Onions in Marrakesh: Escaping the January Blues, Total Onion Style

by Nadezda Gurska

January 19, 2026

It’s Blue Monday – the so-called “most depressing day of the year” – and also our last day in Marrakesh. So it felt like the perfect moment to reflect on our little winter experiment.

Let’s be honest: January in the UK can be rough. The holidays are over, the weather is grim, and the mood dips. At Total Onion, we care deeply about mental health and the wellbeing of our team, and that’s not just something we say. We build it into our culture.

So we had an idea: what if we rented a house in a warm, sunny place and gave people the option to work from there for a few days? A change of scenery, a dose of sunshine, and the freedom to keep working but feel better doing it.

After some research into rental prices, flight costs, and weather patterns, Marrakesh emerged as the perfect choice. While there are warmer destinations in January, flight costs can quickly become unmanageable. We covered the accommodation, while the rest of the trip (flights, food, fun) was up to each person. The result? Affordable, flexible, and pretty magical.

We found a charming riad just a few minutes’ walk from the Medina. No need for transport, and full of character. It had four bedrooms, a rooftop terrace, and a kitchen for communal breakfasts and mint tea breaks. Team members could bring a plus one and book a stay of up to five days throughout the month.

And it was honestly brilliant.

Marrakesh is a city full of life, colour, and spice. The souks are a maze of textiles, ceramics, and the scent of saffron. Around every corner is a new café, a hidden courtyard, or the call to prayer echoing from a minaret. We had a few rainy days (a blessing for the locals, if not for our sun-loving selves), but spirits stayed high.

Working together in a relaxed setting was such a boost. Ideas flowed naturally over shared lunches and pair programming sessions. There was time to talk properly, connect, and collaborate outside the usual video calls.

The food? Incredible. Tagines, grilled meats, fresh flatbreads, and of course, the ever-comforting mint tea. Locals were warm and welcoming, and while the main square in the evenings could feel intense, it was easy to navigate once you got the hang of things.

What We Learned

We’ll definitely do this again next year.
It was a fantastic way to bring people together during a tough month.
Next time, we’ll go for a shorter time frame with more rooms
so the whole team can come at once and share the experience together.
Our team is amazing.
Not just at what we do, but in how we travel, collaborate, and support each other. That’s the kind of culture we’re proud of.

All team is back home now, refreshed and recharged, already planning the next adventure.
Until then: back to grey skies, good coffee, and great projects.