06/24/2026
One of the most unusual nights of my travels…
In July 2013, I flew from Basel to Marrakech on an EasyJet ticket that cost less than $35—still the cheapest airline ticket I’ve ever purchased (excluding mileage awards).
The trip began with an unexpected jolt.
On the drive from the airport, I was filming through the van window when a man suddenly approached the vehicle, reached inside, and demanded to see my phone. Apparently he believed he had appeared briefly in one of my videos. My driver didn’t intervene, and for a few tense moments I wasn’t sure how the situation would end.
When we finally arrived at my hotel, things became even stranger.
The staff informed me that I would be the only guest in the entire four-story riad that night. Even more surprising, the managers wouldn’t be staying there either. As I settled into my room, I discovered something I hadn’t expected: there were no locks on the doors.
After watching one too many thriller movies growing up, I have to admit it wasn’t the easiest night to fall asleep. The people from the airport incident knew exactly where I was staying—the hotel name was printed on the shuttle van—and my imagination was working overtime.
Of course… nothing happened.
Morning arrived quietly, and what remained wasn’t fear but appreciation. The room itself turned out to be one of the most fascinating I’ve ever stayed in, filled with beautiful Moroccan design and light that transformed the walls and ceiling into works of art.
Looking back after visiting more than 100 countries, experiences like this are incredibly rare. 99.9% of my travels have been welcoming, kind, and completely uneventful. But every so often, a journey gives you a story you’ll never forget.
I still believe the world is meant to be explored. Sometimes the most memorable destinations aren’t the ones where everything goes according to plan—they’re the ones you’ll still be talking about years later.
🇲🇦 Marrakech, Morocco • July 2013
