According to travel company Travelstart, 79 percent of South Africans would rather be taken on a surprise trip to a romantic destination than have their partner 'pop the question' this Valentine?s Day.

"This has been an interesting survey for us, because it highlights South Africans? passion for travel. We have seen an enormous surge in bookings this Valentine?s Day and it is clear that couples are taking advantage of the discounts that the recession has brought, both for local and international trips," says Stephan Ekbergh, CEO and founder of Travelstart.

When asked about dream destinations for Valentine?s Day, 69 percent of the 7300 respondents said that tropical islands like Maldives and Fiji are at the top of their wish list.

"Good news for single travellers is that more than a third of the respondents had a romantic fling with someone that they met while travelling, so maybe this is a good reason to pack your bags and head to the airport," says Ekbergh.

While 87 percent listed 'seeing the world and meeting new people' as their favourite reason for travelling, only two percent said that they travel to join the 'mile high club'. In fact, 30 percent of respondents had never heard of the dubious club.

While couples see more value in travelling to an exotic destination than a proposal, all is not lost? it is still possible that a romantic island getaway will still create the perfect setting for an unforgettable proposal.