We returned from Marrakech last Saturday, 3 adults (47, 52 and 73!) and a 13 year old.
Hadn’t a clue what to expect but as I had done a bit of research we booked an air bnb on the outskirts of the city – out of the Medina and a few things in advance. Didn’t buy an eSIM instead ID mobile do a bolt on £20 for the duration of our stay.
Arrived, collected luggage and out of the airport within 45 minutes, transfer was pre booked with Viator (Fennou Tours) driver great professional gave us a few tips and spoke to our air bnb host as he was a little unsure on where the apartment was.
Day 1
Half day tour booked again with Viator, collected from a hotel near our apartment, guide and driver both spoke great English, visited Marjorelle Gardens, Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, Jewish quarter, Jemaa el-fnaa, Medina, Souks, we were taken to a herbalist shop but no pressure at all. The option was then to be taken back to the hotel but we stayed in Jemaa el-fnaa. Lunch was in a rooftop restaurant, cash only but good food and nice to rest our feet. We had a wander around the Souks, daughter had henna tattoo. Don’t have anyone hassling us at all, we approached everyone. We did see people being drawn in to monkeys and snake charmers but we didn’t engage at all.
The taxi rank was CRAZY! One guy in charge negotiating fares, it was here I wondered what the hell we’d done…standard yellow taxis don’t take 4 people they are a maximum of 3 even though they’re normal cars🤷🏻♀️. We took a large taxi which obviously you pay more for!
No idea where people pick up taxis with meters?!
Downloaded indrive app….
That evening took a taxi to Gueliz booked via the app, very friendly driver dropped us in the middle, we ate in a lovely French restaurant Le Tire Bouchon, great service and very good food.
Day 2
Breakfast was at a lovely place Mes Rendez-vous, French breakfasts for 3 of us (Moroccan soup, fresh OJ, water, coffee, croissant, pain au chocolat, toast) and ‘British’ breakfast (mergez sausages, eggs, tomatoes, beans, toast, OJ, water, coffee and Moroccan soup) £11 for all of us!
Taxi via indrive to Medina, visited Jardin Secret and wandered the souks again – walk on the right through the souks….this will help you avoid donkeys and motorbikes.
Desert tour booked via Viator, visit to Argan co-operative, camel tour and dinner in a camp followed by fire show. Meal was great (chicken lemon and olive tajine!) desert was chilly and we saw rain but the show was great! Definitely recommend!
Day 3
Went back to the same place for breakfast -without the soup this time- then went for a Hammam booked via Viator. AMAZING! So relaxing!
Wandered around again, took a tuk tuk to just outside the walls, had dessert at Hotel Marjorelle and booked a taxi via indrive
That night was back to DarDar for a brilliant night, watched sunset and the food was 👌, Jemaa el-fnaa is completely different on an evening – you have to experience both day and night.
Took some English £s to change which we did and additional money was taken from ATM at Poste Maroc – no fees for our card and still got £1 to 12 dirham.
Transfer back to the airport booked again via Viator
We wore just above the knee shorts and thick strapped vest tops during the day- had a scarf in my bag for my shoulders but didn’t use it – at no point did we feel oggled, hassled or unsafe, my daughter was wearing trousers and a T-shirt when she was shouted after ‘shakira, shakira hello miss’ we (and she) just laughed.
For us 3 days was enough to see what we wanted to, only once did I feel out of my depth and that was at the taxi rank, indrive solved that!
Great place, fun and definitely somewhere everyone should visit once!
