Marrakesh Holiday Guide - Tours & Day Trips
Flights to Morocco - Flights to Marrakech - Holidays - Hotels - Marrakech Guide - Morrocco Guide - Riads
MarrakechMarrakesh is frequently touted as a culinary destination, although anyone hoping to stray beyond the ubiquitous tagines and kebabs will need to have deep pockets. Fresh seafood form Essaouira provides some colour to local menus, otherwise jump into a taxi and head for the upmarket suburb of Gueliz where you'll find cuisine from across the globe. Give salads and unpeeled fruits a wide berth. Alcohol can't be served in public; however, it is served in most of the top end restaurants.
Currency in Morocco - Moroccan Dirham can only be purchased in the country. At least that's the official line, although you can usually get your hands on some in the airport prior to departure. As a back-up currency Euros are most widely accepted. Most guide-books claim that it's perfectly possible to travel around Morocco on plastic, but it's worth nothing that banks are closed all weekend, the majority of hotels only accept cash and the maximum you can withdraw form an ATM is D 2000 a day (approximately £125).
Tipping - In Marrakesh baksheesh is a way of life. It is well worth getting some change from the bank otherwise you'll soon find yourself out of pocket (10-15% is expected).
Haggling on while on your city break holiday - Nothing in Marrakesh has a fixed price. Nothing. Price is determined by what the customer is prepared to pay, so expect to haggle and haggle hard (after all you'll be up against Berber traders who have been at it for centuries). A chess Grand Master would have difficulty understanding the intricate 'rules of the game', but the basics are:
Ignore everything you're told (form provenance to profit)
Exercise saintly patience (a passion for mint tea helps here)
Walk away (at least once)
And remember to enjoy yourself.
If you master the above you can expect to pay 1/3 of the initial asking price.
Safety Guide - While Morocco has something of a reputation, the most hassle you're likely to get in Marrakesh is from overzealous carpet sellers. The number of families and single women travelling pays testament to the good work done by the brigade touristique. However, some precautions should still be taken: avoid the less salubrious areas of the souk after sunset, keep money/ important documents in a money-belt (pockets are easily opened with a razor blade) and dress reasonably conservatively.
Language - French is the official second language; although most Marrkeshis employed in the tourism sector also speak English. Arguably the quickest way to win new friends is to learn a few Arabic phrases.
Marrakech - Weekend Breaks
