The szn of love is finally upon us. If you’re scratching your head over what to get your better half this Valentine’s Day, we’re here to help. Read on for our selection of gift ideas atypical of romance! 👇
Put a finger down if you’re guilty of giving a gift that’s just…. meh.
Well don’t worry — we’ve all been there. Valentine’s Day in recent years may have gotten a bad rep for being overrated, but you’d be lying to yourself if you say that your insides won’t turn to mush if you received a thoughtful gift from your sweetheart. But of course, the gifts don’t have to (and quite frankly, shouldn’t) be limited to overpriced flowers, a box of chocolates, or stuffed teddy bears — there are plenty more options you can choose from if you look hard enough.
To help spark some inspiration, we’ve rounded up ten anything-but-ordinary gifts to help you score brownie points with your boo, show your appreciation to your favourite pals, or maybe even seal the deal with potential cuffing season candidates. Here’s a tip: you can always hop onto our ever-so-handy YouTrip Perks for that extra discount or cashback when paying for your gifts with your YouTrip Mastercard. Ready? Let’s go!
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1. For The Foodie — Le Creuset Heart Ramekin
Image credits: Bon Appetit
The way to a foodie’s heart is obviously through their stomach. This kitschy little number by kitchenware maestros Le Creuset is perfect for foodies; almost like a rite of passage. This classic cast iron cocotte is exceptionally durable and versatile, making it perfect for individual portions of baked eggs, stews, and even pudding! The culinary opportunities are endless in this kitchenware that has and will stand the test of time (just like your love).
Price: US$77.00 (~S$102.13)
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Purchase it from Amazon here.
2. For The Green Fingers — KINTO Vase With Aquaculture Base
Image credits: KINTO
You know that old adage about teaching a man how to fish? Well yeah, we’re taking it to a whole new level. Give the gift of patience and love in its purest, most organic form with the KINTO Vase. Designed to celebrate the beauty of nature, as it allows one to watch the leaves and roots of your plant grow and extend. Perfect for growing bulbs, seeds, and herbs. But if your giftee prefers, they can also use it as a regular vase instead.
Price: S$37.00
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Purchase it from Lazada here.
3. For The Old Souls — Wall-Mounted CD Player
Image credits: LOCARI via Pinterest
Who could forget the days of stereos and Walkmans? Even though they’ve given way to the more convenient music streaming services on our phones, there’s no denying the old-school charm that those machines had. Enter this wall-mounted CD player, reminiscent of the humble walkman but with an aesthetic that’s up a couple of notches. It’s the perfect gift for CD collectors (looking hard at you, K-pop fans!) and of course, lovers of nostalgia. To up the ante, this CD player can also be used as an FM radio or a Bluetooth speaker — talk about versatility!
Here’s an idea: burn a mixtape to profess your undying love. How’s that for romance?
Price: From S$43.00
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Purchase it from Shopee here.
4. For The Outdoor Lovers — Disposable BBQ Set
Image credits: Lazada
Picnics by the beach may be nice and all, but to us, there’s nothing cuter than cooking a meal together with a gorgeous view! If your bae is more of the outdoorsy sort, then this disposable BBQ set might just be the perfect gift for them. Worried about getting the fire going? No worries — this kit promises an easy set-up process of just one (!!) minute and will keep the flames going for about 90 minutes thereafter. All you need to do is find the perfect spot by the beach or the park, pack a cooler bag of yours and your partner’s favourite BBQ essentials, and you’re all set!
Price: From S$8.90
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Purchase it from Lazada here.
5. For The Fashionista— Gabine Saddle Bag
Image credits: Charles & Keith
Our favourite homegrown shoe brand has definitely got fashion right, especially in recent years. Their Gabine Saddle Bag has gotten so much press, and for good reason! With its functionality and timeless design, this bag is perfect for date nights and Sunday strolls in the park. The best part? This stunner comes in 10 delicious colours, making it easy to pick one in a shade that your boo loves.
Price: S$79.90
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Purchase it from Charles & Keith here.
6. For The Budding Chefs — Pasta Maker
Image credits: Carousell
This one’s for all the domestic gods and goddesses! If your boo is looking to take their culinary skills up a notch, the next biggest flex apart from their delicious pasta recipe is actually making the noodles from scratch. Of course, this pasta maker isn’t limited to well, pasta noodles. It’s also good for making Chinese noodles of all kinds, and evening dumpling skins. Here’s a date idea: offer to play sous chef to your partner and make a dish from scratch — together.
Price: From S$27.90
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Purchase it from Shopee here.
7. For The Wanderlusters — Travel Gift Gard
Image credits: Trip.com
Before you raise those eyebrows, hear us out. Gift cards when done right, can be one of the best gifts one can receive. Now hear this: Travel. Gift. Card. How about that? You probably wouldn’t say no to that! Thankfully, Trip.com offers cute digital gift cards for those who want to surprise their other half by whisking them away to a far-flung destination but are unable to do due to work commitments (it’s already so difficult as it is to plan your annual leave dates!).
The gift cards come in a cute range of designs, can store up to US$2000 in value, and can be used multiple times!
Price: From S$10
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Purchase it from Trip.com here.
8. For The Adventure Seekers — Klook Experience
Image credits: Sunny City Kids
If quality time is your partner’s love language, then this makes for the perfect gift. From glamping by the beach to pottery sessions, and even yoga with puppies — be spoilt for choice with their range of activities that’ll help you bond with your sweetie no matter what. If you’re already planning a quick getaway, you can also opt to book a unique experience all across Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, and more!
Our pick: Book the Cinewav Seaside Cinema experience in time for Valentine’s Day, and take your pick from cult-favourite shows like 500 Days of Summer, Jimami Tofu, and My Best Friend’s Wedding.
Price: From S$11, depending on experience.
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Browse the full list of activities on Klook here.
9. For The Audiophiles — An Evening With Silk Sonic Vinyl
Image credits: Roxy Disc House
If your other half is all about finding the best earworms, chances are, they’ll have a vinyl player on hand — or at least collect vinyls. Even if they don’t, that’s okay; you can help kickstart their collection! While love songs are aplenty, it’s all about choosing the right songs. Our pick for Valentine’s Day? The Silk Sonic album features the ever-so-talented duo, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. This album is the epitome of romance, with soulful melodies inspired by the best of the ’70s and ’80s. We promise you that this album is going to get both of you grooving and swaying.
Price: From US$19.00 (~S$25.20)
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Purchase it from Amazon here.
10. For The Bookworm — Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Image credits: Urban Outfitters
Physical books have often been romanticised for good reason. But when you’re commuting or travelling, the last thing you’d want is to be lugging around those heavy and bulky books. With the classic Amazon Paperwhite, your book lover can enjoy the freedom of fitting hundreds of their favourite books in the palm of their hand. With the introduction of the latest Paperwhite Kindle, you can now choose from three different colour ways — classic black, agave green, and denim. The device is also slimmer than its predecessors, and also comes with adjustable warm light and up to 10 weeks of battery life. Amazing!
Price: From US$104.99 (~S$139.26)
10 Alternative Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Him And Her (That Aren’t Roses): Purchase it from Amazon here, or via Lazada here.
Say It With a Gift
As commercialised as Valentine’s Day is, it’s always nice to know that your other half is thinking of you. We hope that this list offers some form of inspiration as you go on to find the perfect ’thinking-about-you’ gift! Just remember to make use of your YouTrip card to cash in on our sweet wholesale exchange rates and of course, attractive perks like cashback of up to 10%! Score extra savings off your favourite brands always when you check out with your YouTrip Mastercard and shop with our YouTrip Perks!
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