As Many as 1 in 4 Parents Worldwide Have Not Been on a Romantic Date in 2+ Years

22 Jul 2024

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and for many, that means scheduling a romantic date. But for a significant number of parents worldwide, romance may be the last thing on their to-do list.

In fact, as many as one in four parents worldwide hasn’t gone out on a romantic date in a couple of years. But luckily, the majority have been able to rendezvous in recent months.

Check out the results from Groupon’s 2023 Valentine’s Day research report to find out how parents all over the world are feeling about romance in their lives.

Parents and Romance: Who’s Feeling the Love?

Parents in the U.K. Are Feeling Pretty Good in the Romance Department

Brits have a lot on their plates – 21% of parents have not had a romantic date in two or more years.

Plus, the majority – 53% – have been on a date with their significant other in the past three months. This is promising, since experts agree that prioritising a marital relationship over children creates healthier families. ¹

When it comes to how often parents prioritise a date, 14% say every month, while 27% say every few months. Nearly a quarter, though (21%), only date once a year. And 11% say they never go on a date.

Maybe that’s why 17% of U.K. parents say they need more romance in their lives.

Regardless, the majority (29%) of parents long for more romantic dates. Merchants take note: Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to inspire parents with an enticing offer to take some time to themselves.

survey - uk parents wish for more ramnitc dates

Parents Globally Prioritise Romance, but How Much Varies by Country

In some good news for many parents: The majority worldwide have gone on a romantic date with their partners in the past few months.

Globally, that percentage amounts to the following:

France – 53%
U.K. – 53%
U.S. – 52%
Germany – 49%
Italy – 49%
Spain – 49%
Australia – 42%

Still, about one in four parents worldwide hasn’t gone out on a romantic date in a couple of years. Italy tops the list here, followed by Germany:

Italy – 26%
Germany – 24%
Australia – 22%
France – 22%
U.K. – 21%
Spain – 18%
U.S. – 15%

survey - last romantic date was more than 2 years ago

Some parents never prioritise a romantic date. In the U.K. more than any other country, a quarter of parents report never going on a romantic date with their partners. Compare that with 18% of French parents, 11% of parents in Spain and 8% of parents in the U.S.

All over the world, parents wish they had a little more romance in their lives; 26% of French and American parents, and 24% of Germans, Spaniards and Australians say they don’t have enough of it.

That is likely why a high number of parents long for more romantic dates. In fact, 52% of Spaniards wish they went on more romantic dates with their partners, and 39% of Australian and French parents agree.

For parents who want to go on more romantic dates, here’s the breakdown by country:

Spain – 52%
U.S. – 49%
Australia – 39%
France – 39%
Italy – 36%
U.K – 29%
Germany – 28%

Do you wan to attract more loyal customers and increase your brand awareness? Find out how.

Help Parents Reconnect with a Valentine’s Day Promotion

Research shows that the arrival of children in a married couple’s lives changes how couples interact with one another.²

Caring for children, managing schedules and lack of sleep are just some of the reasons couples get distant.

Yet, studies show that being satisfied with your spouse contributes most to overall well-being.³

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for parents to reconnect. And local businesses are in a position to help. As a merchant, you can create romantic offerings that help get parents out of the house – without their children.

Here are some ideas:

Restaurants: Restaurant owners know that Valentine’s Day is typically the second-busiest holiday next to Mother’s Day. According to our global Valentine’s Day research, going out to dinner will be the most-popular way to mark the occasion this year. Take advantage! Pour on the romance to create the perfect setting where couples can enjoy a themed menu. One restaurant themed their holiday menu around romantic comedies like the dishes served in “When Harry Met Sally” and “Moonstruck.”⁴ Maybe you leave conversation-starters on the table so parents can get to know one another again. You can throw in some traditional extras like a complimentary glass of champagne, flowers or dessert. Or get creative with romantic take-home gift bags.
Spas: Spas are a go-to for couples to unwind So Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to create packages for romance-starved parents. A couples massage is a no-brainer, but the sky’s the limit. Consider putting together a multi-service spa package that includes everything from a massage, foot soak, body scrub, a zen room experience with drinks and snacks, steam room or infrared sauna and take-home that include essential oils for baths and massage. You could even partner with a nearby restaurant to include dinner reservations.
Things to do: If you’re a local merchant that offers things to do, think about how you can cater your event just to couples. For example, if you offer walking tours of the local downtown area, you could offer a “romance tour” of the city complete with wine and chocolate tasting. If you offer historic home tours, consider promoting a dinner prepared by a private chef in the historic home for couples.

Even if parents want to go on a date, sometimes it can be hard to get out of the house. Any business could partner with a local nanny service and offer a few hours of babysitting as part of their Valentine’s Day package for busy parents.Parents give so much – it’s their turn to receive. If you have an offer that will spark some romance this Valentine’s Day, let Groupon get it in front of parents who want to (finally) go on a date. Learn how to advertise on Groupon.