Related Marrakesh Favorites Tips

Favorite thing: This rant from Benny is not specifically confined to Marrakesh, in fact it was a technique I used when exploring the Taourirt Kasbah, home of the late Pasha Glaoui, in Ouarzazate......

I had already done my homework, by reading up the relevant history in various guidebooks, and knew all about it, so I boldly approached the main entrance gate, where I observed, from a distance, the usual plethora of guides, dressed in white Djelabas, loitering and waiting for their next "capture".......

I extracted my video camera from my satchel, and made the necessary adjustments for range, volume etc...switched it on to red monitor filming and as I passed the guide assembly, one young guide, obviously the "debutant/protege" of the older ones made his move towards me with his prepared speech in English, offering the tour of the Kasbah, including all the highlights, Harem, gardien eunochs' quarters etc..etc...

I went into action, first by pointing the working video camera at him, with the reply... "La shukran shareef, ana whoosneesh geed"......( no thanks mister, I don't need a guide), this had the desired effect of confounding him, and suddenly when he realised the camera's red monitor light was working and pointing at him, he quickly turned his face away to one side to avoid being identified, the other older guides just seemed to melt away into the shadows, and I was now in hustler-free mode to continue with my personal investigations of this fascinating old, but recently restored Kasbah, without the annoying distraction of a guide, pursuing his own monetary agenda, with all sorts of extra "menu" charges accumulating to the original "fixed price".

After a pleasant afternoon exploring the Kasbah on my own, I made my way back out of the main gate, with the video camera making its identifying sweep of the guides, who again just seemed to magically become invisible, many Moroccans just don't like to be filmed, don't they want to become famous movie stars?

To answer the question in (2), the most important site I would take someone to in Marrakesh, is the Gare Routiere, at Bab Doukkala and persuade them to buy a bus ticket to either Casablanca or Essaouira!

Benny.

Fondest memory: I can't think of anything, maybe my brain has gone into self-preservation mode and deleted all the "bad vibes"........

Favorite thing: Hi most of us here in the forums answering questions also have our own travel pages with tips and pics and info on various locations that we have been to - Id recommend not wasting that opportunity to have a read around and get ideas and good preparation that way.

Also have a read back through the forum posts here for previous answers and info given here.

It can be nice to have a guide and go see things guided and get more info that connects that way but guide books such as the DK eyewitness have lots of info and small walking maps - I also like the Footprints guidebook and Lonely Planet for Morocco as they are designed to help people be independent and get the most out of their travels without necessarily needing tours.

There is a hop on hop off bus which can have the advantage of helping you get your bearings around the city before setting off on your own. many places are within walking distance and petite taxis - the little beige taxis you see running around - are only about 15 dirham a trip.
The Marjorelle gardens and Menara gardens and the Palmeraie are all further away from the centre but all very worth a visit and easy to get to by walking for about half an hour, taxi or caleche...or hop on hop off bus.

A caleche trip, ie horse and carriage, around the ramparts and out to the Marjorelle or Menara gardens is what Id recommend rather than having a tour to do them but its true Marrakech is a mixed bag - lots of hassle and area to get around and a few tricky streets trying to find places which having a guide can be a bonus.....especially when for the souks that can be a real rabbit warren but they will take you to shops and encourage you to buy so they get commission. and a lot of guides and carpet shop workers dont have a clue about for example what a good carpet or what good leather is - theres a lot of textiles from India for sale there too now.

A lot of the fun and great memories are of following maps and guidebooks and making your own way around - and the people that you meant enroute that meeting on your own can enable a whole different experience to when you are accompanied.

Excellent and artistically Moorish designed palaces and sites such as the Musee de Marrakech, Palais el Badi, Bahia Palace, Dar Si Said and Saadian tombs are all places being on your own can be a nice advantage if you like to take your time taking photos and absorbing the atmosphere and history....

Nights out for example to Chez Ali can be a good choice if you are on your own - if you book a ticket where you are staying they can arrange bus pick up as part of the ticket and bring you back again at the end of the evening - its out in the Menara gardens and is a night of entertainment with a 3 or 4 course meal Moroccan banquet style of typical dishes along with a variety of Berber tribes from around Marrakech and Morocco to show variety in music and costumes worn along with historically famed fast horseriding by men on horseback shooting rifles....costs about 350 dirham and quite good value.

And true you can easily go to lovely Essaouira, a portugeuse fortress town providing a large percentage of Moroccos fish and seafood, beside the sea, on your own and enjoy your own walk around the sights. takes a while to get there though if going by public bus. try to go by CTM/Supratours about 3 hours or grande taxi about 2 to 2 and a half hours (buy the front 2 seats) or if by tour then it will hopefully be by their faster vehicle.

all the best.
shame you have limited yourself by prebookng your accommodation...a night in Essaouira is nice, or a night in Telouet or Ait Benhaddou...

Favorite thing: The medina (the word is simply Arabic for 'city', but is generally used to describe the old part of any town) can seem impossibly labyrinthine to a first-time visitor. If you are staying in the medina being able to find your way back to your hotel is probably a daunting prospect, particicularly if you have been led there rather than finding it by wandering aound and knocking on doors.

The medina isn't that big, so you won't be more than ten minutes away from Djemma el Fnaa wherever you are. I' d advise taking very good back-bearings the first time you venture out, and the easiest way is probably to take a lot of pics on a digital camera at every junction you pass. And get a card from the riad or hotel with their address in Arabic (these often have small map on them as well). If the worst comes to the worst you will always be able to get a local to guide you there for a small amount of baksheesh.

Favorite thing: Never tell people you don´t know that it´s your first visit to Marrakesh.
"So madam is this your first visit to Morroco" ? My answer to that question would be : "Ohh no, I come here regular, because I have relatives living here." A little lie now and then is not bad, the hustlers will probaly leave you for another victim.

Ask at your hotel what the price should be for a taxi drive. Don´t get into the taxi, before you agreed on the price. If the driver want´s more, you pay him the amount you agreed on, before you got into the taxi, and then you just leave the taxi. Don´t bother yourself by arguing. It´s a good idea to keep smaller amounts of money for the taxi, so you can pay the exact amount.

If you want to minimize the hussle when you arrive to Marrakesh, it can be a good idea to book your guesthouse in advance, and ask them to pic you up at the aeroport. If booked from the hotel the price for a taxi would normaly be fair.

Buying Souvenir;
Buy your stuff the last days of your travell. It will give you the time to know more about the prices, and what is a fair price or not.

Use your commen sense and your instincs, if something is too good to be true it might be, but sometimes you can be surprised.

Favorite thing: Most banks and post offices will exchange hard currency, but why carry lots of money with you when you can use an ATM to withdraw for your daily needs. You will find them outside every bank, and open 24/7. OK there is a charge but you pay to exchange currency anyway. Inform you bank before you travel so that your card is not blocked because it is being used in different places.

Favorite thing: Guidebooks, and banks advise that as a restricted currency you have to wait until you get to Morocco to acquire Moroccan currency. According to information on the landing card you are given on the plane, there is no restriction on importing or exporting Moroccan currency to the amount of 1000 Dirhams, (about 100 Euros). We even bought a small amount from a currency exchange counter at Gatwick airport. Also, in Marrakech we had no problem obtaining money at cash machines with a Visa debit card. This information applies to January 2010, and if you are reading it at a much later date, I would advise you to double check this information at the time on VT Forum. And remember to advise your bank if you are using your card abroad so they don’t stop it for security reasons. They should also be able to advise if they know of any problems using their bank’s card in that country.

Favorite thing: Dirhams are only available within Morocco and import (and export) is not allowed. The country has a ‘cash culture’, so most probably one of the first things you want to do is getting some Moroccan cash.

We did it both times on the airport, using an ATM. The arrival hall offers two ATM's; it was a little bit strange but one of them (Banque Populaire) didn’t accept our debit card. Using the one of BMCE Bank didn’t cause any problems. Later on we had the same problem elsewhere, so be aware to withdraw enough money in time, especially if you are planning trips into the inland, where it can be a problem to find the right ATM.
In Marrakech you will find ATM’s everywhere: as said at the airport, but also in the centre near Jemaa El Fna and in Gueliz, we even saw several ATM’s in the souks area.

We always took 2000 Dirhams out in one time, but it wasn’t (with our debit card) no problem doing this twice a day. Most time you get ‘bigger’ notes of 100 and/or 200 Dirhams. Try to get smaller notes and coins as soon as possible, because you will need it for smaller purchases, taxis, tips and for making (and paying) photo’s.

Favorite thing: The arrival and departure hall was enlarged and now is a modern light and spacious building. The airport is just a couple of km’s from the medina.

Arrival
- After disembarking from the plane everybody has to fill in a form in the arrival hall with personal and travel information. You can imagine what happens if four planes are arriving more or less at the same time (as we had). During our second visit we became our form already in the plane.
- Control of your form and passport; you get a stamp and a number in your passport. This number seems to be important when checking in at your hotel.
- You have to pick up your luggage.
- After customs you enter a huge hall with two 'banks', offering an ATM and a ‘Bureau de Change’ for changing money into Moroccan Dirham. Here are also the desks of the car rental companies. All these desks/offices are on the right hand side of the hall.
If you are picked up by your accommodation, somebody from the hotel or a taxi driver will wait here with a sign.
- In front of the building, at the car park, are ‘petit taxis’ waiting for passengers. You can’t miss them. The ‘normal’ price for a ride to the city is about 80 - 100 Dirham.
(There is also a bus connection with the Jemaa el Fna.)

Departure
- Of course you first have to check in for your flight at one of the desks.
- Everywhere in the departure hall you will find forms, which has to be filled in (more or less with the same information as at your arrival)
- Only in the departure hall are exchange offices for changing your Moroccan money. It is no problem to change all your left-over money, because in the shops and cafés in the departure lounge you can pay with (at least) euros and a credit card.
- Next step is a customs officer, followed by the inevitable security check
- At the passport control you do need the form and get another stamp in your passport
- In the departure lounge you will find a couple of shops and two cafés, which also serve (warm) snacks.