Visiting Morocco
Trains from Marrakech to Tangier
Trains from Marrakech to Tangier are a great way to get between the two famous cities while visiting Morocco.
The train service that is operated on this route offers three day trains and one overnight train to Tangier.
Day trains from Marrakech to Tangier involve a stopover at Casablanca Voyageurs train station. The total journey time is 9h20m to 9h30m if there are no delays.
The overnight train is direct. The stated travel time on the overnight train is 10 hours.
The cost of a ticket for a train to Marrakech is 310 dirhams for first class and 205 dirhams for second class. Make sure to book in advance, especially in the high season.
If you are going to take an overnight train from Marrakech to Tangier, it is advisable to book a couchette to sleep on for the journey (only available for first class tickets). You can do this at the Marrakech train station.
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Visiting Senegal
Top 10 Things to Do on the Ile de Goree
Ile de Goree
The Ile de Goree is one of the best places to visit in Senegal, and is certainly the highlight of a trip to Dakar.
Below is a list of the top 10 things to do on the Ile de Goree:
10. Get lost in the small, narrow streets of the Ile de Goree
9. Go shopping for local art and souvenirs in the markets
8. Visit the Church of Saint Charles and the mosque on the island
7. Hike up to the castle for great views of Dakar
6. Visit the fort museum on the top of the island
5. Go to the Museum of the Sea
4. Visit the History Museum to learn about the Ile de Goree's role in Senegalese history
3. Have coffee or dinner at one of the sea front cafes by the ferry port
2. Photograph the brightly colored buildings and flowers near the fort
1. Visit the powerful Slave Museum on the Ile de Goree to learn about Senegal's role in the historic slave trade
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Visiting Kenya
Top 5 Places to Visit in Kenya
Lamu, Kenya
Kenya has no shortage of places to visit. With so much variation in its geography, there are a lot of spectacular areas in the country. Here are what I consider to be the top 5 places to visit in Kenya:
1. Masai Mara - Famous for its safaris, the Masai Mara is one of the most popular places to visit in Kenya. Visitors can stay in a safari lodge and go on game drives to see lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, and other African game. If you are visiting Kenya during the annual wildebeest migration, you can see thousands of the animals make their yearly crossing from Tanzania into Kenya and back.
2. Lamu - Lamu Island is one of the most popular places for beach holidays in Kenya. The beautiful isle in the Indian Ocean is a great place for fishing, diving, dhow cruises, and relaxing in the sun. Visitors to Lamu can stay in Lamu Town, Shela, or on neighboring Manda Island.
3. Mombasa - Like Lamu, Mombasa is a great location for beach holidays in Kenya. Popular with visitors and locals alike, it is one of the top 5 places to visit in Kenya. Mombasa is famous for its beautiful beaches as well as its historic Arab-influenced old town and famous sixteenth century Fort Jesus.
4. Nairobi - Most people that visit Kenya skip the capital. It is worth spending a day or two in Nairobi, though, as the city is home to attractions like the Giraffe Centre, the Elephant Orphanage, the Karen Blixen House, and the Mamba Village. Visitors can also go on safari in Nairobi National Park, take tours of the Mathare slum, and visit local markets and museums. The capital is also home to famous restaurants like Carnivore and Talisman, which serve some of the best food in the country.
5. Rift Valley - Located close to Nairobi, the Rift Valley is one of the top 5 places to visit in Kenya. Home to attractions like Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, and Hell's Gate National Park, the area is full of beautiful natural monuments and is a great place for adventure travel in Kenya.
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Visiting Madagascar
Antananarivo Airport in Madagascar
Antananarivo Airport
Antananarivo airport is Madagascar's main airport. Officially called Ivato International Airport, the airport's IATA code is TNR, and the ICAO code is FMMI.
The airport is served by both domestic and international flights. There are international flights to Antananarivo airport from China, the Comoros Islands, France, Germany, Kenya, Mauritius, Reunion, Singapore, South Africa, and Thailand, among others. There are also domestic flights to and from popular destinations like Antsiranana (formerly Diego Suarez) and Nosy Be.
The airlines that fly to Antananarivo airport include Air Austral, Air France, Air Madagascar, Air Mauritius, Comores Aviation, Corsairfly, Kenya Airways, and South African Airways.
Antananarivo airport itself is small and basic, but has several shops, ATMs, and car hire desks inside, and taxi stands outside.
If you are flying out of Antananarivo in the morning, be prepared for long lines at security and minor flight delays. Air Madagascar operates many flights in the morning hours, and the congestion sometimes leads to slight flight delays from Antananarivo airport.
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Visiting Tunisia
Best Day Trips from Tunis
Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
There are some great day trips from Tunis if you have time to explore the surrounding area while visiting Tunisia.
One of the best day trips is to visit the ancient ruins of Carthage. Located just a short train or taxi ride away from the Tunis city center, Carthage is full of great archaeological sites and historical treasures. The ruins are spread over a vast area, and deserve a full day to be explored.
To get around to the various sites in Carthage, you can take the train or a taxi. If you are in the area at lunchtime, don't miss the chance to try the excellent cuisine on the balcony of the Philipe Strack Villa Didon, which has great views over the sea below.
Another great day trip from Tunis is Sidi Bou Said. The town is picture pretty with its iconic blue and white buildings. You can get there by train or taxi from Tunis, and climb the hill up to the town. From there you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the Mediterranean.
While visiting Sidi Bou Said, make sure to visit the shops to look at the handicrafts and pick up souvenirs for family and friends back home. There are also great cafes and restaurants in Sidi Bou Said where you can enjoy a lunch or coffee break while on your day trip from Tunis.
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Visiting Tanzania
Best Places to Visit in Tanzania
Zanzibar Spice Tour
With an amazing diversity of landscapes and a wide variety of activities on offer, there is no shortage of great locations to travel to when you are visiting Tanzania. However, some destinations have unique things to offer that make them worth a special visit. In my opinion, the best places in Tanzania are as follows:
Zanzibar - The dazzling archipelago in the Indian Ocean is one of the most popular places to visit in Tanzania. Zanzibar's sparkling white beaches, crystal clear water, and great variety of things to do make it a must for anyone visiting Tanzania. While there, you can snorkel or scuba dive, go on a spice plantation tour, visit Stone Town, swim with the dolphins, or just lie on the beach and soak up the sun.
Mount Kilimanjaro - Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most popular activities for adventure travel in Tanzania. The mountain is the highest peak in Africa, and visitors from all over the world rise to the challenge of climbing it. You can choose from one of six routes to the top, which range from intermediate to advanced.
Serengeti - One of the best places for safaris in Tanzania is the Serengeti. The annual wildebeest migration draws safari goers from every corner of the globe, and no trip to the country is complete without seeing the Big 5 in the national park.
Ngorongoro Crater - Another of Tanzania's famous safari destinations, the Ngorongoro Crater is also one of the best places in Tanzania. The park is unique in that it is contained in a former volcanic crater, allowing visitors to view lions, cheetahs, zebras, elephants, giraffes, and other animals with a stunning circular backdrop.
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Visiting Jordan
Movenpick Resort and Dead Sea Spa
Movenpick Resort on the Dead Sea
Movenpick Resort and Dead Sea Spa
Address: Sweimeh, Dead Sea Road, P.O. Box 815538, Amman 11180, Jordan
Phone: +962 5 356 11 11
The Movenpick Resort hotel in Jordan is located right on the shores of the Dead Sea.
The large resort is spread out over a significant amount of land. Interspersed among the beautifully manicured gardens are detached two-storey buildings that house the hotel's guest rooms and suites.
The main hotel building at the Movenpick Resort and Dead Sea Spa is also home to guest rooms. Additionally, it features several restaurants, bars, a spacious lobby lounge, and meeting and event facilities.
One of the highlights of the resort is its abundance of swimming pools, outdoor snack bars and cafes, and its spa. From the main hotel building right down to the sea, the grounds are teeming with places to relax and take a dip or have a refreshing drink.
The Dead Sea Spa itself is peaceful and relaxing, and features a full menu of spa treatments. It also has several pools, some with water from the sea itself. The locker rooms are spacious and offer luxury amenities, and there is an overall feeling of tranquility there.
The outdoor pools at the Movenpick Resort and Dead Sea Spa overlook the hotel's private beach. The stretch of sand is lined with straw umbrellas and lounge chairs for guests to use when they're not floating in the sea.
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Visiting Dubai
Dubai Shopping Festival 2013
Dubai Shopping
Dubai Shopping Festival 2013: mid-January 2013 to mid-February 2013 (exact dates TBA)
The Dubai Shopping Festival is an annual shopping event in the emirate of Dubai.
Started in 1996 with the aid of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Shopping Festival aims to promote Dubai as a premier tourist destination and highlight the shopping for which the emirate is famous.
A month-long extravaganza, the Dubai Shopping Festival features entertainment, promotions, prizes, and of course, world-class shopping.
Win a luxury car or high-end apartment in one of the Dubai Shopping Festival's famous raffles, or visit one of Dubai's six thousand participating shops to take advantage of store promotions.
Enjoy fireworks in the evening while you sport the new attire you picked up at one of Dubai's best shopping destinations, then get some sleep so you can wake up early for the next day's shopping adventure.
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