Morocco - make suggestions for my last-minute trip

[Big A]

Flying into Casablanca, taking the train to Fez (of Fes), and . . . . ?

What else do you suggest? I've got 3 days

 

[gdl203]

Casablanca is pretty underwhelming. Marrakech would be a better place to spend a day or two.

 

[Nil]

I dug the Roman ruins at Volubilis which is relatively close to Fes. Fun fact about them: near the beginning of Patton when he recalls his past lives, he's at Volubilis.

 

[Big A]

I'm just flying into Casablanca - don't plan on staying very long.

Looks like I'm headed to Fes, then ?

 

[globetrotter]

I've had some pretty good food in Casablanca

 

[Big A]

I'm back. Met a guy on the train who was headed to Fes (to sell the merchants material he imports from China, which is his regular business). He helped me figure out where to go, so I went to:

Fes for one day. Hired a guide, I walked him to death. He said I was the first tourist who ever made him tired (incidentally, I've been limping along with a cane LOL). Eight hours of walking later, I had seen all of Fes that I needed to see. Interesting place - I enjoyed it, I recommend if you go you stay at one of the Riads. I stayed at Riad Louna, it was wonderful and cheap. I also went to Berber doctor who tried to prescribe me opium, so if that's your thing . . . . Lots of donkey **** everywhere, so if that's not your thing . . . .

Went from there to Rabat on the first train in the morning. Spent the day in Rabat. Nice place, interesting casbah painted like the Greek island villages (without the sparkling water though). Good food. Interesting night market full of crap you don't need. Interesting museums. All in all a fine place.

From there, I went to Casablanca, looked around for a few hours, saw the big mosque, hit the road.

What set this trip off from many I've been on was the quality of the people I encountered. Other than the scam artists in the tourist section of the medina, everyone was so fantastically nice it was almost startling. Keep in mind I live much of the time in North Carolina - it's not like people there are rude. However, this is the first trip I've ever been on where an elderly couple in my train car fed me (and fed me, and fed me) from their lunch, where another family I met on the train offered to put me up for the night (and did, in Rabat), etc., etc., etc. Trust me, I'm not naturally charming . . . .

The people were among the nicest of anywhere I've ever been, and this was about country no. 50 for me. A lot of my travel has been in the "3rd world" and people are usually pretty nice, but Moroccans are at the upper end of the scale.

Also, Morocco is dirt cheap. My dinner in Fes (at my hotel) was about $35-$40, and more than worth it, but the most I paid for anything to eat other than that was about $6, and it was usually around $2. Four hour train from Casablanca to Fes was maybe $25-$30? Taxi rides were usually $2 - $3. I paid my guide the most he had ever been paid - he didn't ask for it, I just thought he was a good guide - grand total: 40 euros.

So, there you have it. If you can tolerate a moderate level of human poverty, donkey ****, and shady characters trying to sell you rugs and knock-off Hugo Boss, I recommend it.

 

[Cary Grant]

Thanks for the update, A. Sounds like a great experience.

 

[HORNS]

Originally Posted by Big A

. . . knock-off Hugo Boss, I recommend it.

**** man, I'm taking the red eye out tonight!

Seriously, though, Morocco has been on my list for years for travel. Why were you there for such a short period of time? Would you recommend going there during this time of the year as far as weather is concerned?

 

[Sic Semper]

Marrakech is mandatory. Next time.

 

[slycedbred]

Originally Posted by Sic Semper

Marrakech is mandatory. Next time.

I stayed there for a week, and thoroughly enjoyed it. One of my favorite places.

 

[randomkoreandude]

sorry for bumping old thread but gf and i plan on visiting this spring break ...

any suggestions? tips?

we plan on flying from DCA to Paris. then from Paris to Casablanca. then we will get a guide and spend majority of time in Marrakech then Fes then back out to Paris and to DCA. total of about 10 days with 7 days in morocco

also is it safe? and we are both korean ... does that help or hurt us haha?

 

[whenwe]

Originally Posted by randomkoreandude

sorry for bumping old thread but gf and i plan on visiting this spring break ...

any suggestions? tips?

we plan on flying from DCA to Paris. then from Paris to Casablanca. then we will get a guide and spend majority of time in Marrakech then Fes then back out to Paris and to DCA. total of about 10 days with 7 days in morocco

also is it safe? and we are both korean ... does that help or hurt us haha?

Like others have mentioned, Casablanca is a bit underwhelming, more exciting than Tangier, but less so than Marrakech.

In general, I would say Morocco is a safe country so long as you are aware of your surrounding. There will always be pickpockets so just be aware. I don't know if you have traveled to other parts of North Africa or the Middle East, but as you can probably imagine most of the people aren't used to seeing Koreans. So expect the typical comments you'd get in similar places. On my last trip to Morocco I had a Japanese friend with me, and the worst she experienced was strangers yelling out "nihao" at her.

In Marrakech, make sure you eat at the food stalls that come out at night in the Djeema el Fna.

I don't know how adventurous you are, but a trip to the Sahara is always worth it. I traveled through the Atlas mountains into the desert and camped with some Berber nomads last time I was there. If you can do anything like that I highly recommended it. I found the people in general to be very warm, overall it is a wonderful experience.

 

[randomkoreandude]

great thanks for your help. do you think its necesary to have a guide with us through out the 7 day trip? or only in certain places

 

[Mblova]

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/12/26...esh-hours.html

 

[randomkoreandude]

so i will be in morocco for 7 days. i have a guide and transportation and hotels all covered. my gf and i need to pay for lunches, beverages/water, tip for guide, and spending money.

how much would we need? we dont want extravagant food choices but something decent/normal. would 500 US each be too much to budget?