Morocco Planing Help - 9 nights this fall
 

OK… I’m finally sitting down to get our Morocco trip in order. My wife and I are pretty experienced travelers, but I’d love to hear your ideas on itineraries, hotels/riads, tours, etc. The trip is planned for Sept 28 though Oct 8 (so 9 nights in Morocco). Thanks in advance.

1) We are flying from EWR to Rabat (on freebie Delta Skymiles tix). It’s the redeye from EWR to CDG and then from CDG on to Rabat. The layover is just under 2 hours.
2) Given that the layover is relatively short, I figured that we’d spend our 1st night in Rabat just in case we run into flight issues.
3) We plan on taking the trains between cities (except for transit from Fes to Marrakech). Everything I’ve read about the trains seems positive. Any thoughts?
4) Nights 2 and 3 in Fes.
5) Nights 4, 5 and 6 on a tour from Fes to Marrakech. I’ve seen a few good recommendations on these types of tours. Any opinions on an itinerary or tour company? Our other option is to make this a 2 night tour and spend an additional day in either Marrakech or Fes or somewhere else. Opinions?
6) Nights 7 and 8 in Marrakech.
7) Night 9 in Rabat.
8) Our flight leaves Rabat at 1:45pm and gets into Paris at 5pm. We then have a layover until 1:35pm. Our current plan is to go into Paris, have dinner, spend the night and return to the airport, but would love your opinions.

Is there anything else we should take into account? Anything that we absolutely must see or things we should add to the itinerary?

Thanks in advance!

I'm glad you've decided to take the trains, I like them very much and have travelled all over the country that way. I don't usually use 1st class but you'll want to there. The only issue I've run into is 2nd class passengers, usually women, who like to upgrade themselves and who you may find in your reserved seats. Do hold your ground if you find yourself with this situation as they'll move on without difficulty.

Given your short trip I like the idea of covering the ground between Fes and Marrakech on a short tour so you can, presumably, see some smaller towns along the way. Another alternative I might suggest is to take the train or a short flight between the 2 cities so you'll have time to spend a night or 2 in Essaouira, my favorite place in Morocco. You can get there from Marrakech using a grand taxi or a very comfortable and much less expensive bus. I've done it both ways and will likely use the bus for future visits.

Your overnight in Paris is perfectly doable. If it were me I'd probably have dinner in town and spend the night at an airport hotel so my morning would be less rushed. But that's because I like a slow start. Staying in town is, otherwise I think, an acceptable idea.

Thanks for the info... have any favorite riads or restaurants?

Astein, I've noticed Sally Carol here before, almost always with glowing reports for this company. I don't know if she's advertising the company but I wouldn't be surprised. In any case, don't accept 1 person's word for it, get other recommendations before you book. It only makes sense.

You might also consider travelling independently for the entire trip. It's easy to do.

I tend not to stay in standard sorts of places but will share what information I do have. Where do you still need to book?

MmePerdu - I actually haven't booked anything yet... so any advice is appreciated.

We usually travel independently and self-drive (and I've driven places like South Africa and Turkey), but we've decided to try something different with the trip and do some trains/tours just as a change of pace.

Thanks for the information Sally_Carol... we'll check them out!

When you have your itinerary decided I'll dig up the names of accommodations where I've stayed in places you'll be, those not on your tour if you decide to do one. I travel independently too but did go on a tour in Morocco for the first visit and it isn't a bad idea. I treated it as reconnaisance knowing I'd likely be back and have now a number of times. I saw parts of the country less readily accessible on my own and also some I wouldn't go back to but it was a good introduction.

astein --

In Fes, we stayed at the Palais Jamais, which was an excellent hotel right outside the medina. The only downside is that the neighborhood does not have many restaurants, so you're limited to the hotel (which is quite good). I think some of the best restaurants are in riads in the medina, but it really is maze-like. You'll have to decide if you want the adventure. http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-2141...ai/index.shtml

In Marrakech we stayed at Les Jardins de la Koutubia http://www.lesjardinsdelakoutoubia.c...navigation.htm. It's quite a large place located near the great square and the mosque. It's a popular place with a good bar and the staff were very accommodating and helpful, but there's still something a little odd about it -- can't quite put my finger on it.

We had decided that riads were not our thing -- not sure if that was right. We are going back this year and we may try some. One thing we're considering is staying in the modern parts of the towns, which is where you'll find some of the better restaurants (and they will mostly have liquor licenses, not always the case in the medinas. We like wine or beer with dinner). Of course, then you'll have a longish walk or will have to take a taxi to the medinas . . .

My advice would also be to stick with the local foods. Tried a French place one night and it was pretty disappointing. Moroccan food was consistently good to excellent, if a tad repetitious.

We stayed at Villa Maroc in Essaouira. Charming place to stay in a charming town. http://www.villa-maroc.com

We stayed at La Tour Hassan in Rabat. http://latourhassan.com/index.php?Page=2 Good, bland business class hotel but the neighborhood is dead at night. Suggest you look for something around the train station.

We did a similar trip only the opposite direction - Marrakech - Desert - Fez. We did the trip from Marrakech to Fez in 3 nights - one night Ouazarzate, one night in desert in tent and one night in Merzouga. It was nice to have that extra night in Merzouga and we really enjoyed the things we did in Merzouga that day, but it could be done in 2 nights if you had to. I do think two nights in Marrakech is a bit short.

We used Blue Men of Morocco for our desert tour and were very happy. We loved our guide Zaid!!

I have to recommend actually staying in the medina rather than outside of it, especially since you will be in the cities for such a short time. You can always get a taxi to someplace for dinner, but it's great to be in the medina for exploring during the day.

We stayed at Riad Kniza in Marrakech and Riad Norma in Fez. Riad Kniza was a bit of a splurge (but worth it).

Here is a link to my trip report which also includes pictures. You may find it helpful:
http://www.fromhometoroam.com/catego...frica/morocco/

Thanks all for the information... sifting through it now and will be back with questions!

Thanks for all of the info everyone... still digesting but will be back with further questions.

Thanks for all of the help... I think we've settle on:

1 night in Rabat
2 nights in Fes
3 nights on tour from Fes to Marrakech
2 nights in Marrakech
1 night in Rabat

I'd love any recommendations that you have for hotels/riads, restaurants, shops, tourist attractions, whatever!

Thanks again for the help...

1 in Rabat yes, recommend Riad el Kalaa.
2 Nights in Fes, recommend riad Fes, riad Palais Faraj.
3 Nights from Fes to Merzouga, via the desert camel ride and desert overnight in Erg Chebbi, one night in Dades Valley, recommend Xaluca Dades Hotel, then to your riad in Marrakech.
2 Nights in Marrakech, recommend riad ksar Anika.
That's good Plan, and if you can add Essaouira to Your trip would be more wonderful trip, as you can skip Rabat overnight.
So for restaurants, in Rabat : Dar Naji.
in Fes Palais la Madina, or palais jamae.
in Marrakech, Le Tobsil, La Maison Arab, La Sultana, al Fasia.
For shopping, in Fes you can buy Leather, Ceramics, in the desert jewelery and in Marrakech Souvernires.
Places to see your guidebook has all of it very simple.

Thanks Alex! I'll look into all of your recommendations...

Good Luck .
Hope it helps.