TravelinFeet

Hello friends!

Considering about three weeks in Morocco. Was in Tangiers briefly many years ago. Have traveled elsewhere extensively, so I'm not "afraid" of going on my own, but as a woman alone, I prefer some kind of driver-car situation, even if it's city-by-city. Possibly a very small and short tour group for something specialized. A "make your own" would be great.

I speak French well, if it matters.

Given that I'm arriving mid-March I was thinking it would be better to start toward the south and move north?

Also interested in a "spend a night in a tent in the desert" kind of thing -- looking for something a more authentic than luxurious.

Would also like suggestions on authentic people/village/culture kind of thing -- I can only do so many temples or other buildings -- no belly dancing either -- but a home-stay, or tiny village somewhere, that I would enjoy.

And, of course shopping and food tips!

Looking for mid-level budget in general, tho willing to spring for a night or two that's wonderful, but not just for a fancy hotel that could be anywhere.

Many thanks!

TravelinFeet

qwovadis

sea61.com/morocco usually self guide do tours at great prices
boots on thegrounf booking on line I always pay with CC never
wiremoney manytouts scammers.

www.merzouga-tours.com/en/marrakech.html

Good personal exp in past have fun!

TravelinFeet

Thanks again Qwo!

sea61 doesn't seem to exist, at least at that web address, but I will check out the other.

I don't particularly want to be stuck with a guide the whole time, but I do want it to be "easy" -- and guides do that.

Cheers

TF

thursdaysd

You'd think someone who spent all their time posting web addresses would manage to get them right. What qv should have written was seat61.com/morocco

TravelinFeet

ROFL. I went to their website, can you tell me what is special about them?

thanks!

planetraveller

Be aware he is the same one suggesting that Tour, just post it on google and see people who used it, you will not get any news about so such tours are really scaring me, put someone here to encouraging the users to use them and get the commissions for it, i warn you, just use the Lonelyplanet threads, or the Tripadvisor forums and you will see the correct and the right aanswer for all your enquiries.
Good luck in your paths.

planetraveller

hey again,
You can travel yourself in Morocco using public transportation, Easy than Tours stuck with the guide taking you to shops, and harrassing you all the time, skip that option and take it alone you will meet other travellers wanding Morocco themselves so will be easier for you, other wise ask for advice for single woman alone in Morocco and you'll find many threads already discussed here: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...9&keywordid=35
good luck.

dogster

planetraveller - the editors have been notified several times about this particular poster - they choose not to do anything about it - and, as you'll soon see, delete any negative posts about him.

thursdaysd

dogster - maybe we should start a petition. It's getting beyond annoying. Enough that I'm thinking of finding a new site.

dogster

Me too.

There is a modus operandi, as I'm sure you've noticed. He targets new posters, almost exclusively. You can follow his progress every day by doing what he does: click on the New Posts list on each forum page. Click, every post - there he is, usually top of the list. He has recommended insuremytrip.com more that 700 times in the last twelve months. No that is not a typo - <i>seven hundred times</i>.

He never returns to a post or involves himself in ongoing discussion. He never answers a question or elaborates. Just continues to flog the same sites and offers dated, misleading information which, to a newbie, read like real suggestions.

Nothing will happen - of course, <i>these</i> posts will be deleted. His will remain.

thursdaysd

Kind of amazing that Lonely Planet's thorntree (!) booted him but Fodors won't.

dogster

They know all about it so have clearly made a conscious decision to let him continue. I guess he fits their agenda.

Let's see how long our posts last... indeed, let's see how long <i>we</i> last. In 24 hours it was be as if nothing was ever said.

planetraveller

i agree with thursdaysd, true the lonelyplanet make every suspected topic down, and kept the spammers away but this one does not, so hopefully they can stop it or we can just following them always, to criticise in every topic suspected, so we can get them back.

planetraveller

I just wonder what's the reason to let Qwovadis always posting his spams here, does not he work, does he love Morocco in his first time, one time will not let you know the reality of those tours, you can just check out if they have helpful reviews in many search engines you can find helpful info about them, otherwise use the Lonelyplanet threads and the Tripadvisor Forums to guiding you to the right and the correct one.

TravelinFeet

SO are y'all saying I can't believe a word he says, or just to do my checking myself? That particular tour group, Merzouga, has a three day tour that is just what I want to do...

Can anyone recommend a car and driver company?

I am looking to sprinkle a couple of tours in along with my own travels. But still hoping to get some basic info about what to see and what to skip...

I know I want to go to Marrakesh and Essaouira and Fes for the -- do I also want to do Casablanca? Meknes?

Many thanks!

TF

thursdaysd

Rabat rather than Casa. Meknes was OK, Volubilis a bit too ruined.

planetraveller

hey, you can check out yourself no need to another's touts, why should he suggest that, did you read something helpful about it, it could be his website only to attract you as a group of nomads guides, anyway; you can find tours and transportation companies, on the Tripadvisor, or ask through the Lonelyplanet they will guide you exactly to what will suit your travel needs, avoiding all of this mirage which will damage your trip.

Marija

It is unfortunate that the Fodor's editors don't understand or care that it is very likely that quovadis gets paid for every hit sent to a site from his posts on Fodor's.

planetraveller

he always report everyone's post when some traveller posting a helpful trip report he report it to the guidelines to remove it and they did so unfortunately so he can do his job here, to post his touts, anyway be aware from QUOVADIS, he is a spammer he is not a real traveller who gives the advice, he is only old member here and using his skills to cheat you and get commissions and work through your plans to go to Morocco, anyway; this an Alert for that Member posts and he is spreading his touts in North african Countries no only Morocco's forum so does he know well about all this countries? NO WAY.
Please if you feel that there is something suspicious in his replies use the Lonelyplanet, or Tripadvisor's forums for help to get good tips, and avoide the people who ask you to arrange your trips through yoour riad that is a big and huge mistake to do and totaly wrong wrong wrong, thos members who ask you that, they are the owners of many riads hotels in Marrakech or Fes and they arrange day trips or even tours, which means they put the travel agencies in bad situation, do not do that because those riads rippping you off will take you to the shops, and make a big deal in your pocket as they could offer you a day trip for free or even for a small amount of Money for not even discovering the stealing point, take a tour company to arrange your trip, as it's better to take a local Tour which will give you a good care, because they are afraid for their reputation, so they can give you a good trip, pass you through many good spots where you can have good lunch, good accommodations, and good shops where they will not ripp you off as you can take things with a local price, i hope all this tips will help you in your travels, and i hope that Fodoor will keep it and save it for everyone plans to go Morocco.

thursdaysd

dogster, since we're still here, interesting thread on Lonely Planet on qv: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=2082034

Some highlights:

If you hanker for this drivel have a look on the Fodor's site.

Some answers were breathtakingly wrong.

There is another prolific poster who is a bit more upfront about being a travel agency but who also gets a lot of answers wrong.