NordenBladet – By signing up for the TBEX Event you have just unlocked an opportunity door. Now is the time to make the best of that opportunity by preparing right. Here are the 10 tips for attending TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange)!
BRING BUSINESS CARDS AND MEDIA KIT
Although it’s an informal conference but you end up meeting lots of people from the travel industry. While they might remember you during the conference but as they say out of sight out of mind. You don’t want a golden opportunity to go waste, right? Bring minimum 250 business cards. Trust me, you don’t want to run out of cards. Don’t experiment too much with the shape and font. Keep it simple but play with the images. Giving your audience a chance to pick up a card of their choice from multiple images clicked by you is both engaging as well as distinguishing from the rest. Also, it’s good to carry your media kit and portfolio. As they say seeing is believing.
REACH ON TIME
I am guilty of missing out on the key note session, thanks to over partying the previous night and staying far away from the conference venue. Try and stay as close to the venue as possible. You save lot of time from getting stuck in the traffic. Even if you don’t want to attend any session, being present at the venue offers great opportunity for networking.
RESEARCH ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Speaker sessions are diverse and designed to cater to different needs of different segments. Read about the speakers and their topic beforehand so you can choose which session to attend and which to miss. Sometimes a topic might appear interesting on paper but might not be great in person. Walk out and attend any other session at any time.
BOOK IN ADVANCE
At TBEX, early bird gets the worm. Not only do you get to save money on registration fee but you also get to attend the PREBEX tour and post FAMTRIPS of your choice. So earlier you book more choices you have. While registering, do ask for discounts from other people who might have already registered. You can easily save up to 20%.
FOLLOW TBEX SOCIAL ASSETS
TBEX social assets are full with loads of useful information. Don’t forget to join the closed community group of TBEX on Facebook. Do check their feeds regularly. TBEX organising committee has a lot on its plate therefore not everything gets communicated through their website or newsletter. You need to follow all their assets to be in know how. If you don’t follow them, you could be missing out on great opportunities.
BE PROACTIVE. INTERACT WITH ALL
Keep your introvert personality at home when you come to the TBEX. Take the first lead and meet as many people as you can. Exchange cards, ask questions, understand their businesses, their problems and then pitch yourself. Never oversell yourself. Remember, its spotting opportunities not selling.
DRESS APPROPRIATELY
TBEX is an informal conference but still dress to impress. First impression is the last impression and you don’t want to get it wrong. If you are a luxury blogger then your style should reflect the same, if you are a budget traveler then casuals work just fine. Another most important thing, keep the itinerary in mind when packing for your FAM Trip and please pack in advance. Don’t keep it for the last moment. I did a blunder of not packing a swimsuit when our trip was a beach holiday.
CLICK AND MOVE
There will be lot of bloggers traveling with you on the Pre and Post FAM tours, who would be equally excited as you are to click pictures. So don’t waste too much time in clicking pictures. Wait for your turn and move on quickly. Be courteous to others. Instead of going on a click-spree frame the shot in your mind and execute it quickly. Most important, don’t get too busy clicking the pictures that you forget to enjoy the moment.
GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
A thriving community is an outcome of engaged members. Participate in conversations, share your feelings, doubts, pictures, videos and everything you want to communicate. The best way to get compliments is by giving one.
BE PATIENT
It’s one of the biggest event in Travel Industry therefore the scale of preparations is huge. And when the scale is huge minor hiccups are bound to happen. During those times its best to keep your calm and not aggravate the issue. Trust me, organisers would do their best to make you feel comfortable. My luggage got misplaced during one of the tours but the Philippines Tourism Board and the hotel staff more than made it up for the oversight.
Featured image: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet Source: travelseewrite.com
Read also: 5 REASONS why TBEX is a must for Travel Bloggers + TBEX Manila 2016 PHOTOS!
OHMYGOSSIP – Travel blogging is both an art as well as science. You might have a talent and passion for it but you won’t get noticed until you are at the right place at the right time with the right people. TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange) is the world’s largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, new media content creators, travel brands and industry professionals. Every year, TBEX partners with amazing destinations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific to bring the travel industry’s most creative minds together to learn, network and do business.
NordenBladet – Travel blogging is both an art as well as science. You might have a talent and passion for it but you won’t get noticed until you are at the right place at the right time with the right people. TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange) is the world’s largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, new media content creators, travel brands and industry professionals. Every year, TBEX partners with amazing destinations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific to bring the travel industry’s most creative minds together to learn, network and do business.
Here are the five reasons Why TBEX is a must for Travel Bloggers:
LEARNING
TBEX is a treasure chest for knowledge seekers. Especially the Speaker Sessions, where topics were as diverse as ‘Accomplishing Great Things: Productivity Tips and Trick for Bloggers’ to How to Create Eye-Catching Hyperlapse Videos Today Using Your Smart Phone’. Speaker sessions were informative, practical and engaging. Like a sponge, I was absorbing the pearls of wisdom shared by our speakers. My only complaint was the simultaneous timing of the sessions. However, we found a smart solution – divided our group as per sessions. Each one of us took notes and shared our learning with each other. Isn’t that a cool idea? Try it next time. Also, the learning wasn’t restricted to the Speaker Sessions but it was free flowing through the PREBEX tours, Parties and FAM trips where we could discuss anything and everything with fellow participants.
NETWORKING
Networking is not selling but spotting opportunities. Most of the times opportunities are not advertised but are discussed behind the closed doors over drinks or coffee. TBEX was a great place to make connections with the brands and fellow bloggers. During Speed Networking I met lot of potential Clients that I could be working for in the near future. Though I had fixed appointment with a handful of Clients but I ended up talking to almost all the sponsors. The key is to be proactive and approach the sponsors and bloggers. No other place offers you an opportunity to network with so many travel professionals like TBEX does.
ENGAGEMENT
TBEX Community is a very vibrant and engaging community, where interactions are rich, prompt, helpful and all encompassing. Everyone is eager to showcase their common passion of travel in the best possible way – pictures, vlogs, blogs etc. There is a bonhomie among members, who support and promote each other. It’s the best platform to share the proof of whatever you have learnt in the conference and get a real time feedback from the experts. For example Scott Herder was extremely helpful when I needed to know about Hyperlapse.
AMAZING RIOT OF FUN AND CELEBRATION
‘All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy.’ Thankfully the promoters of TBEX share the same sentiment and therefore they ensured there was never a dull moment during TBEX. Right from the start of PREBEX tours until the end FAM trips. There were grand parties every night followed by even wilder after parties. During the conference I realised our happiest moments always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else. I had registered for the learning aspect of TBEX. Fun turned out to be a Bonus. And boy what a hefty bonus it was.
EXPERIENCE THE GOLD STANDARD OF HOSPITALITY
It is very rare that travel bloggers and influencers from around the world gather at the same place at the same time. TBEX offers a great opportunity to the host country to showcase their country to the world and get the best value their moolah can ever buy – free word of mouth publicity. Therefore the Tourism Board and the organising committee leaves no stone unturned to impress you. You are made to experience the best attractions in the country, fed the yummiest food, put up in the most luxurious properties and bestowed A VIP treatment. You’ll be thanking your stars for signing up for the conference. Philippines Tourism Board set a new benchmark in hospitality with their service.
Featured image: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet Source: travelseewrite.com
Read also: 10 TIPS for attending and get the best out of TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange)
OHMYGOSSIP – By signing up for the TBEX Event you have just unlocked an opportunity door. Now is the time to make the best of that opportunity by preparing right. Here are the 10 tips for attending TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange)!
NordenBladet – Conferences have a way of sneaking up on us. So we’re helping you get a jump start on your the 2017 calendar of conferences for travel bloggers and media professionals. Whether you’re a travel blogger, writer, podcaster, photographer, videographer, influencer, or something new we haven’t yet thought of, you’ll find opportunities in this list to network and learn from peers and leaders in your industry.
Get those business cards and elevator pitches ready! It’ll be time to pack your bag for these travel and media conferences before you know it.
Build Your Blog Conference — February 3-4, Salt Lake City, Utah
Focus: Blogging
Attendees: Bloggers and brands
From their website: “We set out to create the best conference for blogs to actually learn and get inspired. After years of going to conferences where the networking was great but the actual content was lacking, we decided to start our own conference where the speakers, classes and even the interaction with brands was all solely devoted to building your blog.”
Southern C Conference — February 8-10, Sea Island, Georgia
Focus: Southern U.S.
Attendees: Influencers, entrepreneurs, and bloggers with focus on the southern states
From their website: The Southern C Summit is a niche multi-day conference filled with networking opportunities and educational sessions from the best and the brightest. Attendees, presenters and sponsors connect through carefully crafted events and unique experiences that create meaningful conversations and provide memorable takeaway.
Travel and Adventure Show — February 18-19, Los Angeles, California
Focus: Adventure Travel
Attendees: Travelers and industry professionals
From their website: “At the Travel & Adventure Show, the #1 series of travel shows in the U.S., you never know who you are going to meet. Come face-to-face with some of your favorite celebrity travel speakers such as Samantha Brown, Rick Steves and Peter Greenberg. Get expert packing tips, technology trends and budget travel hacks on the Savvy Traveler Theater. Talk to local destination experts who have the inside knowledge of where to go and what to do at the Destination Theater.”
ITB Berlin — March 8-12, Berlin, Germany
Focus: Global travel
Attendees: Influencers and industry professionals
From their website: “As the Leading Travel Trade Show, ITB Berlin is the foremost business platform for global touristic offers.
TBEX International — March 20-22, Jerusalem Israel
Focus: Travel blogging
Attendees: Travel bloggers, brands, and influencers
From their website: “TBEX is the largest conference and networking event for travel bloggers, online travel journalists, new media content creators, travel brands and industry professionals. Each year, TBEX partners with fantastic host destinations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific to bring the travel industry’s most creative minds together to learn, network and do business.”
BinderCon — April 1-2, Los Angeles, California
Focus: Writing
Attendees: Women and gender non-conforming writers
From their website: “Out of the Binders is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides content, community, and career development for 35,000 women and gender non-conforming writers. BinderCon is our bicoastal professional development conference, helping women and gender non-conforming writers gain the tools, strategies, and connections they need to advance their careers.”
World Travel Market — April 4-6, Sao Paolo, Brazil
Focus: Latin American travel
Attendees: Industry professionals, businesses, destinations, and influencers
From their website: “WTM Latin America is the three day must-attend business-to-business (B2B) event which brings the world to Latin America and promotes Latin America to the world. Through its industry networks, unrivalled global reach, WTM Latin America creates personal and business opportunities, providing customers with quality contacts, content and communities.The show, now in its 5th year, attracts over 6,500 influential visitors and 700 exhibiting companies during the three day event to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry news.
Skift Global Forum: Europe — April 4, Tobacco Duck, London
Focus: Global travel industry
Attendees: Travel industry professionals
From their website: “Skift Global Forum is the largest creative business gathering in the global travel industry. It is the first conference series focused on top Marketers, Strategists and Technologists in travel – the people creating and defining the future of travel.
Women in Travel Summit — April 21-23, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Focus: Travel blogging for women
Attendees: Women travel influencers, creators, and brands.
From their website: “The Women in Travel Summit is the premier event for women travel influencers and industry members, organized by Wanderful. Our goal is to provide our attendees with the tools, connections, and resources they need to become better travel bloggers and influencers and to equip great brands with partnerships that can help them enhance their digital presence and meet their business goals, all while growing our global sisterhood of dedicated women who travel.
B Connected — April 22-23, Toronto, Canada
Focus: Blogging and social media
Attendees: Canadian bloggers, influencers, and brands
From their website: “The BConnected Conference, Canada’s Digital Influencer Conference, is open to bloggers, digital influencers, Vloggers, Instagramers, business owners, brands, charitables organizations, and not for profit associations looking to enhance their social media and blogging skills. BDigital. BInfluential. BConnected!”
Eye for Travel Summit — April 24-25, San Francisco, California
Focus: Social media for travel
From their website: “EyeforTravel San Francisco is not a normal conference. Our mission is to enable you to compete for bookings like a natural born digital brand and build the tech driven, insight inspired distribution partnerships that will provide services travelers want.”
Travel and Words: Northwest Travel Writing Conference — April 23-25, Salem, Oregon
Focus: Travel Writing
Attendees: Northwest travel writers
From their website: “We are a group of freelance writers, bloggers, editors, publishers, and travel and tourism professionals who live and work in the Northwest and volunteer our time to produce the Northwest’s only travel writers conference: Travel and Words.”
TBEX North America — May 4-6, Huntsville, Alabama
Focus: Travel blogging
Attendees: Travel bloggers, brands, and influencers
From their website: “TBEX is the largest conference and networking event for travel bloggers, online travel journalists, new media content creators, travel brands and industry professionals. Each year, TBEX partners with fantastic host destinations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific to bring the travel industry’s most creative minds together to learn, network and do business.”
Travel Classics Writer’s Conference — May 18-21, Ireland
Focus: Travel journalism
Attendees: Travel writers and editors
From their website: “There’s no better way to stay in the loop of major magazine markets, as you enhance your career with great writing assignments. Travel Classics is unlike any other conference on Earth.”
International Pow Wow — June 3-7, Washington, DC
Focus: U.S. Travel
Attendees: Travel destinations and oragizations
From their website: “U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the U.S. – it is NOT a typical trade show. In just three days of intensive pre-scheduled business appointments, more than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations from every region of the USA (representing all industry category components), and more than 1,300 international and domestic buyers from more than 70 countries conduct business negotiations that result in the generation of more than $4.7 billion in future Visit USA travel. At IPW, buyers and sellers are able to conduct business that would otherwise be generated only through an exhaustive number of around-the-world trips.”
VidCon US — June 21-24, Anaheim, California
Focus: Videography
Attendees: Videographers
From their website: “To bring together all of the people who are shaping, growing, and participating in the rapidly growing realm of online video entertainment”
#BlogHer — June 22-24, Orlando, Florida
Focus: Blogging and social media
Attendees: Online content creators (mostly women)
From their website: “#BlogHer17 is open to anyone and everyone who considers themselves part of the social media and online content creator space. #BlogHer17 is particularly focused on highlighting the skills and talents of women who are rising their voices and creating content online. All genders, ages, ethnicities, interests and levels of blogging experience are encouraged to attend! We promise there’s something for everyone. (And in case you’re curious, about 10-15% of attendees are men.)”
World Domination Summit — July 11-17, Portland, Oregon
Focus: Community, adventure, and service
Attendees: Travelers, adventurers, entrepreneurs, etc.
From their website: “Since 2011, WDS has brought together more than 10,000 remarkable people from all 50 states and more than 40 countries. Our mission is to explore community, to undertake an adventure, and to be of service to all those around us.
Beer Bloggers and Writers Conference — August 3-6, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Focus: Beer
Attendees: Beer writers, bloggers, brewers, and brands
From their website: “In determining where to locate the conference, we look at dozens of potential locations and include a number of criteria. The will of our attendees is very important but, sometimes, we also like to choose interesting places that are full of beer history and have phenomenal beer scenes. Milwaukee has an abundance of both and we are really excited to be there and know attendees will also.”
Book Passage: Travel Writers and Photographers Conference — August 10-13, Corte Madera, California
Focus: Travel writing and photography
Attendees: Travel writers, authors, journalists, bloggers, editors, and photographers
From their website: “Through workshops, panels, and evening events, with ample free time for informal conversation on the piazza, the conference offers participants a rich mix of information and inspiration; we cover how to shape a compelling travel story, how to shoot a transporting travel photo, how to successfully pitch an editor, how to maximize social media, how to jumpstart your writing and photography, how to leap to the next level, and much, much more.”
Podcast Movement — August 23-25, Anaheim, California
Focus: Podcasting
Attendees: Podcasters
From their website: “Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in their choice of over 80 breakout sessions and panels, including sessions on the Technical Track, Creators Track, Business Track, Industry Track, and more!”
NordenBladet – This post is for those travellers who like the country’s genuine character and the real life of the inhabitants best. Taroudant is a city in Morocco where the tourism business has not had a rooted clutch and thus offers an opportunity to see the genuine everyday life of Morocco.
Taroudant is a city in southern Morocco, about 80 km from Agadir. The bus trip from Agadir took ca 1.5 h and the greatest sightseeing objects on the Agadir-Taroudant route are the banana planations. Taroudant city is also known by the name „Grandmother of Marrakesh”. There is a large defence wall built around the entire town, and most of the local life is concentrated within the city walls. The wall is nearly 6 km long and all nine of the city wall gates are in use also nowadays. Taroudant was for a while employed as the capital city back in the 16th century. Today about 35 000 people live in this town. Taroudant is mostly known by its market place, that is located on an important trade route. The town is famous for trading handicraft, adornments, carpets, and also for Agadir Ibn Zohr University, which is located outside the city walls.
There are two markets in the town, the Berber market and the Arabic market. At the Berber market, also known as the Jnane al-Jaam, spices, dried fruit, clothes and domestic goods are being sold. The Arabic market is for handicraft, forging, ceramics, leather, adornments and carpets.
A day in Taroudant city is memorable in many ways – first, it is a great contrast to what we experienced in the Agadir luxury hotel. The golden carved ceilings were now replaced by the slum and the day got even gloomier now that it started raining and the weather got colder. Yet I liked the town and in retrospects there are even more emotions involved – I like to see also the real life and versatility. In fact I really love wandering around in such places, yet I was a bit inhibited by us having had in mind the previous day’s memory when dressing too lightly, so most of the time we were completely cold. Yes, precisely – though it rarely happens in Morocco. Most of the time it is warm and sunny in Morocco!
From Taroudant town I remember especially well the male citizens having tea in front of the cafes and also the gatherings at the market place. Men were gathering in circles in the midst of which they commented on boxing or they themselves were boxing or preaching the truth, I couldn’t even understand everything. Also I saw homes made from cardboard boxes, and I felt the town’s historic flavor. Distinct from Europe, Morocco stands out regarding the people’s clothing, especially what concerns the middle-aged people and seniors. Long coats are popular – these definitely have some special name which I do not know. But they are not traditional kaftans, it seemed they are a bit different. Women mostly had their hair covered, and I saw just one woman that was completely covered. Also, many women walked without male company (unlike many of the Arabic countries).
Palais Salam restaurant in Taroudant city (Avenue Moulay Ismail, Taroudant, Morocco)
We had dinner in Palais Salam restaurant in Taroudant city. Palais Salam, Taroudant, Morocco is actually a hotel complex with original gardens, halls and the restaurant.
The most vivid of the restaurant memory was that of an older gentleman serving our table – he was absolutely friendly and nice. This, by the way, was the impression of most people in Morocco.
The restaurant’s milieu was a bit worn out and it seemed like not many people visited the place, yet the impression I got from there was powerful and our visit occured during low season. I really like sincere people – sincere at the heart – instead of a five star fancy I often enjoy a home made omelette and honest, straightforward people. However, be it this way – a home made omelette was actually not served, although the place left a homely feeling. The gentleman reminded us many times that the food is not to be wasted and everything must be eaten up. On the first round we followed this guideline, but since already the appetizers had us completely full, and the main course was accompanied by 10 kg of rice, then we felt sorry for ourselves as well as the waiter. It is simply impossible to consume these amounts of food, even if you so wish. Yet such loads of food were served in most of the restaurants and deep down I was hoping that the food that remained untouched might go on a second round in some way or other. After witnessing some people live in a cardboard box, you wish from the heart that each grain of rice, piece of meat or portion of salad served for tourists, would reach a needy person and not end up untouched, in the garbage bin, after being on the dinner table of an irritable tourist.
Palais Salam also excelled for beautiful gardens and garden corners. There was a lot to please the eye and a nice vibe came from the visit to the restaurant. Here are a few photos from Palais Salam. Aren’t these just like pictures from a fairy tale?! An amazing place, I should say!
NordenBladet – We have spent 12 hours (evening and night) in Morocco and it is now a sunny morning. From the balcony of Hotel Atlantic Palace we have a beautiful view on the resort’s swimming pools and the sun is already peeping through the palm trees, spreading its graceful rays on the ground. The smile finds its way on my face when I open the balcony door and feel the warm breeze saying: just a T-shirt will do. We then get ready for breakfast and after that Agadir is awaiting to be explored.
Agadir is regarded as the most European town in Morocco and there you can find anything necessary for a pleasant holiday by the ocean. After the earthquake in 1960 with more than 10 000 victims, the city has been built anew and it differs a lot from the ordinary Morocco, yet for getting to know the daily Moroccan life it would be best to start from right here – then the contrast is not as great and tourists with a different lifestyle and different travel expectations can easily meet their needs. The current Agadir has been erected in two kilometres distance from the earthquake epicentre and it is a popular destination for charter flights. The town is also known for the vast fishing port and for fishing, this is the town’s main profit channel. Agadir meets the needs of various travellers with ease. Whoever desires luxury, will be pampered in the most glorious hotels and SPAs and the restaurants with generous menus, and whoever desires to see the wild and beautiful nature of Morocco or the daily life, will find it within just a short car travel.
The travel from Hotel Atlantic Palace Agadir Golf Thalasso & Casino Resort to Agadir City Centre, Agadir, Morocco Kasbah.
4x Agadir. Photos: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
We are driving along a crooked road by bus, 236m above water level to the foot of Atlas Mountain, Kasbah, where there is a magnificent view over Agadir town, harbour and the Atlantic Ocean. Kasbah is about 7km from Agadir beach promenade. Kasbah means a fortress in Arabic. The fortress of Kasbah was built in 1541 and was later reconstructed in 1740, it once offered shelter for 300 people. As of today the outer walls have been preserved. It is possible to ride a camel inside the town ruins and/or take pictures with them and also there are street tradesmen who have spread their goods down on the rugs. Those exact same things you will get from the market four times more favourably. But I’ll be talking about the Moroccan markets already in other blogposts.
Kasbah is certainly a sightseeing worth visiting while in Agadir! Those who love to walk and have plenty of time – I recommend taking a taxi for going uphill (for about Dh30-50) and then walk back down the hill to the town – however, do not forget to take with you at least a 2litre bottle of water!!! The water will cost (6 Moroccan dirhams in the shop and 35 dirhams in the hotel).
4x Kasbah. Photos: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
Lunch at Pure Passion
8x Pure Passion. Photos: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
The beach promenade
Agadir has a splendid beach promenade that largely resembles those of Los Angeles, Miami, Tel Aviv, the Canary Islands and the Spanish East coast beautiful and famous beach promenades – being spacious, convenient, crowded, filled with attractions, safe. Life is all bubbling and tourists have a lot to see. Some may swim, some may do sports, or go shopping, go for a coffee in a cafe or enjoy a delightful glass of wine (in Morocco drinking alcohol is not prohibited like in many other Arabic countries), some may just take photos, or simply go for a walk and take pleasure in the beautiful weather, the ocean view, etc. Kasbah is also in the viewing distance from the beach promenade.
10x Agadir Photos: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
In the next post about Morocco I’ll talk about a town 80km East from Agadir – Taroudant, and the Palais Salam restaurant!
NordenBladet – Morocco is becoming a more and more valued travel destination among Estonians as well as the Scandinavians. Warm climate, friendly service and fair prices attract more and more tourists to this Northwestern-African country by the Mediterranean Sea.
Since OHMYGOSSIP holds an extended contract with the Kingdom of Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Moroccan International Tourism Bureau branch office in Sweden – we will be posting about Morocco frequently. I will be taking with me co-authors and collaboration partners to every journey, thus multipying the posts – blogposts, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or Youtube video clips – and also posting in as many as three languages – in Estonian (on the Ohmygossip.ee site), in Finnish (on the Ohmygossip.fi site) and in English (on the Ohmygossip.com site) and also we will be sharing our impressions and travel photos in our social media stream!
And now everything from the very beginning. As far as I know, there are no direct flights from Estonia to Morocco, thus the trip from Tallinn airport to Adagir took an entire day, however, those who depart from Copenhagen airport will arrive within just four hours!
The first travel to Morocco was not individually for me and my companions, there were also representatives from the Danish media invited. There was great excitement – collaboration with high representatives of Morocco, discovering the country and additionally also the new valuable contacts from the Danish media. The new acquaintances, the new cultural environment, new opportunities and a brand new perspective, novel emotions, distinct implications – this is what most captivates me about travelling. The first journey headed for Agadir town and the nearby villages and briefly also to High Atlas mountains.
06:25– security check doesn’t take long and passes rather pleasantly, so I greet my good old Tallinn airport lounge. As usual, I set my business card on the contacts board and find myself thinking: „what a nice and cozy airport we have here!” The seats with folk style Muhu-striped covers and the overall pleasant atmosphere bring joyful recognition and give a positive start for the day. We set off with SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) flight SK1791 Tallinn-Copenhagen.
2x Tallinn Airport (TLL) Fotod: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
Soon we arrive at Copenhagen airport and since SAS and Norwegian Airlines (our next flight) stand apart, we are obliged to check in once more. To our pleasure the check-in counters were already open (often they open just a few hours before the flight) and we were able to hand over our luggage and return to the warm and cozy pastime areas of the airport crowded with shops. Regardless of november, the airport was already decorated with christmas-trees and was all glossy. The long day in the airport is an ideal time for shopping and coffee.
In Copenhagen there were triple security checks and the queues were rather long – so it is reasonable not to postpone arriving at the gates at the very last moment. It came as a surprise for us that – once in the airport – there was yet another security check before the gate. However, the seven ours of spare time before our next flight went rather quickly – the airport is large and there is plenty to do. Within that time we walked 10 000 footsteps… 6x Copenhagen Airport (CPH) Fotod: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
14:15 – we go on board the Norwegian Air. Soon food and drinks are served which are non-complimentary like on board SAS. Even a glass of water will cost you. Those who have not taken the Norwegian Air before – keep this in mind! Should you wish for a hearty plateful, you would need to arrange a meal before or after the flight.
2x Norwegian Air Fotod: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
17:50 – we arrive at Morocco Agadir (AGA) Al-Massara airport. A warm Mediterranean breeze greets us and the travel fatigue is gone in an instant, giving way to excitement. The airport is tiny and poorly ventilated, and it takes an hour to get past the security. We must fill in some papers that have already been handed to us in the airplane – questions about how long we will be staying and what is the purpose for our travel. It catches the eye in the passport line that there are very many young folks and nearly half of them have suf boards with them. I have heard that Morocco is the favourite destination for surfers this year.
Maroko, Agadir (AGA) Al-Massira lennujaam. Foto: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
19:00– a respresentative from Moroccan National Tourist Office meets us and accompanies us to our hotel – Atlantic Palace Agadir Golf Thalasso & Casino Resort, Agadir City Centre, Agadir, Morocco. This 5star hotel has been mentioned in my previous blogpost (HERE). Atlantic Palace is among Agadir’s most luxurious hotels. It is located in a closed territory and offers the tourists convenient, safe and good quality service. All these arches, carvings, gold and glitter – there is luxury in every direction! A perfect place for a vacation! Breakfast and dinner were the Swedish buffee and I would like to say some words of praise about this! The food on the menu was fresh, tasty and versatile – every day there was something new and the selection was abundant. There is rarely in a hotel a Swedish buffe that generous. Also the hotel rooms were pleasant – each room had two extra size beds and a private balcony with a splendid view.
5x Hotel Atlantic Palace Agadiris. Fotod: OHMYGOSSIP/ Helena-Reet Ennet
In the next post I will take a glimpse on Agadir Kasbah ruins, beach promenade and the restaurant Pure Passion located in Agadir harbour.
NordenBladet – I am very proud and glad to announce that #OHMYGOSSIP starts collaboration with Moroccan Ministry and Government Tourist Office!
Last year I began cooperation with Israel Ministry of Tourism & Israel Government Tourist Office Nordics! I´ve been one of the Israel´s “media ambassadors” here in the Nordics over a year! This year I am honored to work also with Moroccan National Tourist Board & Moroccan Goverment Tourist Office to promote #VisitMorocco in my OHMYGOSSIP- websites!!!
Moroccan National Tourist Office will organize for me and my team a complimentary personal press trips to Morocco and will show us around. As the guests of Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, we will be provided with flights, hotel accommodation, with breakfasts and dinners in restaurants, with transport and travel guides.
The first trip will take me to Agadir – a very important centre for tourism to Morocco, and the city is the most important fishing port in the country. Agadir is a major city in Morocco, located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean near the foot of the Atlas Mountains, just north of the point where the Sous River flows into the ocean. It is at a distance of 508 km to the south of Casablanca. It is the capital of the Agadir-Ida Ou Tanane Prefecture and of the Souss-Massa economic region. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1960; it has been completely rebuilt with mandatory seismic standards. It is now the largest seaside resort in Morocco, where foreign tourists and many residents are attracted by an unusually mild year-round climate. Since 2010 it has been well served by low-cost flights and a motorway from Tangier. The city attracts all walks of life; it has had an annual growth rate of over 6% per year in housing demand while housing production barely exceeds 3.4%.
Agadir is filled with great hotels. We will stay in 5star “Atlantic Palace Agadir Golf Thalasso & Casino Resort” (atlanticpalace.com)! Set in the centre of Agadir, this hotel features an on-site casino as well as a private beach. It features a golf course, a sauna, a beauty centre and a Turkish steam bath. This modern Agadir hotel provides free Wi-Fi and outdoor tennis courts. It includes family-friendly amenities, with room layouts and services for families of any size, as well as a kids pool and a kids club. The peaceful rooms offer garden or pool views, and each is equipped with a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV and a mini bar. They feature wireless internet access, a telephone and heating. Atlantic Palace Agadir features both a restaurant and a bar where guests are able to relax at the end of the day. Room service is provided around the clock, and a wide selection of restaurants and cafés can also be found close by. Atlantic Palace Agadir Golf Thalasso & Casino Resort is ideally located for exploring Agadir with Casino le Mirage within walking distance. Agadir Stadium and Inezgane are only an easy drive from the hotel.
Hotel Atlantic Palace Agadir Golf Thalasso & Casino Resort (Photos: courtesy of AtlanticPalace)
When you start your travel from Scandinavia, one great place to make reservations for your trip to Morocco is: Marokko Eksperten (marokkoeksperten.dk) – Vermundsgade 38, 2. Sal – 2100 København!
I will blog, tweet and review about our trip, so you will also see via OHMYGOSSIP all the great places we will visit and experience and hopefully you´ll get great ideas for your next trip! I´ll be in Morocco soon, already next week (!) and will keep you updated with everything! Love you! Stay cool!
___________________________________________________ Morocco, officially known as the Kingdom of Morocco, is a sovereign country located in the Maghreb region of North Africa. Geographically, Morocco is characterized by a rugged mountainous interior and large portions of desert. It has Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. Morocco has a population of over 33.8 million and an area of 446,550 km2 (172,410 sq mi). Its capital is Rabat, and the largest city is Casablanca. Other major cities include Marrakesh, Tangier, Tetouan, Salé, Fes, Agadir, Meknes, Oujda, Kenitra, and Nador. A historically prominent regional power, Morocco has a history of independence not shared by its neighbours. Its distinct culture is a blend of Arab, indigenous Berber, Sub-Saharan African, and European influences.
Morocco claims the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara as its Southern Provinces. Morocco annexed the territory in 1975, leading to a guerrilla war with indigenous forces until a cease-fire in 1991. Peace processes have thus far failed to break the political deadlock.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. The King of Morocco holds vast executive and legislative powers, especially over the military, foreign policy and religious affairs. Executive power is exercised by the government, while legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Assembly of Representatives and the Assembly of Councillors. The king can issue decrees called dahirs which have the force of law. He can also dissolve the parliament after consulting the Prime Minister and the president of the Constitutional court.
Morocco’s predominant religion is Islam, and the official languages are Arabic and Tamazight. Moroccan dialect, referred to as Darija, and French are also widely spoken. Morocco is an influential member of the Arab League and a part of the Union for the Mediterranean. It has the fifth largest economy of Africa.
NordenBladet – Bergen is a city on Norway’s southwestern coast. It’s surrounded by mountains and fjords, including Sognefjord, the country’s longest and deepest. Bryggen features colorful wooden houses on the old wharf, once a center of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire. The Fløibanen Funicular goes up Fløyen Mountain for panoramic views and hiking trails. The Edvard Grieg House is where the renowned composer once lived.
Norway is one of the most beautiful but also most expensive countries in Europe. Therefore I’m excited to share some tips of free things to do in Bergen. Bergen is the second largst city of the country and the port counts into the most busiest within Europe. Bergen is surrounded by 7 mountains which offer an amazing outlook to the nearby Fjords!
1) Bryggen
The most important sight of Bergen is called “Bryggen” and is totally for free! These old houses have been warehouses in the era of the german Hanse and are well preserved. Inside you can find cozy bars, art galleries and handcraft shops – Bryggen is a must-see when in Bergen!
2) Stoltzekleiven
What about some sport? You can get up there by using the 801 steps! The locals use the „Stoltzekleiven“ (this is how they call the steps) as their workout spot in the evening no matter if it is raining or not. From the top you will be rewarded with a great view!
3) Bergen from above
The Fløyen is the most visited of the seven mountains that surround the city centre of Bergen. You can get to the top by using the cable car “Fløibanen” for 85 NOK (around 11€) or use the free option: a well marked path which leads up here. At the top you’ll find a viewpoint, a restaurant and a kiosk.
4) Free festivals and concerts
Throughout the year you’ll find various festivals and concerts in Bergen which are free of charge. One of the largest is on May 17th – the Norwegian Constitution Day with parties all over the city.
NordenBladet – Travel better, cheaper, longer by using these smart sites and deals! Some studies indicate that you can save about 30% to 40% when booking a vacation home or apartment versus a comparable hotel. That’s just the upfront price. You’ll save even more by eating some of your meals (breakfasts and dinners, perhaps) at your rental property. Shopping at neighborhood grocery stories, cheese shops and bakeries also lets you experience a slice of the local life. Rental units often have laundry facilities, which will help you pack light. And try haggling with a property’s owner or manager: Negotiate price, length of stay, arrival and departure dates — it’s all up for discussion. And those discussions can lead to great savings.
Accommodation
House sitting is an great way for animal-lovers to travel and live rent-free in exchange for caring for a house and pets.
Trusted Housesitters, in my opinion, is the easiest housesit site to use and navigate. They have a ton of international traffic. I have personally received requests from just about everywhere in the world. Sitters and Homeowners can pay $49.99 USD/month for 1 month, or $7.99 USD/month for an annual plan. Sitters can also pay $23.99 USD/month for a 3 month plan. Bonus: Annual plans include access to a 24/7 Vet Help Line staffed by vet techs.
House Carers also offers lots of international house sits and also have quite a bit of traffic, as I’ve also seen a lot of activity worldwide from this site. Sitters pay $50 USD yearly, homeowners list free.
Mind My House, out of New Zealand, has a very eye-pleasing website and is super easy to use. Sitters pay $20 USD yearly, homeowners join free.
WWOOF, or Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, is the ultimate accommodation for your karma. You get to stay at a farm or homestead for free and in exchange you help out for a few hours a day farming, caring for animals, or doing odd jobs showcasing some of your awesome skills.
Couchsurfing, aka, the original homestay site. Find locals worldwide to stay with, for free. Can be used as a local meetup if you’re looking to go out!
Airbnb is a site where you can book a stay with a local in their home. It’s a great way to travel if you are super social, and enjoy meeting new people and sleeping their homes! I’ve seen everything from a boat to a couch to a private room to a guesthouse. Definitely some super cool, interesting and unique places.
Yonderbound is a super unique travel accommodation booking site. If Pinterest and Hotels.com had a baby, this would be it. Create Yonderboxes of plans, share, follow, and book. The coolest part – If someone books in your yonderboxes, you earn money!
Hotel Tonight lets you book hotel rooms right from your phone, anytime, anywhere, easy breezy.
Bon Appetour is a cool site you can use to dine with locals in their homes. If you want to immerse yourself with locals and you love food, then what better way to have locals cook for you in their homes- anywhere in the world! Find anything from classic old-world recipes to gourmet cuisine by chefs.
EatWith is a foodie’s dream site, full of really unique once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences. You can book a seat at a table to a shared event or private event where local chefs can create menus and even work with concierges to find locations.
Vayable is a super cool site you should definitely check out. It’s like Airbnb, but for activities! Be a tour guide for whatever your passion is! Travelers can meet up with local tour guides to learn, see and do things they probably wouldn’t otherwise do! It’s just brilliant.
NordenBladet – Hi! Megan here from Soup of the Day Blog! I just got back from a long weekend trip to Florida and after three snowstorms in Baltimore this year, I was very ready for the warmth! When I started making plans for our Florida trip we checked out hotels and were blown away by the prices! We wanted to stay somewhere close to everything we would be doing and seeing, but we knew that we didn’t plan to spend much time in our room. We were going to be out and about and really just needed a place to sleep at night and $200 a night wasn’t in our budget!
Steve, my boyfriend, liked the idea of Airbnb and wanted to check it out. After browsing the accommodations near Fort Lauderdale we settled on the most perfect little house. We had an entire home vs a single room, had a driveway to park our rental car, were within walking distance of restaurants and shops, and had a pool and hot tub to use. It wasn’t huge but had a kitchen, living room (with a murphy bed that pulled down), a bathroom and a laundry room to wash our wet towels and clothes. We were able to book 4 nights on Airbnb for less than HALF of what it would have cost to stay in a hotel in the same area.
Without a doubt we will be using AirBnB for our future trips and here are a few reasons why:
1. Price– The price is right, that’s for sure! Entire homes cost roughly the same as a single hotel room (price varies based on location). As I mentioned above, we were able to book a house for less than half of what we would have paid for a hotel room in Fort Lauderdale or Miami.
2. Customer Service– The person renting out their home wants you to have a good time. They don’t have the marketing or name recognition that most large hotel chains have. After staying in a rental you can write a review of the accommodations on AirBnB. Most places we considered staying in had high reviews from people just like us.
3. Local Recommendations– The owner of the home is also willing to recommend places to eat and things to see/do while you’re on vacation.
4. Flexibility– Most owners set a check-in time and a check-out time just like you would see at a hotel, however, they are more flexible. The owner was in contact with us regarding our flight in and out to make sure that the place was ready for us upon arrival.
5. Comfort– I don’t mind staying in hotels, but sometimes I want to be in a place that feels like a home not a hotel room. We had a kitchen and were able to make breakfast before heading out each day. We also brought back leftovers and were able to heat them up when we didn’t feel like going out.
I was skeptical at first that staying in someone’s home would be better than a hotel room, but I can say with confidence that it was great! You should look into Airbnb for your next trip!
