Top Morocco hotels
General Warning Marrakesh
20 Reviews Moroccan youths seems to make their living convincing you you're lost (even when you're not convinced you are) and then making sure you're on the right track. This routine is then followed by quite...
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Old Medina Casablanca
5 Reviews If you are a tourist, they will seek you out, follow you and try to be your guide or cut you a deal. I never knew I had so many friends! The medina is worth an afternoon of wandering if you can...
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Water Sellers / Beggars / Intrusive People Marrakesh
20 Reviews André's tips to Marrakesh: DON’T SHOW NERVOUSNESS- even if your knees are shaking. BE EASY GOING- Moroccans are outgoing people, and most of them well intentioned. Keep that in mind and you’ll see...
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Places/ Buildings to avoid Marrakesh
7 Reviews This was the restaurant in which I had my fall but that is not the reason I am suggesting that it is a tourist trap. Even if I had not been in pain during our meal here I would still have regarded it...
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Do not get lost! Marrakesh
5 Reviews If you get lost in the souks trying to find that particular cafe or one of the many sights nestled within the narrow alleyways and a friendly face offers you directions they will expect to be paid for...
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Local Traditions Marrakesh
5 Reviews On a trip out of Marrakesh to Essaouria we went through an area which is home to goats that climb trees (allegedly). A goat may well have climbed an argan tree in the past in order to eat the fruit or...
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Don't forget that extreme poverty is often closer to places you visit than you might think (look at my Rabat page). After a travel in Morocco, you may have the feeling that the country is modern, relatively wealthy and not very different from home. This is right. But as Morocco is a land of contrast extreme poverty do exist too. Do not photography extreme poverty but don't forget it exists !!Look at my page on Rabat
Don't forget that even in the most remote places, where you feel you are completely alone, you will most of the time soon have visitors, friendly but curious. It may take a few minutes, ten minutes or sometimes more but there is very little chance that you will not have a visit.
Always look at how locals are clothed (in European style of course) and clothe at the same time to be yourself and to adjust to the local practice. Don't try to dress in local clothes or for women, to wear a local scarf. You would draw much more attention that if your were clothed in a regular but decent style.
First timer often ask ''how should I clothe in Morocco ?" (especially females). As I wrote in my introduction, Morocco is a land of contrasts and even contradictions. So is the answer to that question : it depends where and it depends how you want to be considered. First of all, as everywhere else in the world, wearing a bathing suit will of course be strictly restricted to bathing areas. If you visit the main touristy places and stay in hotels for tourist only (Moroccan and foreign), you might consider that there is not really any dress code. It is true that nobody will react to your outfit, which ever it is and will say anything about it. However, the more you will show your skin (legs, arms, shoulders), the more you will be considered as a tourist. If you want to be considered as a foreign visitor who knows and respect the use of the country, you will avoid shorts, extensive cleavage,...
remember that usualy if someone offers himself to take you to a hotel or shop and sometimes even restaurants, that is normal the hotel or shop to rise the price a bit to give the guy a small commission. some times not but the majority of times yes. hear the directoins of the place you want to go and then go buy yourself. you can also ask for the menu and the price list of hotels which they have to have written on paper. (please dont associate the guy on the picture with someone bad ok? haha, just needed a pic of a moroccan from the desert. this one is in fact my friend. but we will try to do the same to you guys and get some money for living...
Eating meat fat against will in Marrakesh Spring 2003, MayI've been vegetarian for almost eleven years and I always try to explain people why I don't want to eat it. Although I know Morocco is not a must in terms of vegetarianism, I didn't really have any kind of problems when it comes to table matters. So there I was in Hotel Ali Marrakesh, one of the most well know hotels near the Jmaa ElFna Square. I asked for a vegetarian Tagine and I explained that I would like to wait for a while until they prepare one from the scratch not to have the ingredients from normal one and with that lamb fat in it. They said ok ok don't worry, don't worry. I said almost twenty time NO ANIMAL FAT! they brought it and after I ate a bit I acrually found a piece of lamb fat inside. They said my american friend Eric have put it inside for me not to pay the dish!!!! And I said I wouldn't pay for it, no way....
Arriving in Morocco for the first time Spring 2000, May, went alone and this was one of my big first trips all by myself. I got the bus from Evora to Algeciras that took about 12 hours, took the ferry boat to Tagier and got into Morocco about 10pm. As soon as I got out of the ferry station I had dozens of men picking my hand to put me into a cab to take me to the train station all saying that the last train down South was about to leave and that I should go with them fast. Ok number one: and I can say that now after some experiece, yes there's a last train to Marrakesh that leaves 10:30pm it sometimes changes due to seasons I think, they'll try to trick you to stay in Tangier. Many people say there's no more trains down South just for you to stay in Tangier. Many people I met stayed in Tangier beacause of that! Go to the train station and ask! only after you decide if you go or not. I...
There are many fake guides in the Imperial cities who for few money will drive you from a shop to another. Obviously they have a percentual on everything you buy. Also official guides often do the same, agree your tour before the beginning to avoid to do just shopping. Sometimes they tell you they are bringing you to visit some friends of them that live in a wonderful historic house, probably you are going to a carpet's shop.
Erfoud Sahara's entrance is the last city before the desert if you come from Errachidia.Erfoud is in the Tafilelt. This region used to be the most important place of departure for the cross saharan caravans. From the city of Sijilmassa, which is not far from Erfoud, they would leave for Ghana and Tombouctou. In the 14-th century the Genoans or GNAWA had an embassy here.This is the place tourist usualy are stuck and have no idea how to enter de desert or how to drive into de desert and find the dunes of Merzouga. There are hundreds of guides wondering around the town trying to find lost tourists in order to take them to their friends hotels and get some comission money about the fact of taking you there. There are many guides that are on the town and that will follow you on their bikes asking you for hotel or Merzouga. negociate with the guides if you fell you need one. the price of...
Ok... I went with the guide... Alone![ No other tourist were in the hotel.]I spent the Whole Night declining sexual advances and offers of marriage. I was still able to see the Sahara, but... It was so annoying. It came to point where I had to get ghetto with my guide. That worked.the only way to do the trip is with a guide or someone who lives in the area that you know. My friend referred me to one man, but for some reason he could not do it. He sent me to anoher guide. Unfortunately... if there is another way to go solo, then I do not know about it. the other problem is.. if a lot of people go, then, you still can't appreciate the silence and sounds of the Sahara.I would do it again, but only with one or two other friends present.Advice. as a woman.. if you go, go with at least one other person. Male or female... do not go alone. go with one person.AND do not go with a big group.
Riad Kniza Marrakesh
2 Reviews and 563 Opinions Beautifully decorated room, cozy aura, clean bathroom, delicious food and warmhearted staff. I got...
Hyatt Regency Casablanca
5 Reviews and 137 Opinions I worked very hard during the day in a office witout air conditioned. You can understand how I was...
Villa Maroc Essaouira
4 Reviews and 152 Opinions Suites #27, #29,#30 are built around an open central light well. There is no way to insulate any of...
Reviews and photos of Morocco attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Morocco sightseeing.
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Q: I am thinking travelling to Morocco with my nearly 6 yrs old Girl. We are landing in Marakesh and Plan to Array for 3 days After...
A: As you have 3 weeks the desert area is a must. A 'grand circuit' down to the desert via Ouarzazate, east to Erfoud, then north to Fez is easily done in two weeks. I'd...
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