Marrakesh Travel Forum

My husband and i are finally visiting Marrakech in March, i have wanted to go for years and i am so excited! I have been reading lots of travellers reviews on accommodation and now find myself confused on where to stay that is inexpensive and traditional. We are both sociable and not into fancy luxury accommodation so i thought about hostels so we would meet like minded people to enjoy a drink and chat with but the reviews are awful regarding safety and cleanliness. Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Many thanks Paula and Jim.
The other thing we thought of is booking somewhere for first night then finding somewhere - is that recommended with it being the school easter hols??

Of course I don't know what is inexpensive for you.
But I can highly recommend Hotel Sherazade (as a matter of fact a riad). Very clean and with friendly and helpful staff. Close to the central square Jemaa el Fna. For us a real ‘thousand and one night feeling’.
They do have several different rooms with different rates.
See for more info: http://members.virtualtourist.com/vt/tfr/1/20372e/3/1b9fd6/

happy travels
Jaap

Hi! Welcome to VT! My personal recommendation would be to look in the Gueliz area of Marrakech - this is the 'French Quarter' Hotels tend to be heated- for colder weather - as it might be in March at night, and air con / swimming pools for the hot months. There are plenty of good restaurants, cafes and bars -(It's sometimes a bit difficult finding bars / hotels serving alcohol in the medina area) Gueliz is handy for walking/ taxi or bus into Djemma el Fnaa etc.

I've stayed at the Hotel Oudaya 3* and The Moroccan House, both in Gueliz.

Oudaya was included in a package by Panorama holidays, which I enjoyed staying at.

The Moroccan House I really liked - traditional Moroccan style, with buffet breakfast, hammam and beauty treatments, and it was a bargain - I paid a total of £67 for 3 nights single room, breakfast included!

Please check my Marrakech hotels and Accommodation tips for more info and photos of these and other places I've stayed in Marrakech. Also check other VTers tips for more info.

Please feel free to contact me for further info.
Happy Travelling,
Sue x

HI! Paula:

I tried 2 Riads while I was in Marrakesh and some of them can be quite economical and yet fun.

Booked them off hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com.....BTW

Both are in the Medina...meaning you are close to where all the actions are.

The first is Douarskoll Guesthouse (http://www.douarskoll.ma). Lovely place but the challenge is finding it as it is tucked very deep into the inner alleys. But if you love mazes and relish a good challenge, the hunt for it is quite worth it.

The other is Casa Le Sol. New and clean but it's a tad impersonal. There are no locks on the doors of each room but the place is quite well guarded. Pretty no frills but the owners are quite friendly. Location is much better, off the first side road into a dead end alley so it's quite easy to locate.

The "Sherazade" comes quite highly recommended by a few people on VT. My personal favourite is the "Jnane Mogador" about 300 metres from the place "Djemaa El Fnaa", cost is around $35 per night. May be full up by now though if you're going in March.

We stayed in Riad des Oliviers. http://www.riadlesoliviers.com/
It's located near the Bahia Palace in a quiet street (no cars can access the street ). Service was excellent and the riad is authentic.Chek out the prictures on their website.

Hi,

I would suggest a very nice guest house in the palmeraie area 15 minutes drive from the old medina.
Their rate is quite reasonable,very clean hotel and they can offer a free airport transfer.For more details on this ,please feel free to email me:
rachid_qotaibah2002@yahoo.fr

Good luck,
Rachid

We,my wife and i have just returned this last week from a 7 day trip using the overnight train from Tangers to Marrakesh.
Basically there are two ways you can do it,you stay in the air conditioned hotels outside the city walls watch belly dancing, sit by the pool and eat a kebeb from the buffet,or you stay in the Kasbah in a Riad.
If want to really experience poverty,extremely poor living conditions and how to live your life with a smile on your face despite having nothing choose the latter.If you choose the luxury hotel ,you aint been to Morocco you have been to a hotle in Morocco.
We stayed in Riad Albizzia in the Kasbah just a minute from the Saadian Tombs (dont bother) absolutely lovely ,room,hosts,other guests.you can even eat there.Well recommended.But be prepared this is real not ,joke ,Marrakesh,when we arrived i likened it to a scene from the Life Of Brian,almost biblical.
2 days is more than enough in Marrakesh,your clutching at straws to find much more to do after you have wandered around ,been to the Souks and Jemma El fna.
I would not recommend booking then looking some of the Riads are almost impossible to find with directions. Plaese contact if you require any more info.Have a nice trip ???

Hi members,
I agree sure with xuessium
Douarskoll (www.douarskoll.ma)is one of the main good hostels here in Marrakesh,
just by having a look on the reviews on www.hostelworld.com, you not be disapointed once there.
http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/DouarskollGuesthouse-Marrakech-11067/reviews/
Regards to you all