Couples Holidays – Purple Travel Official Blog

Most blissful islands worldwide

Jun 15 2015

Madeira, Portugal

Porto Santo by night

Once again windy Madeira was named as one of the best islands in the world! The island is an archipelago of Portuguese islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Funchal is the capital of Madeira settled in the 15th century. The greatest part of the island is an imposing botanical garden full of levadas, perfect for hiking trails. To explore its natural beauty you should surely visit the nearby villages, maintaining its charm. Gaze in wonder through mountain climbing to the summit of Pico Ruivo, you will feel like walking in heaven, as you revel in the eminent panoramic views of solidified lava…

Madeira’s Nothern Wonders: Volcanically natural pools

The Nothern road winds down through an amazing landscape of wild forests and lush valleys where you can find the famed terraced vineyards in Levada do Norte. Last but not least, don’t forget to unwind over a wine tasting at Pereira D’Oliveira. Porto Santo morphs into a party island on summer time, not to mention, the natural lava pools at Porto Moniz!

Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

Endless deep blue…Soaking in the Aegean Sea

Looking for a mythical experience? The island of charm, ‘’immortalized’’ by famous poets, thanks to its coloured houses carved into cliffs and the most mesmerizing sunsets like an artist’s palette! A unique aura that overwhelms all senses with amazing views of the caldera creates wild landscape as you are strolling along Nea Kameni’s volcano. If you are a fearful adventurer, you can try scuba-diving into the thermal waters forming a volcanic spa at Palia Kameni or challenge yourself walking along the Oia’s path where an iridescent landscape await you on the dusk time.

If you are a history lover, take a visit at the ‘’Pompeian City of Aegean’’, the prehistoric Akrotiri and the museum of Prehistoric Thera at Fira. Of course, Santorini’s local specialties are among the most popular, as the greatest chefs blend traditional twist with modern gastronomy making Santorini one of the best culinary destinations! As, for the sunbathers there are unique beaches with a colors of red, black, white and red: Perissa, Perivolos, Kamari, Kokkini and Aspri Paralia (Red & White Beach).

Mauritius, Indian Ocean, Africa

Chillin’ with refreshing coconut drinks on the beach

One of the most favored tropical paradise in the world, Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, is a bustling port with a modernized waterfront! Its beautiful well-known resorts, such as the Mont Choisy, Trou-aux-Biches and the Flic en Flac, perfect choice for scuba-divers or Rivière Noire for fishing. Mauritius’ crystal blue waters, endless sandy beaches and tropical climate, is an ideal go-to destination for honeymoons and jet setters too! Except for snorkeling and coconut refreshing cocktails there is much more to do on this island with its buzzing nightlife and rich culture. Moreover, there are some things surely not to miss: Mahebourg market – the island’s traditional bazzar, Mauritius is also home to world’s golf lovers, Chamarel Colored Earths & Waterfalls, Sporting enthusiasts: Have a daytrip at Ille aux Cerfs, Admire flora & fauna of Indian Ocean at Mauritius Aquarium or take a visit at Eureka delving into Mauritius’ colonial past.

Bali, Indonesia

Door of Heaven

Bali, the Indonesian paradise, feels like a earthly heaven with its incomparable beauty…. Bali is part of the Coral Triangle, known for its great diversity of marine species. Soak up the sun or dive along the amazing wreck of a WWII war ship! At artistic Ubud, you can see a cultural local dance or if you need some revival moments, invigorate mind & body in a yoga class. The eclectic Balinese tradition will get you hooked during your stay and it is mainly what sets this island apart from other tropical destinations. Most tourists visit also the island for its stunning ancient and nature wonders, active volcanoes and lush wild jungles!

Wild nature comes alive…

Can’t miss – Facilities & Landmarks

What Not to Miss in Bali
Shopping at Seminyak & dining at Nasi Ayam Kedewatan restaurant
Explore Kuta – Amed & Lovina beaches
Dive off Pemuteran & Surfing at Medewi
Visit Puri Lukisan museum & Monkey Sanctuary

Ancient temples leaves you speechless

Amazing Days Out: Granada’s Alhambra Palace

Mar 10 2014

Amazing Days Out: Granada’s Alhambra Palace

If you’re holidaying in Spain, particularly Andalusia or anywhere nearby, you’ll be wanting to check out the incredible Alhambra Palace. It is easily one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe, certainly the most famous in Spain and the town of Granada offers a little shelter from the punishing summer heat of Seville or Cordoba, and is only a couple of hours from Malaga. The two parts of the complex, the Alhambra and Albaycin are seated on two opposite hills and showcase medieval Granada at its most magnificent.

Image via @ Cromeo

Mar 07 2014

Our weekly series: A Night Less Ordinary is all about finding the most weird and wonderful hotels all over the world. From a James Bond hotel room, to sleeping underwater expect the unexpected. This week, we take a step back in time for a night on a cabin in the Jane Hotel New York.

What’s the gimmick? Lovingly renovated, the Jane Hotel’s rooms are themed around the cabins on a ship, complete with galley style bunk bed rooms, brass fittings, warm colours and big mirrors, storage under over beds and buckets of bohemian history. A stay in the Jane Hotel, with its retro-uniformed staff and period design is filled with character and one that makes the most of the NYC experience.

Purple Tips: Europe’s Best Music Festivals 2014

Feb 27 2014

Plan an incredible summer holiday around a festival and get more bang for your buck. Read our Purple tips about the best music festivals 2014 and don’t miss out. If you’ve got any more suggestions for the best music festivals 2014, hit us up in the comments below.

Meadows in the Mountains Pic via @ Facebook

Best Music Festivals 2014 – April

Altitude Comedy Festival – Austria
When: 31 Marcy – 4 April 2014
Where: Mayrhofen, Austria
What is it: In the same awesome venue as the Snowbombing festival, this is all about comedy. Lots of beginner slopes as well as black runs and great apres-ski, this is two holidays in one!
Who: Pub Landlord Al Murray, John Murray, Tommy Tiernan, Andrew Maxwell and Craig Campbell.
Price: Depending on your arrival date from £188.

Snowbombing – Austria
When: 7-12 April 2014
Where: Up in the snowy mountains of Mayrhofen, Austria
What is it: A mix of partying and piste, where winter sports meets hedonistic highs.
Who: The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers DJ set, Four Tet, Tom Odell, Foxes.
Price: From £219 including accommodation.

Best Music Festivals 2014 – May

Primavera Sound – Barcelona
When: 29-31 May 2014
Where: Parc Del Forum, Barcelona, Spain.
What is it: A huge lineup of some of the best acts in the world today will play in the sunshine at Primavera’s outdoor stages showcasing Barcelona as a great music-lead city.
Who: The National, Arcade Fire, Pixies, Nine Inch Nails, QOTSA, Haim, Metronomy, Foals and Chrvches.
Price: €175

Best Music Festivals 2014 – June

Sonar pic via @ Facebook

Ibiza Rocks and Mallorca Rocks – Balearic Islands
When: All summer long! Starting on June 4 2014.
Where: Ibiza/Majorca
What is it: A full on summer festival experience without the mud.
Who: Haim, The 1975, John Newman, Bastille, Bombay Bicycle Club, Ed Sheeran and Tinie Tampah.
Price: From £75

Pinkpop – Netherlands
When: 7 – 9 June 2014
Where: Landgraaf, Netherlands
What is it: The 45th year of Pinkpop, this is one of the oldest in the world and draws huge names from all over the world.
Who: Arcade Fire, Metallica, Editors, Mastodon and Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters.
Price: Tickets for Pinkpop will be released on 15th March 2014

Feb 04 2014

Perhaps one of the best parts of planning your wedding is deciding what type of honeymoon you would like! Planning a wedding can be an extremely stressful – not to mention costly – experience, and it is not in anyone’s interests (least of all yours) for you to turn into a ‘Bridezilla’ or ‘Groomzilla’ before the big day! You should make the most of all the available resources to you. There are some fantastic online guides and wedding site directories which are designed to aid with all things wedding, and are a great place start.

It is wonderful to think that the honeymoon will provide a safe haven for the two of you to escape to once all the hustle and bustle of the big day itself is over.

You may already have a fixed idea of what type of honeymoon you would like – but if you are still a little in the dark, or you simply haven’t started considering it yet – here are some tips to get you started. Before you know it you will be jetting off to the holiday of a lifetime, and the first holiday together of your married life.

Feb 03 2014

Give your holiday a boost this year by combining it with an amazing festival. Whether you want to knock back pints of Guinness on St Patrick’s Day or fancy giving the air guitar world championship a go, you won’t miss out with our guide to some amazing festivals 2014.

Venice Carnival In the days leading up to Ash Wednesday the Venice Carnival is in full swing. Carnevale di Venezia is an elegant throwback to 18^th century opulence. The bright and beautiful of the Italian city’s social scene arrive cloaked and masked for energetic, but pricey parties. Ideal for a luxurious weekend away. Venice Carnival happens between February 14^th and March 4^th 2014.

Venice Carnival via @ Heatherbroster

St Patrick’s Day There is no better place to celebrate St Patrick’s Day than the Irish capital city of Dublin. It’s not limited to drinking pints, (although you can if you want!) the city pulls out all the stops for a wonderful festival with live music, dancing, parades and free events all over the place. It’s a top choice for a very quick city break, Dublin is just a hop, skip and a jump from the UK. St Patrick’s Say is celebrated on March 17^th 2014.

Jan 29 2014

Treat him or her to a fantastic Valentine’s holiday with Purple Travel. We’ve got 10 of Europe’s most romantic cities for all types of couples. If It’s history that you’re mad about, incredible hotel rooms that you won’t leave for days on end or a sunshine getaway where you can relax hand in hand on a secluded beach, you’ll love our list of Europe’s most romantic cities. We threw the question out on Google + and Facebook and got some great responses. As always, anything we’ve missed, let us know in comment and already decided where you want to go on your next city break? Call Purple Travel on 02079939228 for low cost flights and hotels Europe’s Most Romantic Cities…

#1 Dazzlingly beautiful Italy’s Liguria Coast is filled with cost tucked-away romantic guesthouses and hotels. Sometimes known as the Bay of fairy tales the ancient ruins and old castles provide a stunning backdrop to sunset dinners on a terrace and balmy evenings walking hand in hand. Choose from ocean view hotels with high ceilings and don’t forget to visit the cocktail bars.

#2 Paris is perfect for traditional romantics. An obvious choice but that’s because it’s so good! We’re talking freshly baked croissants for breakfast in bread, the views from the top of the Eiffel Tower and long meals accompanied by the best red wine. Paris is filled with amazing hotels so you can treat him or her to a Valentine’s they’ll never forget.

#3 Just a couple of hours away, Rome is a hot choice for history and art lovers for couples who want to discover the Sistine Chapel or the Coliseum together. Stay in the The wide streets and incredible selection of restaurants make this one of Europe’s most romantic cities.

#4 It might not be the first city that pops into your head, but Copenhagen in Denmark makes a gorgeous romantic weekend away. The city renowned for its links to fairy tale writer Hans Chrsitan Andersen is a jusst 90 minutes from the UK. Stop for hot chocolates and a heart shaped cake in one of the city’s famous cafes after a visit to the Winter Garden, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. In the evening cinema is one of the most popular things to do in Copenhagen and it’s easy to see why. Cinemas like the Empire and Falkoner have specially made seats just for two. Copenhagen image via @ Visit Denmark

#5 One of the most popular cities in Europe right now the Portuguese capital has it all. Lively Lisbon is all cobblestone streets, cosy cafes and bars and incredible hotels. All of those overlooked by an ancient castle. It’s hard to top Lisbon for most romantic cities. Lisbon image via @ Luca Sartoni

#6 The magical kingdoms in Game of Thrones might be familiar when you set foot in Dubrovnik. The hazy sun soaked pottery tiled roofs and shiny flagstoned streets are not only beautiful, but world-famous now too thanks to the filming of the George RR Martin books. The city’s old walls doubles as Kings Landing and the view from the top shows off Blackwater Bay. Dubrovnik is top of the romance charts as far as we are concerned. Dubrovnik via @ Branimal!

#7 Venice. A long established romantic hot spot, Barbara Hopley on our Google + page shared her thoughts about her favourite romantic city in Europe: “Venice definitely, a nice dinner then a Gondola ride – perfect! Highly recommend, I love Venice.”

#8 A stunningly well-preserved city, Prague is made for walking around hand in hand with the one you love. A sea of spires and statues awaits you by day, while at night, the famous Prague nightlife is sure to impress any party-loving couple. Sunset dinner in Prague via @ MadebyMark

#9 Holidays in Marrakech are made up of a couple of essentials: discovering the sights and sounds of the Medina, testing out your shisha smoking skills, eating incredible local food and maybe a bit of sunbathing thrown in. Marrakech couples city breaks are all about adventure and who better to share that with than your other half.

#10 Santorini has all the elements for the perfect couple’s holiday. Those incredible sunsets, the winding white washed streets where it feels like it’s just the two of you alone in the world. Book a room with a sea view and your own private swimming pool, just don’t blame us if you never want to leave.

Have something special in mind for Valentine’s Day? Call the expert travel team at Purple Travel on 02079939228 and surprise the one you love this year.

A night less ordinary: Marie Antoinette Suite Paris

Dec 05 2013

Find out more about the most amazing hotels around the world with Purple Travel. We take a look at a night less ordinary, whether it’s sleeping in a fox hotel, or in a silver mine, we want to give you a look at some of the weirdest but most wonderful hotels in the world. This week, a delight for that special lady in your life, let her eat cake at the Marie Antoinette Suite Paris in the Hotel 7 in Paris.

What’s the gimmick? Have a little taste of the Palace of Versailles at this incredible Marie Antoinette Suite Paris. Created with the indulgence of aristocracy at the French Court it has every luxury you can imagine and creates the perfect atmosphere for an unforgettable weekend away in the City of Lights.

Why stay? Featuring a clawfoot hot tub, canopy bed and a voluptuous lounge, it’s made for fun and games and a feeling of utter decadence.

All images via @ www.sevenhotelparis.com

The WOW factor! Really, a themed hotel in the heart of Paris, built for heavenly levels of extravagance make for a perfect dirty weekend. If you feel like spoiling someone special check out the Marie Antoinette Suite Paris at the Hotel 7.

Prices start from 367€ per night.

See what it looks like in this video:

Read more: A night less ordinary Hamster Hotel

Joining the Mile High Club – legitimately

Nov 13 2013

While you might wonder about the ethics or even legal status of joining the Mile High Club, it’s no secret that it’s a bucket list entry for lots of people. Seeing a niche business opportunity a US based airline has created a special package for couples who want to do just that.

Flamingo Air, based in Ohio, USA, is offering private flights especially for couples who want to get on board with love in the air. The hour long flight in a Piper Cherokee 6 plane has its own private love nest, and as mentioned on the site, a very discreet pilot (!) Offering champagne and chocolates, the flights of fancy will set you back $425, but promise to give you a flight you won’t forget.

So, ditch the tricky trips to the toilets and take it easy at 20,000 feet in the comfort of your own personal (temporary) bedroom. Just remember, these flights take two people at a time, so no extra funny business!

You should read… the sexiest holidays on earth

Unexpected Beaches for Stag And Hen Parties

Nov 08 2013

This one’s for all the guys and girls who want something a little bit more off-the-beaten track than your average beach. Hen parties and stag parties these days tend to be over the top but some grooms and brides just want to have a relaxing getaway to keep calm and carry on ahead of their big day. If you think sunbathing in California or Hawaii is too obvious or if you, can’t stand tourists, why not take the road less travelled? There are plenty of secret and unexpected beaches around the world, hidden gems reserved strictly for locals or connoisseurs.

Blijburg aan Zee, the beach in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Image via @ webted

Amsterdam is the proud owner of 165 canals, but, did you know it also has an achingly hip beach set on an artificial island in the middle of the city lake? Blijburg aan Zee is the place to be during the summer, with DJs playing day and night, regular art events and lots of beach activities like campfires and sandcastle building competitions making it the real deal. Perfect for a lively hen or stag do that’s pretty close to home.

Rockaway Beach, New Yorker’s weekend escape

New York Beach via @ Moonman82

This funky destination is located in Queens, New York and it’s the only official surfing destination in the Big Apple. It’s a great find if you’re looking for that bohemian beach destination in New York, making it a great addition to the city’s assets. It’s the newest hipster destination, but don’t let that put you off, it has great food and plenty of atmosphere. This is for the cosmopolitan hens who want the best of city break with a bit of beach thrown in.

Cadaqués, the artist beach in Spain

Image via @ cobachoj

Spain is a pretty obvious choice for travellers. But, there’s a reason tourists queue to visit Barcelona, Madrid and the Balearic Islands. If you’re in love with the Spanish way of life, but feel tired just thinking of tourists crowding your every move, try Cadaqués. This Catalonian town was an artist resort and inspired brilliant minds, especially surrealist painter Salvador Dali. You can even visit his house or learn more about him at a really good museum dedicated to his genius in Port Lligat, a neighbouring town. Perfect for a stag or hen with an artistic streak.

Phu Quoc, the (still) secret island of Vietnam

Image via @ ZoeShuttleworth

Tourists in Southern Asia have been known to ignore this beautiful island and choose more popular destinations like Phuket or Koh Samui. Phu Quoc is the largest island in the Gulf of Thailand and it boasts pristine beaches, fascinating reefs and hard–to-forget authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Get it while it’s still fresh and untouched by popular tour guide books. This is a long-haul stag or hen destination that you’ll never forget.

Capo Sant’Andrea, the island within an island in Elba

The Mediterranean island is where Napoleon famously was famously exiled. Fishing villages, ancient castles and green hills are just a few sightseeing gems for you and your friends in Capo Sant’Andrea. If you’re looking for serious beaches and serious partying, then this little island has exactly what you need.

No matter if you’re looking for a city escape or a secret beach on a dream island for your hen or stag party, there are more choices than you’d think. New York, Amsterdam Copenhagen, and Barcelona are just a few cities where local beaches are a perfect destination for an all-boys/all-girls vacation, while splendid islands and fishing towns in Vietnam, Spain, Estonia or Tasmania will give you the perfect holiday without transporting you to Touristville.

Amber Kingsley is a travel writer and has contributed to several travel sites and blogs. She loves spending time at the beach with her puppy Charlie and is always looking for the hidden gems of a city on her travels. She would loves finding out about more secret spots through her readers!

Tag - Couples Holidays

Most blissful islands worldwide

Madeira, Portugal

Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

Mauritius, Indian Ocean, Africa

Bali, Indonesia

Amazing Days Out: Granada’s Alhambra Palace

A Night Less Ordinary: The ship-shape Jane Hotel

Purple Tips: Europe’s Best Music Festivals 2014

Purple Tips: Planning Your Honeymoon

Purple Tips: 11 Amazing Festivals 2014

Purple 10: Europe’s Most Romantic Cities

A night less ordinary: Marie Antoinette Suite Paris

Joining the Mile High Club – legitimately

Unexpected Beaches for Stag And Hen Parties