Month: January 2023

Budget Friendly Places to Explore from the UK Escape the Winter Blues

Budget Friendly Places to Explore from the UK: Escape the Winter Blues

Introduction

As an African in the UK, I have a love-hate relationship with winter and always looking for a Sunny escape to combat the winter blues, Of Course on a budget. 

Here are 5 destinations I’ve traveled to between Nov- February from the UK without breaking the bank and enjoying some warm sunshine. 

Budget Friendly Divers Paradise- Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

For all of you water babies out there, Sharm El Sheikh is the ideal destination. It’s a diver’s paradise, with crystal clear waters and an abundance of marine life. Not to mention, the prices are extremely reasonable. 

Budget Friendly Divers Paradise- Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Budget Friendly Divers Paradise- Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

With average highs of 23 degrees during the winter, you can escape the cold and enjoy some warm sunshine. Budget airlines like Wizzair will also take you there without breaking the bank. 

A decent hotel can be found for less than £30 per night, and a meal for less than £5. Furthermore, the currency conversion rate works in your favor, making your pound go further.

My favorite part of the trip was diving in the Red Sea and seeing a variety of marine life, including colorful fish, coral reefs, and even shipwrecks.

Budget Friendly Divers Paradise- Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt 2
Budget Friendly Divers Paradise- Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

 

Budget-Friendly Nature Lover’s Dream: Madeira, Portugal

Madeira is a naturalist’s paradise. It’s the ideal place to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, with beautiful green landscapes and breathtaking cliffs.  

With average highs of 20 degrees during the winter, it’s a perfect destination to escape the cold and enjoy some sunshine.

Budget-Friendly Nature Lover's Dream_ Madeira, Portugal
Budget-Friendly Nature Lover’s Dream_ Madeira, Portugal

But it’s not just the scenery that’s inexpensive. A decent hotel can be found for less than £50 per night, and meals can be found for less than £10. Furthermore, you can find some great deals on flights, making it even more affordable. 

Hiking the levadas, a network of irrigation channels that run throughout the island, was the highlight of my trip. The trails are well-kept and provide some of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen.

Budget-Friendly Nature Lover's Dream_ Madeira, Portugal
Budget-Friendly Nature Lover’s Dream_ Madeira, Portugal

Budget-Friendly Cultural Experience: Marrakesh, Morocco

Marrakesh is a low-cost destination that provides a truly unique cultural experience. There’s so much to see and explore, from bustling markets to traditional architecture. 

With average temperatures at 20 degrees during the day, it’s a perfect destination to escape the cold and enjoy some sunshine.

Furthermore, you can find a decent hotel for less than £40 per night and meals for less than £5. And with a favorable currency conversion rate, your pound will go even further. 

The visit to the famous souks, where you can find everything from spices and textiles to traditional Moroccan lamps and pottery, was the highlight of my trip.

Budget-Friendly Cultural Experience_ Marrakesh, Morocco
Budget-Friendly Cultural Experience_ Marrakesh, Morocco

Budget-Friendly City Break: Sevilla, Spain

Sevilla is ideal for a city break. It’s a budget-friendly destination with beautiful architecture, delicious food, and a rich culture that will leave you wanting more. 

Plus, the average winter temperatures in Sevilla are a comfortable 20 degrees, making it the perfect escape from the chilly UK weather. A decent hotel can be found for less than £50 per night, and meals can be found for less than £10. 

City Break_ Sevilla, Spain
Budget-Friendly City Break_ Sevilla, Spain

Furthermore, it is simple to reach from the UK, with numerous low-cost flights. The highlight of my trip was visiting the Alcazar, a magnificent 14th-century palace and well as the Plaza De Espana 

Budget-Friendly Luxurious Experience: Dubai, UAE

Last but not least, while Dubai may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of budget-friendly places to visit, it is possible. 

The average winter temperatures in Dubai are 25 degrees, making it a great destination to escape the cold winter of the UK. You can have a luxurious experience without breaking the bank if you plan ahead of time. 

Luxurious Experience_ Dubai, UAE 3
Budget-Friendly Luxurious Experience_ Dubai, UAE

A decent hotel can be found for less than £70 per night, and meals can be found for less than £15. In addition, there are many free things to do in Dubai, such as visiting the Dubai Creek or strolling along the Dubai Creek Promenade. 

The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, where you can take an elevator to the 124th floor and enjoy a panoramic view of the city, was the highlight of my trip.

Luxurious Experience_ Dubai, UAE 3
Budget-Friendly Luxurious Experience_ Dubai, UAE

Conclusion

Finally, whether you’re looking for a diving adventure, a nature lover’s dream, a cultural experience, a city break, or a luxurious experience, there are plenty of budget-friendly destinations you can visit from the UK. These five budget-friendly destinations, Sharm El Sheikh, Madeira, Marrakesh, Sevilla, and Dubai, are excellent starting points, and I hope they inspire you to plan your next adventure.

 

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Experience the Magic of the Ouzoud Falls

Experience the Magic of the Ouzoud Falls: A Tour from Marrakesh

Introduction

When people think of Morocco, they mostly think of desert, sand dunes, mountain views. Waterfalls rarely come to mind. Even though I knew about this waterfall on my first visit to Morocco in 2018, I didn’t add it to my itinerary as I just didn’t expect it to be as grand and fascinating as it turned out to be. Truly the beauty of Ouzoud waterfalls is indescribable – a truly magical experience you need to experience for yourself.

Now let’s get into how to make that happen.

Experience the Magic of the Ouzoud Falls: Booking A Tour

So I highly recommend you visit as part of a tour for ease and to truly learn the history. I booked my tour with @getyourguide and I truly recommend them. The booking process was so easy via the app (you can also book online).

The booking included pick up and drop off at my hotel in a comfortable minivan, the driver arrived at 8am and the day begun piling up a few other tourists at different hotel locations close by. The journey from Marrakesh last around 3 hours and included a stop for refreshments mid way. Our English-speaking driver made sure we knew all the important details about our visit.

Experience the Magic of the Ouzoud Falls: Arrival At The Falls

When we arrived at the falls, I was struck by the sheer size of them. The water tumbled down the rocky cliffs, forming pools at the bottom where it was possible to swim in the summer months.

We hiked to different viewpoints to get the best views of the falls. Don’t forget your camera to capture the beauty of this place. You’ll get so many incredible shots. It’s also worth noting that the tour does include some hiking in the sun, so don’t forget to bring sunscreen and be careful if visiting with young children as you pass through some really high cliffs.

Along the way we saw different olive trees and also visited an olive making factory to see the process of virgin olive oil and we were also allowed to get involved in the process which was pretty cool.

Experience the Magic of the Ouzoud Falls
The process of making the olive oil

Experience the Magic of the Ouzoud Falls: Boat Ride And Wild Monkeys

One of the highlights of the day was taking a small boat ride to get up close to the falls. It was a thrilling experience, and although we got a little wet, it was worth it to feel the power of the water so close.

Experience the magic of the ouzoud falls : My son with a monkey
Experience the magic of the ouzoud falls : My son with a monkey

But the Ouzoud Falls are more than just a beautiful natural wonder – they are also home to wild Barbary monkeys. These playful creatures can be found all around the river and falls, and it was a treat to watch them gallivant around the place. Some vendors sell nuts at the site, do be careful if you decide to feed them – they can be a bit vicious at times.

Experience the Magic of the Ouzoud Falls
Experience the Magic of the Ouzoud Falls

Experience the Magic of the Ouzoud Falls: Lunch And Souvenirs

After all the excitement of the day, we were treated to a break for lunch, where I had the chance to try some authentic Moroccan cuisine. I highly recommend the chicken tagine – it was delicious! And Moroccan tea is as good everyone says it is!

If you’re looking for souvenirs or keepsakes, there are plenty of local stalls to browse. Just remember to bring cash, as most of them don’t accept card payments.

Conclusion

Overall, visiting the Ouzoud Falls was an unforgettable experience. The beauty of the falls, combined with the thrill of the boat ride and the chance to see wild monkeys, made it a day I will never forget.

If you’re planning a trip to Marrakesh, I highly recommend adding a visit to the Ouzoud Falls to your itinerary – you won’t be disappointed.

Experience the magic of the ouzoud falls : Video of my son doing shea butter
Experience the magic of the ouzoud falls : Video of my son doing shea butter

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