Marrakesh

[elguiri]

Looking at BA holidays site (with view to get bronze after this), they seem to only have one property centrally. Ksar Kasbah & Spa (which has mixed reviews). Does it compare well with your stays (location, rooms), or better to choose a different one not on BAH site?

[cin3]

Aston100 wrote:

First of all, your visit will most probably overlap with Ramadan which may effect the experience a little bit if you venture out and about.
Secondly, I just don’t get why anyone would go to countries that are rich with culture and outdoor experiences and yet decide to sit in a luxury resort or similar.
Not saying you specifically Masaccio, but your post reminds me of people who go half way across the world to sit in an expensive all inclusive resort in a country with so much to see and do outside the resort.

Would suggest you stay in a Riad in the medina, for the experience. Even if it is for just half of your stay, before moving out to a full service hotel in Hivernage or Gueliz.
If you consider authentic Riads to be ‘really pokey’ then perhaps the real Marrakech isn’t for you.

Couldn’t agree more with all of this. It’s like going to Mexico or Costa Rica and staying in an all inclusive.

[can2]

I’m not sure about the “sitting in a resort” criticism.

I don’t think, for one, Marrakesh deserves more than 2-3 days, and if you don’t feel like changing cities every three days, and want to spend a week in Marrakesh, what would be wrong to stay in a resort?
I am not a big souk fan, it is all tourist traps..

Slow travel is okay, too.

[Gavin454]

Bumping with a Marrakesh question rather than making a new thread.

I’m planning on doing a 5-day self organised cycle tour from Marrakesh next month with a friend, with just the final night actually in Marrakesh. We are hoping to find accomodation in Marrakesh that 1) has enough room for our bicycles and 2) will be OK with us leaving our bike bags there 5 nights in advance of our stay while we are on our tour.

We’ll have to ask them about point 2 of course, but does anyone have any potential recommendations for somewhere easily accessible by bicycle and would have enough space?

Also, any advice from anyone who’s been cycling in Morocco is very welcome!

[Annie]

Also jumping on this thread as looking for a recommendation for a Riad . I’ve checked all the places mentioned above and most not available for our dates, over new year.
Any other suggestions please ?

I also want 3 days in the Atlas Mountains, we will hire a car. Any suggestions for that too?
Thanks in advance.

[meta]

Dar One was really great for me in terms of food and the knowledgeable staff. They are on Mr & Mrs Smith and might be bookable with Hyatt.

[Aston100]

There are soooo many Riads.
Most are much of a muchness. Use Trivago or similar and filter down as you see fit.
I suppose there are a few that charge triple or more and cater for people who like to pay over the odds because they think it makes for a better experience or something.
For most normal people, part of the experience of a first time visit is to stay in a generic Riad (‘pokey’ as described by the OP a couple of years ago) in the heart of the medina and walk around.
Expect to get lost, expect to get scammed and expect to nearly get run over by idiots on scooters – many times.
Sounds crap, and sometimes even I get pissed off, but I do find myself returning now and again for some reason.

[TGLoyalty]

Have to say it’s a great city where you can explore the “pokey” side, enjoy the many road rooftops and also venture out for some great meals at more upmarket establishments with great entertainment.

It’s a city I’d see myself returning to more over the years.

[Phloxy55]

Agree that any well-reviewed Riad is likely to be good, but for what it’s worth my wife and I staid at Riad Alili in early 2020 and had a wonderful time. Service and food were consistently fantastic. You’d need to wheel your bike into the medina but from memory it was only a 5 minute walk to non-cobbled roads.

[BP]

There’s loads of great riads to stay.

Dar One was excellent. In particular the Chicken, Lemon and Olive tagine was memorable. The room with the rooftop seating was great.

Riad Cocooon. This was a nice place but maybe not as nice as Dar One.

Riad Nashira. This was the nicest of the lot with a great Spa, Indoor Pool and bigger rooms.

[AndyGWP]

Hi folks. Few quick questions. Appreciate some of these will be subjective…

1. Worth using any taxi apps whilst there? Any recommendations?
2. I’ve read it’s a closed currency. Is cash necessary? Or is everything card?
3. Any eSIM recommendations for a service that you’ve used in Marrakesh?
4. Any scams to stay alert for?
5. Any recommendations for guide services?

[Aston100]

AndyGWP wrote:

Hi folks. Few quick questions. Appreciate some of these will be subjective…

1. Worth using any taxi apps whilst there? Any recommendations?
2. I’ve read it’s a closed currency. Is cash necessary? Or is everything card?
3. Any eSIM recommendations for a service that you’ve used in Marrakesh?
4. Any scams to stay alert for?
5. Any recommendations for guide services?

Don’t bother with apps. Taxis are cheap and are meant to use the meter but they won’t for tourists. For a short journey, pay no more than 30 and you’ll have to haggle. To the airport, no more than 90 maximum. Always cash.

Cash is king, but many places accept card nowadays.
Withdraw cash from ATMs at the post office (there’s one next to the Jemma el Fnaa square) where is fee free. There’s also an ATM in the departures hall that doesn’t charge, can’t remember the bank name but it’s towards the far side as you walk in, next to a luggage wrapping service provider. You can go into departures once you’ve got your luggage – it’s straight across but may need to tell that to security who will be trying to direct you out of the airport.

Airalo works fine. The local physical Sims were problematic and everyone is trying to upsell you and possibly overcharge. Just get an airalo SIM for simplicity. Won’t be the cheapest though.

As far as scams, just assume that anyone that approaches you is trying to benefit from you in some way. With that mindset, you’ll be fine.
If you ask anyone for any information when in the Medina, expect them to ask you for money “café? café?” You can safely ignore them.
You will likely be approached by seemingly friendly locals telling you that the route to your intended destination is closed and to follow them. Don’t do this.
Crimes against tourists are generally of the scamming and pick pocket type. Violence against tourists is very very unlikely. The police will absolutely kick the crap out of anyone that attacks tourists.
So don’t be intimidated by the hordes of people that approach you or shout. Just ignore them. Don’t even bother to say no. Don’t engage in conversation unless you are actually in need of something

Watch out for scooters in the Medina. These menaces are everywhere and there is risk of a collision.

In regards to tour guides. I will supply you with details of one that I used. Contact him to get an idea of prices. Haggle hard. Go to fifty percent of whatever he tells you and then go elsewhere for another quote for comparison. This guy is fine but you need to get him to repeat exactly what you’d agreed to.
Yousaf +212 660-696660 Use WhatsApp to contact him and remember he isn’t my friend, but someone who I have had positive experiences with for tours – I would still be cautious about prices and arrangements and double check everything – this isn’t unique to this one guy, they’re all slightly dodgy over there.

Basically, there are a lot of chancers and hustlers over there, particularly in the Medina. This is the first place I’ve come to in the world where despite agreeing to a price and shaking hands over it, there’s a reasonable chance they’ll try and overcharge you or pretend you’d agreed to some other itinerary.
It’s tiring honestly.
However, overall well worth visiting.

Remember, everyone who approaches you is likely to be looking to profit from you.

[Jill Kinkell]

We had an Airalo e sim which worked well.
Booked a couple of trips via ‘get your guide’ both excellent.
Basically, just be sensible

[Amy C]

I used the ‘indrive’ app in Marrakech two weeks ago and it worked well but you still pay cash.
Airalo is fine, I’ve been 4x and the arrivals hall atm only ever worked on the first occasion.

[Aston100]

Amy C wrote:

I used the ‘indrive’ app in Marrakech two weeks ago and it worked well but you still pay cash.
Airalo is fine, I’ve been 4x and the arrivals hall atm only ever worked on the first occasion.

Departures is where I found the fee free ATM.
The three in arrivals all charge an admin fee

[BP]

Watch out for pick-pockets! A small boy was trying to open my wife’s bag and got a swift boot up the arse!

[AndyGWP]

Thanks all – appreciated 🙂