Discussion
You can easily see all the sights in 4 days. There are the tombs, castle remains and we took a day trip to some waterfalls- this was a lot of uphill walking but it probably won't be 40+ degress for you.
I'm sure you will come across the main square in the Medina- this and the souks are amazing. Make sure to haggle- you can get some amazing items for less than a tenner. Sitting by the main square watching the sun go down is nice.
Also taxi from the airport- don't pay more than £4-5, though they will try and charge more at first.
A map is very useful- it's easy to get lost in the back streets and local 'guides' will try to direct you then ask for money.
Also recommend the Majorelle Gardens (short taxi ride away) and the Mamounia Hotel. Dress half decent and blag your way into the Chuschill Bar for a cocktail. Seemed pricey at £15 but amazing, and snacks were provided FOC. Bargain bearing in mind the cheapest room there is nearly £500 a night!
Enjoy...and unless your mrs likes being stared at maxi skirts are advised- all the men (us 3 girls) came across did look but none touched nor said anything too out of order. Loved the place and would return for sure.
I'm sure you will come across the main square in the Medina- this and the souks are amazing. Make sure to haggle- you can get some amazing items for less than a tenner. Sitting by the main square watching the sun go down is nice.
Also taxi from the airport- don't pay more than £4-5, though they will try and charge more at first.
A map is very useful- it's easy to get lost in the back streets and local 'guides' will try to direct you then ask for money.
Also recommend the Majorelle Gardens (short taxi ride away) and the Mamounia Hotel. Dress half decent and blag your way into the Chuschill Bar for a cocktail. Seemed pricey at £15 but amazing, and snacks were provided FOC. Bargain bearing in mind the cheapest room there is nearly £500 a night!
Enjoy...and unless your mrs likes being stared at maxi skirts are advised- all the men (us 3 girls) came across did look but none touched nor said anything too out of order. Loved the place and would return for sure.
i would use search but its poor at best Great place and very enjoyable indeed. 4 days should be enough to see most of it. We were there in April for a week and loved it.
It's very safe and very clean (yes, really). You will get hassled and everyone will try to sell you things; this is part of the culture and if you can smile and haggle back, you will have a great time! Good spoken French is a great help; you'll understand more and be able to haggle better. If you really want something then be brutal in your offer; if you are paying more than about 20% of the original asking price you are paying too much.
A number of stories about of unsuspecting tourists being led into a shop and not being allowed to leave until they have bought something (usually an expensive rug or leather goods.) Keep your wits about you and don't be afraid to say "No" and walk away if you feel uncomfortable. This happened to us, but I made such an insultingly low offer for the item they were trying to flog us (less than 5% of the asked price) and refused to budge that they kicked us out of their shop!
People are friendly and always want to help, but rarely know the place you are trying to find. However they will happily direct you to somewhere else! You will sometimes be asked for money for such 'assistance' but often you will be wished well and nothing more.
Bear in mind that pretty much all of the Medina (old town) is a tourist trap, and were it not for tourists it just wouldn't exist. Make sure you wander out into the "New Town" (north west of the Medina) to see how real Marrakechi's live; it just looks like any other large modern French city. You'll view the Medina in a different light once you have done this.
Enjoy - it's a great place!
Oli.
It's very safe and very clean (yes, really). You will get hassled and everyone will try to sell you things; this is part of the culture and if you can smile and haggle back, you will have a great time! Good spoken French is a great help; you'll understand more and be able to haggle better. If you really want something then be brutal in your offer; if you are paying more than about 20% of the original asking price you are paying too much.
A number of stories about of unsuspecting tourists being led into a shop and not being allowed to leave until they have bought something (usually an expensive rug or leather goods.) Keep your wits about you and don't be afraid to say "No" and walk away if you feel uncomfortable. This happened to us, but I made such an insultingly low offer for the item they were trying to flog us (less than 5% of the asked price) and refused to budge that they kicked us out of their shop!
People are friendly and always want to help, but rarely know the place you are trying to find. However they will happily direct you to somewhere else! You will sometimes be asked for money for such 'assistance' but often you will be wished well and nothing more.
Bear in mind that pretty much all of the Medina (old town) is a tourist trap, and were it not for tourists it just wouldn't exist. Make sure you wander out into the "New Town" (north west of the Medina) to see how real Marrakechi's live; it just looks like any other large modern French city. You'll view the Medina in a different light once you have done this.
Enjoy - it's a great place!
Oli.
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