The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

vacation

Should You Take Out a Loan to Travel?

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There is no doubt that travelling has countless benefits. In addition to having some fun, it gives you the chance to explore different places, relax, and learn and try out new things among many other benefits. However, travelling requires money. You need money for your ticket, accommodation, food, activities and souvenirs. So, what happens when you want to travel but don’t have enough money to pay for it? Should you wait until you have enough, or should you take out a loan and travel right away? This article highlights some of the key reasons why taking a loan out to travel can be a good idea as well as instances when you shouldn’t take a loan.

Cost is Spread Over a Couple of Months

When you take a loan to travel, you will make the repayments over a couple of months. This spreads the burden, especially when you are taking an expensive trip. For instance, when taking a trip in January, instead of covering the whole amount in January, travellers can consider short term loans from sites like LoanPig that can be repaid in three to twelve months.

No Need to Postpone Travel

Loans can also be helpful when you want to travel at a certain time but don’t have enough money for it at the moment. Maybe you wanted a summer trip but by the time you save up enough, it will be snowing. In such a case, you can weigh the benefits and cost of the loan and apply for the financing you need to make your trip a success.

Travel When You Have Free Time

Loans can also make it easy to travel when you get some free time but hadn’t planned financially for a trip. Maybe you just got some days off work or you are taking a business break and you just get the urge to take a short vacation. Since it may be a while before you get some more days off, you can consider taking a loan and travelling while you have the time.

However, as stated above, there are times when you shouldn’t take a loan to travel. And when you decide to take one, you should think about your decision carefully. Consider these three points:

  • Before you apply for the loan, check the interest rates and see if it’s worth it. Also, compare loans from a couple of lenders to ensure you get one with the lowest cost.
  • Don’t take a loan to travel if you won’t be able to pay it back on time. Late payments attract interest and penalties. Also, don’t do it if it will cause you to strain financially when making the payments. It’s not worth taking a trip if it will cause you to struggle with basic needs over the next couple of months.
  • Finally, find ways to lower your travel costs so that even if you need a loan, it won’t be a big one. Some steps you can take to achieve this include taking advantage of shopping cash backs and credit card rewards, booking your trip when airfares are low, and house sittinginstead of staying in a hotel.

Hopefully this guide has helped make it clearer on whether or not taking out a loan is right for you.

Bali Travel Tips – What to Know About Visiting with a Family

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If you’ve had a trip to Bali on your bucket list and finally want to make it happen, then you’ve got plenty of excitement in store. Bali is one of the world’s most beautiful countries, packed with incredible culture and natural beauty, and visiting with your family can be a hugely rewarding experience.

To make the most of your holiday on the Indonesian island, it’s important to be aware of a few practical family-friendly tips. Read on to find out more.

Beach-side stays will always have plenty to offer

Bali attracts a diverse crowd of people, and there’s a lot to experience and do all over, but when you’re visiting with children, you probably want to prioritise activities that the whole family will enjoy.

Staying by a beach, such as some of the beautiful villas in Seminyak, can be a great choice, as you are conveniently close to all of the fun activities in the ocean and on the sand, as well as a good variety of restaurants and cafes to eat out in.  It’s also much nicer to explore the area on foot with ease.

Balinese people love kids

People in Bali generally adore children, and kids are regarded as an important part of the community in Balinese culture, so families generally experience a very positive and welcoming stay.

Don’t be surprised if strangers pay your kids’ compliments on how cute they are or offer them gifts. It’s also polite to respond with a friendly comment about their children.

While some parents can occasionally find this behaviour a little surprising or intrusive, you’ll generally find a friendly and warm environment. A great way to help children understand Balinese culture is by taking part in local dance lessons or craft activities, which can be a wonderful way to learn something new.

Safety standards are very different

While Bali is a fantastic place, it does have a very different attitude to health and safety than what you might be used to, and one of the biggest factors to be aware of is basic travel safety.

If you are planning to drive in Bali, make sure that you are familiar with all the rules, and it can be helpful to bring your own child seat, if you need one, as you may not be provided with one from your car rental service. It is also wise to have some help from a local guide, especially if you’re planning to travel around on your own extensively, as they may be able to help you familiarise yourself with the roads more quickly.

As well as travelling safely, it is also important to check on basic safety issues, such as child seats or highchairs in restaurants, or when on any ride or activity. While local guides and instructors can be warm and inviting, they may not be fully aware or trained with all safety procedures, so it’s worth keeping an extra eye on this.

Barcelona Travel Tips: 5 Things to Know Before Traveling to Barcelona

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Are you planning a trip to Barcelona? Before you go, make sure you inform yourself! After all, if you want to give yourself the best experience possible, you’ll need to do some planning (and learning a phrase or two in Spanish or Catalan won’t hurt either).

If you want to know all of the insider Barcelona travel tips, you’re in the right place. Keep reading for 5 things you need to know before you leave on a jet plane.

  1. There are Two Official Languages in Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, one of 17 autonomous regions of Spain. Catalonia has customs that differ from much of the rest of Spain and many residents of Catalonia believe that it should be independent.

As such, Barcelona has two official languages: Spanish and Catalan. It is a language that is similar to Spanish, and has the same roots, but does have many differences. Most Catalonians are bilingual, so if you speak one or the other, you should be good.

  1. Be Strategic About When You Visit

You should be strategic about when you visit Barcelona so you can see the city without millions of other tourists. Early spring (prior to Holy Week or Semana Santa) and early fall (September and October) are some of the best times to visit. Late summer is probably the worst time, as many locals head on their own vacations and it’s the hottest time of the year.

  1. Book Tours in Advance

Barcelona is a huge tourist attraction (nearly 20 million people visited last year!), so it’s important to plan ahead if there are tours or other attractions you want to experience while you are there.

Whether you want to tour Barcelona with a tour guide or on your own, you’ll want to plan ahead for major attractions, like the Sagrada Familia or the Picasso Museum.

  1. Be Aware of the Schedule

The schedule in Barcelona is very different from other places in Europe and much different than what Americans are used to. Lunch is in the late afternoon (think after 2:30) and dinner is rarely before 9:00 p.m. Show up at a restaurant at what you think is a regular dinner time of 7:00 p.m. and you may just find it closed!

Many shops close after lunch and before dinner as well, so be aware of that. You might find places closed from 5 to 8 p.m.

This is all part of the extremely laid-back environment in Barcelona. No one is in a hurry, so don’t expect fast service in bars and restaurants. Instead, slow down, take it all in, and enjoy the more relaxed pace of the city!

  1. Stay Off Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is basically the Times Square of Barcelona. Overcrowded, extremely touristy, and full of the same old street vendors and tourist traps. If you can stand it, avoid Las Ramblas, as this isn’t the real Barcelona. Not to mention, you’ll also be at risk of being pickpocketed, especially if you give off the tourist vibe.

If you must, take a stroll or two just to say you’ve seen it, but save your meals, drinks, and other experiences for some of the other, more authentic areas of Barcelona.

Barcelona Travel Tips to Make It a Trip to Remember

If you fancy yourself a world traveler, Barcelona is a must-see destination. Use these Barcelona travel tips to go at the right time and make sure you know what to expect when you get there!

Did you find this article useful? Feel free to share it on social media and be sure to take a look around for more valuable information.

The Best Places to Travel to Stop the January Blues

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January might seem like a long way off, or perhaps you’re already dreading the bitter coldness of the month. However you feel about the first month of the year, the UK is not the best place to spend it, and many people experience the January blues. One of the best ways to defeat them is to travel. Not only are destinations cheap in January, allowing you to have something to look forward to and break the monotony of the winter months, but holidays can also allow you to tick off any travel-related new year’s resolutions.

· Russia

If your new year’s resolution is to travel somewhere a little bit different, you should consider the positives of visiting Russia in the winter months. Although it might be unreasonably cold in January, with lows of -8 Celsius, there is no country like Russia in winter. Russia was built for the winter months and can help to vanquish any lingering depression after the Christmas period, with its spectacular landscapes and monuments. What’s more, if the back-to-work period is stressing you out, you can book a stress-free holiday with Exoticca Travel’s trips to Russia, the perfect way to see as much as possible of this momentously vast country bridging Europe and Asia.

· Canada

Leave your life and the UK behind with a holiday getaway to Canada, whose exquisite natural attractions and National parks will have you begging to weather the winter out in North America. The best place to travel to in Canada during January is British Columbia, whose destinations such as Glacier National Park are at their best in the winter months, allowing you to remember the joys of the winter season rather than the negatives. While you are there, you may also have the opportunity to spot wildlife such as bears and moose, and even the phenomenon of the Northern Lights.

· Sweden

Whenever most people think of Scandinavia, they think of winter with sprawling snowy landscapes, pine forests and regal mountain ranges. If you want to step into a Christmas card, visit Sweden in the new year and have the opportunity to follow reindeer and moose through the woodland on safari, sleep in an igloo and even lose the Christmas pounds and shake off the January cobwebs by visiting the ski slopes. Additionally, if you are fixated on the Northern Lights, Sweden is the perfect destination to spot them if you are looking for a viewing location a little closer to home.

· Australia

If you are fed up of winter and want to turn the clocks forward to summer, it is time to book a flight to Australia, which, in January, experiences some of its hottest temperatures of the year. Additionally, where could capture the Australian way of life more than the Gold Coast? Fulfil all of your Christmas dreams this year and get your 2020 bucket list ticked off early by enjoying the waves in Surfer’s paradise, or finding the child in yourself again at one of the many theme parks.

Look like a Local: How to Dress in Italy on Your Trip

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Back side of young woman making picture of beautiful colorful old italian buildings, happy travel to Europe, summer vacation concept

Romantic architecture. Mouth-watering pizza. Flavorsome wine.
Missing anything?

Oh yes, fashion! Italian fashion is renowned for producing names like Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, and Versace. So it’s no wonder you’re wondering how to dress in Italy.

Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here are our top tips on dressing like a local.

1. Tailoring is Key

You never see an Italian sporting baggy threads.  Italians would see this as poor attention to detail and will think you can’t find your perfect size.

To avoid this, go tighter even for men’s pants.  And for women, choose a well-fitted pair of capri pants as they’re classy.

2. Dress Like the Rest of the Region 

Italian dress code varies depending on the geography. The main divide is between the North and the South.  For example, Milan sits in the North and is world-famous within the fashion industry.  The style there oozes sophistication and depends on designer brands.

On the flipside, Italian attire in Southern cities like Rome sticks to a more traditional style.  When you’re here, make sure you don’t show too much skin as locals aren’t keen on revealing clothes.

Also, dress formally in cities as opposed to rural towns and also consider the weather.  Before you pack, remember that the North is warm in the summer and cold in winter whereas the South is warm all year round.

3. Wear Classic Colors

You may ask “what do people wear in Italy”, and the answer: is the right color palette.

Italians occasionally wear bold colors but mostly stick to classic tones.  Pick clothes that are dark blue, black, cream, white and tan.  Brighter colors are common in spring and choose light colors in the sun as they best reflect the heat.

And, when you’re picking out your outfit, always avoid unnatural colors like neon green or mustard yellow.

4. Sport Nice Shoes

Before you Google “how do people dress in Italy”, know that locals wear fine shoes.
When you dress in Italy, wear sturdy shoes that aren’t overwhelmed with bling.  Choose a pair made from high-quality fabric or leather and ensure they are in good condition.

Italians will appreciate designer labels on your feet but if you can’t, make sure they’re classy and clean.  For example, these sneakers are made in Italy and will be a hit.

If you’re a female, get a pair of ballet-style shoes or a classy boot to complete your outfit.

…And that’s How to Dress in Italy

It’s important to know how to dress in Italy so you fit in with the locals.  Italians stick to classic colors and tailor their outfits to fit perfectly.  But before you go, check the weather so you know whether to rock your summer or winter outfits.  Buona fortuna!

Are you ready to embark on your next adventure? Check us out for more top travel tips.