playful by building your own little fort. It’s an affordable, yet totally personable date activity you and your partner can experience together.

If you want to engage all the senses, it can be a nice idea to stock up on an irresistible chocolate gift set. Think about your partner’s favourite flavour combinations and let this guide your choice. Do they enjoy the deep cacao notes of dark chocolate or prefer the more delicate flavours of white chocolate?

3. Cocktail making

Gather ingredients and recipes for their favourite cocktails, grab a mixology kit, and have fun shaking the night away! For the quickest, smoothest Espresso Martini, try our sensational Velvetised Cream, either chilled on its own or added to your favourite hot drink.

Or, for another romantic tipple, why not put together an easy, refreshing Tom Collins cocktail? Combine 50ml of our Cacao Gin, 25ml of lemon juice, 25ml of sugar syrup, and pour over ice. Top it off with 125ml of soda water, and there you have your favourite Tom Collins cocktail for your favourite person.

You can even pair your cocktails with our Large Chocolate Dipping Adventure for that extra layer of sensual decadence.

4. Learn together

If there’s an activity your partner’s always wanted to try, organise a workshop or class to do something together. From pottery and painting to archery or even learning the exquisite art of chocolate making, a pre-planned activity is a lovely way to spend quality time together.

At Hotel Chocolat, we offer cacao experiences, from our Bean to Bar chocolate life cycle to chocolate making — there’s something for everyone.

5. Bar crawl

Who said you can’t go on a night out together? Enjoy a few drinks together as you take a tour of your local bars and pubs. Try out new places or reminisce by visiting old favourites that mean a lot to you both. You can surprise your loved one with a thoughtful luxury gift along the way, too!

6. Recreate your first date

Whether it was an idyllic walk in the park or a pint down the local, take a trip down memory lane and reenact your first moments together. You could even try and recreate the outfits you both wore — they’re sure to be bowled over if you remember what they were wearing.

7. Breakfast in bed

Sometimes the little things mean the most. Branch out from the usual tea and toast and make breakfast in bed a real treat. Jazz it up with a rich, comforting mug of our Milky 50% Hot Chocolate. Or, why not whip up one of our Hazelnut Latte Sachets in our Velvetiser? They’re a kitchen essential (in our opinion) to keep the indulgence going every morning!

8. Update the classic mix-tape

Make a playlist of songs that they love, songs that remind you of them, or songs that have a special meaning to you both. You could play the tracks over dinner, or start to work on a collaborative playlist that they can contribute to once you surprise them on Valentine’s Day.

9. A trail of sweet nothings

From the bedroom to bathroom, leave romantic notes for your loved one to find. Write down things you love about them, find quotes and poems that echo your feelings, or even get a little bit flirty.

Pop one in their coat pocket to brighten their morning as they reach for their keys. You could even hide a note inside The Classic Cabinet chocolate hamper, or our Made With Love Chocolate Selection for them to find later on.

Plan a surprise trip

It might be a little difficult to hide this gift surprise, especially for someone who loves to plan their holidays in advance. But the gift of a trip is a great treat for someone special, and there are plenty of creative ways you can announce the big reveal.

Here are a few ways you can make the gift presentation as special as the holiday or day out itself:

10. Use the five senses

Incorporate sight, smell, touch, taste and sound into your reveal, with five clues to your trip’s location. You could cook a meal specific to the destination, tantalising your partner’s taste buds and their imagination.

11. Make your own scratch card

If you fancy getting crafty, a scratch card is a cute way to reveal a surprise trip. With card, paint, and a dash of creativity, you can make a fun scratchie themed for your trip. Write and cover the location and watch your loved one’s face light up as they reveal it.

12. Give them a travel guidebook or novel set in the place you’ll be visiting

Ideal for bookworms. You can keep it simple with a guidebook to your destined location, or be a little more cryptic with some Destination Literature. It’ll give your partner some good reading material for the journey, too.

13. Dress up as if you’re in your holiday spot

From cosy jumpers and ski goggles to represent the Alps, to a vibrant Hawaaiin shirt and sunnies for a beach surprise, dressing up is always a fun way to reveal your trip.

14. Give them a map of the destination

Depending on how artistic you’re feeling, you can buy or print a map of the location, or draw one from scratch. For a personal touch, embellish it with icons or pictures of attractions your loved one might like to visit.

15. Take them straight there

What’s more surprising than turning up at the airport with no clue where you’re going? Whether you’re planning a trip abroad or staying closer to home, give your significant other a general idea of what to pack, then take them there without any other details.

Surprise someone with tickets

Rather than just tucking them inside a card, find a creative way to surprise someone with tickets.

17. Scavenger hunt

Make your gift-giving into a fun game by setting up clues that lead your partner to the tickets. You could even add some chocolate tidbits along the way, like our Pink & Classic Champagne Truffles or our With Love H-Box to mark the special occasion.

18. Use music

If your tickets are for a concert or gig, play them the artist and see if they get the hint. This is a nice way to surprise someone if you have digital tickets rather than physical printed ones.

19. Don’t say anything, but hide the tickets in plain sight

For an understated yet impactful reveal, place the tickets in an obvious but unexpected place — perhaps by the kettle or beside their toothbrush. Don’t say a word but listen out for the squeal of delight when your partner finds the surprise!

20. Piñata

For added silliness, fill a piñata with confetti, shredded tissue paper, and individually wrapped sweets. Hide your tickets there too. You could laminate them or put them in a little box to stop the paper from getting too crumpled when your partner is let loose with a blindfold and bat!

21. Sneak them inside another gift

Present your loved one with another beautiful gift, they’ll be delighted when they unwrap a thoughtful box of luxury chocolates. We’d recommend our With Love Sleekster for a taste of our finest, heart-shaped flavours, and they’ll get even more of a buzz when they find exciting tickets nestled against the delicious treats!

Part of the fun of Valentine’s is the anticipation. Prepare a perfect day for your loved one and watch their face light up as they see the wonderful surprises and gifts you got them!

Give Valentine’s Day chocolate with Hotel Chocolat

Make this Valentine’s Day unexpectedly sweet with surprise chocolate gifts from Hotel Chocolat. However you choose to surprise your beau this year, delight your special someone with a chocolate gift from our luxurious collection.

From classic favourites like our Straight From The Heart Valentine’s Chocolates to miniature, innovative delights like The Nice Slice. Our Valentine’s Day chocolate caters to every taste, ensuring your special someone experiences the full spectrum of our luxurious cacao creations.

Embrace romance and make this Valentine’s Day unforgettable with a decadent surprise from Hotel Chocolat.