As Shakespeare might once have famously written, "She's beautiful and therefore to be wooed; She is woman, and therefore to be spent $25 on a window seat for."
Hotels in Melbourne are cashing in on picture-perfect love by charging patrons an extra $10-25 for a window seat on Valentine's day.
The Langham's Melba restaurant, Sofitel's No.35 restaurant and The Grand Hyatt's Collins Kitchen are all in on the lovefest, with the Melba hosting a full 'Valentine's Week' of special offers.
A screenshot from the Langham's website advertising the deal.
"For a few years now, diners have been happy to pay a small premium to secure the Yarra River-view window tables at Melba," said a spokeswoman for The Langham.
"They are particularly popular for those that are planning a proposal or are seeking to capture an Insta-worthy photo for their social media platform," she said.
"We've never had a complaint as people prefer the security of knowing where they will sit. It's just like paying extra for a better seat at the theatre or at the football or on a plane."
The nominal fee comes on top of special set menus, which range from $150-179 and do not include drinks.
Having dinner at a restaurant (39%) is the most popular way for Australians to celebrate Valentine's Day, according to a survey in 2016, and it's not just hotels.
Vue de Monde, who put the view in their name, don't charge a special fee. Photo: Ken Irwin
Vue de Monde, a restaurant that trades on its view every day, does not charge a special fee to sit by the window.
Your bank balance will be down $450 per person for their Valentine's Day set menu, while the average meal at the restaurant on other days of the year usually begins at $280.
Of course, spending hundreds of dollars on a meal is at the lavish end of Valentine's Day expense.
The average Australian romantic was likely to spend $86 on Valentine's Day, according to IbisWorld, and those who dine out spend an average of $107 on their meal, including entrees, mains, wine and dessert.
So, how much are you spending on Valentine's Day?
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Would you spend extra for that perfect Valentine's Day snap?
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Would you spend extra for that perfect Valentine's Day snap?
Poll closes in 2 days.
Disclaimer: These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.
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