murphy17

I'm so excited-just booked a trip to Marrakech. I would like to hire a guide
to take us to the atlas mountains for a day and to tour around the city another day. We are leaving in 2 1/2 weeks.
Also, haven't booked anything yet so can use advice on hotels, restaurants, markets....
EVERYTHING. Would like an hotel (luxury) right in the center of everything, don't want to have to walk far (my mom can't).
4 women traveling ages range from 22 to 80.
thank you so much in advance for all your help.
carol

cmt

If you post an e-mail address that I can use, I'll send you the name and e-mail address of an outstanding guide who might possibly be available for a private tour. (I will not post it publicly.) He's a guide for OAT, and was the guide for my group when I visited Morocco in the fall of 2009. If he's not scheduled or committed to be on call to guide for OAT or GC or any other company during the period when you're in Morocco, maybe he'd be available, because I think he does do some some private guide assignments directly with clients. He was by far the best guide I've ever had on any trip.

However, I strongly suggest that you reconsider taking the trip at this time if you have not yet books any hotels or sketched out a tentative itinerary. But if you really want a luxury hotel in the center of Marrakech, I think Mamounia is it. (I was never inside, but briefly visited the grounds. You've probably heard of it.)

4holdings

Just came back from staying at the Mamounia. It was really
a beautiful place and although expensive, it was well worth it. We had a deluxe room which overlooked the swimming
pool. If you book through American Express/Platinum or better
you can get the same rate but they will then include the breakfast and a massage. The gardens at the hotel are beautiful to take a leisurely walk; the hotel itself is amazing with no detail spared. It's a feast to the eyes.

You say that your mom isn't able to walk much. Unfortunately, when you visit the Medina, Djemaa El-Fna and surrounding areas you have to be able to walk. The streets in the Medina are narrow and you need to watch where you step. That said, you should definitely consider having a private guide that will know where your mom can take it easy maybe while waiting for you nearby.

I can't recommend a guide since we had a driver that took us around Morocco for 14 days and that was coordinated so that
we had a guide awaiting us in both Marrakech, Fes, etc. It is probably different finding someone just for a day trip. Unless you speak French or Arabic, the English spoken is limited and that makes the idea of a guide even more desirable.

murphy17

my email address is [email protected]
thank you very much

murphy17

THANK YOU very much, I'm going to call american express in the morning.

cmt

I e-mailed you the guide's name and e-mail address.

nina88

cmt, would you please send me the guide info also? my e-mail address is [email protected]. Thank you.

cmt

Nina 88, I e-mailed his name and e-address to you.

About the guide: I don't want to mislead anyone. I have not communicated within him since the wonderful tour I took more than a year ago. I know that for much of the eyar, he is committed to working for a large tour company, so he'd only be available during periods when he is not committed to work for them. I assume that if he is hired to work as a private guide any place other than in his own home city, the clients would need to pay for his living expenses during the period when he's their guide away from his home town But, if by chance he happens to be available when you'd like to use him and you agree on the terms, you will have a very kind, intelligent, unusually helpful, wise, skillful, excellent guide. However, I don't want to mislead you into thinking that he's available as a private guide year-round.

murphy17

thank you very much for the guide's email address, unfortunately he is booked. He is going to try and get me the name of another guide.

Lynnaustin

I put a note on your other thread about a couple of places to eat.
There is an excursion that some in your party may like, I would not recommend it for your Mom.
We did a hot air balloon trip with a group called Marrakech by Air. (I know advertising is not allowed but check out their website.) All was as promised. We were picked up early and then driven in an older Land Rover for about an hour out into the dessert. There were six of us. It was amazing to see all of the people out and about. Marrakech and surrounding area just always seemed to be full of people on the move. Cars, bikes, scooters, walkers all on the same roads with what seemed like no "rules of the road".
The balloon trip lasted an hour and then we had a huge breakfast in a Berber house.
I went with my 22 year old son who is much braver than me (I do not like heights). I was pretty nervous at first but then it was just incredible. We saw the sun rise over the Atlas mountains which is something I will always remember.
On the way back into town we stop for a 20 minute camel ride. I thought that was a lot of fun, more my speed.
The ride out on the roads is bumpy and the landing bumps and you turn sideways, so not for the elderly or those with back/knee issues. Otherwise, I would go back there again just to do this.
A couple we met had done a 1/2 day cooking class. They had gone to the market with the instructor to learn about and choose spices and vegetables. Then they went to the market to choose the beef/rabbit/chicken of their choice. Some of it was "very fresh". They cooked and ate individual tagines. I don't know the name of the class they took but I do know some places offer a class in their kitchen without the market shopping. Your Mom may enjoy that.

You can also be taken around by horse and carriage.

If you are interested in any spa/hamman treatments then check out Les Bains des Marrakech. Beautiful place and reasonable.

Your hotel should be able to arrange a guide for you.

One note: whenever you change money, save your receipt. There are ATMs all over including the airport. When you leave there is an exchange booth at the airport to turn in your Moroccan money. They will not exchange it unless you have the original purchase or ATM receipt.
After you pass through airport security the shops/cafe only take euros.

rhkkmk

i would appreciate the address as well:

[email protected]

thanks

bob

cmt

Bob, I just noticed your post and e-mailed you the information.

murphy17

thank you very much for the information. I went hot air ballooning in Napa valley, california-it was great. I am going to look into it. i emailed the guide to see if he is available and i also
emailed camel safaries.
if you had a choice between telouet or essaouira which would you do???
carol

MMCC4137

cmt - can you also send me the guide infomation as well? thank you!

MMCC4137

cmt - email is [email protected]

Betts123

Just went to Morocco in Sept and we stayed in an amazing hotel in Marrakech called Villa des Orangers. It is a beautiful Relais & Chateaux hotel walking distance to the medina. A little pricey, but worth it. They have very nice pools and garden areas and it is quiet, but near everything in Marrakech. I recommend spending one night in the High Atlas mountains at the Kasbah du Toubkal near Imlil- incredible Berber village and hiking. A great side trip for the day or dinner is to a desert-like area about 45 minutes from Marrakech. It is called La Pause- no electricity, beautiful tents and adobe structures in a vast area of desert...we had a sunset camel ride and dinner in our own tent under the starts, and the driver took us back to Marrkech later that night. Great experience!

dutyfree

My family spent a two week self drive vacation in Morocco this past December. You DO not need your ATM receipts to turn in your Moroccan money at the airport. There are several exchange booths just on the other side of the car rental booths that will take your money and give you back euros,dollars or pounds.

chiara59

Hi! I'll be in marrakech end of october and would really like to have a good guide, could you send me the name that you suggested to other travellers? I understand he is not a private guide, may be he is free or give us alternative guide names. Thank you so much!!

chiara59

for cmt:[email protected]

epaulino

CMT

Pls. send me the guide's address at [email protected]