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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Can anyone tell me about Marrakech?

16 replies

hoobalula · 15/07/2023 06:34

Looking for holidays in the October half term (its later this year so it's 28th oct onwards) we want somewhere that will still have nice weather. Not really even heard about Marrakech until I saw it mentioned on another thread.
So I'm basically just wondering if anyone has been and if they can let me know what it's like? Is it a safe place to visit with children? Are there any areas I need to avoid etc?
Thanks!

OP posts:

christmastreefarm · 15/07/2023 06:39

I went few years ago. I enjoyed it but we stayed in a central riad which i don't think I would do with young children. It's very full on and busy - I think my youngest would have been overwhelmed.

We did a 4wd trip to the Atlas Mountains which was great.

Mummadeze · 15/07/2023 06:41

Personally I would rather go to the Canary Islands with kids. Marrakech is a big, dusty, dirty city. It is interesting and beautiful in parts, but I didn’t feel that safe when I visited. If your kids are older and you are adventurous then it might work.

Original poster

hoobalula · 15/07/2023 06:42

Thank you. I should probably mention we are looking at staying in an all inclusive resort so wouldn't plan on actually leaving the resort

OP posts:

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 15/07/2023 06:46

If you’re not leaving the resort, it doesn’t remotely matter where you go! Just pick the resort you like with the weather you want, surely?

mumonthehill · 15/07/2023 06:49

We have done AI resort's there, and they are fine, good quality. However those hotels are outside Marrakesh and honestly you could be anywhere if you do not leave. We used a taxi and went into the city with dc a couple of times. It is loud, busy and hot, you have to keep your wits about you but dc loved it.

Deargodletitgo · 15/07/2023 06:57

Of you aren't planning on leaving the resort, then try Egypt, it would be cheaper. Somewhere like Sharm

Original poster

hoobalula · 15/07/2023 06:58

Although we won't be leaving the resort we still want to know it's a safe place to be

OP posts:

Totalwasteofpaper · 15/07/2023 07:01

For various boring reasons i have been there a lot. Its scammy, dusty and pickpockety Everyone's hustling and if you are anyway young and female expect to be touched in the streets (gross) I personally wouldnt take my kids there.

If you must go...
just stay in the AI resort outside the city and go to one that targers French tourists. The food and alcohol is significantly better than most of the "british" ones.

Personally...
If it must be morocco go to agadir its SO much nicer. Or alternatively I'd just go to the canaries. Los Americanos has tonnes of options. With children you cant beat royale corales.

DisquietintheRanks · 15/07/2023 07:02

Then look at the foreign office website fgs, don't take soundings on mumsnet. How does knowing Cynthia felt safe there in 2019 help?

Deargodletitgo · 15/07/2023 07:05

I went last year, as a single woman, and felt fine, but if you only want heat, not sure I'd bother

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/07/2023 07:06

DisquietintheRanks · 15/07/2023 07:02

Then look at the foreign office website fgs, don't take soundings on mumsnet. How does knowing Cynthia felt safe there in 2019 help?

This.

Just google various country's foreign office advice.

Might as we not bother to travel of course but you do you.

amylou8 · 15/07/2023 07:07

You're not guaranteed weather in marrakesh late October. It's also a city with some nice hotels rather than a resort. The city is typical north African dusty desert with a lot of camels.
Egypt might be better, Sharm or hurghada.

Endlesssummer2022 · 15/07/2023 07:15

It’s too busy and dusty and people hassle you. I couldn’t relax. I’ve heard The Gambia is good but I believe it’s expensive.

Hollyppp · 15/07/2023 07:16

It’s a lovely place to visit if you do it properly and stay in a riad in the old town.

if you’re going to a resort and not leaving the hotel I really wouldn’t bother going to Morocco, pick someone else eg Spain or Majorca

Original poster

hoobalula · 15/07/2023 07:22

@DisquietintheRanks I find it so funny that people feel the need to comment on things that anger them. It's a forum, where people come to ask for others advice. Kinda the point of the site.

OP posts:

feralunderclass · 15/07/2023 07:27

I went once in April and stayed in a riad close to the fnaa square. It's quite intense, but if you're able to ignore hustlers then it's a great cultural holiday. We hired a driver with SUV several days and did day trips into the Atlas mountains.
On one of the trips we stopped off at a river side tagine eatery and there was a bus load of British tourists from AI hotels outside the city. They were disrespectful of dress code, kept moaning about the food, one woman told me she hated it as the hotel staff were predominantly Moroccan, she thought they'd be Brits 🤔. Don't know if this is reflective of demograph but it really put me off going to a resort hotel there in the future.

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