Where to stay on Morocco
 

We are thinking of doing a group tour in Morocco. Fly into Casa Blanca to start the tour. Can anyone suggest a safe place to stay for a week or two after the tour?

I spent 3 weeks traveling around Morocco as a solo woman and felt safe EVERY where I went. You might consider choosing your destinations based on what you want to see and experience. And FWIW, I found the Moon Guide particularly useful.

I traveled in Morocco a number of times, all independently except a small group tour the first time. So altogether months there, frequently on my own & as kja says, a very safe place.

I suspect nearly all tours begin in Casablanca as that’s where the main international airport is. Many tours end in Marrakech & if that’s the case, or even if it isn’t, I’d suggest Essaouira for your last week, easy to get to from Marrakech & my favorite smaller town in Morocco. Even if the tour visits Essaouira, a week hanging out afterward would be great.

Telling us where the tour stops & what you have in mind for that last week there would help with suggestions.

Thank you for your advice! The tour starts and ends both in Casablanca. Would it be difficult to get back to Essaouirta? We may not have a rental car……or is it easy to rent a car and drive there?

Thank you for your reply! How did you travel between cities or towns? Is is easy and safe to rent cars there?

There’s a train between Casablanca & Marrakech. From there you can book a “grand taxi” (stay one night in Marrakech & your hotel will book it for you) or take a bus to Essaouira. I’ve done it both ways & recommend the bus, Supratours, very cheap & comfortable, about 3 hours either way with a comfort/snack stop at about the halfway point.

If your last stop with the tour before returning to Casablanca is Marrakech, I’d suggest just parting ways with the tour then, rather than having to backtrack. The tour ending in Casa may just be to get you back to the airport.

I’m a big fan of public transport & haven’t rented a car most places I travel, including Morocco. In Morocco I use trains, the occasional grand taxi or bus.

I didn't rent a car in Morocco, instead (like Mme Perdu) relying on public transportation. I found it easy to get around, and I liked the chance to see and interact with other travelers, including Moroccans. But FWIW, my understanding is that renting a car is easy there.

Of the places I visited, Casablanca was by far the least interesting, so I second MmePerdu's advice to leave the tour (if you decide to take one) before ending there unless you have a very good reason for continuing on.

I will admit, though, that Essaouira would not be my choice for a week unless you want beach time. If you do, it's a lovely, laid back city that attracts many European visitors, especially from France. I didn't want beach time, and while I enjoyed my time in Essaouira, I found 2 days -- actually, about 1.5 days -- more than enough for my interests. As in: I was ready to move on! (Sorry, MmePerdu!)

BTW: There's a major music festival in Essaouira each year. Plan accordingly!

I would love a week in Marrakech or, perhaps even more, a week in Fez. Again, it really depends on what YOU want to see and experience.

Yes it is easy to rent a car but probably easiest to use public transport. You could also hire a driver. It is maximum easy to travel around to anywhere you probably like to visit. Look at the desert oases also.

On hiring a car & driver, a grand taxi is essentially that, a car licensed to drive longer distances, as opposed to taxis licensed to carry passengers only within towns & cities. My experience with them has been between Marrakech & Essaouira, as mentioned, and between Fes & Chefchaouen with a stop to see the Roman site, Volubilis, along the way. I’ve never hired one for a multi-day itinerary but imagine it’s possible. They were booked for me by the hotels where I was staying in each place so that’s where I’d inquire, depending on where you decide to go & if you actually need a driver for more than point to point travel. I never found it necessary to book a grand taxi more than a day ahead.

If you hire a car and driver, make sure you have a common language.

I'd say if the hired car is simply point to point transportation a common language is less important. But, yes, if a more complex itinerary. Drivers who are hired by foreign tourists are pretty resourceful in my experience.