Travel - Weekend in

WHERE TO STAY… IN TOWN

An oasis amidst the chaos, La Sultana is a real gem. Book the Jaguar suite and step into another era, with its dark mahogany ceilings, red brick and mud walls, and marble floors throughout. It’s decadent. The mix of noble woods, stone, wrought iron and brass, even the kids feel its rich history, especially in the peach and white marble bathroom with its painted ceilings, stone columns and giant sunken bubble bathtub. Beautiful details include the pineapple shaped lamps, the bird print adorning the walls in the kids’ rooms,

antique desk and plenty of arts and crafts to remind you of where you are. Best of all, double doors give onto a latticework wooden balcony overlooking the Riyadh turquoise swimming pool. It’s so quiet. Unthinkable from the outside.

The huge bed is wonderfully comfortable, and the dark room makes an ideal resting place. There is a mini bar with complimentary drinks and more seating space outdoors with another terrace overlooking the pool where cool white cactus sculptures sit. It’s a bit of a maze, like the entire riad is. Exploring it is quite the adventure. Rooms after rooms with intricate furniture and chandeliers, each more opulent than the next, with a 1001 nights flavour. The best spot in the house? The rooftop with its hidden corners, bar and mezze restaurant and plunge pool. On the ground floor, the main pool and restaurant await. Breakfast is amazing. Awesome Madeleines, yummy brownies and great croissants and pains au chocolat. For something traditional there are Moroccan dishes like smokey aubergine spread, yoghurt with cucumber and spice as well as European hams and cheeses and fresh eggs from the farm! Not to mention the delicious Moroccan pancakes. Dinner is very chic, with tasty turbot, pigeon pastillas and sophisticated spider crab with avocado stuffing. The staff is just the right blend of polite and friendly, and we know we’ll miss them when we move on!

lasultanahotels.com

WHERE TO STAY… OUT OF TOWN

For the perfect antidote to the hectic chaos of Marrakesh city centre, head 15 minutes away to the swanky Fairmont resort. The estate is a haven of peace with all the resort features you could dream of, from a gorgeous all white Clarins spa, to the cutest kid’s club, a gym and several pools, as well as a choice of several restaurants.

Breakfast is a highlight. The buffet laid on is beautiful with everything you could dream of from croissants and muffins to cupcakes, cakes and pancakes - there’s also savoury, cheese boards, salmon, salads, eggs to order and plenty of freshly baked breads. A real treat. For dinner we try Al Ain, the Moroccan that serves up delicious roast pumpkin soup and Royal Couscous. It’s the perfect place to watch the sun set and skies turn pink over the Atlas Mountains with live music. The other restaurant La Caravane is all about international dining with great lamb chops, steaks and risottos. Each restaurant comes with the kid’s menu which is helpful too. There is also a Mexican option with fabulous fish tacos so plenty to chop and change!

Book into a villa, for extra space. So much space, it might be larger than your usual home. A large living/dining room open space overlooks the stunning garden with its own plunge pool. Mature gardens with heaps of bougainvillaea, palm trees and olive trees make the place feel extra special. The overall look is 1001 nights exoticism. The pool is surrounded by beautiful lanterns, sleek sunbeds with thick beige towels match the Adobe style walls and there’s plenty of dark latticed woodwork to provide much appreciated shade.

With two bedrooms, each with their own flatscreen TV and plush marble bathrooms, not to mention outdoor showers and giant walk-in wardrobes, the villa feels extremely luxurious. I love the bathrooms, with their intricate dark brown mosaic tiles, beautiful marble flagstones and Neroli products, made from rose extracts and orange blossom in keeping with the Moroccan theme. I also love the shaggy Berber carpets with their black criss cross motifs and the fireplace.

The resort is enormous, so part of the daily fun is riding the golf buggies to the restaurants. Another big attraction? The kids club! Without a doubt the swankiest one in Marrakech, this junior playground paradise is a sight to behold. A beautiful space, all mellow blues and creams, the huge space is laid out around a central ‘tree house’. Lucky little guests can join in arts and crafts, painting, reading, building or riding the very friendly looking, life-sized fluffy wooden sheep! They also run cookery classes in its full-blown professional kitchen, all in miniature size where kids can make cakes and cookies and pancakes. They are also good with arts and crafts.

Other ‘local’ excursions include the resort’s own farm where we meet Lola the six-year-old turtle, a handful of chickens, ducks, rabbits, a cow, a puppy, a pony and a couple of donkeys! A bit further afield you can head to get a taste of the desert in Agafay for dune buggy tours and to take it easy, the Clarins Spa is a world of relaxation, while the gym is perfect for a ping pong game or a workout! What more could you ask for?

fairmont.com

A WeekendGibraltarin

A hop and a skip away, Gibraltar offers a little taste of Britain ‘around the corner’ – a bit of adventure, a little indulgence and a few surprises.

© Sunborn Gibraltar.

Take a Walk

Down the rock. Hop on the cable car and climb up the 426-metre-high rock to get the best views over Gibraltar and catch a glimpse of the rock’s famous monkeys. But don’t get too close or you might get mugged. Especially if you’re carrying Digestive biscuits. Don’t miss the St Michael’s cave for its impressive stalactites and a peek at the WW2 tunnels where the supplies were stashed for the North African campaign. You might even get lucky and spot a submarine being pulled out to sea. True story.

Where to Shop

The pedestrian zone along Main street is just the spot to pick up a few souvenirs, not to mention a few Brit favourites - from Matalan to Next and, of course, Marks and Spencer. This is the place to load up on shortbread, Percy Pigs and an impressive choice of Lego in the many toy stores. There’s a host of pharmacies selling all kinds of lotions and potions, and a Costa coffee for a break. It’s not exactly hyper cosmopolitan but there’s enough to keep you busy and most of all, it’s very cosy. The M+S bakery makes a great cookie, too.

Where to Stay

The kids will love the experience of staying abroad the Sunborn yacht. A repurposed cruise ship, the Sunborn sits pretty in a central location near all the dock’s attractions and a stone’s throw from the shops. Book parking ahead if you want to save yourself a one-way street headache. The Ocean Suite cabins are spacious for four, with fabulous decks and views. The ‘disco’ golden mosaics in the marble bathroom were a hit, as was breakfast, and the front seat views over the runway (much cooler than it sounds!) but you’ll need a PHD to figure out the lights! sunborngibraltar.com

Where to Eat

Gibraltar offers a plethora of dining options, from your good old fish and chips chippie to many traditional style pubs and, of course, the staple family favourites like Pizza Express. What else?

© Michal Mrozek on Unsplash.com