The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

Unusual Tourist Attractions in New York

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New York is one of the world’s most iconic cities and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Everyone who heads to New York will tick the usual items off the list in terms of attractions such as the Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building, The World Trade Center memorial and Times Square, but what about the slightly weirder attractions that New York has to offer?

If you are looking at booking flights to New York and you want to visit something a little more strange during your time in the Big Apple, here are some of the coolest and most unusual attractions which you should consider.

Bank Vault Cocktails

Right in the heart of New York city’s financial district you will find an old bank vault which is hidden below the surface. The bank vault was built in 1904 by the Mosler Safe Company for the New York Realty bank, and when it was built it had to be sailed down the Hudson River such was its sheer magnitude. The bank vault is no longer in action and it has been turned into a Swiss bar and restaurant called Trinity Place Vault Bar. The bar still features all of the vaults details and monstrous steel doors weighing in at 35 tonnes each! If you like the idea of dining out or heading for a cocktail in a bank vault then head to 115 Broadway for a unique experience.

Feature in Lewis Carroll’s Masterpiece

If you love Alice in Wonderland then you can have the chance to star in it yourself as part of a project by a theater group called Third Rail Projects. This is an experience which you must immerse yourself in entirely and it offers a unique style of storytelling. The play is called ‘And Then She Fell’ and to add even more weirdness to proceedings it takes place in an old mental hospital. You will attend the play in groups of 15 and move from room to room as the plot takes twists and turns which you won’t be expecting. You can find this awesome artistic experience in Brooklyn at Kingsland Ward, St Johns.

The Doyers Street Tunnel

In the early 20th Century Chinatown in New York was a collection of secret allies and back passages which were the ideal spots for talks of smuggling, illegal gambling and all manner of interesting practices. Between the streets of Pell and Mott you will find a place on Doyers Street which is named the Bloody Angle because this is where the gangs used to wait for people as they came around the corner. During that time there were two Chinese gangs vying for control of Chinatown and this street bore witness to some of the most bloody battles of the time. The walls here were stained red with the blood of victims for many years. A section of the tunnel has been since removed but you can still head to the Bloody Angle and walk in the footsteps of the madness which took place here.

The Earth Room

If you are looking for a kooky art exhibition then the Earth Room in Soho is the perfect place to go. Artist Walter De Maria put this installation here in 1977 which features a 23-inch layer of Earth spread out across a 3,500 square foot gallery. This display was only supposed to be here for 3 months but ended up staying for 42 years! You can find this mad art exhibition at 131 Wooster Street, why not check it out and see just what 280,000 lbs of dirt looks like?

Track 61

Track 61 exists underneath Grand Central station and it was once used by presidents and public officials looking to escape the public. This private railway was built in 1938 and it has direct access to the Waldorf Astoria hotel, offering the perfect getaway for an important person. Famously Franklin D Roosevelt used this access point to arrive in his bulletproof train and limo, and when he arrived the limo and the president were whisked upstairs by the freight elevator. The track ceased operations in the late 70s and became something of a squatter’s paradise. No tours are available to track 61 but if you  know what you are looking for then you can head down and check it out for yourself.

New York is not only packed with amazing world-famous attractions, but this is also an old city which hides a great deal behind the facade of a bridge, a home, a train track or a doorway. Next  time you hit the Big Apple, do a little bit of digging and you can discover all kinds of incredible places to visit.

How to Have the Perfect Staycation

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Source: Unsplash | Le Creuset

Although you might associate holidays with trips abroad, due to time allowances and your budget, this may not always be possible. However, this does not mean that you cannot have a fun and relaxing holiday in the UK. All the activities that many tourists enjoy abroad, such as sunbathing on the beach and sightseeing are available in the UK if you choose the right destination.

Choose Relaxing Accommodation

Firstly, the accommodation that you choose for your holiday can be the difference between the holiday of your dreams and wishing you had rather stayed at home. When searching for accommodation in the UK, there are many options to make your holiday feel just as special as if you had gone abroad, from resorts with lots of entertainment and activities to keep the kids occupied to camping if you want to get up close and personal to nature.

However, if you want a relaxing holiday to recharge for the next year of work, you should think about hiring a self-catered holiday home for the duration of your stay. Amberley House Cottage Holidays in Sussex are a great option for people looking for a staycation as they allow families to enjoy their holiday at their own pace at the same time as enjoying spectacular views and some of the best of the English countryside.

Pick a Dream Location

Although the UK is much smaller than many other countries that you have dreamed about exploring, the UK’s holiday destinations are vast, and each provides tourists with something different to enjoy. For instance, for a traditional beachside holiday where you can relax on the sand and take part in water sports, Devon and Cornwall are great options, but if you want to experience a new city, Liverpool, Chester and London are hubs of diverse and thrilling entertainment.

The UK is also home to many potential locations for island holidays where you can indulge in nature, such as the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Skye. If you have always wanted to visit somewhere in the UK but never got the chance, this is the perfect opportunity.

Consider Your Travel Options

You might be used to catching a plane to go on holiday, but holidaying in the UK gives you an array of options to choose from. This is especially important for individuals who go on holiday in the UK because of a fear of flying. Cars are the ideal vehicles to take around the UK, because the different places are within close proximity of each other, and these allow you to visit anywhere you want, including rural destinations, stopping off at spontaneous destinations and going at your own pace.

However, the UK also has great public transport options such as trains and coaches, which can take you all over the country to some of the most popular destinations like Brighton and Weymouth. Additionally, trains and coaches also have a wide range of travel cards available which may be able to reduce the cost.

Look Up Local Events

If you need an excuse to go away or are unsure which destination to choose, you should look up events nationally to find one which interests you. During the summer, the UK hosts many music and culture festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe and Hay on Wye Literature festival in which you can combine with exploring a new area.

How to Make the Most of Your Trip To Africa

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If you’re planning a trip to Africa, you’re going to want to make the most of your time there and enjoy every minute of your adventure. Africa is such a diverse continent with a wide variety of climates, landscapes, and lifestyles, so choosing where to go can be something of a challenge, but in truth, there aren’t any wrong choices to make.

If this is your first trip to Africa, you might feel more comfortable taking a more well-trodden path and going to one of the well-known tourist destinations. However, if you’ve been a few times before, you might decide it’s time to spread your wings and explore a bit further afield.

Going on safari has got to be on most people’s bucket list, and for good reason. The choice of places to go on safari has never been better, and you can take your pick of some of the world’s most breath-taking landscapes and wildlife on an African safari.

Tanzania has got to be one of the premier locations, being home to the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Zanzibar Archipelago to name just a few highlights.

If you’re considering a Tanzania safari or one to any other African country, be sure to check on the times of year that are best for seeing the wildlife you’re most interested in. There are certain times when you stand a better chance of seeing specific animals and other times when you’ve got virtually no chance. If you don’t mind what creatures you see, then it might be more economical to go outside of peak times.

There are innumerable other ways to get the most from a visit to Africa, so if you fancy trying something different, have a good browse online. You could visit Uganda and see the mountain gorillas, or take a trip to a vibrant city like Cape Town, depending on whether you prefer wildlife or culture.

Wherever you choose to go, make sure you have a successful trip by following these guidelines:

  1. Make sure you have travel insurance that covers you for every eventuality on your African trip.
  2. Make sure you’ve got all the vaccinations you need in good time – some, like yellow fever, are compulsory and without them, you won’t get back into the UK.
  3. Check with your doctor whether you should take malaria medications before you go.
  4. Follow the advice of seasoned travellers about what to pack. You’ll find plenty of helpful websites that provide detailed packing lists based on real people’s real experience of the holiday you’re taking.
  5. Make sure you can take high-quality photos and videos while you’re away. If you’re happy with the kind of results you get from a smartphone – some of which are now very good – that’s the most convenient way to record your trip, but don’t economise on your recording equipment when you’re going to be witnessing such incredible sights and events.

Last but not least, be sure to approach your African adventure with an open heart and mind, and embrace the experience to ensure you make the most of your time on this extraordinary continent.

The Importance of A Meticulously Planned Itinerary For Your Upcoming Trip to Florida

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When we take vacations most of us will have an idea of a couple of activities which we’d like to do but most of us would rather get to our destination and then let the wind take us where it will. In fact many people love this spontaneity and the idea that anything can happen during their time away. With a trip to Florida however, this is simply not the case and it is absolutely vital that you have an itinerary which is packed from morning til night on each day, and here is why.

Volume of Possibilities

Here in Florida there is simply so much to do for tourists that even a two week vacation won’t begin to scratch the surface. Whether you plan to visit Miami, hit the beach, go to the Everglades, indulge in some of the amazing theme parks here, catch some sports or go shopping, you will only be able to enjoy a small percentage of what is available. This is why you have to be efficient with your time, in order to make the most of every minute and at the very least tick of some of the main activities which you want to do.

Theme Parks

Once you have a solid itinerary you can start making preparations to save some money with your theme park tickets. Let’s say that you want to get some tickets for Universal Orlando, if you decide to rock up on the morning then you can expect to be waiting in line for a very long time before you even get the chance to buy the tickets, and that is before you even enter the park. Having an itinerary means that you’ll know exactly which days you’ll be at each park, allowing you the chance to secure your tickets online and save money in the process as well. Ticket online are notoriously cheeper than buying at the park.

Route Planning

Florida is a big place so you will need to ensure that you know where you are going and when, in order to design the most efficient route. For example if you are staying in Kissimmee and you want to visit Orlando downtown, there is no point in trying to get to Tampa as well because they are in different directions. As you plan your itinerary you will be able to map out smart routes which allow you to hit multiple destinations in one day.

Saving Money

You can find a huge range of coupons and vouchers online for restaurants, theme parks, activity centers and all manner of money saving opportunities. In most cases you’ll need to select the day that you plan to use the discount and this cannot be done unless you know where you’ll be and when. With this in mind then it is fair to say that by having an itinerary in place, you will be able to save yourself a lot of money on your trip, something which everyone can appreciate.

Map the trip out, plan your days well and maximize your time in Florida.

Discover the best of Goa in the rains

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Come monsoons and I am off to Goa again. It has always been one of “the destinations” I prefer to enjoy during the rains. The beauty of the beaches coupled with rains and lush greenery makes the place even more amazing. Though the best time to visit this tourist hot spot is sometime between October to March, I do not prefer it due to the tourist infestation. The ideal meaning of vacation to me is enjoying the beauty of a destination when it neither feels lonely nor overtly crowded. And a weekend in Goa is the answer.

I discovered that the monsoons are an ideal time for me to unwind and rejuvenate on the Goan beaches. I wanted this trip to be well-planned and executed as I was eagerly anticipating it and thus, I went about researching the places to visit and stay to enjoy this unwinding interlude. It was then I realized that I could bask in the glory of everything in Goa with three popular monsoon hot spots of the city, the Baga beach, Calangute, and Candolim.

Travel to Goa

As an inevitable tourist destination that nestles amidst the beautiful seas and hills, I have witnessed Goa enthralling a limited number of tourists during the monsoons. It was not just the amazing discounts I found online but also the promise of solace and tranquillity in the otherwise crowded city bustling with tourists during the ideal visiting seasons.

I prefer traveling to Goa by air as it saves a lot of time. The airport is 29 km off Panaji and I opted to get a car on rent with Savaari car rentals for a convenient and optimal experience.

Goa, an overview 

Goa is one of the coolest and serene destinations to visit during the monsoons. Green Ghats like the Chorla Ghat, Amboli Ghat are no less pristine and refreshing, washed up in the Goan torrents. Take a drive to the exotic valleys and marvelous waterfalls to be equally mesmerized.

I booked a taxi for my travel to the stunning Dudhsagar Falls, Tambdi Surla, Chorla, and the Netravali Waterfalls and was glad that I visited there during the monsoons. The cascading water with the increased flow of water, thanks to the rain, was an overwhelming sight. I took the adventurous trek to the falls and spotted some beautiful butterflies, exotic birds, and animals. The next morning, we headed to the Aguada and Chapora forts where the rains added on to the charms of these timeless classics. The car driver was aware of the roads and this made our life simpler.

I feasted on the Goanese, Konkan, and continental cuisine at some of the permanent restaurants and shacks. The next stop was suggested by our car driver – the Savoi spice plantation. The scenic drive through the tropical forests and the verdant valleys were simply perfect. I savored the aroma of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, cloves, cardamom, and vanilla. To top it all, Goan Saraswat meal was served for lunch and I couldn’t have asked for more.

I had saved the best for the last; the beaches. We visited the butterfly beach, Colva beach and the Palolem beach in South Goa. The little drops from the sky made these places worthwhile to visit.

It is recommended to book rooms in advance during the off-season and avail the discounts on some of the luxury hotels in the city for a comfortable stay. I had made my reservations and sought accommodation at a beach resort in Baga, North Goa. Since the Baga beach is one of the most happening beaches in Goa, I had a good taste of the nightlife as well.

Reaching Goa by cabs

A drive to Goa is quite an adventure. The versatile terrains, ghats with infinite twists and turns are a challenge. As a frequent traveler to Goa, I suggest you book a reliable and affordable taxi in Goa for a road trip during the weekend. The drivers are well versed with the roads and know the best places where you could stop to click amazing pictures. I particularly find cabs to be convenient when I am out on vacation. I believe that I can cover most of the places with the help of a local taxi driver who will make sure to cover all the places that I cannot afford to miss on my weekend getaway.

Distance and time taken

The Goa International Airport is in Dabolim. The nearest tourist destination I could visit first was the Candolim which was approximately 37 km. We were able to cover this distance in about an hour while driving on the NH 366 and NH 66. The distance from the airport to Baga beach depends on the route taken where the distance via NH 66 is approximately 47 km, and the distance via NH 366 is 52 km. It takes 40 km to reach the Calangute beach from the Dabolim Airport. There are innumerable beach resorts and luxury resorts in Goa for a comfy stay. You may book your place of stay accordingly.

If you are an adventure seeker like me, then Goa is the place to be during the monsoons. It is the perfect break with a whole bunch of offbeat things to do. I was pleased that my trip to one of the popular tourist destinations in India during the offseason indeed turned out to be one of the best to date.