Guest post by Amelia Selby
If you can’t help but think pink recently, you’re not definitely alone. Pink is all over our social media, the catwalk, and red carpets at the moment thanks to the highly anticipated Barbie movie, which will be hitting the big screens in July this year.
It’s sending our nostalgia into overdrive at Oliver’s Travels, reminiscing about Mattel’s ultimate ‘it girl’ who has been a trend-setting, plastic trailblazer since her inception in the 1950s.
Now, anyone who spent their childhood playing with dream houses can now be transported to a real-life ‘Barbie World’ by staying in a property linked to their favourite Barbie doll!
Taking the iconic doll into the real world (just like the plot of the upcoming film), we have matched some of the most nostalgic Barbies from over the years with some of our favourite and most Barbie-esque properties.
And, if that’s not Barbie enough for you, scroll down to check out our exclusive ‘This Is Barbie…’ package that allows any fans to really live out their childhood fantasies – complete with a Jeep, pink wardrobe, and a makeover.
Pool Party Barbie was first introduced in 1990, dressed in a pink and white swimsuit and complete with a matching pool float. There have been many variations of the dolls over the years, with different swimsuits and accessories ensuring that Barbie always makes a splash with her outfits.
The early ’00s saw the introduction of Pool Party Barbie playsets – from pool floats to slides and diving boards, but the real star of the show was the full-fledged pool party house.
Anyone with Pool Party Barbie nostalgia can bring their childhood dreams to life with Villa Oca, a colourful, four-bedroom villa in Chiclana de la Frontera on Spain’s Costa de la Luz.
When it comes to the exterior, colourful is probably an understatement with its purple, pink, blue, and green hues. Sun loungers line up on the eye-catching pink terrace facing the pool, perfect for pool party lazing, and the barbecue is ideal for informal dining with friends.
The fun doesn’t stop inside either, with the bright colours continuing throughout the property. Enjoy cooking in the kitchen with its candy pink cabinets and, after a day splashing in the pool, retreat to your four-poster bed complete with a pink-and-white striped bedspread and pink walls.
Take a look at ITV’s Josie Gibson giving the This Morning gang a walk-through of this playful villa:
Released in the early ‘00s, Barbie of Swan Lake was a doll created as a tie-in to the animated movie of the same name. The doll wore a beautiful pink and white tutu with matching ballet slippers and came with a swan-shaped necklace and a tiara to complete the royal look.
Like the movie, the Barbie of Swan Lake doll was a huge success and quickly became a popular addition to many Barbie collections, continuing to be a sought-after item among collectors today.
And we’re sure that anyone who owned this doll or watched the Mattel movie wished that they could live in The Palace – the turreted, pink castle that was the home of Barbie’s love interest, Prince Daniel.
Well, now all of your princess daydreams can come true. Having been in the same family for eighteen generations, Château Dans Le Temps is a majestic château in the south of France and offers the grandiosity that belongs in fairytales. And not only is it a lovely shade of pink, but its French Renaissance exterior is also very similar to that of the Palace in Barbie of Swan Lake.
The splendour also continues inside with a curved staircase leading you up to the third-floor rental apartment, which sleeps up to 14 people across five characterful bedrooms and five bathrooms. Enjoy soaking up the historic ambience and enjoying feeling like your favourite regal Barbie.
Beach Barbie is without a doubt one of the most popular versions of the plastic doll, primarily because of the number of versions released over the years that cemented it as a staple doll in each decade.
The first Beach Barbie was released in 1959 and wore a black-and-white striped swimsuit with sunglasses and a ponytail. And whilst her look evolved over the year – with brightly coloured swimsuits and coordinating beach towels in the 60s, bold patterns and prints in the 70s, tanned skin and blonde highlights in the 80s, and a watersport focus in the 90s – the appeal as Barbie as a symbol of summertime fun remained throughout.
Another thing that remained a key feature of Beach Barbie is her fantastic beach house where she could relax and enjoy the sun – and now you can too.
Villa Pear is a romantic Greek villa on the hillside overlooking the glittering Ionian sea, with a peachy pink exterior. Outside you’ll find a sparkling pool that is the perfect setting to bring your Beach Barbie dreams to life.
Winter Fun Barbie is another popular variation of the classic doll, with the first version being released in 1988 wearing a festive red and white ski outfit complete with skis and poles.
Her outfits have developed over the years, with some variations dressed in warm jackets, scarves, and boots, while others are kitted out ready for a day on the slopes with helmets and either skis or snowboards.
Winter Fun Barbie dolls have even been inspired by different snow sports over the years including ice skating and ice hockey, and when it comes to playsets, she has enjoyed snowmobiles, cabins, and even a hot tub.
So, for anyone who spent their childhood wishing for winter fun, you can now live it out in real life.
Apartment Lina is a beautiful five-bedroom property in Val d’Isere and is the perfect choice for a sophisticated Barbie-esque winter break. The open-plan living space is adorned with zebra-print rugs and animal furs, whilst floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with natural light and offer unparalleled views of the surrounding snowy vista.
Relax after a hard day on the slopes in your own private hot tub, which is very Barbie-esque when set to its purple-hue setting, before retiring to your bedroom which is complete with a hot-pink bedspread. The apartment sleeps 10 people in five bedrooms and has five bathrooms.
Running from 2004 to 2009, Fashion Fever Barbie was designed to appeal to fashion-conscious girls and featured trendy outfits and accessories. Playsets included a fashion boutique, fashion runway, and a fashion closet – perfect for any budding fashion zeitgeists.
In 2005, a specific ‘Barbie Fashion Fever United Colors of Benetton Paris’ doll was released, which isn’t surprising considering Paris is often referred to as the fashion capital of the world.
Anyone who owned one of these stylish dolls is likely to remember it fondly and can now live out their fashion dreams.
Apartment Avril is a trendy two-bedroom apartment that offers the ultimate city-Barbie experience, with its decorative indoor pool, flower-bedecked patio, and hints of pink throughout in details such as cushions and wine glasses. Very chic!
The main event is the beautiful lounge area, which showcases magnificent views of one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks, the Eiffel Tower. Its location is just a 30-minute walk from the iconic Champ Elysees, which offers the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Dior, and Gucci.
After reminiscing about all of these nostalgic Barbies, we can barely contain our excitement for the upcoming film and the chance to lose ourselves in a rose-tinted dreamland once again.
But if you really want to experience a pink paradise, why not check out our ‘Ultimate Barbie Package’? This can be added to any of Oliver’s Travels’ properties, including the ones above.
Starting from £1,750 per person based on 4 people on a 3-day trip, our ‘Ultimate Barbie Package’ includes:
And as today’s Barbie brand is all about empowering women, the package also includes the following:
At Oliver’s Travels, we pride ourselves on the fact that we can arrange just about anything and everything to make your holiday perfect. So, if you’ve got any other nostalgic Barbie childhood fantasies, just get in contact with our friendly concierge team who will be happy to pull together your perfect Barbie-inspired package.
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