Morocoo | Africa Travel Guide

More Information on Morocco…The Kingdom of Morocco is located in North Africa with a land mass of approximately 710,850 km²and a population of almost 33 million. Its rich history and exoticism draws many to the country every year.Continue reading »(Image Credit: Aitor Garcia Vinas-agvinas)Morocoo Shopping Guide…With a history that dates back over a millennium, one can expect Morocco to have a long heritage that is influenced by religion, its neighbouring countries as well as the colonial rulers. As such, Morocco is a treasure trove for any shopper as it offers crafts and goods whose traditions goes back a long way.Continue reading »(Image Credit: khowaga1)With over 40 000 years of history, ruled by seven dynasties with a brief colonial interlude, Morocco is indeed a coveted territory by cultures of the past and tourists of the present. When visiting Morocco, the past can never be ignored as its magnificent buildings testify to the multi-faceted past of the land. Along with other aspects, here are our recommendations according to the major areas in Morocco.Continue reading »(

 Local Food in Morocco…The local cuisine of a country acts as a gastronomic history book as one can tell trade routes and cultures that has influenced her. Local Moroccan cuisine would hint at its Arabic as well as the various influences from Berber and Bedouin tribes. It is no wonder that the locals are proud of their colourful and delicious culinary heritage. To help you out with your culinary search, here are our picks sorted according to the major cities in Morocco.Continue reading »Listing the Best of Morocoo…Any traveler planning to visit Morocco will definitely be overwhelmed by its sheer size and things to do. Therefore, here are our picks of the best sites to help you with the planning of your trip.Continue reading »

Our brilliant ‘All Inclusive’ holiday in Egypt

Just come back from a wonderful ‘All Inclusive’ holiday in Egypt which I would have no problem in recommending to others!  We stayed in a hotel called the Three Corners St. George that laid on all our food and drink for us and was situated in the hub of the Red Sea’s premier resort of Sharm el Sheikh.  We went in early June and were greeted by lush conditions with temperatures a far cry from the mixed bag of rain and general misery that is our not so lovely British weather - It was the perfect retort for all the predictably unpredictable weather we all know so well!We wanted to enjoy a relaxing break to recharge the batteries, but also to try to do it on a budget as money was tighter than in previous years.

With the experience of recent holidays still fresh in our minds, where we managed to spend a lot of money on holiday for meals and drinks etc because we were either on a ‘Self Catering’ or ‘Bed and Breakfast’ board basis, we decided that if we could get an ‘All Inclusive’ deal this time around for not much money then we’d give it a try.  Looking back now I’m so glad we made that decision.  The upgrade to an ‘All Inclusive’ package ended up costing us about an extra £100 or so each up front, but considering its extra value the upgrade ended up paying for itself handsomely in the long run.  As an example of how cost-effective it was you only have to look as far as Sharm el Sheikh itself, where an alcoholic drink in the main Na’ama Bay area averaged out at around £6 each, meaning that the upgrade soon paid for itself.Along with having all of our drinks, meals and snacks taken care of, the hotel had an excellent array of facilities including two swimming pools (one of which had a swim up bar!) and its own private beach club complete with a bar and terraced restaurant.  Although the hotel was located 10 minutes away from the private beach there was a complimentary shuttle bus service to and from it and the hotel was also well located for easy access into the old town and the bright lights of Na’ama Bay.The hotel staff really made the holiday special too; from our room cleaner Arafa (who made towel art to put on our beds for when we returned to our room each night) to Hani and Atef the very entertaining bar staff and the hotel manager Michael, who was very attentive, they were absolutely superb.  Overall, the holiday was very relaxed and stress-free because everything was taken care of and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to go on an ‘All Inclusive’ package again next time.By Ben Charlton.

Sharm el Sheikh in the Red Sea

Just been to Sharm el Sheikh in the Red Sea and stayed at the Holiday Village. Had a fantastic time, always thought Egypt would be a bit dusty and dirty (well it is in the middle of a desert!!) but was the total opposite! Be careful at the airport with Egyptians wanting to help with your suitcase as they do expect a tip and can be a bit rude, a polite but firm no usually does the trick though!Beach at the Holiday VillageThe Holiday Village had everything we needed for our weeks stay, very clean and right on the beach. Our room was a twin standard and was absolutely huge with great view of one of the pools. There are 4 pools in all with one just for the kids, and a great kids play area.Entertainment on a night is the Sports Bar with karaoke and Sky Sports or the huge family entertainment bar, with all singing all dancing shows, where the kids can join in.The food was great, the buffet restaurant had plenty of choice but the a la carte restaurants are worth that little extra.

During the day there’s really great kids clubs, totally supervised, with loads to do from colouring books to archery! There’s mopeds and camel rides on the beach and the In2action team do all sorts of sporty activities and competitions for adults and kids.  The high ropes were too scary for me but the zipwire was brilliant!Camel rides along the beachDiving in the area is supposed to be excellent although not my cup of tea, but you can snorkel off the jetties on the beach as the water is so shallow but full of colourful little fish.Best excursion was the Bedouin Night!! Drive out into the desert by coach then finish the journey to camp on a camel, where you’ll find the Bedouins selling their wares and making dinner. Watch the sun set over the mountains then see an amazing sky full of a million stars.  A truly memorable Egypt holiday!!Already booked Egypt for next year!!By Yvonne Dawson.

Nile Cruising…

 Be prepared to come back needing a holiday! You really need to pace yourself as it is action all the way…We landed in Luxor, Egypt and transferred to our ship. We had splashed out on a junior cabin to get the extra space and it was well worth it as it also had great views. You could really just stay on board all week and enjoy the scenery but as you’ve gone all that way, you might as well see some of the sights while you are there.  On the Tuesday, we visited the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the magnificent Colossi of Memnon. In the afternoon we sailed through the Esna lock.

We skipped the Kom Ombo tour on the Wednesday and chose instead to recharge our batteries on deck. I would definitely advise going on the Aswan Tour, the Dam was very picturesque but nothing compared to the Unfinished Obelisk, a structure abandoned after a crack appeared in the stone after only 3 sides were complete. The Obelisk still stands as it was abandoned all those years ago, even with the discarded tools still laid around. Then we moved on to the Philae Temple, until Unesco moved it stone by stone from Philae Island to Agilika Island, it was in danger of becoming completely submersed underwater. The sound and light show at the end of the day was an amazing site as light flooded the walls and surrounding water.We were up early on the Friday morning to witness the amazing sunrise as we passed through the Sahara, then decided not to go on the Abu Simbel trip as it was a little long. The following day we disembarked on East Bank of the Nile to explore Luxor and the Karnak Temple, both truly fascinating, however we headed back to the boat before the Karnak light show as we had seen one earlier in the week.Sunday saw us back in Luxor with time to shop for souvenirs, we however decided to take a day trip to Cairo by air to visit the pyramids and we were so pleased we did, as exhausted as we were the sights were truly amazing. Our final morning was spent in a hot air balloon seeing the wonderful Nile from above. We headed back to Luxor after that and unfortunately home. We wished we had booked a twin centre and given ourselves a nice relaxing week on a beach somewhere after such a hectic cruise and we would certainly recommend anyone to do that if considering a Nile cruise. We loved it but it was tiring.Mr and Mrs HibbitsonRenfrewshire.Tags: Egypt, holidays, Luxor, Nile.

Travel to Orlando

Worlds Beyond Walt’s Wildest WishesTravel to Orlando: Worlds Beyond Walt’s Wildest WishesToday’s Orlando conjures images of fabled societies and a well known 2-dimensional mouse; however, the low-lying city near Florida’s Atlantic Coast has done much more to diversify its image since its backwater orange growing days. ‘Worlds’ and ‘Lands’ of the extreme and ultimate fictional reality are interlaced with Florida’s booming tech-science industry and a handful of significant cultural points of interest. Most attractions are not located in Orlando’s central metropolitan area and it is therefore advisable and in most cases necessary to rent a car during your stay.Orlando has humble beginnings as an American military base staking out the Floridian peninsula against Native Americans.

The Seminole Indians fought in 3 wars against the settling United States Government until they were effectively defeated in the 1850s. Orlando’s military significance stretches into modern day with its proximity to both Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center.With Just One Thought…Walt Disney completed Walt Disney World in 1971, ushering in a new era that would make Orlando the 4th most popular destination for foreign travelers to the United States and earn Orlando the ranking as the city with the second highest number of hotel rooms in the country! Walt Disney World is complete with four theme parks, two water parks, eight golf courses, hotels, shops and restaurants, making it the largest privately owned tourist destination in the world. After 1971, a multitude of other and, some say, better theme parks sprouted in Orlando. SeaWorld and Gatorland are popular hotspots, as well as the not-so-typical World of Orchids, where thousands of the blooming beauties are enclosed inside an enchanting tropical rainforest. Discovery Cove is a more hands-on approach to SeaWorld, where visitors can snorkel among typical reef creatures including stingrays and dolphins or hang with the exotic birds in the aviary.On your journey back from Fantasy Land to reality, be sure to check out the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in adjacent Daytona. Tour the launch areas, view the impressive observatory and witness real space flight simulators. Wekiwa Springs State Park offers a refreshing break from the constant sensory overload. Take an afternoon to rent a canoe or go for a revitalizing swim. Additionally, Orlando has the second highest number of lakes for a metropolitan region in the U.S., making it extremely easy to get a breath of fresh air or to enjoy a more serene and tangible substitute for water parks. For a little dining and nightlife, enjoy the buzz of Church Street Station. Lastly, earn your final dose of non-fiction at the Orlando Science Center before plunging back into fanciful frolicking. The Center is a spectacularly innovative audiovisual extravaganza focused on current and historic scientific milestones and is far more relevant and interesting than the EPCOT Center.An Escape to YourselfOrlando is the place to leave your worries and cares at the door. Visit this magical wonderland of creativity while enjoying your family, your children, your parents or simply the person who wants to be awakened inside yourself. Travel to Orlando and experience all it has to offer.

How to Make it Easier with Children Travel

 How to Make it Easier with ChildrenWhen you have kids, travelling by car can become a difficult part of your holiday. The most often heard “Are we there yet mum?” can drive you mad when asked for the five hundredth time in as many seconds.The reason they keep asking is that they don’t really have a fully developed sense of time. They might be genuinely afraid you are going to keep them in that car bored and tugging at their little sister forever. It might help to explain to them how long the whole trip will take by dividing the trip into sections. Add in that you are 20 minutes away from stopping at that place with the ducks and donkeys. Little milestones will make the journey and the concept of how far they need to go still – easier to digest.The time in which you choose to drive can be carefully chosen to optimize sleeping time in the car.

You can try leaving before sunrise and you will manage several hours of quiet driving time before they wake up and want entertainment. Some folks travel at night because everybody is sleeping. Not only do you get a piece of mind but you also save on the food budget. Plan the trip not to coincide with any major traffic surrounding holiday season at least to minimize time spent in the car. Take your food breaks during work traffic. People go to lunch around noon and get off of work between 4-5 pm. Plan to take your lunch and dinner breaks around this time since spending time in large amounts of traffic will obviously take longer to get to your destination.There are some things you can do to make the ride a bit smoother and more fun for everyone. It’s important to plan ahead when deciding to take a long car journey with your kids. Make sure the car is comfortably packed; keep the backseat clear so they have more space. Here are 5 surefire ways to keep your long car ride fun for kids:1. Pack a goodie bag for each child filled with simple cheap toys that you think can keep them amused. Depending on their ages there some creative and inexpensive items that will keep them quiet and happy. Browse through the cheaper aisle of the toy store.2. Another good buy, speaking of inexpensive items, is a deck of cards (if you do not already own any). This is a great investment not only for the car ride but for the destination as well.3. There are all kinds of listening materials available. You could buy some, borrow some from your local library or look around on the internet. Radio-productions and taped books can be a wonderful way to pass the time together in the car and enjoy a book together as a family.4. The classic car journey activity is singing. And for a good reason too. Try to choose a CD that everyone will enjoy.5. Coloring books, puzzles, crosswords and sticker books can be included in another goodie bag along with crayons to create hours of fun and more importantly quiet.There are also all kinds of electronic portable gaming devices which are a fun way to pass the time. If you have a DVD player in your car you can stock up on a new DVD to keep them entertained and quiet. Remember the journey is part of the holiday so make it fun. Stop along the way and appreciate the sights. Use the opportunity to explore new places. Regular breaks will make the long trip easier on everyone. Pack a picnic and let your kids release their pent up energy.The most important thing is to keep your activities varied. Alternate 30 minutes of card playing with some singing and then some colouring in. With some planning and creativeness, you can make your car ride enjoyable for the whole family – and that’s what vacations are about after all!

The Top 10 Greek Holiday Attractions

The Top 10 Greek Holiday AttractionsThe stunning natural beauty of bright blue seas, ancient archaeological sites, charming island villages, and a hot, mainly dry climate, make Greece a fantastic holiday destination. Visitors to this Mediterranean idyll with its archipelago of over 1000 islands are faced with such a range of natural and man-made attractions that they have to prioritize their travel plans. While everyone has an idea of what they prefer, let’s have a go at defining what might be the top ten places to visit on a holiday to Greece.The Acropolis and the ParthenonThe symbol of Athens, the iconic Parthenon sits atop the Acropolis, overlooking the city. The remains of the sacred temple to the Greek godess Athena, the Parthenon, with its simple Doric style, has been copied in public architecture worldwide.

Accessed by the Athens Metro, it is always crowded, so try for a visit early mornings or late afternoons.MykonosConsidered over-developed by some, but remaining the most famous of Greek islands, Mykonos attracts international sophisticates and budget travelers alike for its stunning beaches (many clothing optional), its vibrant nightlife, classic shopping, and general holiday ambience.The Minoan Palace of Knossos, CreteSurrounded by the city of Iraklion and accessible by local bus, the ruins and reconstructed labyrinth of this Minoan palace are from the era when the Aegean King Minos ruled mainland Greeks. To get some of the feeling for the material culture of ancient times, be sure to visit the world-class Heraklion Archaelogical Museum in Iraklion.SantoriniHotels clinging to clifftops, scenic winding roads, a volcanic legacy, great local wines and fine food puts Santorini on the list. Arrive at this stunning Greek island by sea and get the best views of the brown and black-banded cliffs topped by white lava. Be sure to visit the ruins of the once-buried city of Akrotiri.CorfuThis bustling, cosmopolitan destination, in the Ionian Sea off the coast of mainland Greece, has streets lined with Venetian-style buildings. If you wish to avoid the pricey high-rise accommodation in the north, head for classic pensions in the wilder south where the coastline meets the placid waters in near perfect union.MycenaeThis Peloponnesian treasure, only a few hour’s drive from Athens, was inhabited since Neolithic times. It sits on a hilltop on the lower slopes of Euboea Mountain and is considered one of the foundation sites of European civilization. One of the earliest restorations was the impressive Lion Gate.The National Archaeological Museum – AthensThe perfect starting place for an infusion of Greek culture and history, this world-class museum teems with artifacts and sculptures. Look for the tall, dramatic kouroi, archaic statues of young gods, and the stunning gold treasures from excavations of Mycenae’s royal tombs.The Island of HydraVisit this trendy Greek island via hydrofoil from Athens. Its charming harbor, beautiful churches, excellent shopping opportunities, and great tavernas provide a quintessential Greek experience.Drogati and Melissnai CavesOne of the highlights of Kefalonia, Melissani is a subterranean seawater cave, which turns turquoise daily when the sun reaches a certain point. The spectacular Drogati Cave has impressive stalactites and boasts excellent acoustics.Cape Sounion and the Temple of PoseidonThis popular cliff-top temple, set above the Aegean Sea, has superb sunset views. Although the Archeological Museum in Athens is home to the bronze statue that was once housed here, it is easy to see why the god of the sea might have been worshipped at this stunning national monument.