[Travel] Holidays in Morocco

[Super Steve Earle]

Went about 5 years ago. Ventured in to the main square after lunch and felt like a microwaved kitten. Avoid the hottest sunshine unless you know you can cope. Mrs Earle nearly lost her marbles in the heat!

 

[Mr Banana]

Get a taxi from the central rank to the Atlas mountains. It's pretty cheap and a cool journey. Then make your own way up. They have colourful sofas at the bottom and about halfway up a guy's made a sports bar in a kitchen - it was showing Spurs when I was there.

If you're a stadium nerd, the Stade el Harti is amazing. Kinda abandoned, but there was some sort of league game going on when I went there, and you can just wander in and around the place. Looks like how I imagine a ground unused since an 80s World Cup would look, plus classic floodlights.

Bakeries are good and cheap. Botanic gardens worth a snoop. If you want beer and don't want to have to go to a corporate hotel, supermarkets are the only option.

 

[jackanada]

Take a smart outfit (if you're a scruff like me) and wander into La Mamounia - Winston Churchills preferred hotel and hopefully not ruined by the refurbishment starting as I visited.
Fez Medina is pretty small those who are reasonably good at not getting lost won't be for long.
Hire a driver and go up into the mountains?

 

[Tokyohands]

Went about 15 years ago for 2 weeks and had a really good time. Stayed in Agadir and went to the Atlas mountains but didn't bother going to Marrakesh, couldn't be arsed as hadn't heard great things about it. Agadir was alright, the people weren't so pushy and the beach was good and a plus was getting chatting to a hotel staff member who gave me a massive lump of really good smoke for free because he didn't want me getting stitched up in town. He invited myself and my mrs to his place for a meal too, which was easily the best meal I had there.

 

[herecomesaregular]

We hired Arabian horses and rode along the beach around Essaouira as the sun went down, something nice for my sister's 40th. We combined this with a camel ride through the dunes. Booked it online before atrival but they only spoke French (still pretty remarkable for a camel).

Found the biggest change in two trips to Marrakesh was that the first in the early 90s was a case of avoiding careering bicycles in the souk and the next trip a few years ago was avoiding mopeds and the stench of petrol. It is a superb place for shopping but the difference in the two trips was in the second we found it much harder to barter as they would not reduce prices by much and hence we found it much more expensive.

A bus trip to the Atlas mountains, find your own guide and a 2 night trek is a must if you are a hiker, amazing landscape.

Found the people friendly but less so on the second trip.

 

[Skaville]

Anyone taken small people? I was thinking about taking my boys (7 and 10).

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Went to Agadir and took a day trip to Marrakech in 2011. Everywhere we went we got hassled and had to actively try to not get ripped off. Would never go back.

But.. I'm glad I went to Marrakech.

Went on an organised day trip from Agadir. That was plenty enough for me. The second you stand still, somebody is on you trying to sell you something. So keep moving when possible if you don't want to deal with the bother. Rooftop bars/restaurants are a must.

That's about it. It's a shithole, but it's pretty fascinating.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

Marrakech is a memorable experience, particularly the sounds of the call-to-prayer sounding out across the city. You can feel like a walking ATM and I haggling everything can get tiresome although some people love it. One piece of advice is that if you get lost in the Medina only ask for directions from people that are tied to a location, a stall etc. as if you ask anyone else there is a high risk they will follow you and try to act as a guide to the whole city.

 

[Official Old Man]

One piece of advice is that if you get lost in the Medina only ask for directions from people that are tied to a location, a stall etc. as if you ask anyone else there is a high risk they will follow you and try to act as a guide to the whole city.

Now why didn't I think of that. We got totally lost and there are people who stand around waiting to escort you to their shop rather than the exit.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Interesting that people liked Majorelle gardens, I thought it was a total let down and hyped up because of Yves Saint Laurent. I'm partial to a botanical garden when I go away, so expect a bit more than a selection of cacti and a fountain.

I'm interested to know what you were expecting - Kew Gardens? The pictures are all over Google images - it's only 2 1/2 acres, a short bus ride from the centre, a nice way to spend a couple of hours away from the hustle and bustle.

 

[Ding Dong !]

Anyone taken small people? I was thinking about taking my boys (7 and 10).

I've played golf in Marrakech on two separate occasions but this coming May going with the family ( girls aged 10 & 12)
Will heed advice I think for certain trips and use guides.

 

[Binney on acid]

How can you get some currency in advance of the holiday? Apparently the currency is ‘locked’. Surely you need it for the airport, taxis etc. Do they stitch you up at the airport if you change money there?

 

[maffew]

Went about 5 years ago. Ventured in to the main square after lunch and felt like a microwaved kitten.

How did it taste though?

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

There's normally a way round if you try hard enough

When I landed in Mexico many moons ago on election day they werent alllowed to serve. A few Pesos later and some decantered dos equis/corona/tequila into their finest china tea cups and saucers put paid to that

This. Or simply wait until nightfall when hotels/restaurants/bars can legally serve you alcohol.

 

[maffew]

This. Or simply wait until nightfall when hotels/restaurants/bars can legally serve you alcohol.

It was a 2 day and night lock down IIRC, but yeah theres normally a means
I had a fine bottle of brandy wrapped in a towel to keep it secure in transit as a leaving present from work. It rolled out and kersmash

 

[basque seagull]

Not an up and coming local band, but a new holiday destination for my partner and I. We plan to fly to Fez mid April, stay a few days and get the train to Marrakech, spend a few days there, then a few days in Essaouira, before returning to Marrakech for the flight home. Any tips? Must see destinations, or tourist rip offs to avoid?

I loved the Medina in Fez just walk walk walk and discover random squares
... Iiked Tangiers too.... on a train route from Fez I think...we took the train and it was a good experience....

Enviado desde mi MI 5 mediante Tapatalk

 

[knocky1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbDPccKTkN0
regards
DR

Nice camping spot. Very atmospheric.

 

[BroadwayGull]

How can you get some currency in advance of the holiday? Apparently the currency is ‘locked’. Surely you need it for the airport, taxis etc. Do they stitch you up at the airport if you change money there?

I bought my money at the airport in Marrakech. Didn't get stitched up. The more you buy, the better rate you get.

 

[nicko31]

I bought my money at the airport in Marrakech. Didn't get stitched up. The more you buy, the better rate you get.

The rate there was poor last year.

Also no more than 150 Dirams to City Centre for a taxi, they all ask for 400. There is a local taxi rank at the back of the AP car park if you get nowhere