Forget the gifts! Give her the Valntines Day experience of a lifetime.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. More people now a days are opting to give their valentine an everlasting memory instead of the expensive gifts, but for many people, this is going to mean making plans to go out to dinner. And for a lot of people, the act of choosing a restaurant for Valentine’s Day can be really stressful.

Here are some key things to take into consideration when choosing the restaurant for your Valentine’s Day Dinner:

• Go for a small place with an intimate atmosphere. Skip the chain restaurants when it comes to Valentine’s Day. Instead, locate a restaurant that is smaller in size and where the wait staff can give you the attention that you deserve, and if you are planning to pop the big question, this will be the best option. At the Ryde Hotel we have done it all, from slipping the flowers into her seat before she gets there to hiding the ring inside a hollow chocolate covered strawberry.

• Special Valentine’s Day menus. Many restaurants will do a unique menu for Valentine’s Day as is the case at the Ryde. Call around to see what people are offering so that you can find a place that has treats that you will both enjoy.

• Don’t try to be something you’re not. If you really hate oysters then you don’t want to go to an oyster bar for Valentine’s Day even though everyone recommends that type of place since oysters are an aphrodisiac. Choose a place that honors who you are and what you enjoy together.

• Make sure that you make reservations if they are needed. If the place that you have chosen doesn’t accept reservations then you may want to plan on dining earlier or later than normal in order to avoid the long lines of people that are out on Valentine’s Day.

• Skip Valentine’s Day dinner and get a special Valentine’s Day brunch instead. It is perfect for friends or family and it leaves the rest of the day free for different types of romance or just activities.

Whatever you end up choosing to do for dinner on Valentine’s Day, remember that the important thing is to be loving and kind to the one that you’re sharing this special holiday with.