with Helen Best-Shaw (Fuss Free Flavours)
Marrakesh: the name itself is enough to conjure up enticing images of palaces, riads, souks and citadels. Sometimes called the Red City, Marrakesh, 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.co.uk decided to enlist the help of Helen Best-Shaw, also known as the voice behind http://fussfreeflavours.com/. Helen’s just been out to explore the magical kingdom of Marrakesh, 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 active on a few food discussion boards well over 10 years ago and a few people had blogs so I decided to start one too. At the time I did lots of my shopping in the local market – filled with plentiful and cheap produce – but so many people were also buying cheap ready meals from the discount supermarkets. Many of my first recipes were about eating cheaply, rather than eating cheap food.
You have been to so many different places. Is there anywhere you haven’t been yet but still want to go?
Everywhere! I’d love to go and explore New Zealand for a month, and also go to some more tropical islands.
And your favourite spot/place in the world that you have travelled to?
I think you cannot beat somewhere close to home, a glorious Cornish beach on the perfect summer’s day is my idea of heaven, and I believe that everyone should return to Venice at least every 5 years.
If you had an unlimited travel budget for 24 hours, what would be your itinerary?
I think I’d fly first class to New York – many years ago I had an upgrade when flying business for work – go to an opera at the Met, have dinner and come home. I’d rather like to go back in time and fly on Concord once.
The beginning of every trip starts with planning. How do you choose where and when to go?
I am fortunate that I am freelance so can choose my own dates, and go at short notice so can get some amazing deals. Instagram is always a source of inspiration to me.
What always lands in your backpack? What would you recommend as a must-take for a trip to Marrakesh?
A smartphone and portable charger. The streets of Marrakesh are a maze so download the local maps so you can navigate without using data.
What surprised you the most about this city?
The charm and friendliness of the people. When you arrive in Marrakesh it is a huge shock, but once you see beyond the chaos it is a wonderful place
If you had to choose just one picture from your trip that describes the spirit of Marrakesh best, which one would it be and why?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTbu1w_FF7j/
I love this photo as it shows the traditional old fashioned side working side of Marrakesh and the glorious colours prevalent throughout the city.
Was there one dish you really wanted to taste in Marrakesh ? If so, what was it?
Traditional hyper-local food. Morocco is known for its spiced tagines, but the local dish is a tanija, where meat is slowly cooked in the embers of the fire in an urn shaped pot. The resulting dish is meltingly soft, lightly spiced, richly flavoured a slightly sweet.
What travel tip and advice would you give to KAYAK.co.uk users who want to visit Marrakesh?
Stay in a riad in the centre and book your transfer from the airport. The centre of town is pedestrianised and a taxi cannot take you all the way to your destination. By pre-booking a transfer you will be met and escorted to your accommodation.
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?
Booking through KAYAK allows you to compare prices from a number of different portals so you can get the best deal and it saves everything in one handy place that syncs to your phone so you always know when and where you need to be. So useful and it is not going to get lost like a paper itinerary can.
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 Marrakesh, accommodation, and keep track of your plans using KAYAK Trips.
To see more from Helen, check out http://fussfreeflavours.com/ and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
