Romance is a wonderful thing, but there was a prickly edge to Valentine’s Day.
The price of roses shot up in Phuket, making it harder for the amorous to show their love.
Flower and gift shops in Phuket reported that price of roses was 50 % above normal and that meant people spent less on Valentine's presents this year.
Roses normally sell for between 15 and 50 baht per rose before Valentine's day, but the price increased to between 100 and 300 baht on Valentine's Day.
For a bouquet or roses in special arrangements the price can reach 1,500 baht or even as much as 10,000 to 30,000 baht.
However the high prices did not stop the demand.
A shop assistant in Flower in Love on Thepkasattri road, Phuangkhae Pohphol, said customers had come continuously, even though the prices were higher than last year.
“I have been receiving orders since yesterday. The biggest group of customers are adults aged between 25 and 35 years-old and about 10% are students,” she said.
Some people opted for presents instead of flowers.
“ I would prefer to buy a teddy bear for my girlfriend instead of roses. It can be kept longer and the price is cheaper,” a young schoolboy said, while one of his friends beside him said he would offer his girlfriend a bar of chocolate.
Signs of Valentine's Day were evident around Phuket where many shops, bars and restaurants were decorated in red.