Sun and Souks in Marrakech

Marrakech has been on my to do list for years now but with a less than enthusiastic husband, I decided to take matters into my own hands and use my 40th birthday as an excuse to book a weekend away for myself and four friends.

So five mums, left 10 kids (not home alone I hasten to add) and flew to one of Morocco’s most famous cities for some rest, relaxation and a little bit of shopping!

With only a three(ish) hour flight from various UK airports and temperature hitting the late 20’s it is a perfect destination for a balmy June/July mini break.

We took an early flight out of Gatwick, breezed through the airport, made the short 15 minute journey to our hotel and we were lounging by the pool by lunch time!

On arrival at the hotel we were greeted with delicious Moroccan tea, poured from ornate silver teapots into delicate glass cups, whilst sitting on brightly coloured poufs and admiring the decor in the extravagant lobby. The shopping list had started.

After a day by the pool we were ready to sample the delights of Moroccan cuisine. We went for the local dishes of couscous, tagines, kebabs and we were not disappointed! With full stomachs and a good night’s sleep we were prepared for day two - shopping!

Up and at them we headed to the Souks. We arrived at the Jemaa el Fna square, which during Ramadan is very quiet in the day with only a few snake charmers and stalls but still has a great buzz about it. We found our way into the souks and weaved through the narrow covered streets full of tiny shops selling all things Moroccan. We managed to spend many hours and many dirhams on shoes, spices, artwork, pouffes, handbags and even a silver teapot! Job done!

Marrakech has so much to offer and next time (and there will be a next time) will be a cultural trip visiting the Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs, it's many art galleries and museums and maybe even a hammam. Or maybe a trip to the Atlas Mountains for a hike or a visit to a traditional Berber village.

One things for sure, if I win the lottery I'll be combining a stay at the La Mamounia in the city, with Richard Branson's Kasbah Tamadot at the foot of the mountains, for the ultimate in luxury. In the meantime our 4* hotel with its spacious rooms and ample pool would suffice!

On this trip our focus was most definitely R&R, so another night sampling great food and another day lazing by the pool was exactly what we wanted for our Mums in Marrakech Mini Break! Perfect.