Morocco - visit in December

The only hotel in Ouarzazate which fits the same price category you quote for Marrakesh and Fes is the Berber Palace: www.ouarzazate.com/leberberpalace As Azrou is just a small place you may not find much at all in the way of hotels there. I do not know any. Perhaps it is better to cross the mountains and look for something in Erfoud or Rissani?
In Essaouira I would recommend the riad Dar Al Bahar, which has been delightfully restored by a French/Dutch couple. But Essaouira is bleak in December - cold and windy, so wrap up well.
I would suggest that you personally contact any riads, and otherwise travelling by bus and train is straightforward. The train schedules are under www.oncf.ma This includes the sister company Supratours buses. Then there are the CTM buses: www.ctm.ma
For travelling the south, you are, however, better off contacting a local company if you are aiming for smooth and comfortable travel without waiting interminably for local transport. I have had good experience with www.desertmajesty.com

Thank you. This is helpful. You sound like you know Morocco well, yes? Have you stayed at either of the places in Fes or Morocco? We are interested in Azrou as we will be visiting people in Ifrane and didn't want to head back up to Fes after our visit with them. We will be staying with people in Tinjdad following our visit in Ifrane. From Tinjdad, we hope to take in a trip to Merzouga for an overnight and then on to Todra Gorge.

From your descriptions, you sound like we should be fine making reservations ourselves rather than using a travel agent who knows Morocco. Have you typically handled it yourself in Morocco?

Also, thank you for the info on Essouria as perhaps we omit it on this trip.

for a good riad in fez have a look at the view from fez then you can choose a nice one with a reasonnable price as well.

enjoy your in morocco .

have a nice trip .

morocco is a nice country to visit friendly people .

i love morocco friendly people the country has a different landscapes : desert - moutains - gorges - kasbahs - valleys and so.....;

hope i can come back soon.

I am going to Morocco in December as well--traveling with my family of 4. Does anyone have thoughts on renting a car to drive from Marrakech to Merzouga to Fez. Would it be foolish to brave this in the winter?

Thanks for your help!

Greetings,
Things to see in Marrakech:
The walls of Marrakech, the twelfth century. Vererlas worth the early morning or before sunset, as its ocher varies by time of day and intensity of light. Avenida de la Menara, was born in these walls, in the district of Les Deux and dies in front of the door of the Menara Gardens. The walk through the area to observe the walls and the picture is one of the best. Moreover, that particular area, near the Koutoubia and the Jemaa Fna
There are some doors in the walls that are worth visiting:
Bab el-Khemis, in the north, the Almoravids, and where there is a market on Thursdays. Next door is the tomb of the Seven Sewers
Bab el-Robb, in the south of the fourteenth century
Bab Agnou, rue de la Kasbah is one of the most spectacular, carved on stone in pink-tinged beige
The palaces worth visiting are:
Palais Bahia, nineteenth century
Palais el-Badi. Siglo XVI
Saadiens Tombs.
In all these palaces are paid entry.
The graves are next to saidiens Jemaa Fna and it's better go soon because many tail.
The palace is Dar el-Makhzen royal residence, so you can not visit. What is interesting is to see the gates of the wall (inputs) that surround the royal palace with beautiful decor that are called Mexuares. It's a quiet area with gardens more or less well cared for.
Majorelle Gardens and Museum of Islamic Art
Entry: 30 derham mad gardens and 15 museum
Click this thread: www.jardinmajorelle.com
Menara Gardens
Are free and the Ave de la Menara, First Avenue will see upon arrival in Marrakech as it is the typical entry aeropuerto.Los coming from the gardens bordering the airport grounds. Since the access door to the Gardens, see all Koutubia Avenue at the bottom
Aguedal Gardens, the time Almoravid
They are free.
There are 3 monuments to be visited at the same time as the admission ticket is common for the three and are together in the same square in Medina. I remember that was 60 mad.

Ban Youssef Madrasa
Marrakech Museum
Koubba Ba'Adiyn
Another museum is the Museo Di Dar Said, worth more by visiting the palace where it is located by the museum itself, if there is time.
All these visits, you can take two to three full days, depending on what they dawdle at each site and your pace so that you can get an idea of the book you need if you want to do a tour like Essaouira or the Ourika Valley, for example.
If you decide to visit Merzouga (Erfoud-Rissani, the desert of Erg Chebbi "), you'll need at least two full days and that's going very fast.or can you contacte www.moroccosahara4x4.com
There are other interesting sites to see, at the level of excursions, such as, for example:
Safi, 155 km from Marrakech and whose route is partly the same as that of Essaouira (though or you're going to one or the other, as the two on the same day is a beating). Safi is the Imperial city and has a medina interesting to see, a very important market for crafts, but is highly recommended guided tour. Nothing to do with this medina of Essaouira, because they are entirely different, although both are seaports.

Asni and Imlil. Asni is located 65 km from Marrakech and is the gateway to one of the ways of ascent of Toubkal most important. Imlil, 17km from Asni, is a mountain village at 1750 m elevation, spectacular view, a base to attack the ascent of Toubkal (or sheltering at elevation 3000) by way of Asni.
I hope you understand my Aenglish because I ama spanish.and i dont speak verry good english

You did a great job !! thanks

i agree.

nice report uru very helpful .

defenitely i will come soon .

very interesting report uru thanks for scharing that .