Whoever said you can’t run away from your problems, clearly did not know where to run to. Whether you are a die-hard romantic, or heart-dead cynic, Veronica Stivala thinks getting away is a good idea and has three suggestions for what you can do.

Meet the reindeer in Lapland.

St Valentine’s Day is a bit of a Marmite day. You either love it or you hate it. And even if you hate it, you often still find yourself having to partake of the day’s gimmicky obligations, because your partner, boyfriend, girlfriend or sidekick won’t have it any other way.

We all know how florists make a fortune out of selling copious amounts of roses, very often to bedraggled men (or women, because we are equal, but let’s be honest, it really is mostly men who find their hands tied behind their backs in flower buying because how often do you find a man who throws a hissy fit if he does not receive a bouquet of roses on St Valentine’s Day?) in the early hours of the evening.

And it’s not just florists who draw in the dosh; let’s not forget the chocolatiers, restaurants, toy shops (what exactly is the link between a day of celebrating love and a fluffy bear still befuddles many of us) and card companies.

So, perhaps this year will be different. Why not do something both of you can enjoy? And why do you need to be in a relationship anyway to get away?

Ditch the chocolate hearts and the blue, or was it pink roses that are all the rage this year, and do something different. Why not pack your bags and get away from it all someplace new. February 14 falls on a Friday this year so you can simply nip off for the weekend and return Sunday night.

There may be soppy couples tickling each other’s ears or smoochy duos gazing into star-struck eyes, but when you’ve got these distractions to keep you occupied, you won’t even notice the cute couple whose toes you’ve just trodden over. And if all else fails, go to Finland.

Go cycling

A good way of distracting yourself in general is to exercise. Exercise does wonders for the soul (and the hips) because apart from all those pheromones you will be producing, it is highly unlikely that you will run into a smooching couple on a bike. (Experts have discovered it is very difficult to kiss while balanced on a bicycle – especially a mountain bike.)

Ditch the chocolate hearts and the blue roses and do something different

Head for the Danube Bike Path: a lovely paved trail which runs through Germany and Austria all the way up to Budapest. If you’re new to cycling, this route is just right for you as it is easy to follow the path. Many guidebooks will describe the route from the river’s source to where it empties into the Black Sea.

The Danube Bike Path is part of the EuroVelo 6, whose objective is to follow three of the largest European rivers, the Loire, Rhine and Danube, and you can find all the practical and logistical information you need to know on its website: www.eurovelo6.org.

Scare yourself silly

Fear is also a good way to tackle any other feelings of misery, loneliness or general angst as it is so overpowering, you quickly forget all else. Now this is a travel article, so besides locking yourself in a tiny cupboard and pushing the key under the door, I suggest you travel to London.

Once there, head to the Fortune Theatre at Covent Garden where The Woman in Black (www.thewomaninblack.com/) is currently showing. Hailed as “terrifying live theatre experience”, the play gives audiences “an evening of unremitting drama as they are transported into a terrifying and ghostly world”. It starts at 8pm.

Go to Finland

It’s not every day that travel publications encourage visits to this Nordic country, but when the country’s own ‘Visit Finland’ website encourages you to visit if you are someone who “needs to hide” or is “bored of crowded places”, then you know that this must be misanthropist’s heaven. That, and the locals have a sense of humour.

They also encourage visits to those who want to see Santa. It’s not Christmas, but with a belly like that, we suspect he may emerge for the chocolate. While there, there are some wonderful things you really must do: Swim in an icy pool, eat a karjalanpiirakka (fast food that looks like a boat), meet a herd of reindeer while skiing in Lapland, and hop from island to island in the archipelago of south-western Finland.