with Nadia El Feradoussi (The daily s’elf)
Marrakech: the name itself is enough to conjure up enticing images of palaces, riads, souks and citadels. Sometimes called the Red City, Marrakech, located in central Morocco, has a wealth of enchanting stories to tell for travellers wishing to uncover the city. In order to help potential visitors make the most of their journey, KAYAK.ie decided to enlist the help of Nadia El Feradoussi, also known as the voice behind http://thedailyself.me/. Nadia’s just been out to explore the magical kingdom of Marrakech, and we caught up with her to ask her a bit about herself and her time in the Red City. Read on…
We are curious, what moved you to start your own blog? And how did you decide on the name?
I was working as a beauty editor when the offer of a press trip came in to go wine tasting in Spain. Of course, I couldn’t refuse, I’m a team player after all! After that I started travel writing – the blog was an extension since I was limited in my print articles with how much I could say, and I needed another platform for all these photos I was taking.
the daily s’elf is about my daily life, myself + my last name – El Ferdaoussi.
You have been to so many different places. Is there anywhere you haven’t been yet but still want to go?
Your list doesn’t get smaller the more you travel, it gets longer by the day. New Zealand is way up there – I hear it’s a lot like Ireland 😉 I want to get to Cuba soon, before it changes too much, and I’m really longing to see more of Asia – Thailand is the only country I’ve been to there.
And your favourite spot/place in the world that you have travelled to?
Probably Cape Town, South Africa. I fell in love with the energy of the place immediately (and I’d been travelling for 40 hours straight across 3 continents to get there!)
It was my first time in the southern hemisphere actually. I had some of the best food and wine of my life during that week and met so many amazing people. I love the fact that it caters to everyone, you’ve got stunning scenery and nature, nightlife, weather, food and art. November was the perfect month to visit too!
If you had an unlimited travel budget for 24 hours, what would be your itinerary?
It would involve a boat, that’s for sure. I wouldn’t splash out too much on a super yacht though, I’m a big fan of sailing, so something more traditional. I’d visit lots of tiny islands that you can only get to by boat. Maybe I’d buy my own private one!
The beginning of every trip starts with planning. How do you choose where and when to go?
The weather will predict the location and time of year for sure. I’d love to go back to Cape Town, but I probably wouldn’t visit during their winter. Similarly, high season in some locations is a no-go as the prices skyrocket and you’re limited with accommodation. I do flight searches to see where is reasonable when I’ve got availability for a trip and go from there.
What always lands in your backpack? What would you recommend as a must-take for any trip to Marrakech?
It would 100% have to be a camera for Marrakech, it’s a photographer’s dream! From the colours in the markets, to the friendly locals and ornate tiles and doors, there’s something to take pictures of on every corner.
What surprised you the most about the city?
How it’s remained reasonably unchanged by the booming tourist trade. It’s held on to so many of its traditional roots! I love the fact that within the medina I saw a much higher ratio of locals to tourists, that was really surprising.
What was the biggest challenge from the given contest agenda?
Choosing the photos I’d use in each category. I had so many! Thinking back I probably could’ve used Instagram’s multiple photos feature a lot more, but my blog post was very photo-heavy. Whittling it down was tough.
If you had to choose just one picture from your trip that describes the spirit of Marrakech, what would it be?
It’s got to be this one of me with the infamous orange juice in the main square, Jemaa el-Fna. The fruit stall sellers are constantly smiling and genuinely happy to be doing their job, they’re also not shy at all about posing for photos!
Was there one dish you really wanted to taste in Marrakech ? If so, what was it?
A traditional Moroccan tagine. My dad is actually from Morocco, but his cooking is more Spanish influenced since he comes from the north of the country. They didn’t disappoint, I had at least one tagine every day while I was in Marrakech. I also ate my bodyweight in olives, they’re the best I’ve ever tasted.
What travel tips/advice would you give to KAYAK.ie users who want to visit Marrakech?
Stay within the medina! There are gorgeous hotels outside the old city walls, but for that real Marrakech vibe you have to stay in an old riad. They’re drenched in history and there are so many for all budgets to browse on KAYAK.ie.
During your trip you got to try out KAYAK Trips – one of the KAYAK app’s handy features. How did using Trips improve your travelling experience?
It was really handy to keep all the travel info in one app rather than relying on an internet connection to look up emails for confirmation numbers, etc.
So there you have it. Now that you know what’s waiting for you, you’re ready to book travel like a pro. Find flights to Marrakech, accommodation, and keep track of your plans using KAYAK Trips.
To see more from Nadia, check out http://thedailyself.me/ and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
