Going Shopping in Morocco
Located within 2 km distance of Marbella's town centre are a few attractions like the famous Palladium or the hip and trendy Colonial Café, the redeveloped Puerto Deportivo Marina and the Hipódrom Costa del Sol that make it worthwhile paying a little extra for a holiday home. Being within easy walking and cycling distance of great amenities and attractions makes life so much easier for holiday home owners who only get to use their property 3 to 4 weeks in any one year.
However, the ultimate thrill for shopaholics has to be a day trip to Northern Africa's Morocco from the Costa del Sol.
Camels, Spices and Couscous galore!
The 13-hour excursion departs from central meeting points in the Marbella-San Pedro area, in Estepona and in Torremolinos between 5.40 and 7.30 am. Participants should contact their local service to arrange for an exactly pickup time. The excursion takes holidaymakers to the evocative streets of Tangiers and includes a guided walking tour of the medina, Kasbah and souk. Guests will have an opportunity to go shopping in a traditional Tangier bazaar and spice market, watch a Berber dance performance and enjoy a traditional Moroccan lunch.
A high-speed ferry travels across the Strait of Gibraltar from Marbella to Tangiers , a voyage that takes
between 45 to 60 minutes. The historic city is a magical place, full of street vendors selling delicious - and rather exotic - food. From snake charmers to street musicians, from steaming couscous and tagine to freshly brewed minty tea, the fragrant streets of Tangiers are filled with wonder.
The day trip also includes a visit to the Cave of Hercules, where guests can either wander along the Atlantic coast or relax by the white sand dunes or, at their own expense, opt for a camel ride before it's time to board the ferry again and return to the Costa del Sol.
What's included in the Package Deal?
Various operators offer shopping trips to Morocco. Look around for the best deal, as not all of these excursions include hotel pickup and drop off in the price. The round-trip ferry ride, lunch and transport by air-conditioned coach in Morocco are included with all operators. Drinks and gratuities are not included.
Keeping the Marbella Holiday Experience fresh
Excursions such as this one make for a welcome break in the holiday home visit routine. You may love strolling in Marbella Old Town of an evening, going shopping at La Canada's shopping mall and adore a regular trip to the white-washed hill town of Ronda, but the sheer exoticism of historic Tangiers is hard to beat.
The trouble with owning a holiday home for a number of years is that one can become a little blasé about local attractions. Once visited, places like zoos and animal reserves, museums, family amusement and adventure parks and beach attractions are viewed as common place after a while, when one has visited the same places a couple of times. Keep the holiday experience fresh, provide new intellectual fodder and stimulation for your family by finding different things to do during Marbella holidays.
Guided excursions are a great way to avoid arguments, take the pressure off the family group and an individual normally designated as the head of household.
Excursions like the Morocco trip are far more affordable than you think. They take the strain of the "designated driver" who normally can't enjoy the scenic route unfolding in front of the windscreen, because they're to buy dealing with the steering wheel, street map and directions, not to mention the Spanish language on road signs. How much more enjoyable is it to travel by air-conditioned coach for a day!