Morocco or Not?
 

We will be in Spain next week for 11 days, and are trying to decide if we should take a day trip to Morocco. Has anyone out there done that? If so, can you advice with the good, the bad and the ugly.<BR>thanks

Hello,<BR>I was in the SOuth of Spain last spring and did a week long trip to Morocco. I wouldn't recommend a day trip. The only city you'll get to see, if you take the ferry, is Tangier and it's not indicative of the real Morocco. If you're really interested you should maybe spend a few days there and consider flying. If you do spend more time, I would recommend the cities of Fez and Marrekesh. Those were my favorites. <BR><BR>We only stayed in Tangier 1 night and that was 1 night too many. It was everything the guidebooks say it is. I also know of some people who did the day trip there and found it extremely exhausting. However, if you just want to say you made it to Morocco then by all means go ahead. We were a little concerned about our safety, especially there, but once there did not feel that there was any more of a threat than any where else we have travelled. <BR><BR>Morocco was definitely the highlight of the trip last spring--although I could have easily spent a lot more time in Spain as well. It is a facinating country with great food and mint tea! The medina's in Fez and Marekesh are like nothing I have ever seen before. <BR><BR>Hope this helps.<BR>

thanks for the advice.<BR>May have to work Morocco in another time and just spend our time enjoying Spain.

I visited Melilla, a Spanish outpost surrounded by Morocco. I arrived on the morning ferry and took the late afternoon flight back to Malaga.<BR><BR>I also visited the Moroccan town of Beni Enzar. If you do so, you will realize why Moroccans &quot;love America and Europe&quot;. It is because the living standard is much higher. I don't think it is because of political ideology.

We did a two week circle tour between Marracech, Ait ben Haddou, Taroudant, Paradise Valley and Essaouira. It was one of our best trips ever! The culture &amp; history are fascinating, the food was delicious, and the people very friendly and hospitable. We have also been to Spain twice which we loved. In the amount of time you have I would concentrate on one or the other or you'll waste a lot of time &amp; effort on the commute and give both countries short shrift. Morocco is considered by many the most neutral and peaceful Islamic countries. Of course they have a handful of extremists, but they are everywhere (even in our country and we probably have more of'em!). We felt as safe as anywhere we've traveled. The police did stop us on the road 4x in one day on routine &quot;Papers&quot; checks. I hear they often coerce bribe money from the locals. As soon as we showed our US passports they waved us through and smiled and even asked us if we were married ! (I was with my sister.) By the way, have you ever been to a &quot;Developing country?&quot; I just ask because you must be prepared to deal with everything that comes with that in order to truly enjoy the experience. If you are truly interested in the culture, then you can more easily overlook any inconveniences you may encounter. Have fun whatever you do! P.S. Sometimes they have inexpensive airfare from european gateway cities. Europeans do cheap package tours to Morocco the same way Americans do it to Mexico. You can only buy these packages and airfares in europe and not from the US, so if you decide to go that way, just go into a european travel agency when you get there.

If your only option is a day trip, forget it, as you will wind up in Tangier and will be disgusted. Morocco is a beautiful and fascinating country, but you need to get deeper into it and spend more time than a day trip in order to appreciate it. Save it for another time.