Morocco - Agadir or Marrakech

RaiderHammer

Planning to try and get away to Morocco in May... All last minute!!!

Whats the view in where would be best? Agadir or Marrakech?

Leaning towards Agadir because of the beach...

Any comments about Morocco?

Safe there?

Any must see places while we are there? We like to see a bit of the culture from visits.

Thanks.

elsien

Deleted as I was clearly on another planet at the time.
Apologies for any misinformation.

RaiderHammer

elsien wrote: »

I was in Agadir a few years back and although I enjoyed the stay, I don't remember the beach as being somewhere I'd want to sit, unless they've tared it up in the meantime. It was quite untouristy at the time - may have changed since then!
On the plus side, it was an interesting place to mooch around, the people were very friendly and if you want the markets etc Tangiers is easy enough to get to.
Can't comment on Marrakesh as I've not been there.

Thank you. That is interesing about the beach. What is Tangiers like?

elsien

A lot more hustle and bustle. And hassle from the touts, but that's the same most places in that part of the world. The old city/medina is interesting and that's the bit that we went to on our odd days out.
If you want sun and relaxing with a bit of culture thrown in, I'd probably suggest staying in Agadir and visiting Tangier from there.
But as I say it was a few years back and must have changed since then. Have you looked on tripadvisor?

RaiderHammer

elsien wrote: »

A lot more hustle and bustle. And hassle from the touts, but that's the same most places in that part of the world. The old city/medina is interesting and that's the bit that we went to on our odd days out.
If you want sun and relaxing with a bit of culture thrown in, I'd probably suggest staying in Agadir and visiting Tangier from there.
But as I say it was a few years back and must have changed since then. Have you looked on tripadvisor?

Thank you. Will take a look on Trip Advisor. I like asking here because you always receive a good response and sometimes different views from Tripadvisor. Is Agadir to Tangiers do able in a day?

kipperman

From a personal point of view I found the level of hassle in Marrakech very high: to the point that you dare not stop before some blighter asks you if you are lost and then demands payment for directions. Can't speak for Tunisia as not been there, but I hear reports that it's similar.

Others love it, but there are better places for an Arabic experience IMO.

PompeyPete

If you choose Tangiers then you might find yourselves the only Brits in town! It'll be full-on in your face, and unless you've had previous experience of North Africa [outside of sanitised tourist resorts], then you'll be in for a shock!

Marrakesh is great for a lot of people, it'll be in your face as well, but at least there'll be plenty of other tourists there. All your senses will be tested, and you'll probably see some things you'd rather not have
I think Marrakesh is one of those destinations you should go to at least once in your lifetime. But a lot of people hate the place from the word go! If you do go to Marrakesh then I reckon 4 nights is enough.

If you've never been to North Africa, want to relax with the odd venture into real North Africa, then have you considered Port el Kantanoui or Yasmine Hammamet in Tunisia? Both are purpose built resorts, and very close to the traditional towns of Sousse and Hammamet.

mapryan

elsien wrote: »

I was in Agadir a few years back and although I enjoyed the stay, I don't remember the beach as being somewhere I'd want to sit, unless they've tarted it up in the meantime. It was quite untouristy at the time - may have changed since then!
On the plus side, it was an interesting place to mooch around, the people were very friendly and if you want the markets etc Tangiers is easy enough to get to.
Can't comment on Marrakesh as I've not been there.

Are you implying that Agadir is close to Tangiers?
http://goo.gl/maps/DRkVG

mapryan

Have a look on Airbnb for the accommodation there. They have some amazing riads for not much money at all

nicoc

Not sure if this helps but I just came back from Marrakech a week or so ago. We stayed just outside the city - about 10 mins drive (don't hire a car though it's chaos) at a hotel called the Riu Tikida Gardens, stayed for a week AI.

For us this hotel suited the purpose of this trip, we've not a holiday in a couple of years and wanted somewhere that we could totally relax if we wanted to and the hotel fulfilled that for us.

We did go into the city twice and my goodness it's an experience but I honestly was pleasantly surprised. I'm blonde and fair skinned and thought I'd get a lot of hassle but it was fine. I felt more threatened in Egypt and Turkey in terms of tourist hassle.

The bartering is wearing after a while and we were perpetually lost which gets frustrating but I didn't once feel unsafe or threatened.

The big bonus for us was then being able to escape all the noisiness and smells/sounds and go back to the hotel.

In general I'm not a fan of going to amazing countries and staying AI in a resort and never seeing what the local area has to offer, in an ideal world I'd have liked to have seen more of the city including the gardens and tombs but as I say it was really about finding somewhere warm to relax in and having had 2 days in the markets and souks I did feel like we saw some of it.

I think if you stay in the city itself then 4 days would be more than enough as it is chaotic to say the least!

Hope that helps, happy to give more info if needed.

budgetflyer

The beach in agadir is magnificent. 7km long fronted by a spotless promenade that has a marina at one end.
From agadir supratours bus is about £18 to marrakech , takes around 3 hours or you can do an organised daytrip with guide for about £25