How to Avoid Excess Baggage Charges in Morocco (3 nights from £260 pp)

BASINGSTOKE, U.K. - Dec. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Fleewinter has just added a new riad to its portfolio in Marrakech, eight-bedroomed Riad Hikaya (http://www.fleewinter.co.uk/morocco-accommodation/mmh004), which is owned and run by Arab-speaking Englishman John Pittaway who has been living in Morocco for 6 years and knows the souks in the Medina like the back of his hand.

One of his favourite past-times is to take his guests shopping; he knows all the best places to go, and is happy to haggle in Arabic to secure the best prices.

What’s more, John is also happy to arrange for heavy or bulky items purchased to be shipped back to the UK, which is a lot cheaper than paying expensive airline excess baggage charges.  For example an average sized rug costs around £25 to ship.

Popular items to purchase include jewellery boxes (inlaid with mother of pearl), mirrors, leather poufs (sold flat – stuff yourself with old clothes when you get home), lanterns and precious spices including saffron.

Riad Hikaya is built over two courtyards; there are 5 bedrooms on two levels around the larger patio, which also has a good sized pool by riad standards (heated in the winter) and a dining room connects to the smaller courtyard. This courtyard has 3 bedrooms leading from it– ideal for a family or group of friends.

There is a staircase for each courtyard which connects the two levels and then goes up to the roof terrace where there is an open air dining area and two covered caidal tents for relaxing with a drink or curling up with a book.

In one corner is a heated Jacuzzi (big enough for 4) to soak away the aches after a hard days shopping in the souks and there is also a traditional hammam for relaxing scrubs and a treatment room for massages.

It is located in the Kasbah region of the Medina, just a short walk from the main square which bursts into life every evening at dusk when the food vendors, jugglers and snake charmers arrive to ply their trade.

A special three-night Christmas shopping break (available until 20 December) costs from just £260 pp (two sharing) on a B&B basis including flights and private airport transfers.

Call 020 7112 0019 (www.fleewinter.com).