You can now catch a direct flight from Manchester to a sunny, beachy paradise that been labelled ‘the new Turkey’.
Morocco is experiencing a tourism boom, with the number of flights to the African country from the UK rocketing in recent years.
There are four cities you can fly to directly from Manchester (including Marrakesh, Agadir and Tangier), but the newest route to open heads straight to Casablanca.
This is a coastal resort that promises great value for money, with three-course meals for less than £20 and the average cost of a pint just £2.50.
Manchester Airport has said that the surge in popularity of holidays to Morocco mirrors the recent boom in Turkey.
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And to celebrate the fact you can now visit the beautiful city of Casablanca direct from Manchester Airport, with prices from just £127 per person with Royal Air Maroc, our local airport has whipped up a bit of a guide to this hidden holiday gem.
Your first stop should be the Old Medina in Casablanca, which was the setting for the Hollywood classic film of the same name.
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Here you’ll find markets, cafes and street hawkers, plus views of the city from the city walls and ramparts.
The Hassan II Mosque is considered one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in Africa, jutting into the ocean.
At the time it was built in 1993, the minaret at the mosque was the tallest in the world at 689ft.
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You can now fly direct to Casablanca from Manchester Airport. Credit: Supplied, PixabayCasablanca. Credit: Unsplash, Chaoyue Ding
It looks extra-stunning at night when the building is silhouetted against the sunrise.
As for food, you can expect flavoursome Moroccan food like tagines and couscous, plus loads of seafood.
Casablanca is also home to one of the country’s best beaches in Ain Diab, with golden sands stretching for nearly two miles.
It has a more manageable temperature than some parts of the Med too, reaching average highs of 27C in July and August.
Once you’ve had enough of lying on the beach, you can head up to La Corniche, a seafront promenade lined with restaurants, beach bar and nightclubs.
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There’s even a waterpark in Casablanca – there are more than a dozen water rides and its own beach at the Tamaris Aquaparc, where entry costs just £18 for adults and £11.80 for kids.
Day trips to the Moroccan capital of Rabat, or to Fes, are also possible from here, as are hiking trips to the Atlas Mountains.
Direct flights between Manchester Airport and Casablanca are now available with Royal Air Maroc.
80% of drivers say they regularly see people ‘excessively speeding’ on UK roads
Emily Sergeant
80% of drivers say they regularly see people ‘excessively speeding’ on UK roads, new data from the RAC has revealed.
After the Government‘s road casualty statistics showed that ‘exceeding the speed limit’ was sadly a contributory factor to a total of 304 (21%) fatal collisions in 2023, the RAC spoke to 2,691 drivers to gather their experiences about driving on roads nationwide as part of its annual Report on Motoring for 2024.
82% of drivers surveyed noticed others breaking the limit excessively on motorways and high-speed dual carriageways, while 80% said it was also a common occurrence on 30mph or 20mph roads.
In comparison to previous years, the sharpest increase in speeding figures was found on 20mph roads, where 50% of drivers said they have frequently or occasionally broken the limit – which is up from 46% a year ago, and 36% from 2018.
It’s motorways where drivers admit to breaking the limit more often than on any other type of road, however, with 58% admitting to going above 70mph in 2024.
80% of drivers say they regularly see people ‘excessively speeding’ on UK roads / Credit: Don Sniegowski (via Flickr)
Figures also showed that many appear to see the speed limit as a target, with seven in 10 drivers (72%) saying they try to drive as close to the speed limit as possible, while 55% believe there is a culture among UK road users where it’s acceptable to break the speed limit.
“It’s concerning that our research indicates excessive speeding has become so commonplace because the consequences are very severe,” explained RAC road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis.
“It is particularly worrying that so much excessive speeding observed by drivers appears to take place on 20mph and 30mph roads, as this is where the greatest number of vulnerable road users are, such as pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooter riders.
“We badly need to bring an end to excessive speeding to keep us all safe.
“The Government is working on the country’s first road safety strategy for many years, so we hope that tackling this will be treated as a priority.”
Featured Image – Rawpixel
Travel & Tourism
Train tickets slashed by up to 50% in huge Rail Sale across the UK
Daisy Jackson
A huge rail sale has gone live with thousands of train journeys around the UK slashed in price by up to 50%.
Almost all UK train operators are taking part in the sale, which falls around the 200th anniversary of UK Rail.
There are more discounted tickets available than ever before, from short jaunts to neighbouring cities like Leeds and Sheffield to further-flung trips like Edinburgh and London.
It’s hoped that this huge rail sale will encourage more people to travel by train, and comes as the Government continues its overhaul of the railways.
Millions of train tickets are available at half the price, between 14 January and 20 January.
The sale applies to select advance and off-peak fares on travel between 17 January and 31 March 2025.
These offers won’t last long, and only apply to a limited number of tickets, so you’ll want to move fast to snap up a bargain.
It’s reported that last year’s rail sale saved passengers £5.8 million in total.
Secretary of State, Heidi Alexander, said: “I’m launching the biggest ever rail sale so more passengers can get big discounts on train tickets to visit destinations across the country.
“Whether you’re planning a getaway or wanting to visit friends or family, this sale offers huge reductions on all sorts of journeys.
Train tickets slashed by up to 50% in huge Rail Sale across the UK. Credit: Unsplash, Fraser Cottrell
“Make the most of this sale, get your tickets while you can!”
The 2025 rail sale comes on the 200th anniversary of the first steam-powered passenger train with celebrations expected throughout the year as part of Railway 200.
Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of Rail Delivery Group, said: “This year, as we celebrate 200 years of railways in the UK, we’re reminded that rail travel is about much more than simply getting from A to B – it’s about bringing people, communities and opportunities together.
“Over 2 centuries, rail has become a vital part of the UK, shaping the economy and lives of millions.
“The year’s rail sale will offer over 2 million discounted advance fares starting on 14 January 2025, which is a great way to save on your travel and celebrate 200 years of railway connections.”
Next step – making that train between Manchester and London a bit more affordable every day of the year…
Daisy Jackson -
24th July 2024 
