Marrakesh Travel Forum

Hello guys,

We're traveling from the UK to Marrakesh in September - and our aim is to do a few days in Marrakesh (possibly 2), then head for a Sahara tour, before heading back for a day or so in Marrakesh.

We're looking at this tour : http://www.hostelsclub.com/act-en-478.html - there seem to be so many, so would welcome any recommendations. I like this one as it seems considerably cheaper that some others - and we are doing this on a bit of a budget.

I have already emailed a Riad that we have seen online (http://riadpuchka.com/) to see if they will hold our bags whilst we head on the tour. Does anyone know this Riad? Is it in a prime location? Should we looking for somewhere else?

We're both completely new to Morocco so want to get this completely right. Any do's / don'ts that people want to express?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Gary :)

Nope, simply a case of me being in one room - and him in the other.

And then both of us realising that we had both posted the same question on the same forum!

Apologies!

Feel free to delete HIS post ;-)

Seems decent but there are competitive prices out there.
If on a budget I'd personally recommend Riad Hotel Assia. You can't find any other quality in this price range and it beats the location of the other one. Leagues above other budget recommendations like hotel Ali which is fas outdated and much lower than the "hip" riads. Too many places are overcharging in Marrakech nowadays.

Hi Gary! Would like to help you with some info re Marrakech, Sahara tours etc, but judging by the sniper fire going on with anyone answering, I've put on my tin hat and flak jacket first! ;-0

I suppose You've looked at Exodus Travels tours - I did 'Marrakech and The Sahara' an 8 day tour in Aug/Sept 2006, which included a night in the desert/ camel ride, plus Telouet, Tighza, Essaouira, Ait Benhaddou.It was more expensive than doing alone, but it was well organised, with hotels/ restaurants etc booked ahead- cost of food included, but with free time in Marrakech and Essaouira, to do your own thing, eat where you wanted etc. (I booked this trip as I'd transferred my deposit from a trip to Iran, to one in Morocco that included things I probably wouldn't do by myself as a solo female traveller such as camping overnight in the Sahara)

I flew to Marrakech with Easyjet, spent a night in Marrakech at Riad Al Mamoune I paid $52.64 for 1 night single room with breakfast, booked through bookhostels.com, then caught the bus to Ouarzazate, where I stayed at Hotel Palmeraie. This was the place our tour started from, but I had a couple of days by myself before the tour started. I hired a driver for a day to explore the Valley of a thousand kasbahs and the Dades gorge and valley. My guide was very knowledgeable about the area - he also guides other trips too. This was probably my favourite day out during my Moroccan trip - see my Marrakech page for his details.
From Ouarzazate, you can get to Zagora, where you can arrange a trip into the desert, our trip was run by Asmaa Caravane Bivouac - their office is next to the Hotel Asmaa - You can arrange camel or 4X4 jeep trip.
After our tour, I stayed on in Marrakech for 3 nights and stayed at The Morrocan House, which I really enjoyed - 3 nights single room with breakfast for a total of £67! Swimming pool and Hammam/ beauty treatments. It's in Gueliz, so handy for seeing the sights of Marrakech, but with somewhere to cool down after the heat of Marrakech.

For cheap eating in Marrakech try the food stalls in Djemma el Fnaa or Chez Chagrouni - probably the cheapest cafe in the square for delicious tagines and Harrira soup, which comes with tasty filling flat breads.


If you want more info on these places, or tips of things to see and do, check out my Marrakech/ Ouarzazate and Zagora pages or feel free to e-mail me.

Hope this is of some help to You. Have A Great trip - Look forward to reading all about it!

z-man99 what sort of carry on are you trying to make acceptable behaviour here - I will stick up for Cabeyp as she is a longterm traveller and help for travellers to Morocco - and whats this about her intelligence? she is quite allowed to recommmend a hotel that she has not made a tip of - ive not yet heard any accusation as crazy!

If you are a frequent to the Lonely Planet thorntree forum please keep your forum poster style to that website and not here on VT.

As for the question - theres some great tips around the VT travel pages that VTers have written so Id suggest have a read around - youve got quite a bit of time if youre not travelling til September to get yourself an idea of what youd like to see and how. if you want a place with character and a low price www.jnanemogador.com is excellent value and such good value that it usually books out 2-3 months in advance so youve hopefully got time to check them out and reserve if you decide to choose them. Hotel Sherazade is also an excellent place with character and cheaper.(both places that I havent written tips on in my pages and by no less excellent places to stay at!)
Have a look at my tips too for any help.

Ive done many trips to the Sahara and around Morocco, with and without my Moroccan connections, its a great country with some excellent sights to see and easily travelled independently with a rental car.
any help with more info eg rental cars im happy to help.

a couple of tour companies that I do recommend are www.africaoverlandtours.com and www.bareminimumtravel.com

Since you are on a budget trip you try hotel farouk in the new part of the city and only a few minutes walk from the square.Their rate is very reasonable+it's a clean and the guys at the reception are quite nice and helpful.

Good luck,
Rachid_qotaibah2002@yahoo.fr

Hotel Farouk is outside of the medina walls and will not offer the buzz of the souks if that is what you are loking for

If I were in your position i will not choose a hotel in the medina,cause too much noisy!!I would prefer something in gueliz or the palmeraie where it's all quiet!!

Cheers,
Rachid

After about 11pm/midnight theres hardly any noise - the Djma Elfna empties and there are police around to check whos wanting to get back into the area - so staying in the handy centre is for personal choice - Ive got hotel tips for both in and out of the medina/centre - eg Hotel Toulousain is a great low budget hotel with character about 10 mins walk from the old centre.

theres good choice of hotels in the centre as well that are good on the budget and have good cultural experience factors as well. www.jnanemogador.com (most riads are rather expensive - or very expensive - whereas Jnane Mogador is a very good deal for what you get), hotel sherazade, hotel Gazelle.... I wouldnt bother wouldnt with Hotel Ali either - too expensive and you dont know if the room youre going to get is crap or not - a lot of them are fine and there are good views from the roof...breakfast is not much chop.

if the centres hotels are full then Hotel Foucould is a good back up as well.

Hotel Foucauld is spot on. Even if they say they are full they normally find a room somewhere. It's the tardis of hotels. ;)
location is great, 2 mins from Djema el fnaa. Not riad style though so no courtyard, but you'll be well looked after, although i wouldn't bother eating there. Too many other nice restaurants to explore.

hi Gary, just visit this website ; azul-aventuras.com ! !

I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed my vacation in Morocco. It truly was a diferent experience what with Hmad's tour. by his 4x4 you discovering different country, excursions/activities (such as concerts in Oazes between the big dunes under sweat sahara stars, it's like a nomadic life) as well as the trip to the several kasbah buildings..
hope to cantact him, and good luck
Mery