Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Marrakech

5 replies

Thefoxsbrush · 31/12/2011 18:26

We're going to marrakech for 3 nights (just me and DH- children staying at Grannies!) in July. Absolutely cannot wait!!! Anyone been and want to share your experience/must see's and tips please?

OP posts:
notnowImreading · 08/01/2012 10:41

Love Marrakech - feels properly 'foreign'. The obvious thing to do is to spend time wandering around the Djemma el Fnar (not sure if that's the correct spelling) - anyway, the central square where the souks and food stalls and snake charmers/dancers et al are. I've been twice and not really needed to do much else. The madrasa just off the square is beautiful and the Jardins Majorelle (short taxi ride just outside the city walls) are nice for a change or if you get hot - they're the cactus gardens and are very serene. If you are offered a massage, just so you know, boobs are included as standard. Can come as quite a shock, especially when the masseur is a hairy man in just shorts. Basically, I would recommend doing exactly what you imagine yourself doing - shopping, staring, drinking mint tea etc - as that by itself is fantastic. One thing not to miss if it's on the menu is b'stilla/pastilla. It's a pigeon or chicken pastry filled with almonds and topped with icing sugar and cinnamon, which might sound weird but is to die for.

Have a great time Envy

notnowImreading · 08/01/2012 10:43

PS - it will be very hot in July! If you fancy some very grand (if slightly ott and of dubious taste) surroundings with air con and are prepared to pay about £8 for a fruit juice, the bar at La Mammounia is worth a visit to gawp at how the other half live.

Bunbaker · 08/01/2012 10:44

I loved Marrakech. It was 1973 when I went, but from seeing it on TV it doesn't look like it has changed much. I would suggest that you don't wander around in shorts and skimpy tops though.

lottiegb · 08/01/2012 11:23

Lucky you, it's wonderful. I spent two weeks in Morocco in winter 2002, starting and ending in Marrakech. It is about the most properly 'exotic' place you can get to in a short time from here.

Walking about the souk and other main areas yourselves is great. I'd also recommend hiring a guide for a walking tour. That will get you orientated, show you places you might not get to otherwise and, in the some of the most touristy areas, reduce the amount of hassle you get afterwards, as people who want to offer guiding services may have spotted you with the official guide, so back off. I experienced this in Fes, which is a bit smaller but the difference the next day, so degree that people were watching all the new tourists, was amazing. Perhaps less so in a busier season and bigger place.

You have to expect quite a high level of hassle - everyone wants to be your guide and sell you things, including children, who I found the most persistent, as they don't read reactions as well, so don't back off if you look unhappy. I found that striding purposefully, even if I wasn't sure where I was going, adopting a confident and cheerful attitude and replying firmly 'ca va merci' to all enquiries, helped. I also found that giving up, allowing myself to get lost and someone to guide me out again, worked fine (old Fes is a real labyrinth but it's quite possible to get disorientated in Marrakech too). You can always get taxis or calliches (horse-drawn carriages) too.

If you spot something you want to buy when with a guide (they will take you to their brothers' carpet shop etc), hold back and return another time for a better rate without his cut. Haggling can be fun.

I spent time there alone and it is the classic case of 'everyone will approach a lone woman but, when with your DH, they will speak only to him', so you may feel invisible. People won't touch you though, so in a way I felt very safe. I realised that chatting to everyone is a big part of the culture, not just aimed at tourists, so, if you're not friendly, even when feeling a bit hassled, people will read that as very rude.

In many situations the friendliness and curiosity is lovely, very genuine and feels a bit naive. I had some lovely conversations on trains. One young bloke practised his English on me a bit (I struggled through most conversations in my limited French, wish it had been better) then said if I was going to Casablanca I was welcome to stay with him - and I do think it was genuine, not creepy, though perhaps fortunately wasn't going there. You have an advantage as a woman that women will talk to you, they won't to men.

On cultural etiquette, do cover up a bit, people may not say so but will be offended by skimpy clothes. It will be really hot. I'd go out in the morning and evening and retreat somewhere cool at mid-day. Food wasn't as spicy as I expected, the tagines I had were surprisingly bland but the pastries and juices - try fresh pomegranate and, if you can, almond - were fab.

Thefoxsbrush · 08/01/2012 18:32

Wow thanks everyone for the advice! I know it's going to be boiling hot in July! What time do souks/medina open?

During the hottest parts of the day we're planning on having a hamman, trying some local food and relaxing in shade at hotel.

Then we're going to make the most of the evenings and take in the sights.

Thanks for the heads up about the massage!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread