A travel YouTuber who embarked on a bargain holiday to a Spanish resort ended up making an unexpected journey to Africa after finding his destination underwhelming for content creation.
From Costa del Sol to Moroccan Chaos
Tireless globetrotter Wendall, known for reporting from diverse locations like Jaywick and Atlantic City, decided to combat expensive travels by booking the cheapest holiday possible. This led him to a two-night stay in Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol in mid-February, with a £30 return flight from Newquay and a £34 hotel room.
A Resort Failing to Deliver
On his YouTube channel, Wendall explained his rationale: “I've got £30 return flights from Newquay, and a £34 room in a hotel.” With an early 5am return flight, he opted to skip a second hotel night and explore the resort instead. However, as he wandered through the former fishing village that became a British tourist hotspot in the 1960s and 1970s, he reached a stark conclusion.
“It's quite nice, but it's not much use for content,” Wendall remarked. Unlike its neighbour Benidorm, with its infamous strip bustling year-round with boozy stag and hen parties, Torremolinos lacked the vibrant activity needed to fill an hour-long video. This realisation prompted a bold, impulsive decision.
An Impulsive Leap to Marrakesh
Wendall swiftly flew 400 miles south to Marrakesh in Morocco, seeking a more engaging adventure. He noted that while Benidorm offers predictable excitement, most other Spanish resorts feel too tame. Marrakesh, however, presented a thrilling alternative.
“Marrakesh is kind of the place where people that want to do real traveling come because they want to experience all of this [drama], but they don't want the actual real raw danger of places with far less touristic infrastructure,” Wendall said. “But, it still is a wild ride.”
The Wild Ride Begins
The adventure commenced almost immediately in Jemaa el-Fnaa, the central square of the ancient city. Here, Wendall encountered a market stall selling second-hand false teeth, with one molar allegedly once belonging to Mahatma Gandhi, priced at 900 Dirhams (approximately £73).
Throughout Marrakesh, Wendall observed a constant demand for tips and warned against common scams. “If you come to Marrakesh, don't fall for the snake and monkey scams. They'll put a monkey on your head or get a snake to dance in front of you, but they're not treated well at all,” he cautioned.
He described the monkeys wearing heavy collars and chains, and snakes with their fangs removed, calling it “a bit cruel” as it strips them of their natural defence mechanisms. The snake charmers, monkey handlers, and henna artists were noted for their aggressive hustling, making the market square an intense experience not suited for the faint-hearted.
Unexpected Barber Encounter
Even a simple visit to a local barber turned into an elaborate affair. Wendall, who is bald, found himself subjected to a hard sell. “I only came in for a quick simple beard trim. And I've been here for at least an hour having a full exfoliation, head shave, beard trim. The works,” he recounted.
Reflecting on the exfoliating face-mask, he quipped: “I thought I was going on a cheap holiday to the Costa del Sol, and the next thing I know I'm having my face pulled off in Marrakesh.”
Budget Holiday Abandoned
By this point, the initial bargain holiday concept was largely abandoned. While flights from Torremolinos to Marrakesh can cost as little as £27, Wendall's stay in a luxurious Riad set him back £55 per night. His only respite from feeling “ripped off” was a stall selling replica football shirts for about £17, as everywhere else involved relentless demands for money, even from passers-by objecting to being filmed.
This spontaneous shift from a quiet Spanish resort to the chaotic streets of Marrakesh highlights the unpredictable nature of budget travel and the quest for compelling content in the digital age.
