Havana is a dream destination for families and children of all ages.
30.11.2023 - 17:09 / lonelyplanet.com
Whether you’re a dedicated bargain hunter, passionate about interiors, a spa-o-holic, an obsessive foodie, love exploring places brimming with history and atmosphere, or adore contemporary art, then you’ve come to the right place. Few places on Earth do any of these things quite like Marrakesh.
With so much dynamic creativity on the ground, deciding what to do in the Red City can be overwhelming, especially on a short trip. Here's how to experience the best of Marrakesh.
The hammam and spa at Dar el Bacha, WA Spa, is the hottest newcomer to the city’s burgeoning wellness scene. And what better way to start a trip than to refresh and reset, ready for all those big adventures.
Morocco’s ancient hammam and beauty treatments are a centuries-old much cherished ritual for both cleansing and relaxation. Start with a steam session to open pores and a rub down with black, olive-oil based soap. This is followed by a vigorous exfoliation using a glove called a kessa to slough away dead skin, and an application of ghassoul, a mineral-rich clay, to detoxify and purify the skin before a final shower. Add a soothing massage, an afternoon dip and a snooze by the side of the rooftop pool for the ultimate spa day.
WA offers a range of treatments including a detoxifying hammam that uses pelargonium and grapefruit, a hydrating facial with lavender and argan oil, a 20-minute reflexology foot massage, and a blissful 90 minutes rejuvenating full body massage. Treatments start from 350 MAD.
Morocco has what's considered to be one of the world's greatest cuisines and rightly so! With Berber, Arabic and Jewish influences, as well as French, Spanish and Portuguese in more recent times, and a smorgasbord of herbs and spices, aromatics and flower waters, ancient techniques and modern innovations, the different flavors and dishes to discover is mind-bending.
For a good general overview of the cuisine head to the Musée D’art Culinaire. But to taste it, let a group of Marrakshi guides with a very deep knowledge of the local food scene show you the way. Moroccan Food Adventures offers a variety of different tours from those aimed at die-hard foodies who want to delve into every detail of the night food market on the Djemaa El Fna, to more nuanced explorations that mix eating with artisan crafts workshops. Prices start from 300 MAD.
Planning tip: If you want to turn a food loving adventure like this into a day trip, take a look at Morocco Food Adventures' Essaouria tour. It’s a long, 12 hour day, but includes comfortable private transportation, guided visits to cultural sights and plenty to eat.
As the home of the annual 1-54 art fair, Marrakesh is now officially the hub of contemporary art in North Africa. And, for a relatively small city,
Havana is a dream destination for families and children of all ages.
Working at a travel publication can be dizzying—in a year, we go so many places, write so many stories, and publish a lot of content. At times, it can feel like we've run out of world to cover: If you've been there, we've probably done that. But that's of course not the case, and certain stories are an especially powerful reminder of the many stones that remain unturned; that there are many ways to take a trip, either to a familiar place or somewhere markedly overlooked, and tell a completely new story about it.
France’s winding cobbled lanes and tree-lined rural roadways offer a straight shot into the heart of the country. Incredible countryside vistas merge into unique and highly wanderable villages, castles and coastlines that will etch your journey into your memories.
February may be the shortest month in the year, but you can pack some serious travel into it. In 2024 — a leap year — there's even an extra day for more adventure. The hardest part will be deciding where to go.
Europe is home to 63 of the top 100 city destinations in the world, according to a new ranking.
Cairo is a magnet for travelers on a budget, and many of the capital’s attractions are free or cheap to visit – paying just $11 gets you entry to the Pyramids of Giza, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.
If you’re staying in Marrakesh, chances are you’re staying in its fabled medina.
Europe’s airports are regularly ranked from best to worst to help travellers make informed choices.
Every year since 2009, the World’s 50 Best Bars has released its list of top tipple temples from across the globe. Not once has a single bar from Africa ever qualified for that list. It actually remains the only habitable continent on earth to be denied such a spot. And it’s not for lack of trying. There are countless candidates from Morocco all the way down to Cape Town befitting of the merit. None are knocking on the door quite so loudly as Hero Bar in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya.
Skipping the buzz—and the calories – has gotten much more enjoyable. Even in the past six months, the non-alcoholic wine space has improved dramatically, with new offerings showing surprising complexity. My list this year includes a couple of debuts and some old favorites. I’ve noted how these beverages were made – some start with fermented grapes – actual wine—then use complex chemistry to remove the alcohol. These might hew closer to a traditional wine to many palates. Then there are beverages that use a mixture of teas, juices, spices or other elements to give the experience of wine – mouthfeel, complex nose and palate. These alternatives are generally not meant to emulate a particular varietal, but rather give the drinker a pleasing adult beverage to enjoy in situations where you’d normally drink wine. Here are this year’s top picks.
No country has it all, but the Swiss are justified in feeling pretty smug about their lot.
Travelers often overlook Belgium in favor of neighbors like France and the Netherlands, but it’s one of Europe’s best kept secrets. Because of its history, Belgium is linguistically and culturally diverse; it’s also small and compact, so visitors can travel to multiple destinations with ease.