Let’s say you want to whisk the kids away for a fun-filled holiday with a difference. There’s a superb range of family-friendly cruise liners on offer, from the cheerful kids’ clubs and crèches of Thomson Cruises to the spectacular onboard lifestyle of Royal Caribbean International. Just look at some of the activities on offer with Royal Caribbean. It serves up everything from rock climbing walls and surf simulators to cinemas and full-sized basketball rinks. Food-wise, many of these ships offer a number of restaurants – sometimes a dozen or more – serving up delectable delicacies from the day’s port of call along with homely classics and kids’ favourites. Perfect for little fussy eaters!

In terms of destination, well, where do we start? You’ve got family friendly locations like the Balearic Islands and Spain. Or if you’re after a cultural escape, you could opt for a Nile Cruise or a blissful week touring the ancient ruins and historical monuments of the Greek islands. And did you know that you can really push the boat out by taking a world cruise? Yes – just as the name suggests, you can spend weeks on end at sea, sailing to such far-flung lands as the Caribbean, the west coast of America, Australia, Singapore, South Africa and much more.

Whatever style of cruise tickles your fancy, there’s a whole world of cruise holiday choice at your feet.

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In practice, most petit taxi drivers have agreed among themselves to an artificially high rate to or from the airport – most will quote you Dh 80 each way, and half again that much at night. As of late 2011 Taxis appear now to be quoting a very over inflated Dh 200 at night, and Dh 150 by day, trying to bargain a lower price is very difficult. They will try to charge even more (Dh 250-300) for groups, luggage bags etc. They can be very pushy and like to get you locked inside the vehicle before they reveal the price and will always demand the fare up front. Ideally you should try to pay no more than Dh 50 from the airport to the centre of the city for a petit taxi, depending on the time of day, number of drivers, and number of potential passengers. While it is possible to bargain with the airport taxis, in some cases they may agree a lower price i.e. Dh 100, then stop mid journey and demand another Dh 100. Call the police if this happens (although don’t expect that to do much good). If you catch a petit taxi outside of airport (about a 10 minute walk), the petit taxi will use the meter instead of negotiated price.

If you leave from the airport by Grand taxi, there are no meters. Typically the set rate from Marrakech Airport to the Medina or Jemaa el fna (Main square) is 150Dh. There also appears to be no limit to the amount of people they’ll attempt to squeeze in! Outside of the airport if you are a group of more than three, the maximum for a Petit Taxi, then do negotiate you fee before you enter the Grand Taxi.

To give an estimate for travel within the city by Petit Taxi, Dh 20 is a good price for a 10 min ride.

If you are travelling from the airport to somewhere further afield (such as Essaouira), your hotel or guest house may be able to arrange a grand taxi to pick you up at the airport and charge a fixed price for the journey.

Always ask to use the meter (compteur in French); otherwise, you are just contributing to a culture of ripping off people. However, Taxi drivers will in nearly 95% of the cases refuse to take you if you insist on using the meter. Even locals often have troubles with drivers in Marrakesh, that’s how it is. Your only option to avoid this is using the buses which serve most destinations of interest.

Flights to Marrakech-Menara International Airport come in from all over Europe, including major cities like London, Paris, Copenhagen, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam; however, most long-haul flights connect via Casablanca.

Location
As metion in previous post the airport is just situated 6km (4 miles) south-west of Marrakech.

Getting to the city
Bus: There is a shuttle bus (No. 19) running from the airport every hour between 6am and 12:25am, and to the airport between 6am and 11:40pm. It goes via Hivernage, Jemaa El Fna, Bab Doukkala, Gueliz, ONCF Station. The No 19 Airport express bus cost Dh 30 for a single trip or Dh 50 for round trip (or return)

For all the information about timetables and prices of buses in Marrakech click on www.alsa.ma

Taxi: ‘Petit’ taxis are available at Parking Lot 1, and the fare should be about MAD 80, with a 50 percent increase at night. Larger taxis are available at increased rates.

Part of this involves basic steps such as making sure the house is locked up and you have made any necessary arrangements to take care of pets, etc. However, there are also some specific security and precautionary measures you will want to take care of before heading out of town. This can help to put you totally at ease so you can fully enjoy your trip! Here are a few specific concerns to remember before you leave town.

Home Insurance

Before you even consider how to protect your home in your absence, you need to be sure that your Aviva home insurance policy is up to date and thorough. Unfortunately, even with the very best security and caution, there is always a small chance that misfortune can befall your home, and home insurance can save you from the worst of the financial consequences in such an event. For example, if your home experiences property damage, theft, or even something like a fire or natural disaster in your absence, a good insurance policy will compensate you as well as possible.

Home Security

Of course, no matter how well insured your home is, you also want to do all you can to protect it in your absence. This means having an updated and advanced security system. Typically, this means everything from additional locks on doors, to an alarm system, and perhaps even motion detectors or laser trip wires. Another feature to consider, particularly with regard to travel, is technology that allows you to access and control your security system remotely from your mobile phone or smart tablet. This allows you to be the first to know if your alarm is triggered, and can reassure you that you are in control of your home.

The Basics

Finally, you’ll also need to take care of a few basic but effective security measures. One example is arranging your travel plans so that you can leave a car at home, and then to leave a few lights on in the house. Giving the appearance that someone is home will deter criminals from attempting to break in. Additionally, alert your neighbors that you will be out of town, so that they can pick up your mail and newspapers for you (also keeping up the appearance that someone is home) and keep an eye on your home. These simple measures can contribute greatly to keeping your home secure while you enjoy your vacation.

Needless to say this place is not visited by the locals, but a totally tourist sitewhere French expats hangs around.

Prices are also unusual for Marrakech and very similar to those you would find in Europe. The entry for the day costs about 15 EUR.

Directions
To get to the Plage Rouge the company offers free transportation from the new Conference Centre located on Avenue Mohammed IV. If you prefer to go by taxi, the price from Jamaa el Fna should not exceed 100 dirhams.

If you like the party, the Plage Rouge is an amazing place where you feel like you’re in Ibiza without leaving Marrakech.

You can also dine there, depending on the season and the day. We recommend going in the morning to seize the day.

Location
A 10 km in the Route de l’Ourika.

Visiting Hours
Depends on time of year and day of week, best to ask before you go.

Price
About 150 dirhams.

Transport
Free bus from the Convention Centre, Avenue Mohamed IV.

The camel or, properly speaking, dromedary, has always been a means of transport for the inhabitants of Morocco, especially in desert areas of the country.

Where to ride a camel?
Unless you take a trip to the desert, the easiest way to ride a camel is going to La Palmeraie, the true oasis with a hundred thousand trees providing shade from the hot African sun.

La Palmeraie was originally an oasis but is now a large palm grove with lots of hotels, an equestrian centre, golf clubs and many very expensive villas hidden behind high walls. Many rich ex-pats and Moroccans live there.

To reach La Palmeraie can go by taxi or caleche.

Guys with camels wait around the roads and you’ll have to bargain hard not to be overcharged for a short ride, like everything in Marrakech, the price of a camel ride is also negotiable, To give an idea, you will have to prepare at least 100 dirhams.

Location
La Palmeraie (Marrakech).

Visiting Hours
From sunrise to sunset.

DJEMAA EL FNA
Djemaa el Fna is the world famous square and market place in Marrakech’s medina quarter. The origin of it’s name remains unknown, it means assembly of the dead in Arabic, but as the word djemaa also means mosque in Arabic, it could also mean place of the vanished mosque, in reference to a destroyed Almoravid mosque.

The square is the highlight of any visit to Marrakech, used equally by locals and tourists. During the day it is mostly occupied by orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists. Musicians, dancers, and story tellers pack the square at the heart of the medina, filling it with a cacophony of drum beats and excited shouts. As the day progresses the entertainment on offer change.

KOUTOUBIA MOSQUE
The Koutoubia Mosque right beside Djemaa El Fna is named after the bookseller’s market that used to be located there. It is one of the most recognisable Marrakech landmark, the mosque harks back to the 12th century but is unfortunately off limits to non-Muslims. However you can still walk around the gardens. At night the mosque has an amazing & beautifully lit.

SOUKS
Adjacent to Djemaa El Fna are the ‘Souks’ are traditional North African markets and Marrakech is awash with them. At the city’s lively souks you can pick up anything from fine leather goods to hammocks, spices to shoes, jalabas to kaftans, tea pots to tagines, souvenirs to food and much, much more.

MAJORELLE GARDENS
This peaceful and beautiful garden was laid out in the period when colonialism was still a good word in Europe. In the 1920s the French artist Jacques Majorelle had it created complete with pools, banana trees, coconut palms, bougainvilleas and houses in a fantastic dark blue colour. The gardens have later been taken well care of by the French couturier Yves Saint-Laurent, who has added a private museum of North African artefacts.

SAADIAN TOMBS
These tombs were not discovered until the beginning of the 20th century. They have been preserved unchanged since the glory days of the Saadian rulers. Unlike the El Badi Palace they were not destroyed, probably for superstitious reasons. The entrance was blocked so they remained untouched for hundreds of years.

EL BAHIA PALACE
The stucco and stonework in the Bahia Palace is truly amazing. Mosaics cover the floors, while the wooded ceilings are just as intricately decorated. The entrance to Bahia Palace is near to the Place des Ferblantiers and some 150 individual rooms await inside. However, only a limited number of these extravagant rooms are actually open to the public.

ATLAS MOUNTAINS
No trip to Marrakech is completed without a visit to the spectacular High Atlas Mountain range and the Kasbahs along the way. The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about 2,400 km through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Jbel Toubkal, with an elevation of 4,167 metres in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The population of the Atlas Mountains are mainly Berber tribes in Morocco.

HAMMAMS IN MARRAKECH
A hammam is a traditional Arab bath in which the cleaning is done primarily through steam and exfoliation of the skin. They have their origin in the Roman baths. Besides the main function, a hammam is a meeting place, especially for women.

Today, go to the hammam has become a tradition to meet at least once a week.

Something surprising is that however much you ask, is almost certainly not find anyone who does not like going to the hammam.

In Marrakech there are basically two types of hammams: traditional and tourism. Let’s see how they differ:

Traditional hammams
The traditional hammams are located in each district of Marrakech, usually near the mosques (traditionally shared the water with them). These baths have different rooms for men and women (or just different times) and has a nominal input of less than 10 dirhams.

In these baths professional masseurs work so if you want a massage, you can get one from 50 dirhams.

If you want to visit a traditional take with you a bath towel, slippers, Black soap & Kessa glove’s (sold in any bazaar). Once inside, just have to let yourself go.

Some famous hammams are:

– Dar el-Bacha Hammam: Rue Hatima Zohra.
– Hammam Bab Doukkala: Next to the mosque Bab Doukkala.
– Hammam Ziani: 14, Rue Riad Zitoune Jdid. (This could also be considered tourist)

Tourist hammams
The tourist hammams, often called spas, are more similar to the baths of Istanbul, offering innovative treatments, more carefully facilities and, above all, they have mixed rooms for couples. The prices of these local treatments usually start at 150 dirhams per person. They are located near Jamaa el Fna.

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