great for kids – Purple Travel Official Blog

Purple 10: Extremely Cool Water Parks for 2014

Mar 19 2014

Who doesn’t love slip-sliding about and releasing your inner child? Is there a better place to do that than in a them park or water park? We don’t think so. Impress your kids this year with all the facts about these extremely cool water parks for 2014 and don’t forget to tell us if we’ve missed one of your favourite water parks in the comments below.

1. Tropical Islands Resort, Krausnick, Germany. The largest indoor water park in the world, Tropical Islands is in a former zeppelin hangar, complete with rainforest, palm trees, birdsong and artificial sun.

2. Siam Park, Tenerife. Perhaps one of the best known water parks in Europe, Siam Park, the Water Kingdom is home to a Tower of Power which is a 28 metre plunge, the zero gravity Dragon experience, the 200 metre mega slide the Kinnaree and the Sawasdee, a great choice for families: it’s a mini version of the grown up rides especially for kids.

Purple Tips: Gambia – The Ideal Holiday Destination for Families

Mar 18 2014

Have you ever planned a family holiday trip by throwing a dart at a map of the world? That method might well be the only way many of us would ever hit upon The Gambia as our next family holiday spot. This tiny nation, one of the smallest in Africa, nevertheless offers some marvelous facilities for tourists along the stretch of beach that sits along the Atlantic. If you and your family enjoy the unusual and if they seek exoticism — here it is!

A Unique Culture

Of course the “real Gambia” includes far more than what you can see from your hotel window. Feeling the need for a bit of help from knowledgeable locals? Then you’re in luck, you can find freelance tour guides through the Gambia Official Tourist Guides Scheme. This organization connects tourists staying in area hotels with guides who can help them get more out of their stay. The guides are happy to show tourists the sights and explain the culture.

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

Purple Tips: 16 Facts About Spain

Mar 04 2014

Ever wondered where the word ‘Spain’ comes from? Or how about how many miles of beaches there are in Spain? Let us help you out with our 16 excellent holiday facts about Spain.

#1 Let’s start with one of our favourite facts about Spain. It is the most popular holiday destination for Brits, (it was in 2013) with Majorca, Malaga, Tenerife and Costa del Sol holidays ranking highly. Purple Travel’s most popular Spain holidays included Ibiza, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca as well as city breaks in Barcelona.

#2. Some of the most famous names in the world hail from Spanish shores. Actors Javier Bardem (Gran Canaria),Penelope Cruz (Madrid) and Antonio Banderas (Malaga) and sports stars like tennis player Rafael Nadal (Majorca), Andres Iniesta (Castilla-La Mancha) and Fernando Torres (Madrid) are just a selection of the famous faces hailing from Spanish shores.

#3. The word for ‘Spain’ is said to come from ‘Hispania’, which roughly translates to Island of Rabbits. So if you see some bunnies, don’t be too surprised.

2014 Ski Holidays

Feb 20 2014

Feeling a little inspired by all the action at the Winter Olympics Sochi 2014 and want to give snowboarding or skiing a go? How about simply settling in for an evening of apres-ski? What do you mean you’re not really bothered with skiing? Filled with warming gluhwein and cosy sweaters, or maybe it’s an alternative music festival you’re after? We’ve got the best late deals for 2014 ski holidays right now for whatever type of ski break you’re looking for.

Feb 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 have a night less ordinary at the Giraffe Manor in Kenya.

The WOW factor? The Giraffe Manor which is part of the Tamimi Group lets you get as close to a giraffe as you’re ever likely to get in your life. The Manor is a luxury hotel with its own herd of Rothschild Giraffe who wander around the property, nudging at your breakfast and generally being super cool new friends. The nature trail around the hotel goes through forests and dry lands and as well as giraffes it’s a natural habitat for warthogs, hyenas, different species of birds and every so often a leopard, so you’ll get up close and personal with all kinds of animals.

Purple Tips: Lanzarote Holidays

Jan 10 2014

The winter doldrums have arrived, but don’t let freezing temperatures, icy footpaths and seemingly eternal dark days get the best of you this year. Instead plan Lanzarote holidays, the most easterly of Spain’s beautiful and exotic Canary Islands. This literal hotspot offers a unique way to escape winter’s icy clutches while making memories to get you through any blustery blizzard yet to come.

A Volcanic Paradise
Nicknamed the “Island of Eternal Spring,” Lanzarote is heralded for its spectacular year-round weather, scenic beaches and famous “lunar” landscapes thanks to more than 350 volcanic craters and one active volcano. A whopping 41 per cent of the island has been declared Protected Natural Areas, including the magnificent Timanfaya National Park.

Skip the trip to the moon and enjoy Lanzarote’s lunar landscape instead.

Lanzarote’s major tourist destinations include Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca. Each of these offers a dynamic spot for tourists to relax and recharge. Students enjoy discounts on transportation and entrance tickets; combined with easy access from a number of different points, reasonable prices and a variety of accommodations, Lanzarote is an ideal destination for international students in search of exploration.

Jan 03 2014

There is an incredible flower restaurant in France which is made completely of organic blossoms and greenery. It’s called Mas Provencal and we think it’s safe to say these pictures don’t even do it justice. Found near the beautiful city of Nice on the outskirts of Eze Village on the South of France, it’s more fairyland than regular restaurant and has more flowers than tables! Every inch is covered with hanging baskets, floating ivy, blooms of every type imaginable from roses to orchids and more, an unmissable destination if you find yourself on holidays in France near Nice.

Like something from Alice in Wonderland, customers are invited to pick some grapes or cherry tomatoes that hang from the ceiling as they enjoy a luxury meal. Wilting flowers are replaced every day to keep it sweet smelling. The menu includes roast pig on a spit, and veal cooked on coals. It’s hard to tell if this is a greenhouse you can eat in, or a restaurant that happens to be florally inclined! Either way, we love it.

Dinner at Mas Provencal costs from US$250-300.

Quite Possibly the Best Dinosaur Theme Park in the World

Dec 17 2013

If visiting a real Jurassic Park is high on your bucket list, then listen up? Ok we wouldn’t exactly call Palmersaurus a real Jurassic Park, but it’s the next best thing.

Image via @ PalmercoolumResort

Newly opened, the Australian dinosaur theme park is home to 160 life size robot prehistoric delights, ranging from 22 metres long, to 10 metres tall. There are velociraptors, T-rexs and lots of other ancient carnivores come to life.

The dino theme park is the work of a billionaire mining boss, who’s recently been elected an MP. Clive Palmer is also responsible for an exact replica of the Titanic, aimed at tourists from China. The park rubs shoulders with a luxury golf resort and spa next door, so it really is a culture clash!

Image via @ PalmercoolumResort

Scary or not? Take a look for yourself.

Did You Know? 7 Amazing Facts About Crete

Dec 10 2013

Image via @ IdleFormat

We’re nothing if not helpful here at Purple Travel, so make the most of your Greek holiday with our favourite facts about Crete.

#1 It’s said to be the birthplace of the supreme god Zeus. Legend has it; Zeus’ mother Rhea hid the newborn baby in a cave so he wouldn’t be killed by his father Cronus.

#2 It can be walked in 50 days. Well, if you follow the route of Belgian hiker Ivan Van Driesche. He decided to walk around the island as a fundraiser for stray animals and he did it in exactly 50 days.

#3 Crete has thousands of miles of beaches, making it an unparalleled choice for sun worshippers. There are lots of options for surfing or sunbathing, naturist beaches or scuba diving.

#4 A study in 1980 by Ancel Keys revealed that Crete is the healthiest country in the world and philosopher Hippocrates said the air of Crete has healing properties; this is a legend that continues today.

#5 It was Crete where Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, was from. Kept in prison by King Minos, he escaped with wings made from feathers and wax, but, unfortunately for him, he flew too close to the burning rays of the sun, his wings melted and he drowned in the sea.

#6 Many people in Crete own guns, but don’t worry it’s mostly for celebration reasons, especially at weddings.

#7 Crete is one of the oldest settlements in Europe, with remnants found that date back to 7 million BC.

For more information or to book cheap holidays in Crete talk to the experts at Purple Travel now.

Tag - great for kids