Slovenia was an absolute dream to explore, and I can’t wait to share the tales with you…

My adventures always begin with a long, long journey from the coasts of the UK to a London airport. That out of the way, I finally landed in Slovenia… and it was pure alpine bliss. I would note, before I headed to Slovenia I found airport transfers pretty difficult to book, and after hours and hours of searching through super expensive private transfers I finally found one that was worth booking - so my first big tip for those who need transport from the airport to your hotel/hostel/Airbnb/wherever is to book with GoOpti – and you can click here to book with €5 off. Woo hoo!

The drive to Lake Bled was pretty scenic, with tall alpine trees all around us, and mini apple orchards here and there. I quickly learned that people love to be self-sufficient with food in Slovenia, and you will find a lot of vegetable patches and fruit trees growing in gardens! Yum!

I stayed along the infamous Lake Bled, and opted for hostel life as hotel accommodation can be pretty pricey per night. I planned my accommodation well, and you could see the lake from the hostel’s roomy rooftop terrace, as well as the most beautiful white wooden church! I’d absolutely recommend Castle Hostel 1004 – the staff were friendly, there’s a great atmosphere, and everything is always clean or being cleaned, it was also prime location for a supermarket, the main bus stop, and lots of restaurants and coffee shops. I was a little apprehensive about staying alone in a hostel, but made some fabulous friends and didn’t worry once, even with new people in my room almost every night. Perfect stay!

I arrived and checked in at around 6pm, so dropped my bags and quickly wandered down to the lake to check out the views before heading out for a Slovenian dinner with my brand new roomies. Grilled trout, potatoes, and veggies are a common veggie dish on Slovenian menus – and now I’m totally sold on trout! I must’ve eaten it three or four times during my week there. After dinner the rain poured, sob! As I wanted to get up early to explore the lake, I decided to call it a night. Probably the right decision as it rained allll night long.

Sticking to my plan, I got up bright and early with my camera and tripod in tow. Thankfully the rain was long gone, and after the early morning clouds vanished it was nothing but sunshine all week. I was even lucky enough to see the first snowfall on the mountains surrounding the lake.

Lake Bled is 6km around, and so worth exploring. There are so many pretty little spots to stop and admire the view… with a few piers, a scenic wooden walkway, and lots of benches. One side of the lake is really natural, with a camp site and the odd large cabin-like hotel, whilst the other is pretty commercial with lots of big, fancy hotels and restaurants. I kept to the more natural side, and it was so peaceful! The only noises were the odd dog bark from early morning walkers, or large trout jumping around in the lake.

Another attraction to Lake Bled are the three fabulous viewpoints located around the lake. You may have seen these on Instagram! They’re pretty well captured. So off I went, into the muddy woods, trekking up almost vertical rocky terrain, on the hunt for these viewpoints. Did I find any? Nope. I was wandering around with google maps and Instagram and blog posts open, but did they help? Nope. Argh! I did however experience what very much looked like a wolf running down the steep rocky mountainsides of the woods. Eep. A scary sight when you’re exploring the woods alone, with nobody else around. Apparently nobody has ever been attacked by wolves in Slovenia, but they are there, along with Lynx cats and bears (though bears are further south). Be aware if venturing out alone! Thankfully my little sighting ended well, with me courageously fleeing back down the terrain, on my bum (it really was that steep).

A well-known attraction on Lake Bled is the little island right in the middle! It’s such a beautiful sight, and is easily accessible by row boat. If you don’t feel like rowing yourself out you can hitch a ride on a Pletna boat… a little taxi boat! It costs €14 per person, and allows you an hour on the island. Sadly it really isn’t a lot of time, as there are a few sights to see and views to take in, but I made it work. On the island is a little museum, a fabulous little coffee shop that sells traditional Bled Cake (the fruit version is my favourite!), and of course the infamous little church with a magical bell. Stories say that if you ring the bell and make a wish, your wish will come true! Sadly the bell was ringing non-stop, so I opted to make my own wish come true and headed to the coffee shop for cake and tea. Obviously! The bell is a beautiful sound though, and can be heard from all around the lake.

My second day was another bright and early start, as I’d booked a tour around Triglav National Park with Pr1mo Tours. They have a great variety of trips available, but the one I booked covers a lot of the amazing spots I really wanted to see. You can find the day trip I booked here. It was honestly such a perfect trip, and small in size… so we got to spend plenty of time at each stop (taking photos, of course!). We saw amazing views, experienced the Julian Alps up close, walked part of Vintar Gorge, took a cable car up to the top of Mount Vogel (views galore!!), explored two incredible waterfalls, saw crystal-clear lakes, and so much more! We even stopped for lunch in a fabulous alpine spot.

If you’re short for time in Slovenia, I highly recommend a good day tour. The Pr1mo tour I booked was a good ten hours, and it really did get you exploring the outdoors. There are alternative tours that are similar but far more active (if that’s your thing) and include activities like rafting and kayaking. I didn’t look at these, so can’t recommend any, but Pr1mo Tours has a handful of great options… though the Triglav National Park trip was really magical! Our guide was so knowledgeable too, and we learnt so much about Slovenia as we went.

Lake Bohinj was also a stop on the tour, and it really was magnificent, I absolutely fell in love. It’s four times the size of Lake Bled, and crazily less touristy. If you don’t book a day tour, or if you book one that doesn’t include Bohinj as a stop, I reallllly really recommend visiting it – it’s easily accessible by bus or car!

I had planned to spend my final full day roaming Ljubljana, but I ended up heading back to Lake Bohinj. It’s a short 30-45 minute bus ride from Lake Bled, and really is magical. The water is beyond clear all around the lake (in fact, the water all over Slovenia is ridiculously clear), and there’s even a little waterfall. Sadly I didn’t have enough time to walk the entire lake, so didn’t find the waterfall, but there are some beautiful white pebbled spots and bed-like benches that I did get to enjoy! I made lots of little duck friends too. If you haven’t seen my Lake Bohinj snaps on Instagram, take a peek here. It’s honestly such a beautiful lake, surrounded by beautiful alpine trees and with views of the Julian Alps in the background. If you look close enough, you can even see little fish swimming around the crystal-clear shallows. On a still day the water is just like glass.

My last morning was spent trying cake in a coffee shop not too far from my hostel, then sitting at the lake and taking in the last views of the island and Bled Castle. Slovenia is such a wonderful, beautiful, and surprising country. I had no idea Slovenia had Alps! I’m so glad I decided to visit and managed to experience some of the country. I’ll absolutely be back, and really want to explore it in winter – apparently the lake can freeze over and you can walk to the church on the island! Magical! 

I have so many more photos to come, so if you're keen to see more you can find them on my Instagram: @perfectlyclaudia

Let me know in the comments if you’ve been to Slovenia, or if you’re planning to go!

Travel Details

Accommodation: Castle Hostel 1004

Pr1mo Tour: Triglav National Park Tour

Claudia xo

Autumn has definitely reached Cornwall, with its chilled weather and rainy days, so what could be more perfect than spending the last of the sunshine at The Scarlet Hotel & Spa…

If you follow me on Instagram (@perfectlyclaudia) then you may have spotted an array of stories that I posted during my relaxing day at the beautiful Scarlet Hotel & Spa. Our morning started with a lovely meet and greet in the Spa reception, a quick tour, an even quicker outfit change, and sheer excitement when we saw the views! The entire Spa faces the most amazing coastal view as it overlooks Mawgan Porth beach, Newquay. A lot of the rooms, especially with balconies, face the same beach. Imagine waking up to golden hour over the ocean, or sleeping to stormy seas and skies.

  

The main ‘hub’ of the Spa is a relaxing ‘quiet room’, with an array of seating areas to suit all preferences. We opted for the loungers that overlooked the natural outdoor pool and beach view, of course. There is also a dipped seating area filled with bean bags, a hanging pod, and a selection of very large, cushioned chairs (I really want one!). From this room you can reach the changing rooms, the treatment rooms, the indoor pool, the outdoor pool, the hot tubs, sauna, and the Spa restaurant. It’s a quick and easy midway point.

Our first spot to explore was the amazing indoor pool. It’s a real gem of the Spa and I was really excited to shoot and swim there. As it was early in the morning we got to experience the pool without bothering any other guests – in fact, it was pretty quiet for most of the day. The pool is also heated, and has the most fabulous poolside views that a non-infinity pool can have. There’s also a rainfall-style shower inside the pool room, and an eucalyptus steam room. Sadly the evening clouded over, so we couldn’t admire the sunset from the pool, but even watching the clouded ocean was a dream. There's also a yoga room next door (which is accessible from the Spa reception) with these same amazing views.

The indoor pool also overlooks the outdoor natural pool, which is beyond pretty – though cold!! I did manage to brave it up to waist height, but then quickly ran out and back to the warmth of the Spa hehe. It's naturally filtered by the reeds, which we found fascinating as the water is so clear.

Between enjoying the impressive pools, we also experienced a few super relaxing treatments. The whole treatment area has an air of relaxation; it’s dimly lit, with soothing scents and music, and all of the treatment rooms have Bedouin tent vibes. The first treatment was the Padabhyanga – mouth full! It’s a foot and lower leg massage that helps to release energy blocks and improve circulation. As I’d just jumped out of the chilly natural pool this was a perfect way to warm up the legs!

Next on our itinerary was lunch, yum! We were so impressed with lunch; we were beyond surprised that the chef and team had created a personalised vegan menu for my guest and I. Even the desserts were vegan! The food was dreamy... I opted for a courgette fritter with chilli pearls and leaves, whilst my guest ordered spiced lentils on sourdough with coriander. Yum yum yum! Both dishes were amazing, and came with an array of side dishes such as a mixed herb hummus with raw vegetable crudités, a beetroot and chickpea salad, a pesto coated courgette and cherry tomato salad, and a few more options. We also got to taste the juice of the day – which was a refreshing green juice!

The view from the restaurant terrace is beautiful. It overlooks the natural pool, the hot tub and sauna area, and the amazing beach and coast. If you visit, do not miss the views from up here, they’re simply magical. We noticed that there is also a third tier to the Spa, a more relaxed and chilled outdoor lounge area, which you can reach from inside the Spa. That tier got pretty busy during the day, but we were superbly happy with our views from the lower levels that we didn’t wander any higher.

  

After lunch was our toasty cliff-top hot tub session. The Spa allows for thirty minutes per session, which we definitely thought wasn’t long enough haha! On a chilly day, that is one warm and dreamy wooden tub that you never want to leave. The views from the hot tubs are beyond impressive. You get the full effect of the cliff-side views from here. The sauna is on a level just below the hot tubs, and also overlooks the beach – with a cleverly thought out window so that you don’t miss the views!

After some more moments of relaxation, and an endless supply of the best herbal tea we’ve ever had (oatflower, lavender, and limeflower), we decided to revisit the indoor pool. It really is such a mesmerising pool, and when the water is still it looks just like glass. The pool is encased by enormous windows, and has beautiful shimmering blue tiling. It’s also a little deeper than we expected, so photos here were hilarious… with me shimmying myself along the edge of the poolside, or tip-toeing through the pool to find that perfect spot. Keep an eye on my Instagram (@perfectlyclaudia) for these magical moments, there are plenty to come!

To end our day we were treated to an hour long Tri Dosha Facial, which I can highly recommend! It was definitely my favourite of the treatments, as it includes a head and neck massage. The facial massage and treatment itself was so relaxing, with an array of scents that really do take the senses on a journey. We were really impressed with this treatment, and here's why... we both experienced the same treatment, yet the scents and products used were totally unique to each of us. I wonder if my therapist picked up on the fact that I had a bit of a cold – because she seriously cured it with the use of eucalyptus!

  

From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the Spa was so prompt, organised, and friendly - and even days before we arrived I was sent a wonderful, well thought out, itinerary. You also don’t have to return to the reception desk before any of your treatments, the fabulous therapists come and find you – and they’re pretty good at doing so! We loved the overall vibe, the beautiful views, the hand and body washes that are unique to the hotel, and the amazing personalised menu. I will absolutely be recommending The Scarlet to anyone and everyone, and am enormously grateful for the wonderful day we had – thank you so so much for having us!

This summer I wanted to spend my time exploring more of what’s on my doorstep. It’s not always as easy as swanning off to the European hotspots like all the Instagram gals do, but with the mad heatwave that we’ve been having in the UK Cornwall has looked like something out of Italy’s countryside, or the sandy tropics. Hurrah! Finally a good summer season. Perfect for exploring.

Firstly I was having major FOMO of all the beach snaps I was seeing on Instagram, so naturally that was my first thought. I live in Cornwall, surrounded by a multitude of beaches, 7 of which (that I know of) are within a 10 minute drive from my home. Why aren’t I making the most of these beautiful beaches! I mean… the entirety of Cornwall, and the rest of the UK, do flock to our beaches in summer, so that does put me off – and I’d rather just bask in my garden, where water and sustenance is within easy reach. But I digress.

I decided to visit a local beach that I’d only recently realised existed in Cornwall… Porthluney Beach (also known as Caerhays). There’s a beach café, and a beautiful castle just opposite (which is open to the public every spring). To avoid the tourists I headed to the beach at 7.30am, bright and early, and it was already hitting 20 degrees centigrade. Hot hot. There were a few others dotted around walking their dogs, but I had the beach to myself and it was bliss. The tide was so far out that it was so shallow, so clear, and so warm. At 8am in the morning I was happily sat in the sea. When does that ever happen in the UK?! What a dream.

I found myself a little cove, with a cave, and set myself up on the damp sand staring out to the bright blue summery ocean. An endless amount of mussels adorned rocks, little pools of water glistened across the riveted sand, and there was nothing but the sound of the waves… and the odd pupper or two.

A morning of shooting done, I noticed how quickly the tide was moving in on my private little cove spot, sob! A lovely lady walking her dog kindly confirmed that I’d be clambering over rocks if I didn’t move soon. Bags packed, I made the walk (and paddle through the shallows) back to the main strip of sand, which wasn’t much by the time the tide had fully returned. The beach didn’t end up being too over-populated, which regularly happens to our beaches in Cornwall, and most of the bodies were holiday makers… a lovely sigh of relief. It’s an odd feeling sunbathing on the beach solo, and I did feel a little uncomfortable every now and again, especially when I got up to leave and found the sand was so hot that I dropped all of my bags in a rush to put my jelly shoes back on haha. Jelly shoes, by the way, (or any kind of ocean-worthy shoe) are a great idea in Cornwall… our shorelines are often annoyingly lined with horrid creatures with bony barbs of poison on their backs – weever fish. If you stand on one of these bad boys, the pain is said to be excruciating. Top tip: soaking your foot in hot water and vinegar tends to expel the barb and reduce the pain (or so they say). Eep!

My next little excursion took me on an adventure to Knightor Winery. I’ve visited twice before for weddings, and it really is a beautiful little out of the way location. It is probably predominately known for hosting weddings and wedding receptions, with its feast evenings coming in at a close second, but it is also open to the public for light lunches and drinks from Wednesday to Sunday. The outdoor courtyard is a perfect spot for sunshine drinks, and the fabulously decorated indoor bar area sits at the bottom of a beautifully restored two-story brick farmhouse.  

Knightor do also offer a variety of winery tours, with those all-important tastings, and a variety of more detailed tours for those keen to know all the ins and outs. I was gifted with a very quick sight-see from Knightor’s General Manager, and was shown some of the fabulous spots behind the main courtyard that I never knew were hidden away on their grounds. The first point of awe is the outdoor pond. It is absolutely ordained with reeds and lily pads, and makes a beautiful backdrop for a wedding ceremony and wedding photos. It’s also super pretty to sit next to with a bottle of bubbly. A few metres away is a young, mini orchard of pear and apple trees, and in our summer heatwave it looked just like the over-heated, sunny landscape of Italy – perfect!

You can’t go to a winery without frolicking through the vineyards, right?! I battled insect bites and stinging nettles for shots amongst the outdoor display vines, but it was worth it, especially to see the grapes beginning to grow. Knightor has a selection of large vineyards across Cornwall where they grow a variety of grapes for their production of still and sparkling wines, and so on Knightor’s winery grounds they grow display vines to offer a little snippet into the vineyard world on their guided tours. It really is amazing to see the selection of grapes they grow, and each row hosted a different variety. I just love grape vines, they’re so vibrant!

But the absolute best part, for me anyway, were the indoor poly-tunnel grape vines. They were beautiful, and so full of perfectly vibrant green life! Everything you expect a vineyard to be. Every little extra bit of heat helps in the UK, and poly-tunnels sure do keep the air hot and humid. I was running in for a couple of shots, running back out for a little breeze, then back in, and out, and in… all the while keeping me eye open for little bunnies! There are burrows all over the floors of the vineyard. Cute!

If you’re interested in visiting Knightor for one of their tours, you can find all the deets here on their website.

Another fabulous few days exploring more of what’s on my doorstep! It’s always exciting to find something new, or to revisit known spots with fresh eyes. A big thank you to Knightor Wineries for allowing me to roam around on one of your closed days… there will be lots more photos to come on my Instagram @perfectlyclaudia – which you can find here. Have you explored anywhere on your doorstep lately?! Tell me all about it in the comments below!

Claudia xo
gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - day with knightor wineries is a gifted collaboration 

I get a lot of funny looks when I tell people I’m going somewhere or have been somewhere all on my own, as if a girl isn’t capable of being brave, tough, and adventurous...

If you want to see a place, and you have no-one who’s willing to go with you, or nobody can afford to go with you, girrrrl (or guuuuy) just go solo. Why should you have to curb your want for adventure just because someone can’t go with you. Be brave. What if in 6-12-24 months you can’t visit that place for whatever reason? Maybe you’ve met someone and are settling down, maybe you’re not in the same financial place, maybe the country becomes a risk to travel to. Get it booked now and take that plunge.

You honestly learn so much about yourself when you travel solo, and you never stop learning. Every trip brings new insights, new challenges, new excitement. My Norway/Finland/Estonia trip showed me how strong I really could be... it showed me that even being so far from family and having something as crippling as kidney stones, I still kept going and finished that trip of a lifetime. I honestly don’t know if I’d have been so strong if I were at home.

I lost one earring on that trip too (I didn’t break down like Kim K), and moments like that turn into hilarious memories that you’ll laugh about for years to come. You learn to be more confident, more outgoing, more courageous, you’ll try new things, you’ll pick up tips from other travellers, you’ll find new ways to explore… you’ll grow.

I occasionally find the odd solo travel question slide into my Twitter or Instagram dm’s, so here are some of my top tips for solo travel…

If you’re travelling to a place like Jerusalem, North Africa, Egypt, check the news for a little while before you book the trip - just to be on the safe side. I went to Tunisia in 2014, and there were plenty of red-flagged ‘do not travel to’ zones surrounding Tunisia - but none for Tunisia itself... but exactly year later, that very beach that I’d been tanning myself on was gunned down in a crazy terrorism massacre. Just be aware of where you’re travelling to and the current political climate. I probably wouldn't check for places around Europe or Asia, but it's always worth a quick Google - especially from a weather point of view (you don't want to go if a flood, tsunami, or earthquake is expected).

I’m always a little more alert when travelling. I’m really observant anyway, and I tend to take note of things even without realising. If I ever feel like something isn’t quite right I’ll pay even more attention and move away from that situation. The rest of the time I’m happily strolling around streets and mountains.

In all of my solo travel to date I’ve always booked onto a group tour. When I ventured to Thailand I booked my first week with Thai Intro (find out about the tour I took here), the rest of the time I was completely solo; it was a nice way to start a big trip in a crazy country. My Scenic Scandi trip last summer was booked with Topdeck, and half of my Iceland trip over Christmas was again with Topdeck – the rest of my Iceland trip was made up of independent day excursions. These tour-group trips are great for making friends and having a pre-planned itinerary, plus you really don’t have to worry so much about finding food, and you’re never alone (unless you choose to be).

I loved my Scenic Scandi family, it really was the most amazing trip (you can read all about it here), and whilst I adored Iceland it wasn’t quite the same Topdeck experience and I’m hugely thankful that I stayed an extra two days and booked independent excursions (you can read all about it here). Every trip is going to be different, but be optimistic and outgoing and it’ll more often than not be a brilliant experience. I do think now that I’d rather skip the group tours, get to a country, and go on day trips like the ones I experienced in Iceland. It was such a great way to be in charge of what I wanted to see whilst not being totally alone.

Because I do travel solo I tend to book hotels/hostels/airbnb’s near main locations or in cities, as day trip pick-up points are often city-based. It’s nice to be in walking distance of a few spots, restaurants, cafes etc. too, and I’ll often Google map my way around. I would really like to get into the habit of visiting one city in a country and then moving to another city, and another, and experiencing more of the country than just one spot. This is one thing that I LOVED about Topdeck’s Scenic Scandi trip; that we moved around almost daily. Such a perfect way to see a country or two or three in one trip.

I always wake up fairly early when I’m travelling. I love to get out and see places before the tourists descend, but usually I travel off-season and so I get pretty lucky with quiet spots (woo hoo!). I haven’t gotten up at crazy o’clock for the sake of a sunrise though, I prefer a sunset anyway……….

Eating alone isn’t as bad as it seems either. Whilst I wouldn’t dream of venturing out to dine alone where I live, I do happily do it when I’m away – even in other cities in the UK. I had my first ever ‘solo dinning’ experience in the UK last year and yes it was pretty scary, and the place had such bad signal that my phone couldn’t even save me, but nobody cared. I had a fabulous dinner, a cocktail, and then I wandered around a bit before heading back to my hotel. It’s that easy. Who knew! It’s even better abroad because everyone else is doing it, and you’re experiencing new food and new views as you go.

And finally, always always alwaaaaays buy travel insurance. No matter what. Buy it to cover the days you leave and return to your home too. If I didn’t have travel insurance in Norway my kidney stone dilemma would’ve cost me a good £500. Travel insurance. Really. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune either, I never pay more than £20 (and yes, I read the small print). Because I take photos as I travel I always have a fair amount of gear on me, so I make sure to add on an extra package that covers technology specifically - it covers the costs a lot better than a standard policy does. If you’re interested, I normally use Alpha Travel Insurance.

I hope this helps encourage you to take the plunge and book that trip, or at least answers some of your queries and worries. If you have any other questions for me please do drop them in a comment below, I’m more than happy to answer questions! Or if you have any solo tales or tips to share, please please do.

Claudia xo

Our Marrakech trip really was an adventure, and it all started with us battling our way through an incredible snow storm on our journey from Cornwall to the airport in London…

Honestly, you couldn’t write our insane drive from Cornwall to London, it was definitely eventful. Not only was the snow getting heavier and heavier, but the roads were getting icier and icier. We drove by a completely destroyed caravan, around 18 car accidents, and at one stage we had to stop as a car just a few vehicles ahead of us was on fire! On. Fire. Mad!

Thankfully we left Cornwall almost two hours earlier than planned, and our sheer perseverance got us through the worst of it. The roads behind us were being closed and hundreds of people were stranded. Eep! But we made it, and after a quick but wonderful dinner and a nap we were heading off to London airport in the early hours of a very snowy morning. And oh, the fun continued.

We were booked onto a Ryan Air flight, and I can assure you that I will never fly Ryan Air again. After waiting in line for almost an hour to speak to the most unhelpful and sour-faced woman, we were each charged £55 for not having checked in online. Eep! I’ve never heard of this before, and I’ve never been charged by any other airline for checking in at the airport! I then had to rush to check in my bag – which took another 20 minutes, and with just 20 minutes to go before our gate closed it was a mad dash to security… where the line was just incredible. Luckily I managed to plea with the kindest security guy in the world who rushed us through, and if he hadn’t we really would’ve missed our flight. You know in movies where people run like crazy through the airport to get to the gate? That was us. All four of us. With hand luggage. Definitely a funny memory, and I was laughing at the time, but wow was it stressful! After braving the insane snow journey, we were NOT missing that flight haha!

Three hours later and we reached Marrakech. There are endless and tiring security stops in/out of Moroccan airports, and the lines are long, and the pervy security guys make it even more awkward for you. An hour or so later and we were finally on our shuttle to our luxurious, brand new, adult only, five star hotel. And breathe!

The hotel really was amazing. Security-manned front gates, a beautiful marbled (though very slippery) floor, two amazing outdoor pools (one with a bar!), and a dreamy dreamy spa with an indoor pool. The hotel had opened just four days before we arrived, so things were still a little fresh and not everything was perfect, the staff weren’t really understanding us, and we couldn’t check into our rooms for hours, but it was bliss. Sunshine, pools, free cocktails, hurrah!

I’m definitely a budget traveller, especially due to my self-employed status, but this four night all-inclusive trip was £350 per person… you can’t really say no to that. The hotel we stayed at is the Be Live Collection, Marrakech – really worth checking out. They’re a Spanish company, and they really are pretty luxurious. They also have a family-friendly hotel in Marrakech, just around the corner from the adult only edition. The hotel also offered free shuttles to/from the souks – which we definitely made the most of.

Now, onto the good bits…

DAY ONE

We’d arrived at our hotel at around 11am, and we weren’t able to check into our rooms until 3pm. Argh. All of us in jeans, it became a bit of a lobster-red and hot afternoon, but we did get to sit by the pool and make the most of the all-inclusive food and drinks. I stayed true to meat-free and had the most amazing fish burger ever! Drool. The fish in Morocco really is worth trying

Finally 3pm rolled around and we were given our room keys… it was worth the wait. Two sinks, two showers, one bath, and two double beds per room. There were definitely a few flaws, like there’s a huge window between the bathroom and the bedroom – thankfully with a (pretty see-through) blind, a mini bar that suggests we help ourselves – but it wasn’t stocked, our showers had a mind of their own and constantly flitted between Satan hot and ice cold, and no ‘do not disturb’ sign – which caused a very awkward moment when housekeeping let themselves in as I was in the shower.

We certainly made the most of the buffet at dinner times; the food was just amazing, especially the array of desserts. Everything was lovely, fresh, and super tasty, and by the end of day one they knew to just keep bringing the wine and cocktails haha.

DAY TWO

We began our second day with a wonderful laze by the quieter of the two pools, which was fitted with a fabulous pool bar. Normally you have to battle for seats around the pool on holiday, but nobody was there, so we had first pick… and plenty of time to get in some people-free shots.

A relaxing morning was definitely what we needed, and after some lunch and a quick change we headed into the souks. What an amazing experience! I was worried that it would be a little too much like Tunisia, in that they really hassle you… and yes, they did, but the older men did it in a very polite and subtle way, we were seen as equals – and were immediately very happy bartering are way around the tiny but wonderful streets filled with treasures. There were hidden gems around every corner… a secret garden right in the middle of the souks, impressively detailed doorways and archways, and a little mosque – all so very beautiful.

The souks are filled with some really stunning objects, lanterns, keepsakes, trinkets, bags, shoes, and oodles and oodles of incredible jewellery! We definitely came away with some brilliant bargains. I haggled myself a great deal on two wicker bags.

We roamed the souks for a few hours before emerging back into a very busy and bustling square, where a sunset was meeting the call to prayer. The main mosque is just in front of the souks, and it is beautiful. You can see it from all over Marrakech, and it’s a great focal point if you get lost in the confusing streets.

DAY THREE

Two of us headed off on a guided tour of Marrakech on our third day. Our hotel arranged the inexpensive tour on, and it fit just four of us… two from our hotel, and a couple from the Be Live Experience hotel just around the corner. Our guide was so informative! He’s been guiding tours for years and years, and everyone knew him wherever we went.

Our tour started in a pretty olive grove/garden, with acres and acres of olive trees situated around what used to be a main reservoir in Marrakech… it’s now a very still and eerie, perfectly square pond filled with carp.

A quick trot passed some camels and we headed to the Koutoubia and Saadien tombs; they were incredible. Royals are buried in the tombs, along with their servants when they pass away. We learnt that servants are never dismissed in Morocco, but passed from one generation to the next. At least they’re kept in employment I suppose! The tombs themselves were just beautiful grand buildings, with amazing cedar wood and tiled designs everywhere. You did have to battle to get to the great spots, but low and behold if you turn a corner there were identical or equally beautiful spots that the tourists hadn’t noticed because they were too busy oohing and ahhing over the very first things you see. Some areas are roped off, but you can see the architecture in all its glory, you’re not cut off from walking all the way up to everything.

Next on the tour was Bahia Palace (beautiful palace)… and it really is very aptly named. It was built for Marrakech’s prime minister and his four wives. Each wife had a beautiful room, but the favourite wife had a beautiful courtyard and garden to match. Dreamy dreamy. You’d really aspire to be top wife. Only within the last few years have new laws passed that Moroccan men can now only take a second wife if the first wife agrees to it, and women can now also instigate divorce - honestly it was all so so interesting to learn about.  

There was also a concubine room with an infamous courtyard that was filmed many a time in the old days of Arabian classics and black and white movies. Naturally we got some shots here.

Bahia Palace

After a quick walk around the outside of the beautiful mosque, we headed to a pharmacy were we got to watch women in traditional clothing making argon oil. They crush each nut by hand, to the extent that their hands become dyed from the extracts. We also got to learn about lots of different scents, spices, and oils. The women here were so lovely, sitting with us and trying to talk with us. It was a real little insight into their daily working lives. There are two main languages in Morocco, Arabic and French (as they were under French ‘protection’ for many many years). English is being spoken, but not brilliantly.

Tour over and we headed back to the hotel to meet the other two in our girly crew, and immediately headed out to Chez Ali for dinner and a show. Now this was an interesting experience! It was a little questionable at first, as we were treated to a very quick guided tour around the beautiful grounds… and came across mannequins all dressed up. Creepy mannequin moments aside, we were treated to an amazing four course meal. I did thankfully plan ahead and have a quick dinner at the hotel’s buffet, because course number one was beef stew, but as soon as they realised I was a vegetarian they began to emerge with the most amazing veggie dishes throughout the meal for me! It was amazing! Everything smelled, looked, and tasted perfect. We were even treated to some traditional music and signing whilst we ate.

After our final course we all headed outside to an enormous seating area that swept its way around a showground area of at least three football fields. It was enormous. But also freezing. Thankfully the venue was prepared and blankets were being draped over our shivering selves. I can’t say I was overwhelmed by the show, it was very repetitive with horses running back and forth whilst men shot gunpowder weapons into the air, a beautiful belly dancer that we only caught glimpses of as her ‘platform’ was annoyingly draped in beams and fabric, and finally a little horse riding show where the cutest little donkey made an appearance! I can’t say I’d go back to Chez Ali again, and it would definitely be far more enjoyable in temperatures above 5 degrees haha.

DAY FOUR

Now this was the day I was most looking forward to. I had lunch reservations at the infamous La Mamounia.

Two of us headed into the souks bright and early to treat ourselves to some jewellery that we’d seen the day before on our guided tour, but had been unable to stop to barter away. I must say, out of all the trips into the souks that we did, this one made me feel incredibly uncomfortable. It was a Friday, and Fridays are days off in Marrakech, so the younger generations are left the man the stalls. Whether they were all just super seedy, or using ‘shocking’ tactics to attempt to gain sales, I really felt like I had to hide myself away. I was completely covered, and even pulled my kimono top tight around myself so that no skin was visible. Yet I still got pervy shout outs. So ladies, avoid the souks on a Friday at all costs. The younger guys in Marrakech clearly have no tact or manners when speaking to women. 

Still on the hunt for beautiful jewellery, we ended up in what we lovingly named the ‘deep deep souk’. We had no idea where we were, we were totally lost and in the depths of the souks, the parts where you can see all of the works being created right in front of you, the parts where you had to perfectly time a little trot passed some stalls before the sparks of metal work started again. We even caught glimpses of people dying fabrics, it was amazing.

Thankfully the older generation really are polite, and they pointed us in the right direction and things began to look familiar again… though immediately came more ‘ooh my gooodd, oh you look amazing’ cat calls from childish chaps. One guy even shouted ‘ohh my god you look like my ex’ – my reply? “That’s horrible, I’m clearly better!” At least that got a giggle from everyone. I was called Queen, Princess, Lady Gaga (wtf?!), and the girls were offered a hefty amount of camels for me. Eep.

Finally out of souk territory we walked across the Medina for our lunch at La Mamounia. It’s literally a brisk 10 minute walk from the souks and passed the mosque. On the way you get to see amazing sights of the mosque and two beautiful fountains. Before you can actually step into La Mamounia you have to attempt to bypass a security guard (I’m so glad I booked ahead) and step through a metal detector, but the moment we walked through the doors into the hotel, our jaws dropped. What a slice of Moroccan heaven. It even had the most perfect fragrance wafting around.

Thankfully we’d taken swimwear and immediately swapped our lunch reservation for a day pass. We’d only planned on having lunch, taking some photos, and being back at the hotel for about 2pm. Nope. We made it back to the hotel for around 7.30pm… oops. We ended up spending the best part of the day shooting photos, basking by the outdoor pool, having lunch, a couple of cocktails, and then wandering around the most beautiful gardens with hidden spots of luxury everywhere. There were endless surprises at La Mamounia. Everything was immaculate, everything was beyond beautiful, even the staff were friendly and attentive. We were sat by the pool thinking ‘if we ever come to Marrakech again and can afford to stay here for a week, we’ve made it’ haha.

Their room prices range from £300-£1,000 a night, definitely not one for the budget traveller… but their day passes are brilliantly priced and so worth every penny. If you are keen to book a day pass or make a reservation, just send them an email. They were really quick and helpful. They even dm’d me on Instagram whilst I was there to ask if they could have some of my photographs to use on their social media – best surprise of the day or what?! Me?! My photos?! Errrrrrr, yes of course! So hopefully I’ll see those appearing on their Instagram and Facebook soon.

Finally we begrudgingly tore ourselves away, hopped back into the souks for two seconds so that I could buy a ring I’d seen earlier on (a beautiful silver ring with a moonstone in the centre), and caught the shuttle back in time for our final meal.

And that was that. Perfect girly holiday in the Moroccan sun. What an experience. I would definitely feel safe to go back alone (just no souks on a Friday!!!), but I’d strongly have my wits about me, and would hugely prefer to go with a friend. I didn’t get to see the desert on this occasion, and would love to visit Fez, so I’ll definitely be back one day. Ahh, dreamy dreamy Marrakech. I fell in love with the architecture; you could definitely see why it’s becoming a little hot spot.

If you’re keen to see more snaps from my trip, they’re slowly making appearances on Instagram, which you can find here - @perfectlyclaudia …or if you’d like to know anything else about Marrakech please drop me a comment below!

Claudia xo