go to a luxury bath/spa best thing about it. £30 for a day of nice massages and a dman good exfoliation. A day trip to the mountains is fun as well. Food is OK but overrated, and guarenteed to give you the squits - I went on my honeymoon and shat my pants - not my most romantic gesture
First day is the worse....it gets better, once the hasslers are used to seeing your face they let you roam around without to much hassle....fact is that 96% of visitors say they would never go back (Lonely Planet), that said many come from Agadir for a day trip and get nothing but hassle. We spent 3 weeks back-packing in Morroco in the early 90's, thought it was an amazing country.
go to a luxury bath/spa best thing about it. £30 for a day of nice massages and a dman good exfoliation. A day trip to the mountains is fun as well. Food is OK but overrated, and guarenteed to give you the squits - I went on my honeymoon and shat my pants - not my most romantic gesture
Agree re food, best food you will get is at a locals home.
If you want moorish culture, architecture, food, tearooms and blistering heat, go to Granada in Spain. You also get rioja and free tapas. Best. City. Ever.
If you want moorish culture, architecture, food, tearooms and blistering heat, go to Granada in Spain. You also get rioja and free tapas. Best. City. Ever.
If you want moorish culture, architecture, food, tearooms and blistering heat, go to Granada in Spain. You also get rioja and free tapas. Best. City. Ever.
Can't argue with that, free tapas is superb there (better then Seville)....also loved it up at the Alhambra (the Alhambra lager wern't to bad either).
Went to Morrocco two years ago nothing but people hassling us and kids trying to rob us, ended up just telling everyone who come up to me to Fu@k off! Will never go back.
If you want moorish culture, architecture, food, tearooms and blistering heat, go to Granada in Spain. You also get rioja and free tapas. Best. City. Ever.
Almost. Cordoba's better )
Ha! More acurately then "Best.City.I've.Been.to". Having said that Buenos Aires is cool (and Cordoba Argentina!). Particularly after their economy had collapsed and two massive fillet steaks and a bottle of Malbec came to about £5. Enough thread jacking!
Yes, Marrakech is OK, but not that great. We spent a few days in Essaouira which was nicer, so look to taking a trip there if you're fed up.
I do remember seeing some kids playing football though. I told one he was Talal El Karkouri, and all his mates fell about laughing whilst he looked crestfalled. whoops!
Make sure you've got a nice Riad to stay in, don't overdo it - go out for an hour, come back and chill, etc, be "deaf" and don't forget to smile. It can be a bit much though.
I'm my Riad the waiters love El Khakouri. One told me Marrakesh FC had fallen on hard times and were now in the second division. I told him to f#ck off and serve someone else piss taker.
Although I am getting out early, our Riad, Palais Sebban , is superb and if anyone visits would recommend highly. Great staff and a beautiful oasis. Might have made a go of it had we not bumped into a man squatting and doing his business outside in the street. Having been hassled for hours this didn't go down well with the wife who decided that this was the final straw.
Went there last year with the girlfriend and had a really good time. We stayed in a riad in the souk and, after getting used to people trying to get money off us in return for directions we didn't need, it was fine. Walking around the old town at night seemed fine, however I'm sure trouble can be found if it's looked for!
If you're staying in or near the souk I'd say a compass - none of the maps of the place seem to be complete or particularly accurate.
I heartily recommend Cafe Clock (224 Derb Chtouka) near the kasbah - it's a cafe / bar in an old school and sells Moroccan and western dishes. The camel burgers and milkshakes (date or almond flavour) were excellent.
Cafe Arabe is a rooftop bar in the souk - great for watching the sunset with a few drinks.
Le Jardin restaurant, also in the souk, is good too.
Most locals seemed to be wearing football shirts (mainly Barcelona). I sorely regret not taking an El Karkouri era home shirt, just to see if anyone would've said anything!
Going out to Marrakesh at the end of July. Anybody got anymore advice on what you can wear outside of the hotels? And what it is like at night?
Cheers
I went last year, wasn't overly impressed with the place tbf, however I'm glad I went. Do a quad bike tour into the desert, we went on a half day trip and absolutely loved it. I got the photo holding the snake with the cobra reared up next to me, but they rip you off price wise.
Night life is in the 'new' city. outside of the old town you'll find that there is some serious money. We started at the casino, and asked the croupier for the night clubs. The club he recommended was amazing. One of the best clubs I've ever been in, and I've been clubbing around the world. They have an amazing light and sound system, and the ceiling is covered with gold helium balloons. They also have stage shows, characters on stilts cruising around the club, full glamour venue. Again, very steep drink prices but well worth a night out.
There is a restaurant/bar place with belly dancers which was cool, the place has a big staircase up to 2nd floor bar, with a younger patronage.
Next to the nightclub was a good bar, club opens at midnight so you drink in the 'warm up' venue.
I'm sorry I cant remember the names of the clubs and bars, I'll ask the mate i travelled with to see if he remembers.
Going out to Marrakesh at the end of July. Anybody got anymore advice on what you can wear outside of the hotels? And what it is like at night?
Cheers
I went last year, wasn't overly impressed with the place tbf, however I'm glad I went. Do a quad bike tour into the desert, we went on a half day trip and absolutely loved it. I got the photo holding the snake with the cobra reared up next to me, but they rip you off price wise.
Night life is in the 'new' city. outside of the old town you'll find that there is some serious money. We started at the casino, and asked the croupier for the night clubs. The club he recommended was amazing. One of the best clubs I've ever been in, and I've been clubbing around the world. They have an amazing light and sound system, and the ceiling is covered with gold helium balloons. They also have stage shows, characters on stilts cruising around the club, full glamour venue. Again, very steep drink prices but well worth a night out.
There is a restaurant/bar place with belly dancers which was cool, the place has a big staircase up to 2nd floor bar, with a younger patronage.
Next to the nightclub was a good bar, club opens at midnight so you drink in the 'warm up' venue.
I'm sorry I cant remember the names of the clubs and bars, I'll ask the mate i travelled with to see if he remembers.
I went earlier this year but didn't enjoy it too much. I guess I have done my fair share of markets in Asia over the years and this was just worse. You daren't look at anything in the market because you are descended upon by someone who wants to talk money with seconds. Medina really is amaze; you really do need a 'walking taxi' (guide), otherwise you are likely to get very lost, especially at night. I found the food pretty ordinary with restaurants either poor, over-priced or both. The trip to the Atlas Mountains was pretty good, although that ended in an argument as our guide tried to claim that the price for his services were per person after he had taken us on a short hike. I won't be going there again. Two nights would have been enough.
Comments
Ps went to sh@tadir
Yes, Marrakech is OK, but not that great. We spent a few days in Essaouira which was nicer, so look to taking a trip there if you're fed up.
The best bit for me was inside the palatial riad where we stayed and having meals on the roof.
Outside it was another story. Apart from aggressive hasslers my main memory is the smell of piss on baking hot pavements
Cheers
Went about 4 years ago, loved it and thought the Djemma el-fna (... the main square) was, at night one of the most amazing places I've been.
The downside was that girlfriend was determined to walk around with her shoulders showing and holding hands. Not ideal.
Saying that we went to a club - and the girls weren't wearing much in there, cover up by day, but not by night.
Dirty place, food rotten even in a good hotel
And my mate shat himself in the souk
If you're staying in or near the souk I'd say a compass - none of the maps of the place seem to be complete or particularly accurate.
I heartily recommend Cafe Clock (224 Derb Chtouka) near the kasbah - it's a cafe / bar in an old school and sells Moroccan and western dishes. The camel burgers and milkshakes (date or almond flavour) were excellent.
Cafe Arabe is a rooftop bar in the souk - great for watching the sunset with a few drinks.
Le Jardin restaurant, also in the souk, is good too.
Most locals seemed to be wearing football shirts (mainly Barcelona). I sorely regret not taking an El Karkouri era home shirt, just to see if anyone would've said anything!
Night life is in the 'new' city. outside of the old town you'll find that there is some serious money. We started at the casino, and asked the croupier for the night clubs. The club he recommended was amazing. One of the best clubs I've ever been in, and I've been clubbing around the world. They have an amazing light and sound system, and the ceiling is covered with gold helium balloons. They also have stage shows, characters on stilts cruising around the club, full glamour venue. Again, very steep drink prices but well worth a night out.
There is a restaurant/bar place with belly dancers which was cool, the place has a big staircase up to 2nd floor bar, with a younger patronage.
Next to the nightclub was a good bar, club opens at midnight so you drink in the 'warm up' venue.
I'm sorry I cant remember the names of the clubs and bars, I'll ask the mate i travelled with to see if he remembers.