07 June 2019

This fascinating African city was founded almost a thousand years ago. Set on the edge of the Sahara Desert and close to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains (which are visible in the distance), a delightfully colourful city, full of culture and guaranteed to awaken your sense of adventure. We were lucky enough to stay at the Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie, which is located approx. 15 minutes drive from the Medina in the Centre of the city. The property operates a regular complimentary shuttle service into the Medina so you can explore the city at any time of day and in the evening, taxis are also available if the timetable doesn't suit you. The resort is a tranquil haven away from the hustle and bustle of the Medina, surrounded by oriental gardens with olive trees and orange blossom. There is a main pool with a children's section in the centre of the resort as well as a smaller adults only pool area which is very relaxing. As it is an all inclusive resort, waiters are on hand to serve you drinks and refreshments throughout the day. The all-inclusive buffet in the main restaurant has an excellent choice of delicious food which changed at each meal time, there really was something for everyone with choices of lots of different world cuisines and local specialities. There is also El Kebir speciality restaurant serving local cuisine with table service (booking required). They also had themed dinner evenings including a Barbeque set outside in the beautiful gardens. ClubMed provide a superb creche (suitable for babies from 4 months) and kids clubs for up to 17 year olds, with endless activities included, there's never time to be bored. You can enjoy the tennis courts, archery, flying trapeze, boules, table tennis, fitness classes, cookery classes and so much more. The 4* accommodation in the main resort offered comfortable rustic style rooms, the property also has the 5* luxury space 'Le Riad' for those looking for a little more luxury, with it's separate concierge desk, private pool and lounge area for relaxing. We felt extremely safe at this resort and the security even in and out of the hotel car park was excellent. I would highly recommend this property, it is particularly good for families with children of all ages, although we were there as a couple and found it very relaxing as there is so much space and with adult only areas as well as family areas it offer great choice for everyone. The Medina is the old historic part of town surrounded by high stone walls. No visit to Marrakech would be complete without taking in the exotic sights and sounds of Djemaa el-Fnaa (A Unesco designated site) - the large public square in the city centre, filled with locals selling anything and everything, snake charmers, magicians and entertainers, popular with tourists and locals alike. The atmosphere during the day is very different to at night-time, I would highly recommend experiencing both. Our visit fell at the very end Ramadan (in June) and at night-time, the Medina came to life, it was packed, full of whole families out celebrating the end of Ramadan and enjoying the culinary delights from the many food stalls available. Although some of the sellers are very enthusiastic, we felt safe and comfortable in the Medina even at night-time. Tip - fix a price before engaging with entertainers or taking photos of people, most will expect to be paid for this privilege. When you first arrive, why not take a seat on the terrace of one of the surrounding cafes or restaurants. Watch what’s going on and you’ll see how it all works. The Souks These can be reached from the edge of Medina and are set in a maze of shaded alleyways and passages with the occasional beam of sunlight forcing its way through, the Souk’s of Marrakech are famed as some of the most exotic marketplaces to shop in the world. They are filled with brightly coloured spices, handmade multicoloured carpets, jewellery and antiques, silk kaftans, leather goods, the most beautiful handmade lanterns and lightshades I have ever seen and much more. The souks are open from 9am until 9pm. The best time to visit is in the early morning (while it’s still cool) or in the evening when the heat of the midday sun has subsided. Get ready for some bartering and be sure to leave some space in your suitcase for your newly purchased goods! Accommodation The Riad is a traditional Moroccan House, usually with more than 2 stories and set around an Andalusian style courtyard or garden often containing a fountain. These were originally stately homes for the wealthy. You can stay in a basic Riad or opt for a more luxurious property which often have a swimming pool and Hammam (traditional wellness spa). You may decide to choose one of the many hotels, ranging from more basic guest houses, to luxury Western-style resorts offering all-inclusive board with swimming pools and the usual resort style facilities. Properties like this may be located a few miles from the centre and most offer regular shuttle service to the Medina. Things to do Aside from the exploring the souks and Medina, there is so much more to see in Marrakech, there are historical sites such as hidden tombs of Sultans, art galleries, museums, the Yves St Laurent’s artful Jardin Majorelle or if you are looking to head a little further afield: a trip to the Atlas mountains (where you could actually stay in a Kasbah for a couple of nights) or a day trip to Essaouira, a coastal town famous for its Riads and known for its Artisan industries. I can highly recommend Marrakech, we stayed for 3 nights and 3 days, however I would recommend a little longer to take full advantage of everything the city has to offer, if you are thinking about taking a trip there, don’t hesitate, it really is worth it!

07 November 2016

Earlier this year I visited the beautiful city of Dubrovnik to get married. We travelled with Austrian Airways via Vienna with two sets of parents and five children. The aircraft was comfortable with attentive staff and all flights were on time. On arrival we collected our rental car and headed to our first stop, an apartment in the Lapad area of Dubrovnik. Lapad is a residential suburb of Dubrovnik situated about 10 minutes’ drive from the Old Town. The interior is mostly green and calm with plenty of attractive sea views and some excellent restaurants. There's a great choice of accommodation in Lapad including hotels, apartments and guesthouses but because it's so residential you don't get the feeling that you're in a tourist ghetto. There are bars, cafes, restaurants and shops used by locals and visitors alike. You can walk everywhere in Lapad, from the beach to a restaurant to your hotel to a cafe-bar without breaking a sweat. Beaches in Lapad are easily accessible, there is a long stretch of pebbly beach so no matter where you stay you’ll be within walking distance of the sea. The old town of Dubrovnik is simply stunning. The streets are white marble, Renaissance sculpture and architecture are everywhere and it is all enclosed in a magnificent circle of city walls bordering the Adriatic. You can take a walk around the city wall, or take the cable car to the top of the Srd Hill for panoramic view of the city and nearby Islands. There are also many day trips to the many islands which surround the coastline of Dubrovnik and are just a short boat ride away from the city, if you prefer a more laid back holiday why not actually stay on one of the Islands. After spending a few days exploring the city we headed an hour up the coast to a Villa located just north of the pretty harbour village of Slano. The coastline is stunning and the road hugs the coast all the way making for a beautiful scenic drive. The sea is clear allowing for excellent snorkelling. Just north of Slano is a small town named Ston, known for three things: it’s very well preserved town walls, its salt works, and its mussels. Although we had a car, there is a regular bus service from Dubrovnik which will take you to Ston. Whilst there be sure to pay a visit to Konoba Bakus, a little restaurant recommended to us by the locals, who travel from Dubrovnik to eat here. Reasonably priced and lovely local cuisine. The highlight of our trip was getting married, I planned the wedding myself with the help of a local wedding co-ordinator and everything ran like clockwork, we got married in the beautiful walled garden of the hotel Lapad and after the ceremony took a boat trip to the old town on the Mb SV. Ivan, the oldest ship in the Adriatic. Our photographer took us through the streets of Dubrovnik Old Town and captured some beautiful memories for us to treasure. Dubrovnik and the surrounding area has so much to offer, there was so much we wanted to do and will most definitely return to see the parts we missed this time. I would recommend Dubrovnik as a good destination for single travellers, couples and families, there is something for everyone, our children loved it and we felt safe and welcome. I can't wait to go back!