Beat the great Valentines proposal rip off

Valentines Day is the second most popular day of the year to get engaged (after New Year's Eve) and apparently people are jetting all over the world in order to get down on one knee. These over-the-top romantic gestures are setting them back as much as £2,000. And it's a complete waste of money.

A study by No.1 currency identified ten destinations that couples pick for a proposal overseas. The company calculated the cost of a three-night stay in four star accommodation - plus admission to the tourist attraction itself. The priciest came in at £2,083, with a proposal on a beach in the Maldives. This was followed by a Sydney Harbour Bridge proposal for £2,037.

These were almost double the price of other romantic destination, including proposing under the Northern Lights in Iceland for £1,161; up the Empire State Building for £1,251; at the Taj Mahal for £1,152; or Niagra Falls for £1,103.

Even the cheapest of its options came in at hundreds of pounds. The least expensive was the Winter Palace at St Petersburg for £527; Charles Bridge in Prague for £535; the Eiffel Tower for £762 or on a Grand Canal boat ride in Venice for £774.

Reasonable?

It's a sign of just how crazy the engagement market is that, the people behind the study seemed to think this was a reasonable sum to spend on an engagement trip. Simon Phillips, Retail Director at No.1 Currency, said: "Popping the question can come at a cost. The biggest expense may be the ring, but the romantics among us will always be tempted to travel somewhere exotic to get down on bended knee."

He felt the cost of a Russian proposal was a real bargain, pointing out: "Russia isn't exactly warm at this time of year, but the Pound's favourable exchange rate with the Rouble makes St Petersburg a red hot choice for romantics hoping for heart flutters rather than palpitations."

Although, he highlighted that: "The Pound has weakened against both the US Dollar and the Euro since the start of the year, making traditional romantic getaway destinations like New York, Paris and Venice more expensive."

Celebrity bargain alternatives

What he, and the study, seem to have lost sight of - however - is that this means people are spending hundreds of pounds just to pop the question. Assuming they then plan to get married without too much of a delay they'll then be expected to fork out thousands of pounds for the stag and hen nights, the wedding, and finally the Honeymoon.

It's hardly surprising that with such high expectations, so many people blow tens of thousands of pounds on the whole process - and are then either left without any savings for a house deposit, or with a debt nightmare to start the marriage off on a really difficult foot.

Arguably, there are plenty of romantic places closer to home that romantics can pick to pop the question. And plenty of celebrities have taken these far more low-key approaches.

1. At home
George Clooney had the right idea. He apparently cooked a meal for Amal Clooney, put on his aunt's music, and then asked her to marry him. Total cost - the price of a nice meal.

2. In the garden
For added atmosphere and starlight, you can take a leaf out of Nick Cannon's book. He proposed to Mariah Carey on the rooftop of her apartment, but if you don't have a rooftop, a garden proposal can be just as romantic.

3. Where you met
David Burtka reportedly remembered the exact street corner where he met Neil Patrick Harris and proposed there exactly a year later.

4. During a family Christmas
Apparently Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves took turns opening their presents, and the last one he gave her was an engagement ring.

5. In bed
Will Smith says he proposed to Jada Pinkett Smith as they were both just drifting off to sleep one night.