The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

holidays

Amazing European Destinations For This Summer

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Are you thinking of things to do this summer with your friends, family or just your sweetie for the holidays? It can be difficult to find the perfect getaway that everyone would enjoy, but with great destinations like Europe, you can get a bit of something for everyone. With so many countries to visit, history to be experienced and beautiful scenery to enjoy, Europe is more popular than ever for many travellers. Here’s a couple of the top destinations you should check out and consider for this summer’s ultimate holiday.

Norway

Norway is probably one of the most beautiful countries in northern Europe. With high mountains, stunning coastline and vast forested areas, what’s not to like about this welcoming and unique country? You can also see the Norwegian fjords on a cruise, the ultimate addition to any holiday, allowing you the ability to get up close and personal to stunningly carved, steep cliff sides that have been formed over millions of years of glacial erosion. It’s one of the top rated activities by almost everyone who experiences a fjord cruise in Norway, so definitely add it to your must do list if you pick this gorgeous country as one of your stops.

Spain

While many people think of Spain and its resort towns, there’s a lot more to Spain than the coastline on the Med. Inland cities such as Seville and Madrid offer amazing architecture, beautiful town squares and adorable cafes and coffee shops as well as shopping. Not only this, but these cities offer a much more authentic way of Spanish life that isn’t focused as heavily on tourism like the coastal resort towns like Benidorm can be. If you’re looking for a real challenge this summer, why not try the famed route of Santiago de Compostela in the northwest of the country? This extensive hiking trail and pilgrimage route is a popular option for many travellers visiting Spain and can be a great way to meet new people and have an awe-inspiring experience.

Italy

Who doesn’t love a bit of Italy? With so many cities and towns to choose from it can be nigh on impossible to narrow your trip down to just a couple, so why try? Instead, why not rent a car and explore the length and breadth of the country over a couple of weeks from the rolling hills and terracotta coloured villages of Tuscany to the fashionable streets of Milan or the historic sites of the likes of Rome or Napoli. Don’t forget to try authentic Italian dishes like pizzas, pastas and gelato. You’re missing a huge experience if you don’t let your inner foodie out to play in Italy!

With so many unique and beautiful places to choose from throughout Europe, it can be difficult to nail your choices down to just a few, but hopefully this short list of awesome destinations and why they’re so great will help you and your friends or family make the best decision for your next European break – whether it’s this summer or sometime in the future!

 

Top Things To See And Do In Canada For 2019

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With 2018 almost on its way out and 2019 coming in strong, you might have already started planning next year’s great getaway. Many people begin planning in advance, especially if they’re looking to make it a getaway to remember – jetting off to far flung places and doing something truly extraordinary that might be a once in a lifetime kind of thing. For many, the experience of a lifetime includes visiting Canada with its rugged coastlines, majestic mountain scenery and historic towns and cities with impressive colonial era architecture. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, check out the top things to do in Canada for 2019.

The Rocky Mountaineer

The Rocky Mountaineer train journey, developed over a century ago brings together luxurious accommodation, dining and sightseeing together with one of the plushest and most desirable ways to experience the Rocky Mountains. With numerous itineraries to choose from as well as the ability to pick tours with flights included, there’s no better way to get up close and personal with the majestic natural wonder that is the Rockies. Choose from departures in Banff or Jasper and see one of the wonders that draw international travellers to Canada time and again!

Road Trips

With so much land to explore, it makes Canada ideal for road trips. Choose from doing a loop of the West from Vancouver-Calgary-Edmonton, the Ontario loop which includes Toronto-Niagara-Ottawa or the Quebec corridor with Montreal and Quebec City. Feeling brave? Combine all three and take a journey coast to coast along the Trans Canada Highway – probably the ultimate road trip you can do with the exception of the US’ Historic Route 66.

Culture and Cuisine

Fancy getting a look into Canadian history and sampling some of the local fare? Head straight to Quebec where you’ll be whisked away in time with some of the colonial era architecture, leaving you wondering if you’ve stepped foot in France or if you’ve wandered back in time. Be sure to try poutine – arguably Canada’s national dish comprised of French fries, cheese curds and gravy, sometimes topped hilariously with extras up to and nearly including everything but the kitchen sink. Explore the history of the regional old trading Forts, such as Fort Chambly or Fort Lennox before taking a river cruise down the historic St Lawrence through old town Montreal.

Friendly Faces

Want to brave Canadian frontiers that many travellers don’t explore? Head to the little visited islands of Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland for up close and personal experiences with locals so friendly you might just be slightly rattled. See if you can understand a Newfie with their slang and twang before trying the local dishes of Jigg’s dinner, potlicker, and toutons. We’ll leave you to look into what they are so you can whet your appetite and get excited about visiting this rocky island full of friendly people and glorious scenery.

So if you’re after a trip to remember, check out Canada. With excitement and beautiful nature (and people!) coast to coast, it’s no wonder so many love the Great White North. Be sure to plan your trips accordingly with the weather, with May to September being the ideal times to visit most of the country if you want summery climes. So get those bags packed – Canada won’t explore itself!

Christmas Gift Guide For The Hard To Buy For

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With November almost over and Christmas well and truly on the way, it can be a bit nerve wracking and daunting knowing that soon you will have to put aside most other things and focus on Christmas and getting Christmas gifts. While some people find this aspect of the season a fun part and love buying gifts for others, many other people find it tiresome, annoying and one of the hardest things to do, especially when trying to buy for those people who either are impossible to shop for or who have everything already. If this sounds like you, don’t worry – we have your back. Here’s a handy gift guide for the person who has it all.

Awesome Trips

Imagine your loved one on Christmas Day with just an envelope in front of them from you, figuring it’s the same old gift card to their favourite restaurant or for their favourite shop when – surprise! – it’s tickets on an amazing cruise or other fantastic trip. You can look around for the best cruise offer easily and find great deals – especially on ‘no fly’ cruises which can sometimes be only hundreds of pounds per person. If you organise the gift with other members of the family too, you can all surprise someone like your dear old parents with the gift of a lifetime! Make it more fun by wrapping it up in several boxes, similar to ‘pass the parcel’ and keep them guessing layer after layer.

Excursions And Days Out

Off the back of the trip idea, if it’s not quite in your budget this year, why not consider getting that special someone a day out or an excursion of some kind. Many websites such as Red Letter Days offer great ideas for days out ranging from high teas at posh country estates, hotels and tea rooms all the way up to hot air balloon rides and test driving sports cars at certain regional tracks. Whatever you decide to do in terms of days out for your special someone, rest assured that experiences almost always trump “stuff”.

Something Handmade

When it comes to something for the hard to buy for, something handmade is always a winner. Consider making scarves, mittens, blankets, socks, or even something like calendars or planners for the new year. Many websites today such as Vista Print will help you create great, professional looking photo calendars of your family, pets and other various things such as landscapes or artistic photography that you’ve done. You can also create coasters, magnets and other trinkets that can make great gifts for many people in question, but of course you don’t need to use an online vendor to do this. Consider also painting someone a picture, baking them some goodies or something else that says “I love you” through the time it takes to put it together.

So with Christmas around the corner and gifts to be bought, hopefully this gift guide for the hard to buy will help you narrow down some great ideas for those people you dread shopping for. Good luck, and happy holidays!

 

Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Those Hard To Buy For People

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It happens to everyone at some point or other – being faced with having to purchase gifts for the person who has everything or who is notoriously difficult to buy for. At Christmas particularly it can be difficult to devote the time to thinking of the perfect gift for the person who seemingly has everything, which is why sometimes it’s easier to play it simple. Here are a couple of fantastic ideas for small gifts to put into a stocking for those hard to buy people this year. Stay stress free this holiday season and stick with the simple suggestions!

Lottery Tickets

It goes without saying that lottery tickets and scratch cards are popular items to add into a stocking as a stuffer. Many shops have special Christmas packets as well which make fantastic gifts with the potential to win even more frequently than normal, making it a great option for the person who has everything or as a general stocking stuffer for everyone. You can buy lottery tickets both online through subscription and in your local gas station, with online subscriptions becoming more and more popular. Consider giving someone a subscription for Christmas with several months already loaded to their account so they never have to think twice about whether they’re in next week’s draw.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are a hugely popular option for everyone at Christmas with options to buy gift cards for everything from various shops, outings, online retailers and more. This is a great idea for the person who has everything, especially when you opt for things like prepaid Visa or Mastercard where they can use it anywhere, including online. Do they like a specific restaurant, shop or activity? There’s a gift card for that, most probably.

Days Out

If you have a friend or family member that is impossible to buy for, why not consider getting them a day out somewhere. As mentioned before, gift cards can be a great way to do this, but if you know they’re planning to go on a vacation or a trip in the next several months (or even a year from now!) you can opt to purchase an activity, event or day out on their trip that they would enjoy. Extra activities on cruises are a great example of something you can buy for the person who has everything if they’re going on a cruise soon. Use your imagination – even a couple nights at a luxury resort in their destination can be a great gift!

Movie/Theatre Tickets

Does your loved one enjoy getting out to the cinema or theatre? Purchasing tickets to a specific show they’ve been wanting to see can be a great option for the person who is hard to buy for or who has everything. Some theatres even do yearly passes for a price that give you tickets to every show they have on, the ultimate experience for theatre lovers.

So if you’re dreading Christmas because you don’t have time to think up the perfect gift for those people who are impossible to buy for, don’t fret. With these great ideas you will be the talk of the family with your great gift ideas. You might even get people coming to you for advice for next year!

2019’s Beach Destinations – The Islands You Don’t Want To Miss

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With 2018 half over it seems fitting that now would be an ideal time to start thinking about where to head off for the summer holidays next year – especially if you’re hoping to head abroad somewhere far flung and exotic for a bit of a higher class getaway. These things take time to plan to perfection, so why not start now? Here we list the up and coming hot spots for 2019 that you won’t want to miss in terms of spectacular islands you need to see at least once. Grab a pen and paper – you won’t want to miss a single suggestion!

The Maldives

The Maldives is one of the hottest destinations for beach-going holidays at the moment and for good reason. With so many stunning strips of sand idyllically lined with palm trees, cafes, all highlighted with the azure blue of both sea and sky, there’s simply no better way to spend your week or two away than by lazing about on the soft sands of the Maldives and its islands. The perfect romantic getaway for couples who want to celebrate an anniversary, a birthday, their honeymoon or they just want to sunbathe on white sands and swim in some of the most beautiful waters around, this is the place. With numerous other activities to choose from, such as snorkelling and diving trips, fishing trips, spay days and more, it’s easy to see why the Maldives continues to top a list of amazing places for those beach holidays. Check out Neoscapes Maldives to book your next vacation your way. You won’t regret it.

Madagascar

This mysterious island of the south east coast of Africa is home to some of the world’s most unique species of both plants and animals. From the majestic and unique Boabab trees to the Tsingy de Bemaraha Reserve and everything in between, this island is home to some of the most eclectic things you can see and do. This is definitely not just a beach destination and is actually in fact one of the most adventurous places you can explore and experience! For those who love exploring culture and getting out and active, you can stroll the Avenue of the Boababs – a stretch of Boabab trees that jut up into the sky to create a strange and mystical silhouette against the rising or setting sun or don your wetsuit and get out in the water to try your hand at both wind and kite surfing.  

Indonesia

The largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia is home to numerous islands (over 18,000 with around 6000 inhabited) with some of the most pristine and stunning beaches around South East Asia. While islands such as Java and Sumatra are quite crowded, their sights such as Prambanan – famous 8th century temple complex – as well as other temples such as Uluwatu and Borobudur, Indonesia is a great mix of culture, history and beaches making it a huge hit for those who love a little of everything. For the best beaches, head further east to the islands of Bali and the Gili’s – famed for their sea turtles. The further east you go in Indonesia the more remote you get which means the beaches get better and less crowded, with the only downside being in the time it takes to reach these islands.

Vanuatu

A collection of small islands in the Pacific Ocean, only a couple hours’ flying time from mainland Australia, Vanuatu is a beautiful paradise that combines the pleasures of a beach holiday with exciting activities such as watersports, hiking volcanoes and trying something of a local legend in terms of drinks – kava. A popular sight around the island, kava bars are not quite alcohol but will leave you with effects similar to having a couple glasses of beer or wine. A cultural aspect to Vanuatu island life, you should try kava at least once during your stay. Port Vila is the capital city and while it is awash with your typical island resorts with private beaches and the like, lined with crystal clear waters if you want something a bit more rustic and off the tourist trail, consider checking out some of the neighbouring islands for a more remote and romantic beach experience.

Fiji

When you think of Fiji, the images of expensive exclusive resorts and beautiful beaches probably dominate your thoughts and you wouldn’t be wrong. While mainly marketed as a mid-range destination, the possibilities for beautiful beach getaways in Fiji are endless. Many family friendly resorts are found on the main island, those looking for a romantic getaway will find secluded white sand beaches void of crowds on the further outlying islands with high quality, luxury level resorts on offer, perfect for those important holidays such as honeymoons or anniversary celebrations. Be the envy of your friends with a Fijian holiday – it is after all one of the most sought after and popular romantic getaway destinations!

Hawaii

Hawaii has long been a hot destination for those seeking beach holidays and for good reason – the high quality and number of sandy strips is staggering and with several islands to choose from, it’s easy to see why Hawaii attracts thousands of visitors a year. Usually touted as a bit of a higher class and more exclusive destination, resorts and hotels are top quality and the opportunities for excursions such as helicopter rides through the high, green volcanic ridges of the islands are numerous. Snorkelling and diving trips to majestic reefs are popular options to beat the heat and get up close and personal with some of the beautiful marine life that call this area home. In short – Hawaii is a top destination most years, especially for those located in the United States due to its relatively close proximity and volume of flights from cities such as Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles.

Cuba

Cuba is the place dreams are made of in terms of both beaches and cultural wonder. The perfect place for both resort lovers and rustic travellers, Cuba offers a bit of something for everyone. From the lush and luxurious resorts of the likes of Montego Bay and Varadero, holiday makers can kick back on the white sands to while away the hours between excursions to various towns, tobacco farms or pristine snorkelling sites. Those who like to live rustically and experience the country by travelling and getting in with the locals, Cuba is an ideal and very safe place to explore by road, including hitch hiking. Stop for awhile at secluded beaches before heading off again to the next town. Be sure to try out staying in a Casa Particulaire – essentially a Cuban homestay sanctioned by the government to allow visitors.

So there you have some of the top beach holiday destinations for 2019. With so many amazing places to choose from, it’s no wonder beach holidays are so popular with so many people. Which will you choose? The sky’s the limit!