Asia is known for its beautiful scenery, leisurely way of life and its mystical healing remedies. This is why spa holidays in Asia are extremely popular, with countries such as Thailand, Bali and Malaysia all offering relaxing spa holidays for you to unwind, recuperate and lose yourself in the beauty of the landscape.
All of the spa hotels offer ancient Asian healing techniques with their spa holidays, meaning that you can lose your stresses and pains as centuries old healing remedies cure your mind, body and soul.
You can try such spa techniques as the Malay hot stone massage, which is practiced at the Tanjung Rhu Resort, or if that sounds too exotic you could opt for the soothing water shiatsu, which you’ll find at the Mactan Resort in Shangri-La.
Once you’re suitably rejuvenated from the spa holidays in Asia you can set about exploring the spectacular sights of the area, but don’t forget to visit the stunning country that is Vietnam while you’re there.
Holidays in Vietnam are becoming more popular now than ever as the country has barely been touched for decades, but is now becoming a major tourist destination. Vietnam is one of the last unspoilt countries in Asia, so be sure to see it now as it’s changing rapidly.
Once you’ve visited Asia and experienced the different pace of life you’ll be ready to return to your own life, but you might not want to.
Morocco, located in North Africa, is a very densely populated country with around 32 million inhabitants.
Morocco is a popular destination for holiday makers because of its warm weather, historical architecture and bustling market places. Anyone visiting the city of Marrakech will enjoy shopping in the markets, where haggling is not only allowed, it’s expected. A holiday in Morocco isn’t complete without a tour to the markets.
You should also be prepared for the weather in Morocco as it can get very hot and the country is prone to the occasional drought, which is far removed from the weather here in the UK.
When staying in Morocco, you have a choice of different types of properties, but you should always try to stay in one of the many riads. Riads are traditional Moroccan buildings that feature indoor gardens, often with waterfalls.
Communication in Morocco shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the experienced traveller as French is one of the most spoken languages in the country. A strong grasp of the French language will come in handy when you’re haggling in those markets!
Travel to Morocco is never complete without sampling the local cuisine. Moroccan cuisine is very distinctive, with many spices used in all of their food.
Morocco, like many parts of the world, has a cuisine that is unique to the region. Their food is highly colourful, tasty and not too spicy. Due to their unique cuisine, this makes travel to Morocco for food lovers incredibly popular.
One of the most popular regions of Morocco is Marrakech, famous for its marketplace where almost anything you could possibly desire can be found, and then bartered for in traditional Moroccan style. The famous markets of Morocco are also where you can buy your ingredients and spices to make Moroccan dishes.
A culinary tour of Morocco allows you to spend a great holiday in Morocco sampling food from each and every region, and each region has its own specialities. A culinary tour also allows you the unique opportunity to cook Moroccan food yourself, under the tutorship of the chef, and then to put your skills into practice when you get back home for that taste of Morocco at home.
When you travel to Morocco you’ll be able to spend your time staying on one of the authentic riads. Riads are traditional houses in Morocco, and have the unique feature of an interior garden. The most traditional riads also feature a fountain in the interior garden. Travel to Morocco for an experience and memories you will treasure forever.
If you’re craving for some Moroccan cuisines before your dream holiday to Morocco, why not try making some yourself at home?! Following are some great Moroccan recipes we have found for you, enjoy!
Soup & Entrée
Harira – Lamb and Lentil soup, AKA. the national soup of Morocco
Bali is a beautiful island, and one that can be driven around in just a day, so small is it in size. However, despite its small size, Bali has exotic beaches, luxury villas, excellent surf for the sports enthusiasts and many dance performances to entertain the tourists.
Explorers can also venture inland from their holiday villa to see some of the many volcanoes in Bali, but don’t worry as they’re highly unlikely to erupt!
Here are a few tips to make the most of your time in Bali:
If you like to get out and party, you’ll find Bali has some excellent nightclubs in Kuta, and plenty of local shops to tempt you with souvenirs to take back home with you. One important tip while in Bali is to only drink alcohol from branded bottles bought from authorised retailers.
When travelling around, most taxis are unmetered so it is wise to negotiate the price before you get in. Why not try travel by ‘bemo’, a mini-van that acts as a sort of communal bus and you just hail the driver and negotiate the fare.
If you wish to visit a temple, be sure to wear a waist sash. For clothing, light, airy clothes in cotton or linen are ideal for the climate in Bali.
Bali is perfect for those who like to relax, as you can spend your time in a spa, rejuvenating your body and soul, and you can even enjoy a massage on the beach. Of course simply sitting in one of the villas in Bali and enjoying the cuisine can be an ideal way to spend an evening.
Essaouira’s hypnotic Gnaoua and World Music Festival takes place from 25-28 June this year. Celebrating Gnaoua heritage, the music has influences as widespread as Haitian voodoo and Brazilian Candomblé. As trance music permeates the picturesque port, its purple ramparts and whitewashed medina, Essaouira’s bustling streets slow down, and become eerie and evocative. Held across ten medina stages, the free festival is a meeting point for foreign artists and a melting-pot of worldwide rhythms. Stay at the Heure Bleue, a Relais et Chateaux riad, and you can snooze to the beat of distant drums from its rooftop pool. A four-night stay costs from £1,190 pp (two sharing) during the festival, including flights (Gatwick), private transfers and B&B. Call The Best of Morocco on 0845 026 4588.
Holidaymakers are fleeing the Euro-zone for better deals to destinations like Morocco. But before you travel to another continent, it’s best that you go prepared and familarise yourself with the local customs. Here we’ve compiled a Top 10 list courtesy of Moroccan travel experts, The Best of Morocco, to help you ease into the Moroccan way of life.
1. Tipping
Tipping is part of everyday life in Morocco. You may think it’s only done by tourists, but it’s not! The locals do it to show their appreciation for good service. In Morocco, you tip just about everyone, the drivers, concierge, waiters, and the list goes on. Even when you dine in restaurants with a 12% gratuity and service charge to your bill, a tip is still expected.
2. Ramadan
Like any other Muslim country, during the Islamic month of fasting, participating Muslims does not eat or drink from dawn until sunset. Ramadan hardly affects tourists in major cities, there is only a slight change to shop opening hours. Food and drink is still available throughout daylight hours in hotel and tourist restaurants. However, as a matter of respect, you should not walk in the streets eating or drinking and if you are in a shop, you should try not to smoke.
3. No Lefties
On the dinner table that is. To experience a true Moroccan meal, you should try eating with your hands. But like other Muslim countries, you should always eat with the right hand, as the left is supposed to be used for the toilet.
4. Bargaining Power
When shopping in markets, the price you’re told is almost never the final price as sellers expect you to bargain. It is wise to bargain from half of the offer price, and take it from there. Eventually you’ll meet at a price you’re both happy with.
Here’s an example of “Haggling in Action”, a video of tourists buying shoes at a market in Marrakech.
5. Photo Opp
When taking photos of locals, it’s best to ask for permission first. Moroccans are generous and passionate people, but that’s not necessarily the case when strangers go snapping away with their cameras. In tourist places you may be required to tip them for a good pose at the camera.
6. Dress Code
There aren’t really any restrictions for women to dress in shorts or tank tops during the summer, as the locals are pretty used to it with many tourists visiting Morocco each year. However, when you enter a mosque, or any other holy place, you should dress conservatively out of respect, meaning cover your shoulders and pants over your knees. The same applies for male travellers also.
7. Got the Stomach for It?
Morocco is considered to be one of the few places in Africa that has the safest and cleanest drinking water distribution, but it is not advised for travellers to drink from the tap. Water in Morocco contains higher levels of minerals than water in Europe. The locals are used to absorb high-mineralized water, but travellers may fall ill from drinking it. It’s nothing major, just a case of an upset stomach, but that’s enough to spoil a holiday!
8. Shoes off
When invited to someone’s home for an authentic Moroccan meal, remember to leave your shoes by the door. As a custom, Moroccans do not wear outside shoes in their homes, or on their fabulous rugs.
9. Meet and Greet
Greetings are important in Morocco, as they often shake hands, right hand of course, and ask how each other and their family are doing. A cursory greeting is considered rude and offensive.
10. Eat Like a Pig
Nothing displays true Moroccan hospitality better than a good meal. When invited to a meal, prepare to be stunned by the variety and portion of the meals served. Be prepared to feast on couscous and kebabs whilst in Morocco. For pork lovers, it is difficult, though not impossible, to obtain pork dishes in restaurants, so beef, lamb and seafood are often the only available alternatives.
When every riad, relais or resort hotel looks sumptuous, every unusual spa treatment sounds heavenly, every maison d’hôtes feels more alluring than the last, every pool’s seductive, every restaurant’s romantic, how do you ever make a decision? Trawling through TripAdvisor, and being besieged by poxy pop-ups and countless crappy banner ads, is one way. But who really cares what Gloria from Gushville, Tennessee, thought of the place anyway, or indeed that the colour of the suite’s loo paper didn’t meet her curious tastes? And why does she use capital letters ALL THE TIME and sooooo many exclamation marks??!!!!!!!
The Value of Vox Populi
To help more easily sort the wheat from the, well, wheat, The Best of Morocco have introduced ‘Top Five’ guides, where the lists are compiled based on client feedback, and updated weekly. The list includes Top Five riads, hotels, destinations, pools, restaurants and things that are currently proving most popular with the independent travellers.
“Now you don’t have to just take our word on Morocco – you can see what our customers say, too. In this age of endless information and hollow homages, such a reliable helping hand in shortlisting your options is very welcome.”, explained by Steve Diederich, the Managing Director of The Best of Morocco.
The Best of Morocco, offers the most comprehensive Morocco programme you will find in the country. Tailor-made packages offers great flexibility and is designed to work to your budget. The array of activities includes camel treks, walking treks, Land Rover safaris, skiing, surfing, horse-riding, golf, birdwatching, quad-biking and cooking.
For further information or to find out which riad’s currently top of the accommodation pops, visit The Best of Morocco website.
Did you know that cruises generally have the highest reported satisfaction rates of any kind of holiday? Not surprising really, when you consider that cruises have been reinvented over recent years to provide exactly what customers want – modern comfort, quality entertainment, great food and exciting itineraries.
Talking of exciting itineraries, we don’t think there’s a better place to cruise than Southeast Asia. In the Far East you’ll experience an unbeatable mix of culture, stunning scenery and some of the friendliest people in the World.
With so much to see in the Far East, it’s difficult to decide on which country to choose – by taking a cruise you can see a number of countries in one holiday.
2. Make new friends
Whether it’s in the gym, the casino, a restaurant, or anywhere onboard, if you want to meet new people – you will! You’re all sharing in great experience and people invariably leave with new friends for life.
3. Take the family
Cruise ships, such as the Costa Allegra in Southeast Asia, offer a host of activities and a variety of entertainment for the whole family. Kids can enjoy themselves while parents relax by the pool.
4. Be pampered
Join a Costa Cruise for an oasis of comfort. Enjoy the services of a cabin steward who’s always at your service, an incredible Spa and breakfast (or indeed any meal) served in your luxury cabin. Relax, be pampered and unwind.
5. Fantastic food
Gone are the days when the only dining option on board a cruise was very formal. Cruises now offer a variety of options so you can eat formally or casually, in the open air, in a restaurant or in your cabin – any time of day or night.
6. Only pack once
Cruising is a hassle free way of seeing many places on one holiday and instead of the stress of travelling you can sit back and relax in the spa, enjoy some entertainment, get active with the ship’s sports facilities or simply sit back with a cool cocktail. No contest.
7. Port Excursions
Many believe that taking a cruise means you can’t explore the countries you visit – not true! A host of port excursions are available to ensure that you can really explore the countries you visit.
8. Keeping control of the budget
Most cruises operate on full board basis, meaning that all your meals are included in the price of your cruise. That means you won’t need much spending money when you’re away.
9. Stay in Shape
You can walk around the Promenade, hit the gym, do laps in the pool, play tennis, take a golf lesson plus many other options besides. If you want to stay in shape on holiday, you will! In fact, with so much to do, you’ll probably find you’re in far better shape on return than when you left home!
10. Enjoy the party
From the lively Piano Bar to the exuberant casino, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the evening’s entertainment. And no worrying about getting a taxi home – simply walk back to your cabin at the end of night.
It was by chance that just 5 years ago that a group of construction workers in Hanoi stumbled on one of the most important and archeologically rich sites every to be discovered in Vietnam. The Thang Long (Ascending Dragon) Ancient Citadel is an absolute treasure trove and, as of this year, is now open to the public!
Visiting the Citadel, history fans can see the foundations of ancient royal palaces and artefacts dating back to the seventh century including terracotta figures of dragons, coins, weapons along with all sorts of ceramics from numerous periods in history. In fact, as archaeologists carefully dug deeper, they found that every meter unearthed treasures from a different period in history.
The Citadel is so significant that the authorities are trying to establish UNESCO world cultural heritage status for the site, and a final judgment on that is due in June 2010.
To discover more about this fascinating archaeological discovery, visit the write-up on the UNESCO website.
The video for U2’s latest single, Magnificent, sees the band recording and wandering around ancient Fez, Morocco’s most charismatic, colourful and temporally untampered town. There’s footage of the riad-turned studio where U2, together with legendary producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, wrote and recorded much of their new album, No Line on the Horizon, and then scenes of Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry strolling the labyrinthine medina of Fez-el-Bali, a still-unmapped, scented underworld of 10,000 alleys and small markets in various quarters where donkeys wobble by with toppling loads, children run through your legs and healers sell cures for everything from haemorrhoids to a broken heart.
This isn’t the first time the supergroup have set up camp in the Imperial City – the video for 1992’s Mysterious Ways was set there. Fez’ magical lure evidently remains just as strong: one song on their latest album is called Fez – Being Born. Said Bono about this latest stay: “We’d record during the day and then disappear into windy streets of the medina at night. It was an inspiring experience”.
If the video tempts you to visit Fez, make sure you travel with specialists The Best of Morocco. Confirmed U2 fans, the company’s staff are also Fez experts, able to recommend the best guides (you’ll need one to navigate the maze), the best leather shops in the tanneries, the best medersas (beautiful university buildings) to pause in, the best restaurants and hookah coffee houses to slumber in, and the best times for excursions to Meknes, which U2’s video briefly visits, and to the Roman remains at Volubilis.
They can also suggest the best accommodation, such as the Dar Anebar: a traditional riad much like the one featured in U2’s video, only without the huge amps, Irish musicians and piled-up carpets. Set around a trickling fountain and ornate courtyard, this homely riad boasts a roof terrace, unintrusive service, fine food, and numerous nooks and crannies.
The start of U2’s stay in Fez purposefully coincided with the Festival of Sacred Music, with the band hoping to be inspired by the spiritual music on show from around the globe. They later claimed the plan had worked. For those interested in similar musical genesis, the Festival is this year held between 29 May and 6 June.
A four-night stay in Fez at the Dar Anebar costs £610 pp in June, including flights (Gatwick), private transfers and B&B. During the Festival, the same package costs £625 pp. Call The Best of Morocco on 0845 026 4588 (www.realmorocco.com).
