Travelling Cheap

I have a special place in my heart for North Africa. It combines all the things I love about the Mediterranean: the relaxation of a land that’s too hot to run around all day, the mystery of Arab cultures, the history of the countless civilisations that have passed through it’s land, great food and weather to match. An added bonus is the fact that it is outside the Eurozone, and the way the pound is going, you want to avoid France and Italy if you can.

Over the last few weeks there was a panic in the travel industry that people would stop going on holiday due to the drop in the value of the pound and the increase if flight costs due to soaring oil prices. That is why everyone was relieved when they found that there was only a 1% drop in holiday bookings in the UK. If it’s expensive to go to Europe, the people thought, we’ll just go somewhere else.

And Morocco is one of the best places to visit. The Sud Bahia Hotel is well positioned on a side street just off the centre of Agadir. The beach is a 500 metres away and Agadir’s beach consists of 6 miles of sand and sea. Around the hotel, one can take advantage of the golfing facilities, go camel riding or participate in watersports, while being so close to the centre allows you to take a walk to the shops in the square or an the smaller side streets or at the local souk, for bargaining with the local traders for carpets, brasswares and leather. I know just lying on a beach is enough for a good holiday, but seriously, snake charmers, acrobats and fortune tellers! Snake charmers! You can still speak French if you like…

If Marrakech is more your cup of tea try out Le Tafilalet Hotel just on the edge of a palm tree forrest, about 2 miles from the rail station and the city.I has been built in the Kasbah style of architecture with palm trees and a swimming-pool. In the resort itself one can wander for days as there are plenty of palaces, museums, mosques, markets and alleyways. Around the hotel one can go horse riding, play tennis, golf or ride camels. At night go to the main square for dancers, snake charmers, acrobats, musicians and fortune tellers.

 

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