Agadir Favorites

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Favorite thing: Agadir was destroyed by a violent earthquake almost 50 years ago. We can see some ruins of the old city, but Agadir is now a modern city. Thus, it is not a great place to see traditional Morocco, only one of the best Moroccan beaches.

That's why we spent a week in the beach, and another one travelling in the "old Morocco", in a perfect combination.

Favorite thing: I flew to Agadir in February 2009 and unsurprisingly heavy rains welcomed us though some days ago it had been quite sunny and warm. Be prepared for it, though if you are not fond of heat and love walking, biking, hiking or whatever it’s the best time for it. Before my stay in Agadir I was sceptical about conditions of a hotel but it was very good. It was “Le Tivoli”. I think for those who tend to stay rather in a hotel room it’s a most convenient place. But an enormous mess because of the sudden repair in the streets scared us when we tried with my friend to reach the nearby beach. The repair was order by The King – we heard from our guide.
But the most irritable thing which I experienced in this country is the way street traders talked to me pressing to buy and offering different things though when I wanted to get some information it was impossible. What’s more, I was deceived by taxi drivers once because he got more money than we agreed before a ride.
I think the culture of contract is quite opposite what I am used to. I experienced it many times and was often upset and depressed in Agadir and while traveling to Marrakech. Another thing was the fact that we could not walk along the beaches in this direction where is the King’s palace. An armed soldier ordered us to come back to the area of hotels for foreigners and the pedestrian precinct. That was to much for me because normally I go almost everywhere on foot and love exploring cities and rural areas in this way crossing many barriers sometimes.
Another thing was the habit of drinking mineral water or anything else just because you’re thirsty. We were wandering in the streets of Marrakech and decided to buy a bottle of water or a yogurt. But the shop was connected with another one hidden and they were selling alcohol which for me couldn’t exist at all. I’ m not fond of alcohol. The appearance of white, European tourists nearby indicates they eager to buy some vodka or some beer. We were extremely thirsty and spontaneously started drink water or yogurt just outside the shop. It caused the sharp reaction of passersby who though it was alcohol beverage. Some Moroccan guy started to shout. We were scared.

Favorite thing: I could add one bit of info here and that is, with the budget you mentioned for renting an appartment, you could actually opt for a residence hotel. You will have a fully equipped apartment to yourselves and also have access to the pool you wanted. So you get the best of the two worlds. Somewhere like Hotel Residence Intourist comes to mind now, but there are many others.
Rental cars are widely available, you only need to know where the best places to rent are and how to haggle as mentioned in the previous post.
For a period of over a week or two I can get a decent car, like Renault Clio, Renault Kangoo or Peugeot Partner that even run on diesel so that means less money spent on fuel. And of course, with air-conditioning, a CD player and all other options, plus all risk insurance for 300 Dirhams a day!
As far as I know, the beach buggy can be rented for individuals but they usually rent them for like an hour or two and not a half or a whole day.
Enjoy your time in Morocco, you will have a good time this time ! :)

Favorite thing: I could add one bit of info here and that is, with the budget you mentioned for renting an appartment, you could actually opt for a residence hotel. You will have a fully equipped apartment to yourselves and also have access to the pool you wanted. So you get the best of the two worlds. Somewhere like Hotel Residence Intourist comes to mind now, but there are many others.
Rental cars are widely available, you only need to know where the best places to rent are and how to haggle as mentioned in the previous post.
For a period of over a week or two I can get a decent car, like Renault Clio, Renault Kangoo or Peugeot Partner that even run on diesel so that means less money spent on fuel. And of course, with air-conditioning, a CD player and all other options, plus all risk insurance for 300 Dirhams a day!
As far as I know, the beach buggy can be rented for individuals but they usually rent them for like an hour or two and not a half or a whole day.
Enjoy your time in Morocco, you will have a good time this time ! :)

Favorite thing: Agadir is a beach resort so it doesn't represent much of the true feeling of Morocco, so if you'd like to go around on day trips, then these places are best to visit, as they're close enough (a1 to 2 hour drive away) and are not very touristy neither are expensive: Taroudant, Tiznit, Imouzzer, Essaouira, Tafraout, Mirleft...)

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Favorite thing: After I stayed three times in a hotel in the tourist area between the Boulevard Mohammed V and the beach, it was very refreshing to book a hotel in Nouveau Tarborjt at about 15 minutes walk from the beach and about 5 minutes from most places in the citycentre.

Nouveau Tarborjt is a safe and lively area with shops, a market, shops and sidewalk café's and restaurants. There are several midrange and budget hotels, frequented by independent travellers like backpackers and overlanders and also by Moroccans. Many of the hotels and restaurants are situated around the Place Lahcen Tamri in bright blue and white colours (picture 2).

The Mohammed V mosque at the corner of the Avenue du President Kennedy and the Avenue de 29 Fevrier is an important landmark (picture 1 & 3). In Nouveau Tarborjt are wide avenues (picture 4) and cosy alleyways (picture 5).

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Favorite thing: At the northwest end of the beach of Agadir is a nice paved area along the beach, the corniche (picture 1, 2 & 3). You can have a stroll or walk here taking the shortest way to the marina and the harbour further northwest along the coast.

Along the corniche are lots of restaurants (picture 4 & 5) with terraces all with view at the ocean. It is popular place for having a drink, a snack or meal, while watching the people coming by, the beach and the ocean. From here you can see a perfect sunset. I saw in summer also a stage on the beach for music performances. On the terraces you will sit at the first rank.

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Favorite thing: When I visited Agadir in the summer of 2007 there were huge works going on reconstructing and expanding the corniche further south of the Place al Wahda (picture 5). On the beach you could have a look at the huge billboards (picture 1) to see how it will look like as the work is finished and new palmtrees are planted.

In summer 2007 you could allready walk over the rough paved area (picture 2 and 4). More south it looked like a new broad entrance from the Boulevard du 20 Aout (picture 3) will be made like the of actual one more north of the Place al Wahda.

I think it will be great to walk along this expanded corniche in the close future, with a bit of shade during the day and a marvellous view at the ocean and the sunset in the evening.