Has anyone been to Marrakesh?

elliej1981

Hiya, 'hi everyone'! So jealous, i've been to Marrakech for the last 2 years with my mum, with due to go out with daughter and hubby in November, but as baby number 2 is due in december have had to postpone it!
We went mainly for sights, year 1 we stayed in hotel Islane. it's basic, but staff are friendly, breakfast is free (and varied) we went half board, which was good value. The hotel is 5 minutes walk from the souks, and is opposite the mosque (sorry i forget it's name!) You do get woken up by the prayer calls... but for me that's all part of the charm of the country!
year 2 we stayed in hotel Ali, even cheaper then hotel islane. We stayed in a room with a balcony (email them via they're website to book, and keep asking about a balcony until you get confirmation in writing!) from the balcony we could see the main square... it was fab! Again very basic, but clean, and the staff are fine (attempting a little bit of french always goes down well!) we went half board and were given the option of having evening meal or lunch, which was great as it meant we could brave eating out in the square in the evening! The hotel is just off the main square, so right in the centre of all the action! I was due to book hotel again this year, and would strongly recommend it! (if you want piccies, pm me and i'll email them over) :-)

oooooo.... forgot to say both hotels have roof terrace's where food is served

Nobjocki

hieveryone wrote: »

Are you suggesting that people who visit Morocco have no self respect?
:-/

I enjoy visiting other cultures and experiencing a different way of life than that I know. In a self fulfilling way, it can only make you appreciate what you have in your own life even more. There is such a thing as self respect, but then there's just arrogance where an assumption that you truly are better than everyone comes across.

Would you trust a man who considered you to be inferior because of your sex ?

Never, ever trust an Arab, that's all I'm saying.

hieveryone

Nobjocki wrote: »

Would you trust a man who considered you to be inferior because of your sex ?

Never, ever trust an Arab, that's all I'm saying.

It goes on in this country all the time.

Anyway, no one said anything about trusting anyone.

funkyprincess

Interesting to read the varying replies to the OP.

I am female and have been to Morocco many, many times over the last four years and never had a problem. I have often travelled there alone and never had any hassle. You get back what you give out. It would be nice to remember you are a Muslim country and to respect that ie not wear too low cut vest tops etc. But in Marrakech, they are used to tourists so it's not unusual to see tourists in vest tops and shorts etc, but I think it's nicer to wear loose linen/cotton trousers and a loose top, nothing too tight and revealing. I have been to several other Muslim countries, travelling alone, and been fine there too.

I would also say that in Morocco you would not be treated any less than a man, as suggested in a previous post on here. Women there work like we do here, in banks, are doctors, teachers etc. It's not stuck in a time-warp and they do not have an inferior status. None of the women I know personally in Morocco are considered inferior, far from it and that's not women from a particular class, that's both middle and working class. Nor is wife-beating approved there, why should it be?! It's not an arab pastime as some would like to believe.

What I would say though, is don't expect Marrakech to be a 'cheap' holiday whether it is a weekend or more. Go there and have a good time, there's plenty to do and it's good for shopping too. The souks are good to have a wander around. It's also handy if you speak a bit of French too, but it's no big deal if you don't.

Re accommodation: it's fine to stay at a 'big name' hotel. But some of them will feel like a hotel anywhere in the world, like most hotels I suppose. A riad is nice to stay in. They are nice places to relax in and get away from the hustle and bustle out on the streets. The layout of a riad is that the rooms overlook a central courtyard. A lot are French-owned and they provide breakfast - and lunch and dinner if required, at an additional cost. There is much more of a personal feel to riads. In my experience, there will usually be a couple of female staff and the only guys that seem to be connected will be a driver or the guy who opens the door if you wander back late at night.

Re safety as a female traveller: I feel safer there at night than I do in London, and I don't say that as a 'naive tourist'. I've been there plenty of times and consistently felt safe there at night.

As for the messages on here saying never trust an arab. What next, don't trust someone with blue eyes? Uh-oh, I've got blue eyes....

sharnad

Nobjocki wrote: »

Sue baby, let's examine the evidence.

First up, if you're a woman you'll know that in most Arab countries you'd be treated very much as a second class citizen with few rights and the social statues of a servant.
In many of them you'll be expected to cover almost every part of your body in public no matter how stifling the heat.
If you don't and your husband chooses to beat you there is little or nothing you can do about it and more than likely you would be thrown in jail anyway.
If you choose to be unfaithful to your husband you could well be flogged in public and certainly imprisoned.
In most of those Arab countries there is no democracy, the lower classes are treated as slaves and immigrants even worse than that.
To a certain extent Morocco is better than some Arab countries in that it has an elected parliament but the King has huge executive powers and can instantly dissolve parliament and send in the army.
Westerners are welcomed in the country but be under no illusions - you are considered to be inferior in every respect and as a woman you are only tolerated because of the tourist money you bring to the country.
Oil has delivered a sheen of respectability to many Arab countries but strip that away and actually most are still living in the Dark Ages.
You may well have had a lovely holiday there but behind your back your hosts hold you in nothing but contempt - especially as you're a woman.
If you're happy with that fine but I know Mrs Nobjocki has a little more self-respect than to visit a country where she wouldn't be considered my equal.

Theres a MRS Nobjocki:D

sharnad

I cant wait to go to Marrakesh , my fella is not keen so may have to go on my own

There was a great program on tv of a english woman who lives there and hires herself out for the day for shopping and to show you the sites if you dont want to go out by yourself

I would cover up when walking the streets but thats just out of respect

Alejikos

hieveryone wrote: »

Hi everyone

Saw a good deal on flights and hotels seem cheap to Marrakesh. Has anyone been? Suitable for two young(ish) girls?

Thanks!

Hello! This is my first post so I want to be useful! :A
I was at Marrakech some time ago and my trip was awesome!
I was born in Spain and althrough I'm consider myself a traveller I have been only in Europe, America and Australia but never in Africa or Asia.

So Marrakech was my first visit to an African country. Despise there are obviously thing which are the same in every corner of the planet is also true that there are some others which are clearly different.

If you are going to discover a muslim country for first time I would recommend you Marrakech because of is one of the most tolerant countrues in Africa.

I hope I was useful!

Cheers!
:beer:

alikech

hieveryone wrote: »

Hi everyone

Saw a good deal on flights and hotels seem cheap to Marrakesh. Has anyone been? Suitable for two young(ish) girls?

Thanks!

Hey

Im Ali, im 23 & From Marrakech (Born & Raise)

i just wanted to write to you and let you know if you would need any kind of
help of just someone to hang out with to show you around the city i'll be ready
anytime you would need me
i can speak , arabic , french & english fluently !

anyways, u can contact me on my email : alikech@live.fr

Have a Great Trip !

Ali

northwest1965

hieveryone wrote: »

Hi everyone

Saw a good deal on flights and hotels seem cheap to Marrakesh. Has anyone been? Suitable for two young(ish) girls?

Thanks!

Have you been yet? How did you get on?