Morocco - Twin Centre?
Discussion
Heading away June time and thinking of Morocco.
Any experience?
Seeing very good reviews.
However am considering a twin centre holiday - probabaly Marrakesh and then a beach resort. However I'd also enjoy a trip up into the mountains but I assume this is available either with a hire car or as an "excursion" locally?
Where would people suggest from experience and do you have any other reccomendations?
Any experience?
Seeing very good reviews.
However am considering a twin centre holiday - probabaly Marrakesh and then a beach resort. However I'd also enjoy a trip up into the mountains but I assume this is available either with a hire car or as an "excursion" locally?
Where would people suggest from experience and do you have any other reccomendations?
Personally i'd avoid it.
Three of us took a roadtrip there in Summer 2010 and while the capital bosats some amazing cultural assets (despite the constant harassment of toursits by snake charmers, photographers, sellers of tat etc) the rest of the country is quite frankly a s
thole. Think rubbish strewn everywhere, open sewers and a general lack of things of interest.
This is probably not the review you were looking for and those who arrived by plane and went on coach tours probably have different experiences.
The mountains are very nice though and there are some spectacular views to be had but i dont think this is reason enough to go there.
Three of us took a roadtrip there in Summer 2010 and while the capital bosats some amazing cultural assets (despite the constant harassment of toursits by snake charmers, photographers, sellers of tat etc) the rest of the country is quite frankly a s
thole. Think rubbish strewn everywhere, open sewers and a general lack of things of interest.This is probably not the review you were looking for and those who arrived by plane and went on coach tours probably have different experiences.
The mountains are very nice though and there are some spectacular views to be had but i dont think this is reason enough to go there.
been twice now- but driving down through spain in a 4x4- have done most of the mountains, the ergs, and the southern beaches. Only been to fez.
Some of the mountain areas are stunningly beautfiul, and if you can get off the beaten track it is a lovely country- unfortunately it is filthy as mentioned- huge amounts of ubbish all over the place- and often in the most beautiful spots- a national past time seems to be just standing around in filth..... and there are huge problems with beggars- in the countryside we had one woman try and push her 4 year old in front of one of the cars etc etc
Some of the mountain areas are stunningly beautfiul, and if you can get off the beaten track it is a lovely country- unfortunately it is filthy as mentioned- huge amounts of ubbish all over the place- and often in the most beautiful spots- a national past time seems to be just standing around in filth..... and there are huge problems with beggars- in the countryside we had one woman try and push her 4 year old in front of one of the cars etc etc
Marrakesh is a very interesting city - particularly the Medina. I have driven around middle Atlas mountains and I would say Wales is more beautiful, althought it's not bad and roads are good too. Essaouira is supposed to be worth visiting, sadly I got bored of the straight road from Marrakesh and never got there..
The main dowsinde was the locals constly harrasing you - it is much worse in the villages than cities! But I bet some may enjoy that sort of intense interaction (it's all very money oriented though).
The main dowsinde was the locals constly harrasing you - it is much worse in the villages than cities! But I bet some may enjoy that sort of intense interaction (it's all very money oriented though).
I went to Morocco at Christmas, a round-trip from Marrakech through the Anti-Atlas, up the coast and back to Marrakech. It's the second year I've been since I like the country so much.
I'm female, blonde and a bit podgy. I'd expected to be hassled everywhere but it honestly wasn't the case. The thing to know is that since the Marrakech bombing / the S hitting the F in the region generally, tourism in 2011 was 60% down on the previous year.
People need to make a living. Just smile politely and say 'no thank you' if approached in a bazaar. However the flip side to this is that there are amazing deals to be had if you buy a number of items.
I love Morocco. It's civilised and people are incredibly polite. Great food, and no yobs. They don't have municipal services in the same way that we do, so yes, there was a bit of litter about, however to say that there is 'rubbish everywhere' and 'stinking sewers' is a bit of an exaggeration.
Essaouira is well worth a visit. It's noted for its fish restaurants and also wooden handicrafts. Both excellent and cheap. I'd go back.
Marrakech is lovely with lots of little hidden gardens and parks. The main square is like something out of the Arabian Nights with snake charmers, blind beggars, water sellers, drummers, monkeys on chains (not nice), and lots of local colour. Touristy for sure, but mostly entertainment for local people. Food stalls are good and cheap. I was never ill.
The one thing I'd suggest you beware of is the 'up-sell' when eating out: you'll be 'recommended' a variety of accompanying dishes, which will add substantially to the bill. Query it and the staff don't speak either English or French. But hey-ho - it was cheap enough anyway.
However, to set other people's comments into context, I think the big difference was that I went with Explore, and therefore had the benefit of excellent local guides to explain everything about the culture and history. However that's not to say that a decent guide book wouldn't do the same job.
I'd go.
ETA: I've just noticed the date you're intending going. June will be hot with weapons-grade sunscreen needed. However even the cheap hotels are air-conditioned, so I still wouldn't let that put me off. I'd recommend Hotel Ali in Marrakech if you're doing it on the cheap. Quirky and centrally located just off the Djemma-el-Fnaa square.
I'm female, blonde and a bit podgy. I'd expected to be hassled everywhere but it honestly wasn't the case. The thing to know is that since the Marrakech bombing / the S hitting the F in the region generally, tourism in 2011 was 60% down on the previous year.
People need to make a living. Just smile politely and say 'no thank you' if approached in a bazaar. However the flip side to this is that there are amazing deals to be had if you buy a number of items.
I love Morocco. It's civilised and people are incredibly polite. Great food, and no yobs. They don't have municipal services in the same way that we do, so yes, there was a bit of litter about, however to say that there is 'rubbish everywhere' and 'stinking sewers' is a bit of an exaggeration.
Essaouira is well worth a visit. It's noted for its fish restaurants and also wooden handicrafts. Both excellent and cheap. I'd go back.
Marrakech is lovely with lots of little hidden gardens and parks. The main square is like something out of the Arabian Nights with snake charmers, blind beggars, water sellers, drummers, monkeys on chains (not nice), and lots of local colour. Touristy for sure, but mostly entertainment for local people. Food stalls are good and cheap. I was never ill.
The one thing I'd suggest you beware of is the 'up-sell' when eating out: you'll be 'recommended' a variety of accompanying dishes, which will add substantially to the bill. Query it and the staff don't speak either English or French. But hey-ho - it was cheap enough anyway.
However, to set other people's comments into context, I think the big difference was that I went with Explore, and therefore had the benefit of excellent local guides to explain everything about the culture and history. However that's not to say that a decent guide book wouldn't do the same job.
I'd go.
ETA: I've just noticed the date you're intending going. June will be hot with weapons-grade sunscreen needed. However even the cheap hotels are air-conditioned, so I still wouldn't let that put me off. I'd recommend Hotel Ali in Marrakech if you're doing it on the cheap. Quirky and centrally located just off the Djemma-el-Fnaa square.
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Friday 17th February 18:58
Many thanks everyone.
Think we'll be looking at Marrakech followed by Agadir so we can have the crazy city followed by a nice chill out time at the beach.
Maybe split 4/10 days.
How hot are we expecting in June? The weather sites i've looked at suggest 30 degrees max - we've done Egypt and Tunisa recently and found it much hotter than that - is Morocco slightly cooler to due ot its location or are the weather sites inaccurate?
Think we'll be looking at Marrakech followed by Agadir so we can have the crazy city followed by a nice chill out time at the beach.
Maybe split 4/10 days.
How hot are we expecting in June? The weather sites i've looked at suggest 30 degrees max - we've done Egypt and Tunisa recently and found it much hotter than that - is Morocco slightly cooler to due ot its location or are the weather sites inaccurate?
Dan_1981 said:
Many thanks everyone.
Think we'll be looking at Marrakech followed by Agadir so we can have the crazy city followed by a nice chill out time at the beach.
Maybe split 4/10 days.
How hot are we expecting in June? The weather sites i've looked at suggest 30 degrees max - we've done Egypt and Tunisa recently and found it much hotter than that - is Morocco slightly cooler to due ot its location or are the weather sites inaccurate?
depends where you go- we go back end of May- thre is often snow in the high atlas, and a couple of places we've stayed have been only a couple of degrees. Think we'll be looking at Marrakech followed by Agadir so we can have the crazy city followed by a nice chill out time at the beach.
Maybe split 4/10 days.
How hot are we expecting in June? The weather sites i've looked at suggest 30 degrees max - we've done Egypt and Tunisa recently and found it much hotter than that - is Morocco slightly cooler to due ot its location or are the weather sites inaccurate?
on the other hand, the further east you go from the atlas the hotter it gets - 3 days after leaving the atlas, it was 52degrees in the shade in erg chebbi!
Me and the wife booked into Marrakech at the end of March still unsure about it but totally looking forward to it, we are both pretty easy going and laid back all I ask is a bit of sun on my old bones and some half decent food. So if any recommendations for good food should come my way I would be very grateful. Again with sightseeing any must do or any avoid at all cost. Never having been to a country which has a closed currency I hope I can tip in pounds until I can get some changed.
Dan_1981 said:
Many thanks everyone.
Think we'll be looking at Marrakech followed by Agadir so we can have the crazy city followed by a nice chill out time at the beach.
Maybe split 4/10 days.
How hot are we expecting in June? The weather sites i've looked at suggest 30 degrees max - we've done Egypt and Tunisa recently and found it much hotter than that - is Morocco slightly cooler to due ot its location or are the weather sites inaccurate?
Marrakech will be boiling - in the 40s all day and it makes it worse because it is so crowded.Think we'll be looking at Marrakech followed by Agadir so we can have the crazy city followed by a nice chill out time at the beach.
Maybe split 4/10 days.
How hot are we expecting in June? The weather sites i've looked at suggest 30 degrees max - we've done Egypt and Tunisa recently and found it much hotter than that - is Morocco slightly cooler to due ot its location or are the weather sites inaccurate?
Agadir will be late 20s, early 30s. Usually get a nice sea breeze keeping you cool.
dillenger said:
Me and the wife booked into Marrakech at the end of March still unsure about it but totally looking forward to it, we are both pretty easy going and laid back all I ask is a bit of sun on my old bones and some half decent food. So if any recommendations for good food should come my way I would be very grateful. Again with sightseeing any must do or any avoid at all cost. Never having been to a country which has a closed currency I hope I can tip in pounds until I can get some changed.
Money-wise, just use the cashpoint at the airport. If using a Bureau de Change, request the smallest denominations possible. They'll try and give you 200 Dirham notes (about £18), but these can be difficult to change. Away from big cities you'll struggle to change more than 50.French-owned bank cashpoints (Credit Agricole etc) should be ok, but avoid the Moroccan ones. The 'Bank Maroc' machine in Essaioura's main square took my card but didn't dispense the money.
Hoard any coins like gold dust for tipping (it's expected everywhere). Any 'characters' you'd like to photograph will also expect money.
Dan_1981 said:
Many thanks everyone.
Think we'll be looking at Marrakech followed by Agadir so we can have the crazy city followed by a nice chill out time at the beach.
Maybe split 4/10 days.
How hot are we expecting in June? The weather sites i've looked at suggest 30 degrees max - we've done Egypt and Tunisa recently and found it much hotter than that - is Morocco slightly cooler to due ot its location or are the weather sites inaccurate?
There's a cooling breeze, but the sun is savage. Burn City.Think we'll be looking at Marrakech followed by Agadir so we can have the crazy city followed by a nice chill out time at the beach.
Maybe split 4/10 days.
How hot are we expecting in June? The weather sites i've looked at suggest 30 degrees max - we've done Egypt and Tunisa recently and found it much hotter than that - is Morocco slightly cooler to due ot its location or are the weather sites inaccurate?
Agadir is a bit 'soulless' compared with other parts of Morocco since it's all new: the entire city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1960 and subsequently rebuilt.
However from Agadir you could take a cab to Essaouira (which I strongly suggest you do). A day is enough to see what's there since it's a small town.
In June you might be there to catch the Gnaoua Music Festival. It's a beach party with a difference and well worth seeing.
Mobile Chicane said:
dillenger said:
Me and the wife booked into Marrakech at the end of March still unsure about it but totally looking forward to it, we are both pretty easy going and laid back all I ask is a bit of sun on my old bones and some half decent food. So if any recommendations for good food should come my way I would be very grateful. Again with sightseeing any must do or any avoid at all cost. Never having been to a country which has a closed currency I hope I can tip in pounds until I can get some changed.
Money-wise, just use the cashpoint at the airport. If using a Bureau de Change, request the smallest denominations possible. They'll try and give you 200 Dirham notes (about £18), but these can be difficult to change. Away from big cities you'll struggle to change more than 50.French-owned bank cashpoints (Credit Agricole etc) should be ok, but avoid the Moroccan ones. The 'Bank Maroc' machine in Essaioura's main square took my card but didn't dispense the money.
Hoard any coins like gold dust for tipping (it's expected everywhere). Any 'characters' you'd like to photograph will also expect money.
I am not one for sitting about for a week so intend to do as much as I can in the time we have. I do fancy a trip to a Hammam for few hours and a 4x4 trip.
We did a week in Marrakechh a couple of years ago. Rather than staying in the city, we stayed at one of the large hotel complexes just outside. It was pretty much the best of both worlds with a nice, big hotel with plenty of facilities, but the old city/square/medina just a 15 minute bus ride away.
The Djemma el Fna is a real must, especially at night. The monkeys are a bit of a depressing sight, but the rest is awesome. As mentioned, it's everyone's job there to try to relieve you of as much cash as humanly possible, but a polite "no thanks" usually does the trick.
The smell takes a bit of getting used to though, especially as you walk past the horse/carriage ranks as you enter the square.
The rest of the city feels strangely safe to walk round, much more so than your average UK/European city. You need to take precautions against pickpockets though (of which there are plenty). We tended to head out in the morning with a guide book, wander round all day seeing some of the sights and then head back to the hotel for lunch and an afternoon by the pool (mornings are better for doing stuff, it's cooler than the afternoons).
As for things to do away from the city... we took a trip out to the Cascades d'Ozoude (sp?) and Imi Ifri.
The former is a set of waterfalls which are really impressive, and you can take a raft trip out at the bottom to really get in amongst the spray. There are also wild Macaques living in the forest there who were very entertaining to watch.
The latter is a huge archway/bridge carved out of the land by a river which you can walk down to, through, and back up the other side. We teamed up with another couple and did both in a day with a taxi driver that the hotel recommended rather than the operators trip. It was considerably cheaper that way (I think it was about £20 each, rather than £50!).
The Djemma el Fna is a real must, especially at night. The monkeys are a bit of a depressing sight, but the rest is awesome. As mentioned, it's everyone's job there to try to relieve you of as much cash as humanly possible, but a polite "no thanks" usually does the trick.
The smell takes a bit of getting used to though, especially as you walk past the horse/carriage ranks as you enter the square.
The rest of the city feels strangely safe to walk round, much more so than your average UK/European city. You need to take precautions against pickpockets though (of which there are plenty). We tended to head out in the morning with a guide book, wander round all day seeing some of the sights and then head back to the hotel for lunch and an afternoon by the pool (mornings are better for doing stuff, it's cooler than the afternoons).
As for things to do away from the city... we took a trip out to the Cascades d'Ozoude (sp?) and Imi Ifri.
The former is a set of waterfalls which are really impressive, and you can take a raft trip out at the bottom to really get in amongst the spray. There are also wild Macaques living in the forest there who were very entertaining to watch.
The latter is a huge archway/bridge carved out of the land by a river which you can walk down to, through, and back up the other side. We teamed up with another couple and did both in a day with a taxi driver that the hotel recommended rather than the operators trip. It was considerably cheaper that way (I think it was about £20 each, rather than £50!).
We stayed here in Mksh for a week - http://www.riadbamaga.com/en/riad-bamaga-marrakech
Run by a french couple who were lovely along with their team of staff. Proper place to stay if you want authentic which we did. There are some fantastic and reasonable restaurants near by and its also close to the madness of the square.
They have a decent golf course too if thats your thing altho its pretty expensive and you have to have a caddy who again you pay for.
Stayed in Agadir too, wouldnt go back there.
Run by a french couple who were lovely along with their team of staff. Proper place to stay if you want authentic which we did. There are some fantastic and reasonable restaurants near by and its also close to the madness of the square.
They have a decent golf course too if thats your thing altho its pretty expensive and you have to have a caddy who again you pay for.
Stayed in Agadir too, wouldnt go back there.
You'll love it.
We are doing so at the moment. All advice typed to date has been spot on - particularly Mobile Chicane's comments. It's cleaner and safer than London and the hassle is enjoyable (in a perverse way ... unfortunately we seem to be getting less of it the longer we stay; I guess we look like we know what we are doing, and hence are less likely to fall for their sales pitches.)
Oli.
We are doing so at the moment. All advice typed to date has been spot on - particularly Mobile Chicane's comments. It's cleaner and safer than London and the hassle is enjoyable (in a perverse way ... unfortunately we seem to be getting less of it the longer we stay; I guess we look like we know what we are doing, and hence are less likely to fall for their sales pitches.)
Oli.
Typed from Riad Africa in the Medina in Marrakech,
We got back from Marrakech last Tuesday after having a long weekend in a riad there - www.dar-hanane.com - owned by an English chap and run by a lovely French Canadian lady - there are four riads in their little organisation - very nice and five minutes walk from the Souk and museums etc.
The city was lovely - we didn't venture outside as only there for 4 days. Watch out for the little boys who offer to take you places - they will get you lost very often and then demand money - if you get lost go into a shop and ask. We found the Moroccans incredibly friendly and open - yes they'll try and sell you things but that's half the fun in the souks - and if you say no and walk on they'll let you go.
We felt very safe wandering around - there are no pubs and bars with drunks falling out - some of the restaurants will serve wine and the riad did. Buy a guide book and visit the palaces, tombs, gardens etc - they are lovely peaceful places we found, and very interesting. If you've spent any time in Andalucia the architecture will feel very familiar.
As already said get money out at the airport, and keep coins and small denomination notes for tips.
We loved it and would visit again
The city was lovely - we didn't venture outside as only there for 4 days. Watch out for the little boys who offer to take you places - they will get you lost very often and then demand money - if you get lost go into a shop and ask. We found the Moroccans incredibly friendly and open - yes they'll try and sell you things but that's half the fun in the souks - and if you say no and walk on they'll let you go.
We felt very safe wandering around - there are no pubs and bars with drunks falling out - some of the restaurants will serve wine and the riad did. Buy a guide book and visit the palaces, tombs, gardens etc - they are lovely peaceful places we found, and very interesting. If you've spent any time in Andalucia the architecture will feel very familiar.
As already said get money out at the airport, and keep coins and small denomination notes for tips.
We loved it and would visit again
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