Rioja, Spain

Romance factor: Wonderful wine and tapas, with none of the tourists.

Buck the trend this year and head to the northern region of Rioja, home to some of the world's best fruity reds and a tapas scene that rivals anything found in the country's biggest cities. With its diverse landscape, which takes in lush vineyards, snow-capped mountains and arid, lunar-like plains, Rioja makes for a fascinating romantic break. And, as it attracts only a fraction of the tourists of the more obvious romantic destinations, visitors will have no problem securing restaurant reservations.