Moderately Price Accommodation in Morocco?
Jul 10th, 1999, 11:11 AM
#1
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Moderately Price Accommodation in Morocco?
We are going to Rabat, Fez and Marrakesh in September for about a week. Does anyone know of any moderately priced accommodations in these cities? We want something like a small hotel or bed and breakfast. <BR>We are also interested in a short tour on the other side of the Atlas Mountains and wondering if anyone could recommend one or give us any information.Thanks.
Jul 11th, 1999, 12:05 PM
#2
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It's very easy to find inexpensive accomodations in Morocco, and it is easiest to just arrive at your destination in the morning and spend some time looking at them to see which offers the location, size, services, etc. you want. Except for the more expensive hotels, it is fairly easy to book your stay on the same day you arrive. <BR> <BR>For travel into the mountains, I would recommend someone that another person on this forum recommended here, and we found to be perfect: Tyouss Mohamed, Taxi Driver No. 85, Rue 3 no. 8, Hay Tarik 1--Fes,Tel: (05) 61-21-71, Fax: (05) 94-21-86. You should try to book him at least a day or two in advance, and if you are planning to stay overnight in the desert, probably a week in advance. <BR> <BR>
Jul 12th, 1999, 02:10 PM
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I agree with Jeff on hotels; Morocco is very inexpensive to visit; even three star hotels are 'budget' (especially if you are used to London/Paris hotel prices!). Some hotels are booked with 'tours', but tourism has fallen off since Desert Storm, so hotels are not at capacity. If you search the web, or get a good guidebook, you can find lots of hotels listed, all price ranges. <BR>Most DEFINITELY get a jeep driver for the Atlas Mountain adventure!! Very narrow, winding, high, no-guard-railed roads! Absolutely spectacular views (if you hire a driver, then EVERYONE can see!). We even did an overnight stay in the Sahara, trekking out on camels. We used http://www.imilchil-travel.com/ for the trek, and the driver. <BR>Don't worry about food; we ate everything in sight and didn't get sick (ok it was within reason, like we didn't eat sheep's head in the marketplace). We did drink bottled water, until the last couple of days in Marrakesh, and then we drank tap water...no problems, but I would recommend bottled water just to be on the safe side. <BR>Hire a guide in Fez through your hotel or at the tourist office to take you into the medina. It's worth the $25 to have the history, culture and art explained to you as you go along. They also take you into places you might not go yourself. Ditto in Marrakesh (the medinas are rabbit warrens, and it's less taxing on your nerves to have a guide). We loved Morocco, and will be there to ring in 2000!
Jul 19th, 1999, 06:35 AM
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Matt: skip Tangier and Casablanca; with just 10 days, there are other sites more worth your while. <BR>Fez: hire a guide at the hotel to take you into the medina. It is an unbelievable experience. <BR>Meknes: small city with great city gates. Hire a taxi and go to Volubilis, the Roman city. Wander around among the ruins without guards glaring at you. <BR>Chefchaouen: Mountain village with white buildings and blue doors (like Greek Islands). Other-worldly in the early morning as the imam calls the faithful to prayer, mixed with the soft bleating of sheep, the tinkle of their little bells, all through a gentle mountain mist. <BR>Marrakech: again, hire a guide through the hotel or the tourist office. S/he will make sure you see everything you should. The palaces, mosques, Koran school, medina. PBA: the guides will take you into at least one rug store and one souvenir shop. If not interested, just say so. <BR>Atlas Mountains: Unbelievably beautiful, scary, high, breathtaking. Hire a jeep and driver to take you up into them. <BR>Sahara Desert: on the other side of the Atlas. You can hire Berbers and their camels to take you for an overnight (or longer) trek into the desert. <BR>Don't hire guides at the train station, or off the street. The official, licensed guides are available through hotels and the tourist office. These folks go through lots of schooling, then have to pass a test to get their license. They cost about $25US for a whole day, and their focus isn't to get you into a dozen shops. <BR>Everything is very inexpensive; the food is very good and perfectly fine to eat. Their beer is very good! Do drink bottled water; we did until the last couple of days, when we drank tap water. Had NO problems, but I wouldn't want to take a chance on ruining a trip. <BR>In the north, they speak Spanish; in the southern part, they speak French. It's not France French, so they don't get all uppity if you're accent is weird. Almost all the tourist places have English-speaking help. They are anxious for Americans to visit so they are most accommodating and friendly (I think they are just naturally; the Berbers are really gentle people). Notice all the different types of people: Tuaregs are very tall and regal, dark skinned, equiline noses. Berbers are smaller, light skinned; soft, curly black hair, hazel eyes. You will see Negroid peoples, Caucasians, people who look like Samoans! Though a Moslem country, it is a fairly liberal country, many of the women in western dress. Just be aware of the Moslem culture, and act accordingly. <BR> <BR>Wear sunblock and a hat...
