TRAVEL
MOROCCO ’ S
VALERIA DAR ATLAS RESORT :
The Ultimate Family Holiday
SEARCHING FOR A FAMILY HOLIDAY THAT SUITS EVERY FAMILY MEMBER CAN FEEL NEVERENDING . WHAT SEEMS LIKE AN EXCITING PROSPECT CAN END UP FRAUGHT , ESPECIALLY AS YOUR CHILDREN START TO GET OLDER – ONE LOVES SWIMMING , SO A BIG POOL IS YOUR PRIORITY ; THE OTHER LOVES KIDS ’ CLUBS , SO ENTERTAINMENT NEEDS TO BE HIGH ON THE AGENDA ; AND ONE LOVES CHILLING , SO BIG ROOMS ARE A NECESSITY . AND WHAT ABOUT US PARENTS ? IT ’ S NOT FAIR THAT THOSE OF US WHO NEED A BREAK GET PUSHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PRIORITY LIST JUST BECAUSE IT MAY SEEM EASIER TO PUT THE KIDS ’ NEEDS FIRST . LAST SUMMER , I MADE IT MY MISSION TO SEEK OUT THE ULTIMATE FAMILY HOLIDAY … AND I ’ VE DONE IT . THE VALERIA DAR ATLAS RESORT IN MOROCCO HAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD NEED FOR A FUN AND RESTFUL HOLIDAY . BY POLLY HUMPHRIS .
Of course , family holidays are subjective . For some parents , the aim of a summer holiday is to lavish their kids with their every attention , which is great , but isn ’ t for me . Although of course I love them , I can ’ t deny I feel happier and more ‘ on holiday ’ when I ’ ve been able to read a few chapters of a book daily . Some holidaymakers like to see chicken nuggets and chips on the menu ; I don ’ t , which leads me to the first thing that drew my attention rapidly to booking a trip to the Valeria Dar Atlas Resort . Although the Trip Advisor reviews are , in the main , hugely positive ( well over 50 % of reviewers rate it five star ), the only negatives came from those guests at odds with the fact that the hotel serves ‘ limited , mainly local food ’ to which , at odds with those holidaymakers , I say thank goodness – Morocco is in North Africa , after all .
As crazy as it seems given that Marrakech Menara Airport is only just over three hours flying time from London , this was our first family holiday to Morocco . And it ’ s the authenticity of a holiday here , right from the outset , that ’ s so appealing . The kids , having only been on summer trips to Europe so far , were fascinated by the very fact that we were going to Africa let alone that the wonderful change in culture is so apparent from the minute you land . And wonderful is the word . Seeing the faces of my children , lit up in distinct wonder at the sights of colourful streetside stalls , of the beautiful traditional djellaba and kaftans worn by the locals , and of horse-drawn carriages trotting along busy roads , all swathed in a comforting blanket of hot desert air , is a memory I ’ ll never forget .
There was no long journey to quash this excitement either as the resort is only a 20-minute drive from Marrakech ; with every minute that passed , the hustle and bustle of Morocco ’ s world-famous Imperial city dissipated , only to be replaced by La Palmeraie , a peaceful oasis of over 100,000 palm groves where the Valeria Dar Atlas is located . Greeted by a huge , tiled archway entrance that shines in shades of burnt orange and gold , the charm , allure and authentic character of the resort is instant and is only magnified by the fantastic hospitality team who had whisked away our bags and settled us in with a drink within moments of our arrival .
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