aurorauna

Any fodorites nedding advice on marrakech....ask away....just got back spent 4 days in marrakech

Luisah

I'll be there for three days in September, would like tips on shopping, restaurants for lunch. Also would like to know what women tourists are wearing. I have read about wearing long skirts (I prefer pants for comfort), long sleeved shirts, being covered up. What about short sleeve shirts when it's warm?

Thanks for any tips.

Matt_from_England

How about a trip report? And some photo links would be nice... Was it a budget trip or big bucks?

Matt

katt58

Here's another request for a trip report. We're thinking about a fall 2006 trip.
Thanks!

aurorauna

ok guys...you have all helped in my past trips so here goes....I stayed only in Marrakech for 4 nights... I am not too much of a touristy site seeing kind of person....so I did hire a guide Mr.Hamid...which I find out about from this forum....very nice man....but basically he was used more as a driver than a tour guide....he made plans for us to see all the sites...but we would wake up late and the sites close at 12:30...so we did see the Marjorelle gardens...Koutoubia Mosque....Menara Gardens...and Saadian tombs...he is very knowledgable....made these sights interesting because he thouroughly explained them in details....We also did a day trip to Kasbah Toubkal...that was a nice break....I decided to have lunch at Kasbah Tamadot.....Richard Bransons place....I didn't like it.....and the lunch was not good....slow service, and just not what I expected it to be.....Hamid did say that the food at the Kasbah Toubkal would be good....but I wanted to check out Kasbah Tamadot.....any ways ...I stayed at the Vills Des Orangers....which was nice...I wasn't crazy about the rooms....I wanted them to be a bit more cozy not so modern looking....the pool was nice...and the evening they had some muscians and candles lit all around the restaurant... I never had dinner there though...I liked sitting around for pre dinner drinks....the service was good I can't complain.... I did visit Riad Enija....I was considering staying there.....very atmospheric!!!! I like the lezard room....not sure if the bathroom was in the room though, also no phone or tv in rooms.. I forgot to ask....but so far they have no pool...so for me this was important....they said they plan on building one soon....Riad Mehdi I also visited to get massages...I was also considering staying there....They have the best spa/hammam in my opinion in Marrakech.....very atmospheric....great ambience....I didn't get to see the rooms, they were fully booked.....but I think next time I will be staying here....I had luch at Jardins de la Medina....this place also looked nice and had a pool...I didn't ask to see the rooms....because it was nice , had a nice pool, but had already put Riad Mehdi as my next time place to stay....lunch was good and relaxing.....Dinner I had at Dar Moja....great!!nice romantic atmosphere...ask for a table by the pool....I tried desperately to get a table at Casa Lalla....but impossible..the chef has two michelin stars....so I guess it is worth trying it out......I had lunch at Cafe de la Poste...great fun place...international cuisine....sometimes you can get tired of tagines..... Had dinner at Fondouk....great place great atmosphere.....The last night I had dinner at Bo Zin....very fun crowded trendy place with Thai food...was a nice change....went for drinks to Jad Mahal and Le Comptoir....these places both have food...went for drinks only...had a blast.........What I didn't get to do but worth a mention....having lunch at La Mamounia....or at Amanjena.....other restaurants worth mentioning but avoided because I didn't want a set menu....Tobsil and Darmanjena, and Dar Yacout.....La trattoria was closed for lunch when I went too late..but it is a nice italian restaurant...Visiting the square at night was an experience I was glad I had my guide with me...just felt safer.....will continue tomorrow

aurorauna

Continuation.....Shopping in the souks...was great fun.....After searching most of the stores for Kaftans and Jalabbas...the best selection was at La Maison du Kaftan Marocain....65 Rue sidi El yamani...in the souks....the short pudgy salesman is a blast....he speaks good english......haggle him to death ...he loves it....and you can wind up getting at least 60 or 70 % off the starting price.......For Antiques and great jewlery......Outside of the Souks....Amazonite 94 Bd.El Mansour Eddahbi, Gueliz.....Just turn all the corners in the souks....in each nook and cranny there are great places to buy all your heart desires...

Luisah

Well, it sounds like you had a good time on your four day adventure.

Thanks for the report and all the info on hotels, restaurants and shopping, It's good to have addresses.

Luisah

Hi Aurorauna,

I thought I was beyond asking questions about what to wear but am puzzled on this one.

I've read that women tourists should dress modestly and not show skin. I'm planning on wearing long pants (some loose cotton) and long-sleeved loose shirts. Then I received a booklet with a packing list from the tour company I'll be traveling with advising women to wear long skirts. I have a few problems with this advice: how do you wear a skirt without showing skin? I sure don't want to wear hosiery; it means a different style shoe, so adds to the luggage weight; and most of all, for me, long skirts are somewhat dangerous because you can easily trip on them going up stairs -- I've done it. I had a bad fall in Paris when I stepped on my long raincoat going up a rather high curb and really don't want a repeat.

So my question to you is did you notice what women tourists wore? Many in pants? Skirts?

Thank you.

jenmaroc

Luisah,

Please dont worry too much about your clothing. I've lived in Fes (much more conservative than Marrakech) for four years and have noticed that the advice given by travel guides and tour operators is rather alarmist. For example, there is absolutely no problem whatsoever with open strappy, sandals. Long skirts or trousers are perfectly acceptable. The idea is not to cover every last bit of skin, but to be modest (no low-cut, cleavage-baring tops, no short skirts or shorts). Even here in Fes, I wear knee-length skirts (with bare legs) and loose-fitting tops (not necessarily long-sleeved...t-shirts are fine).

You will see young Moroccan women wearing things that are not modest at all: tight jeans, stiletto heels, and sheer tops that hang off the shoulder or bare the midriff. Of course, you might see a girl wearing something like this walking side by side with a girl who is covered from head to toe.

Dont stress too much - be comfortable. Morocco is not as conservative as Saudi Arabia. Showing your ankles or elbows is not going to cause public outcry.

Luisah

Jenmaroc,

Thank you. I feel better now and will pack according to my original plan -- long, cool pants, no skirt. I am really looking forward to visiting Morocco and am happy not to be worrying about my wardrobe.

Thanks again.

geribrum

To Luisah: Just a word or two regarding skirts vs long pants. If you encounter a traditional 'squat' toilet, a skirt it easier to manipulate than long pants.

Have a great time!

jenmaroc

Geribrum is right on that one - skirts make the squat toilet experience much easier - just be sure to gather it all up if its full skirt (or you'll get a nasty damp surprise as you dripping hem hits the back of your leg!)

aurorauna

I wore sleeveless tops and capri pants....nobody really cared or commented.....one evening to dinner I wore a stapless minidress.....no big deal....I don't think they are that conservative in marrakech at least.....thats the only place I visited in Morocco

Luisah

Thanks for all your responses on this question. I've decided not to take a skirt. jenmaroc, I think the latter part of your sentence is more likely. The less material I have to deal with, the better.