Has Anyone Booked a Holiday Yet?

[DerbyshireFox]

On 29/01/2025 at 09:44, Raj said:

 

Thinking of Marrakech for half term October so please do a full report when you can!!

Marrakech was great. Massive culture shock for the first few day, felt a bit like a fish out of water to start with! People are friendly and hospitable. Riad where I stayed was excellent, close to all the main sights. Palaces and architecture are stunning - my favourite was definitely Medersa Ben Youssef.

 

Day trip to Casablanca was interesting. Very different to Marrakech. The mosque there is incredible! Highlight for me though was the hot air balloon flight in the agafay desert at sunrise! Very early start but well worth it. I’d go back, but I think I’d enjoy it more with someone rather than solo. Can recommend tours that I used if anyone wants. Definitely recommend doing the medina with a guide. 
 

Airport is time consuming. Took an hour to get through on arrival at 8pm. For departures, arrive in plenty of time. Bags are scanned before even entering the terminal. You need to go to the check in desk regardless of if only have hand luggage and get a paper boarding pass, before going through security and then passport control. Random security check at the gate if selected. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but just leave plenty of time as queues can be long at the airport 👍

 

 

 

[Raj]

19 minutes ago, DerbyshireFox said:

Marrakech was great. Massive culture shock for the first few day, felt a bit like a fish out of water to start with! People are friendly and hospitable. Riad where I stayed was excellent, close to all the main sights. Palaces and architecture are stunning - my favourite was definitely Medersa Ben Youssef.

 

Day trip to Casablanca was interesting. Very different to Marrakech. The mosque there is incredible! Highlight for me though was the hot air balloon flight in the agafay desert at sunrise! Very early start but well worth it. I’d go back, but I think I’d enjoy it more with someone rather than solo. Can recommend tours that I used if anyone wants. Definitely recommend doing the medina with a guide. 
 

Airport is time consuming. Took an hour to get through on arrival at 8pm. For departures, arrive in plenty of time. Bags are scanned before even entering the terminal. You need to go to the check in desk regardless of if only have hand luggage and get a paper boarding pass, before going through security and then passport control. Random security check at the gate if selected. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but just leave plenty of time as queues can be long at the airport 👍

 

 

 

Brilliant Thanks.

May i ask did you stay close to the Main area or abit out?

Are Riads good for families 2 adults 2 kids?

 

Sounds abit like Istanbul but more manic!

 

Presume just liike everywhere you just need your wits about you.

 

 

[DerbyshireFox]

29 minutes ago, Raj said:

Brilliant Thanks.

May i ask did you stay close to the Main area or abit out?

Are Riads good for families 2 adults 2 kids?

 

Sounds abit like Istanbul but more manic!

 

Presume just liike everywhere you just need your wits about you.

 

 

I stayed near the main area, about 5-10

min walk from the main square. Watch out for the mopeds, they are everywhere! It was my first trip out of Europe which is why I think I found it so different. Riads do cater for families. There is so much choice with accommodation! The place I stayed did half board included in the price. They sorted out the airport transfers, even met me at the taxi and walked me back for the pickup. If you are going to take photos of the snake charmers/monkey tamers (which I didn’t) then expect to pay for it (20dirham usually enough - about £2-3!). It’s a fascinating place. All the palaces are about 60-100dirham each to visit. 

[grobyfox1990]

58 minutes ago, DerbyshireFox said:

Marrakech was great. Massive culture shock for the first few day, felt a bit like a fish out of water to start with! People are friendly and hospitable. Riad where I stayed was excellent, close to all the main sights. Palaces and architecture are stunning - my favourite was definitely Medersa Ben Youssef.

 

Day trip to Casablanca was interesting. Very different to Marrakech. The mosque there is incredible! Highlight for me though was the hot air balloon flight in the agafay desert at sunrise! Very early start but well worth it. I’d go back, but I think I’d enjoy it more with someone rather than solo. Can recommend tours that I used if anyone wants. Definitely recommend doing the medina with a guide. 
 

Airport is time consuming. Took an hour to get through on arrival at 8pm. For departures, arrive in plenty of time. Bags are scanned before even entering the terminal. You need to go to the check in desk regardless of if only have hand luggage and get a paper boarding pass, before going through security and then passport control. Random security check at the gate if selected. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but just leave plenty of time as queues can be long at the airport 👍

 

 

 

Nice one, I always look out for your posts, you seem to do your trips properly. Keep posting with your plans and reviews.

[DerbyshireFox]

7 minutes ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Nice one, I always look out for your posts, you seem to do your trips properly. Keep posting with your plans and reviews.

Thanks 😊. I try 🤣. Only started travelling abroad in the last three years. PSV away was my first flight abroad. I’ve done 15 countries in three years, soon to be 16 next month. After 12wks home alone during the first lockdown, decided it was time to get out there. If you wait for everyone else to be free, you’ll never get to go, so a lot I’ve done solo and it’s been great for me 🙌

[grobyfox1990]

5 minutes ago, DerbyshireFox said:

Thanks 😊. I try 🤣. Only started travelling abroad in the last three years. PSV away was my first flight abroad. I’ve done 15 countries in three years, soon to be 16 next month. After 12wks home alone during the first lockdown, decided it was time to get out there. If you wait for everyone else to be free, you’ll never get to go, so a lot I’ve done solo and it’s been great for me 🙌

Fantastic mate, brilliant. Look forward to hearing about no.16 next month and keep on doing what you're doing so well.

[Raj]

49 minutes ago, DerbyshireFox said:

I stayed near the main area, about 5-10

min walk from the main square. Watch out for the mopeds, they are everywhere! It was my first trip out of Europe which is why I think I found it so different. Riads do cater for families. There is so much choice with accommodation! The place I stayed did half board included in the price. They sorted out the airport transfers, even met me at the taxi and walked me back for the pickup. If you are going to take photos of the snake charmers/monkey tamers (which I didn’t) then expect to pay for it (20dirham usually enough - about £2-3!). It’s a fascinating place. All the palaces are about 60-100dirham each to visit. 

Very informative  thanks buddy👍🏾

 

Like you say LOADS of Riads to choose from.

What was yours called?

 

[FoxesDeb]

1 hour ago, DerbyshireFox said:

Marrakech was great. Massive culture shock for the first few day, felt a bit like a fish out of water to start with! People are friendly and hospitable. Riad where I stayed was excellent, close to all the main sights. Palaces and architecture are stunning - my favourite was definitely Medersa Ben Youssef.

 

Day trip to Casablanca was interesting. Very different to Marrakech. The mosque there is incredible! Highlight for me though was the hot air balloon flight in the agafay desert at sunrise! Very early start but well worth it. I’d go back, but I think I’d enjoy it more with someone rather than solo. Can recommend tours that I used if anyone wants. Definitely recommend doing the medina with a guide. 
 

Airport is time consuming. Took an hour to get through on arrival at 8pm. For departures, arrive in plenty of time. Bags are scanned before even entering the terminal. You need to go to the check in desk regardless of if only have hand luggage and get a paper boarding pass, before going through security and then passport control. Random security check at the gate if selected. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but just leave plenty of time as queues can be long at the airport 👍

 

 

 

Glad you enjoyed it! We're looking forward to it, we go in about 3 weeks.

 

My husband and daughter want to do the balloon trip, who did you use? And the same for the guide in the medina? Casablanca is quite a distance I think, would you say it's worth the trip though? Finally, anything you'd say we should miss, or avoid? 

 

We're staying in an apartment and hiring a car, we've planned a quad tour, a trip to the Oureka valley, and an evening out to the desert for dinner so far. Didn't realise until recently that we're going to be there during Ramadan, so my wine might be even harder to source than I was expecting it to be

[DerbyshireFox]

14 minutes ago, Raj said:

Very informative  thanks buddy👍🏾

 

Like you say LOADS of Riads to choose from.

What was yours called?

 

I stayed at a place called Riad la Vie. It was a 5star place but I thought great value for money

[DerbyshireFox]

12 minutes ago, FoxesDeb said:

Glad you enjoyed it! We're looking forward to it, we go in about 3 weeks.

 

My husband and daughter want to do the balloon trip, who did you use? And the same for the guide in the medina? Casablanca is quite a distance I think, would you say it's worth the trip though? Finally, anything you'd say we should miss, or avoid? 

 

We're staying in an apartment and hiring a car, we've planned a quad tour, a trip to the Oureka valley, and an evening out to the desert for dinner so far. Didn't realise until recently that we're going to be there during Ramadan, so my wine might be even harder to source than I was expecting it to be

https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/marrakech-l208/marrakech-balloon-flight-berber-breakfast-certificate-t743273/?utm_source=getyourguide&utm_medium=sharing&utm_campaign=activity_details
 

https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/marrakech-l208/tailor-made-marrakesh-medina-tour-with-your-private-guide-t660609/?utm_source=getyourguide&utm_medium=sharing&utm_campaign=activity_details
 

https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/marrakech-l208/casablanca-day-tour-from-marrakech-and-big-mosque-visit-t805422/?utm_source=getyourguide&utm_medium=sharing&utm_campaign=activity_details
 

These are the excursions/guided tours I used. The Casablanca one was a driver without a guide. It was an interesting place to visit, the mosque alone is worth it, but other than that it is quite a modern city, very different to Marrakech. I was supposed to go to Ait Benhaddou but the tour company were a no show which was disappointing. All of the above are reliable. The company that ran the Casablanca trip run trips to Ait Benhaddou and run no matter how few are booked on. The balloon tour was run by an agent called Marrakech by air. They are registered with the civil aviation authority. It is definitely worth the early start. There is a restaurant called Dardar near where I stayed. Food was good, alcohol available, book if you want the roof terrace, which had a great view over the medina towards the mosque 👍

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

Helsinki last month.

Lovely city, 2 days was enough to see everything though.

Transport system was amazing (as most are abroad) people really friendly and the airport was the best I’ve ever been in. 
Disappointed it wasn’t snowing, they’d had some but it was all cleared up. 
We tried the local food and had reindeer, which was delicious! 
Quite expensive trip though, €10 for a beer. 

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

On 11/02/2025 at 09:38, DerbyshireFox said:

Thanks 😊. I try 🤣. Only started travelling abroad in the last three years. PSV away was my first flight abroad. I’ve done 15 countries in three years, soon to be 16 next month. After 12wks home alone during the first lockdown, decided it was time to get out there. If you wait for everyone else to be free, you’ll never get to go, so a lot I’ve done solo and it’s been great for me 🙌

Good for you that, I’ve just made 16 countries but it’s taken me a lot longer than you! 
Any recommendations? 

[DerbyshireFox]

58 minutes ago, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

Good for you that, I’ve just made 16 countries but it’s taken me a lot longer than you! 
Any recommendations? 

I love the Balkans, keep getting drawn back there. Montenegro is stunning. Albania is great as well. Loved Lisbon. Once you get started, the list keeps growing! 

[slymunn]

I'm going to Belfast in August for a stag do.

I've always wanted to visit, but I'm not sure how much I'll actually see! 

[grobyfox1990]

15 minutes ago, slymunn said:

I'm going to Belfast in August for a stag do.

I've always wanted to visit, but I'm not sure how much I'll actually see! 

Belfast is fun, doesn't feel like Ireland or the UK, enough to keep you occupied. I'm staying there in July as going to the Open golf tournament in Portrush.

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

3 hours ago, DerbyshireFox said:

I love the Balkans, keep getting drawn back there. Montenegro is stunning. Albania is great as well. Loved Lisbon. Once you get started, the list keeps growing! 

Lisbon has been my favourite so far, also loved Reykjavik and Vienna. Berlin and Krakow for the history.

So many places to go!

Happy Travels 

[Izzy]

2 hours ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Belfast is fun, doesn't feel like Ireland or the UK, enough to keep you occupied. I'm staying there in July as going to the Open golf tournament in Portrush.

Oooh, nice one - enjoy.

 

Did I mention I'm going to the Masters in April? 

[DerbyshireFox]

27 minutes ago, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

Lisbon has been my favourite so far, also loved Reykjavik and Vienna. Berlin and Krakow for the history.

So many places to go!

Happy Travels 

They’re on the list for future travels 👍. Same to you mate!

[grobyfox1990]

3 hours ago, Izzy said:

Oooh, nice one - enjoy.

 

Did I mention I'm going to the Masters in April? 

Cheers, no interest in golf but seems a decent day out. Is the masters the one in Augusta in the USA? Apparently iconic, our client takes some of us but I’d still have to cover accommodation and apparently it’s v pricey so I leave it to the golf lovers at work. Looks beautiful tho, sure you’ll love it 

[Nolucklcfc]

Barcelona and Rome in the next couple of months. 

[Lako42]

1 hour ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Cheers, no interest in golf but seems a decent day out. Is the masters the one in Augusta in the USA? Apparently iconic, our client takes some of us but I’d still have to cover accommodation and apparently it’s v pricey so I leave it to the golf lovers at work. Looks beautiful tho, sure you’ll love it 

Ffs get out there man 

[Voll Blau]

17 hours ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Belfast is fun, doesn't feel like Ireland or the UK, enough to keep you occupied. I'm staying there in July as going to the Open golf tournament in Portrush.

That's a phrase that would land very differently on the Falls Road. 

 

You're right though. Cracking city but not sure how Stag-y it is? Guess if you keep to the centre and don't act like absolute dicks you'd be fine.

[FoyleFox]

13 hours ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Cheers, no interest in golf but seems a decent day out. Is the masters the one in Augusta in the USA? Apparently iconic, our client takes some of us but I’d still have to cover accommodation and apparently it’s v pricey so I leave it to the golf lovers at work. Looks beautiful tho, sure you’ll love it 

Costs in the US have increased dramatically. I know they have in most countries but, I went to San Francisco and LA in October, hotels, food and drink were nearly double my last trip to the US. The menu prices are bad enough, and then they add 10% state tax and 20% service charge (unless you spot it and remove).

[grobyfox1990]

10 minutes ago, FoyleFox said:

Costs in the US have increased dramatically. I know they have in most countries but, I went to San Francisco and LA in October, hotels, food and drink were nearly double my last trip to the US. The menu prices are bad enough, and then they add 10% state tax and 20% service charge (unless you spot it and remove).

Yep I travel to the US at least every two years and post-covid costs have escalated, not only that the baseline tip % has soared. In 2018 you're spend $50 in a bar with a baseline of 10%, you're now seemingly at $80 with a baseline of 25% for the same output. After the World cup next year I might do a North Korea tour and give up my right to the ESTA for a decade. Risky though as there is always a reason to travel to the US. 

[FoyleFox]

I went to a restaurant in SF, the table wasn't ready, so we were invited to sit and get a drink at the bar. Bartender didn't move more than 1ft to pour 2 glasses of wine. The wine was $15 per glass, plus 10% state tax, and then he wanted an 18/20% tip. For pouring a glass of wine, that was next to him. Needless to say, that didn't happen.

Stupidly, I've booked to go next year as well Although, it should just be 1 night in Miami and a couple in Seattle. I am angling to swerve Seattle and go to Toronto instead, though. All subject to Donald not ducking up access to the Panama Canal, so....

 

Not sure if the Chinese are going to take a dim view of my current valid ESTA

Edited 13 February by FoyleFox