Overview
** MARRAKESH (MARRAKECH), MOROCCO TOURS **
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Marrakech was for a long period my favourite trip. As it�s was my first trip I did alone as solo black girl travelers. I found the destination very welcoming and inclusive. I had lovely chat with women who tought that I was myself Marocan. The seller in the souks was so funny they had a lot of tips and history. I was mesmerizing by the architecture, and bustling by the Jemaa el-Fnaa square are a treat for the senses.
As a tip for black travelers, blending in with the local fashion can enhance the experience. Modest attire is generally appreciated, and it’s helpful to be aware of cultural norms to avoid any unintentional misunderstandings.
In conclusion, Marrakech is a must-visit destination for its beauty, culture, and welcoming spirit. Embrace the local customs, connect with the people, and immerse yourself in the magic of this enchanting city.
Although I wasn’t a huge fan of Marrakech my hotel made up for the chaos and drama we dealt with! If you decide to go pleaseeeee stay at the Riad Kheirredine. Hands down the best hotel I’ve ever been to. It’s like a little slice of Heaven in the middle of complete choas lol. The staff were the absolute best and made sure we wanted for nothing. Very friendly and just the sweetest people ever. I really enjoyed the fact that the hotel was a short walk to the Medina and they also gave us a phone in case we got lost (and you will get lost)! The perfect hotel for couples but this was a girls trip and they accommodated us. Food within the hotel was amazing! I said I wouldn’t go back but I would just for the hotel and the staff! BETA TEST
I had a full itinerary when I went to Marrakesh with varied options for activities from relaxation to adventure. If being outdoors is your thing I highly recommend a hiking tour of the Atlas Mountains. You will get million dollar views and super authentic experience interacting with the Berber people and behind the scenes of their lives. We had the freshest meal prepared along with a mint tea demo. We also made a stop to learn about the argan oil extraction process and to ride camels through the Agafay desert. You can find a lot of these experiences on Airbnb.
In addition we spent a half day at Jnane Tamsna a black owned boutique hotel in Marrakesh. Her place is so serene and relaxing and located in the palmerie. Her home is Yellow with leafy tropical plants and gorgeous Moroccan interiers, very instagrammable. A day pass will get you a 3 course meal prepared with ingredients from her on site garden, salt water pool experience and access to library and other parts of the property. She can arrange activities for you such as horseback riding or buggies.
We also had a hammam bath experience with rose petal foot bath and an hour argan oil massage outside the medina. Your whole body will be exfoliated and soul cleansed by this traditional ritual. You will leave pampered and feeling like a baby and ready for your next adventure!
Visiting or staying in the Medina is like going back in time. You will share the streets together with people, donkeys, horses, cars, buses and salesmen. It´s not a place you can do in a day. Just to walk there is an experience and every day has a new one.
First I want to start off by saying Marrakesh, Morocco wasn’t expensive at all. We flew from New York to Madrid, Spain for $440 round trip. Made a day trip out of it. Then flew round trip from Madrid, Spain to Marrakesh, Morocco for $169 round trip later that next where we stayed a total of 4 days. Travel dates were 5/29/2019 to 6/2/2019
Marrakesh is still a Muslim country but Islamic. You can wear western clothes or their customs clothing. We did both.
Often times when we travel to far away countries we will stay in different hotels in different areas just to get a feel of a neighborhood or the locals. Even if it’s just for one night. In the case, We stayed in a Riad which are only found in Morocco. Our Riad was located right in the Medina, It wasn’t the fanciest or like the other luxurious Riad but it was dead smack in the middle of all the action and everything. Its called the Hotel and Arts Place Ryad
The Medina! I really couldn’t enjoy the livelihood because it was just too damn many hustler. I would suggest not making eye contact with them. If you are not going to buy, then don’t even ask or inquire about it. Just don’t
Although, I was fascinated by the idea that a person could live most of their live within the walls- they could have everything that they needed there.
There were only three things I didn’t like- people giving you directions unasked in the hope you’d pay them (understandable they might try, but it got boring quickly) and more frustratingly all the motorbikes that weave their way along the narrow alleyways. I think if motorized transport was banned in the Medina trade could still happen (the motorbikes were typically carrying passengers, not goods) and it would be a more pleasant experience for everyone. The stray animals. It was something I’ve never seen before, EVER! Cats and the dogs were in the hotels, restaurants, shops, tours, etc. I absolutely hated this part because I am not a fan of either animal. Plus to have a dogs looking to be petted while you eat or cats meowing under the table is disgusting. Horrible experience ever.
However, as we left and went to our second hotel which was our final stay. We didn’t have the same experience. Beautiful hotel called Be Live. All inclusive . Located about 30 minutes from the city. Here you will have more relaxation.
A few other things:
1.Zeiton cafe: had the best lamb chop ever. Located right in the Medina
2.Bahia Palace: Simply amazing and great for photo opp! Hire a tour guide.
3. Le Salama: has a nightly belly dancer and hookahs. Located right in the Medina.
4. Comptoir Darna: is an upscale restaurant. Food was excellent. Make reservations.
5. Souk Medina: Lots of shopping.
6. La Momounia: A 5 star Riad hotel. My most favorite hotel. If you have the budget then stay, if not then buy a day past which is so worth it. You.ll have access to the hotel’s amenities.
7. Bring money for shopping. Lots of it Lol. Great for designer items as you will get more bang for your buck.
8. Visit the water falls of Ouzoud
9. Traveling while black was an breeze. No form of racism at all.
Trip dates: 16-18 Feb 2019: We did a quick trip to Morocco for the long weekend in feb! Love getting american holidays while living in Europe. Headed to the airport Saturday morning and we parked. Frankfurt has great deals for airport parking if booked in advance. We used the lounge on the land side of the airport. #mimosas Shout out to Mr. Chase reserve for the priority pass access. It’s a great benefit and I think it’s best overseas as the lounges are better.
We flew lufthansa. Love that on a short haul flight they provide decent food. Pasta with sauce one way and then chicken with sauce on the return. My buddy Ama works for lufthansa and they hooked us up with champagne during the flight. So awesome. 6 travelers including me for this adventure.
Once we arrived Marrakech we met our driver from the Riad. Book transport from the hotels! It’s worth the cost!!!! He quickly drove us to the location – about 20mins away from the airport. We had to walk about 5 mins from the drop off location as there is no easy route for an vehicle. We were met by a luggage attendant who walked us to the Riad. Pay attention to landmarks and they don’t use street names at all. Now I had never stayed at a Riad before and it more than exceeded my expectations. From the way it looks outside it’s hard to imagine how gorgeous the inside is. It’s amazing. With beautiful wildlife gardens inside and amazing colors. Fantastic. The staff was amazing. They take care of the luggage for you while you wash your hands in orange blossom water. Then you sit for Moroccan tea and pastries. While relaxing a nice person comes to offer you a soap of your choice for use in your room. The bars smell lovely and are handmade with no chemicals. Once we were shown to our room we were more than impressed. We had a family suite and it was perfect for our group. There was one large room with a queen bed full shower and bathroom. The other bedroom (mine) smaller but nice with a twin bed and a bathroom with shower. Perfect actually. We had two terraces overlooking the inside of the hotel. And our favorite part was our private terrace with our private jacuzzi! Not very big but awesome for the chilly nights. We could overlook the city as it was rooftop. And the price was crazy good! I can’t believe how affordable this place was, something like 700 euros for the two nights. Now we split this by three which made it a great deal. We didn’t have any meals at the Riad but the ones we saw looked very good. Great place to stay in Marrakech!
We visited the Yves Saint Laurent gardens. What a beautiful experience! There is a cool little museum on the grounds and the house. Lots of fruit trees throughout and a memorial to him. Check these fun pics. I also met the sweetest little French girl. She was chatting with me and I had no idea what she was saying or vice versa. But I could tell she wanted my jellies! Hahahah.
We had a lunch at a little cafe just outside the gardens. They run specials so go there. The chicken tangine was very good and large portions. We then hit some shops for typical Moroccan treasures. Next we headed down to the souks. Omg! Everyone wants you to buy everything from them! So be ready with your serious face to say no. But you can find some nice things and bargain for a great deal.
For dinner we hit two lovely restaurants. The first very traditional and the second more upscale and hipster. The food was phenomenal at both. I would totally recommend them both. The first one is in a little shady part of town but worth it. (Dar Yacout) hahahah. The second one they have entertainment! Belly dancers and ladies with candelabras on this heads! And who do they come find to dance with?? That’s right ME!!! It was crazy but we had a good time. (Restaurant Comptoir Darna)
Myself and the boys chose to have a hammas spa treat. It’s like a fancy bath basically but so good!! Different wraps, masks and skin treatment finished with Argan oil. Famous in this region. Hard to tell when you are getting the good stuff so I purchased mine at the spa.
Our last day we explored additional shops in the city and a last minute carpet purchase within the souk to finish out our trip. We had a great time. A very cool city. I plan to do at least one more trip to Morocco before I’m done. I want to hit one more coastal city with a beach!
Okay, so Morocco hands down is my favourite country in the whole world (after the motherland of course). Despite what people have to say about this country, I have had nothing but good vibes every time I have gone here. Morocco is what sparked my passion to travel and so for that it will always have a place in my heart. I have been to this country countless times and there is so much to do here. From Dessert excursions, camel riding, quad biking to nightclubs, the souks, shisha and more! My advice for travelling to Morocco is if you are staying at a hotel to book an all-inclusive deal as eating out can be pricey every day and a lot of the times the hotels are always filled with attractions and activities to do so you won’t always want to leave. Another advice is to try and sort out some type of transport deal with your hotel, some hotels are nice enough to offer this for free while others might charge a small fee. I cannot really give a ‘things you must do while in Morocco’ because I feel like Morocco is one of those places you have to just go and experience on your own accord. My BIGGEST advice I would give however (particularly as a female traveller) is to NEVER travel to Morocco on your own. ALWAYS go in two’s or as a big group. It’s no secret Moroccan men can be a little aggressive and the cat calling is non-stop so it can be really intimidating as a female traveller. Personally, I haven’t had any really bad experiences with guys here but I have always travelled with a friend, so please do the same!
I have YouTube videos on my channel with all my travels so if you really want to get a visualisation of what it is like for me when I travel to these places, please head to my channel and indulge in some of my travel vlogs! If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up on my socials!
YouTube: AishsaAborad
Instagram: aishakay_s
Book your spa experience at one of the most relaxing places you will be able to find in Marrakech, LA MAMOUNIA. Try to book at least a month in advance. For about $165-$200 you have access to facilities for an entire day (so get there early), a one hour spa treatment, and then a buffet that will have you full all day. The buffet is amazing!!! I had the best 2nd best if not the best best chicken tagine we had while in Morroco and we went to about 6 different cities. Here is the website: https://www.mamounia.com/en & email lespa@mamounia.com for more information. Also, don’t be alarmed but you have to provide credit card information and copy of your passport via email so it is not the most secure way to send information but it’s normal (unfortunately) Here is the response from La Mamounia as we were going through the booking process. It took a while to get everything to line up but eventually we worked it out. Enjoy!!!
“We can recommend you the “Season pass” which includes lunch in Pavillon Piscine (excluding beverage), a (60min) spa treatment (La Mamounia relaxing Massage or Hammam and scrub) and the access to the spa facilities (indoor heated and outdoor swimming pool, the Jacuzzi, the sauna and the gym) at MAD1600 per person from Monday to Saturday and at MAD2000 on Sunday (in case there is Brunch on this Sunday).
Please take note that “Season Pass” is only reserved for children of 16 years of age or older
Kindly note that we will need to know which kind of treatment you would like to have, either the Hammam and scrub (60min) or La Mamounia Relaxing Massage (60min) as well as how many people you will be (male and female) and be informed that the Hammam will be done in the traditional way, which is a female therapist for the Ladies and a male therapist for Mister in two separate areas”
I’m going to be honest, Marrakech was a dream vacation but I did not enjoy it that much. Best tips: do not go in August. Its the hottest time of year and the heat during the day was unbearable! As a woman you have to dress modestly and expect cat calls wherever you go. I traveled with two other women and we did not feel safe at night because we stayed in the souks, at one point there was an attempted robbery. We felt uncomfortable at most times even dressed modestly. Obviously the most tourist things to do were: Le Jardin Majorelle, shopping in the souks, camel riding, and the YSL museum. The best dinner experience we had was at Comptoir Darna. We also participated in a food making class that included a hamman massage found on viator! The massage was life changing!
Marrakech is a great city to visit. It’s a bustling old world city with the comforts of home. I highly suggest anyone visiting Marrakech to stay in a riad within the Medina, the old City. It’s very walkable with Instagramable spots in every corner.
There are numerous beautiful historical sites, and grand pieces of architecture worth visiting. My favorites were Bahia Palace, Musée Yves Saint Laurent, and Dar Si Said. Also, if you have the time, you should definitely venture out to the giant dunes near Merzouga. This is usually a three day round trip, but a sunset over the Sahara desert is well worth it. I booked the tour on http://www.getyourguide.com. At $130 per person. I thought it was a great deal for waking tours, meals, camel rides, and two-night accommodation. It’s not a luxury tour, but well worth it.
Be aware of a common scam that I experienced everyday on the city street. Men, and even teenage boys will spark up friendly conversation, usually asking if you are lost. They want to divert you to visit the Tanneries. Here shopkeepers pay them a profit when you buy anything from the nearby shops or cafes. The Tanneries are not interesting at all. Other than that, Moroccan people were very nice and welcoming. In fact, during my tour to the Sahara, I felt more welcomed as a Black traveler than my White counterparts on the tour.
Marrakesh was one of my favorite cities in Morocco. I feel like Morocco as a whole was a lovely experience, but Marrakesh is better than Casablanca. More relaxed and they aren’t people who was to take advantage of tourists, as Africans traveling through Marrakesh they always assume we from America or Jamaica, with that i wish more Africans would travel and explore Africa because there is so much to see and do within the African continent.
Marrakesh is a Wonderful City. I hope to return but this time for the Summer. Winter in Morocco isn’t for the faint heart-ed like ourselves who thought it would not be that cold.
Marrakesh has one of the biggest markets in Morocco the Medina and has a lot of entertainment and things to buy. You can negotiate in these markets of course and get lost in that place. Our adventure in Marrakesh involved getting a tour package ,driving through Marrakesh and to the outskirts as we were making our way to the Sahara Desert. The cost of the tour was about $200 per person including the one night in the Sahara and one night stop in an old town close to the mountains
Marrakech is one of the most magical places that you’ll ever visit! When planning a trip to Marrakech, I would strongly recommend staying in a riad. A riad is a traditional Moroccan home typically renovated into “guesthouses”. I stayed at Riad BE Marrakech. This place is simply breathtaking, and certainly a hidden gem. It’s architecture and decor is to die for. My boyfriend and I stayed in the The Essence section of the riad in Room Mellha, which was approximately $120 USD per night. We enjoyed this section of the riad, because it was so quiet and tucked away. What makes Riad BE even better is that its located not too far from the souks! Everyone at Riad BE is so kind and accommodating, and are always willing to help you navigate the city. Every morning, you’re also greeted with a traditional Moroccan breakfast (included)! It doesn’t get much better than that!
When visiting Marrakech, I’d strongly consider staying in a local riad in town. This is a great way to get the true “local” experience. If you’re looking for something more familiar, I stayed with a group at the Dar Sabra Hotel in Marrakech, and loved it. The villa-style hotel has a secluded resort feel (it’s slightly off the beaten path), but it’s still conveniently located close enough to the Medina, souks, nightlife, and other attractions. The property has spacious rooms and offers a luxurious spa-like environment. There are multiple pools and lounging areas available, and the customer service was top-notch.
Marrakech is now one of my favorite cities. We stayed at two different places which is highly recommend. The riads are a must, they are traditional guesthouse in the bustling medina alleys. Don’t expect much from the outside but hidden behind the alley doors are gorgeous courtyard centered guesthouses with beautiful Moroccan decor, pools and plenty of pastries and mint tea. We stayed at Riad Jona (www.riadjona.com) which was $150 a night in January.We also opted to stay at an AIRBNB which was only $70 a night (https://abnb.me/t0B2JuWez3) in the new city just to see the difference between that and the old medina. If I do it all again I would do one more night in the riad and just a single night in the new city. While in Marrakech there is tons to do from exploring the medina, touring the many palaces (Bahia is a must), visiting the gardens and getting out to the desert. Jardin Majorelle is the most beautiful garden but will be crowded with people taking pictures. This is where you can see the YSL memorial and the YSL museum which is next door. A lot of people go to the Sahara desert while in Marrakech but that takes 2-3 days. If you’re limited on time visit Agafay Desert Camp (www.agafaydesertcamp.com) which is about an hour away. It’s beautiful and full of activities. We rode camels & ATVs and had lunch for about $150 USD. The only thing I regret is not staying overnight in the luxury desert camp tents, now that I’ve seen them I’d highly recommend. Our favorites for food were Le Salama in the medina and Comptoir Darna a tourist spot in the new city with belly dancers. The USD goes a long way in Morroco as does the Euro so most things are relatively cheap. Traveling while black was comfortable as most of the locals are of brown and black hues.
I loved Marrakech we stayed at La Mamounia the lobby fragrance is just heavenly. We had a suite on the expensive side usd $1,200 and the tub was everything! They have a bottle of champagne to welcome you. The restaurants there are all good and the hotel has a lot of famous sites to take pics from their well known pool and black and white halls the architecture of the place is just beautiful there’s a casino right around the corner with hidden walls to different night clubs (just amazing) and also live entertainment as well. Let’s just say the casino is very busy lol
My first trip to Marrakech involved camel riding, quad biking, a guided walking tour which included visiting Bahia Palace and Saadien’s Tombs, visiting the medina and sampling street food at Jemma el-Fnaa! I really recommend staying in a Riad instead of a hotel and ditching the taxis and getting around via horse and carriage. We did visit the ‘new city of Marrakech’ and went to a shisha bar but the highlights of the trip definitely took place on the other side of the wall. The people are lovely but get ready to haggle!
I fell in love with Marrakech!!! The people were nice! I stayed at the affordable riad andalla inside the square. What i loved most was the local food! They have everything from crepes to the kefta tagine which is grounded beef was amazing !!!!!! Everything was fresh and well seasoned. The square comes alive at night there are also clubs outside of the square as I found a roof top lounge at Hotel Sofitel with good drinks and hookah!
Had a great time! The markets in jamaa el square is wonderful. There was lots of music,shops and restaurants. I bought a handcrafted purse for $23 which is a great price. Some things to do in the city is visit the tombs, mosques and markets . As you walk through the city the locals will smile at you and you willl smell lots of spices! My favorite place was the baja palace, it had Moroccan wall art and a lot of history. I recommend visiting with a travel tour guide so you can learn about its history. Also recommend a trip to Atlas Mountains
One downside is medical care. I went to the public hospital there were blood on the chairs and gauzes. I would recommend visiting a private Hospital.
Morocco a trip I made at the last minute with my brothers, we will say on a whim because it is a country where I always wanted to do. We took a ticket when we got there backpacking back and went to get a hotel for a cheap price. We came across a rather nice hotel with Ryad, Spa, massage and food worthy of the best restaurants and all that exclusive. a beautiful city, people are warm on this side we have not been disappointed. just a descent to the city to see the number of agencies for activities such as quad and tour camel and for cheap. we had all had a good time between brothers I highly recommend Morocco, yesterday I spoke about that to a friend, go for it!
I traveled to Marrakech last February for 6 days. Had a lot of fun but I wish I could have stayed longer so I could take a desert trip. That being said, I did enjoy my time there. I visited Ouzoud Falls which I recommend but it will take most of the day so plan accordingly. In the city itself, the jardin majorelle is a nice and romantic place to take a stroll. The medina was very hectic in my opinion and everyone wants to sell you something so be careful and dont be too quick to accept the price you’re told. I wanted to get some good quality safran so I asked one of the workers at the Riad where I stayed and she was nice enough to get me alm the spices I wanted without me trying to bargain and figure out which safran was the best. Place /souk djema el fnaa is also a fun place to visit. At night, the square turns into an open air food court so definitely check that out.
If you’re a sushi lover, I recommend Katsura and believe me you will not regret it. For a drink, head to bar a vin 68 in Gueliz. They also serve really good food and they’re super nice. There is a restaurant Les jardins de Gueliz where we ate and I recommend. Both food and service were on point (try their chicken tajine).
One place I recommend for the decor not so much for the food is Grand Cafe de la Poste. It’s beautiful but I left disappointed after my lunch.
Lastly, you cannot leave Marrakech without a visit to a hammam. You will leave relaxed with the softest skin.
My short trip to Marrakech was awesome and I cant wait to go back. As a black traveler, I felt 100% comfortable. The people were nice and welcoming.
Spent 7 days in Marrakech, and easily one of the best places I’ve been. The juxtaposition of seeing a Gucci store with a camel walking by it or a Donkey walking by, is mind boggling. Here are some things to do
1. Make sure to visit the Médina. Endless shopping, snake charmers, etc. feels like an Aladdin movie. Old meets new. Watch out for the aggressive vendors tho.
2. Visit the Atlas Mountains. Some of the most breath taking views one will ever see. The trip was organized through work so unfortunately I don’t know the cost or the agency that took us to the Mountains. The drive also exposes you to some of Morocco’s smaller non touristy towns. You get to see how real Moroccans live
3. Camel ride at the grove was also fun. How often do you get to ride a camel
4. Trip to the Sahara desert. Stay the night if you can.
I spent 3 days in Marrakesh, heres my best tips for enjoying the colourful city!:
– Dress modestly if you are a women. You will be harassed by men but this can ease it a little.
– Haggle, haggle and HAGGLE. The rule is to get the price down to a 10th of the original asking price.
Things to do:
– Shop at one of the many markets in the city, the items can get a bit touristy, but you can still find some unique buys like organic almond oil and black soap.
– Visit a Hammam. These spas can feel like an oasis in the hectic bustle of the city. Be prepared to strip down and have old ladies scrub you squeaky clean with black soap. My skin was so very soft after, I would definitely recommend! http://www.hammamdelarose.com/fr/
– Trek through the Atlas mountains. Our local tour guide was so lovely, he even took us to his mothers house, she served us delicious sweet mint tea and showed us their goats! http://www.getyourguide.co.uk/marrakech-l208/atlas-mountains-private-day-trip-with-camel-ride-t62241/
The cheapest way to travel to Marrakesh is from Europe on Transavia (a budget affiliate of klm/air France) with layovers for a few days in Paris or Amsterdam or from the UK in London (flying out to RAK on Easy jet).
Bring Euros with you as it is widely accepted you can always exchange dirhams at your riad if needed. USD is not widely accepted.
A day trip to Ouzoud Waterfalls is a must it is an absolute oasis!
tip: try the fresh pressed sugarcane juice! we call it guarapo where I am from :)
The desert excursion is a fantastic option as well if you have 5-6 days total on your trip
Within the city I recommend seeing:
~Jardin Marjorelle (arrive early to beat the lines)
~The secret garden
~Bahia Palace
~The spice bazaar starting at Djemma El Fnaa
~Koutoubia Mosque (if you are not Muslim , cannot enter please be cognizant)
~Ben Youssef Madrassa
~Conscious travel: visit a co-op that supports local women who make fresh pressed argon, olive and flax seed oils.
~Get a henna tattoo at the butterfly cafe in the medina
~Dinner and souk tour with local guide: Sara email: Sara0benbrahim@gmail.com
Morocco as a whole is AMAZING! Food, shopping, family/United environment it’s literally perfect! The Souk (in any city) provides the best shopping experience, you will love it! Hotel, food, shopping is no where near expensive! You eat well and enjoy the fresh air coming off the beach. Morocco is super cheap in comparison to America! A dollar gets you a long way! Train rides are affordable ($10+ depending on your destination) Once you’re in Morocco a plane or train can take you to a whole new city in Africa! I buy handmade leather shoes, Leather purses, clothes and spend less than $100. The market will provide you with home goods, personal care items, home accessories, definitely a place to visit if you love shopping as much as I do! Totally recommend visiting Africa and stopping by to visit Morocco. (Cities I’ve visited are Marrakesh, Essaouira, Agadir, and Casablanca.) All in which are just lovely and affordable.
In April 2019, a good friend and I hosted a trip to Morocco, where we visited Marrakech, Agafy Desert, Fes, Chefchaouen and Casablanca. We started the excursion in Marrakech with a stay at Riad Star. From first discovery online, I fell in love with the decor of this Riad. Upon doing further research, I learned this was the home of Josephine Baker when she lived in Marrakech! The pristine white common areas with the small gold detail was amazing. The little biscuits (read cookies) along with the Moroccan mint tea was amazing. They serve tea 5 times a day (like the rakats!)–this just made me love the place even more. Since there were 6 of us, we stayed in the family suite, which made for a big girls’ night/slumber party!
While staying here, we also took part in the cooking class with Khalifa. He is amazing! You can find him on IG @khalifaami3. We started our class with first a walk to the medina for our fresh produce and meats. We made a pastry dish sort of like sambuusa (I can’t remember the name), lamb, chicken, and vegetable tagine. Khalifa was very patient and light-hearted. He laughed and joked with us. Once the food was done (almost 3 hours later!), we went to the dining area which is lined with clothes that we of the Josephine Baker era. The food was plated and delivered to us where we just delved into discussion and good eats.
Riad Start is owned by Marrakech Riad. They also own the Henna Cafe. We really did our research this trip. We patronized this henna spot over the others because all the proceeds go to the attached learning center. This learning center teaches children and women English, Arabic, basic math and much more.
The rooms at Riad star were amazing–clean, comfortable and tastefully decorated. The staff was amazing, and really wanted to ensure your safety during your stay. They were also very accommodating as we waited for our driver to take us the desert camp on our last day there.
I give them 5 out of 5!
If you go to Marrakech i recommend the area of Gueliz, its modern, accessible and easy to move around.
I had a great time, here few places and things to do.
*Visit the botanical Jardin Majorelle, it has 300 species of flowers and a museum. You will do the best pictures there, its very colourful and majestic.
*Get lost in the souk jemaa El fna, i spent 2 hours in there alone talking with the locals. They offered me some tea and shared their stories i had a great time and it’s safe.
*Visit the Mosque Koutoubia next to the souk, very beautiful inside and out.
*Horse ride in Marrakech, you can visit some part of the city center for less then 15usd. Negotiate fisrt!
*foodies are in heaven in Marrakech, there are good food and nice restaurants all around. If you are looking for someting chic and select try the Bo Zin in la Palmeraie (that’s where soccer player and stars are going lol, you need a reservation and it’s the prefect place for a birthday, proposal… )
*Have a drink at La Mamounia Palace (that’s all i could afford at that time but i will go back) it’s just a dream yess it’s a real palace.
*A spa day at the Sofitel Marrakech hotel, now that’s a princess experience (did it for my birthday)
*if you have time its worthy to take an escape day in the beautiful coastal town of Essaouira. Very authentic médina with art shop and sea food restaurants (3h from Marrakech by car/bus).
Travelling while black was great i had absolutely no issue, people were very welcoming.
Morocco was everything I never expected. From the beauty of the desert to the gourmet meals and the beautiful blue mosaics at every riad. Getting around was sometimes a hassle and someone will be trying to push argon oil on you at every corner. But I still had a great time. I’d also highly recommend a desert excursion. You can do 1-5 days in the Sahara and experience the magic of the desert for yourself. Just watch out for the rats and the dirty sheets. There is no 5 star anything out there. Thanks to @blaktraveltribe for organizing the trip!
Marrakesh is such a beautiful city. It looks just as it was on Hitchcock’s movie. The city has a long history starting from many centuries ago. The best attraction is the Medina, the old town, that holds the zouk, the market. An attraction itself, just get lost inside this market buying souvenirs and collecting memories with all the people in it. The place Jeema el Fna, is just in front of the market, and in the evening offers a particular nightlife so enjoyable. But if you really want to relax I recommend you to get out of the city and enjoy EL BELDI COUNTRY CLUB, just 30 minutes from the main square, is a perfect place to relax. Only few people around, pools, restaurants, hotel, gardens and a spa. The prices are quite cheap for such a service, it is the perfect mix of typical moroccan architecture and high french service. Really recommended for a Spa day.
Walking in the Medina is probably the only way to explore the true moroccan culture or atleast of marrakech. Its best to start at a fixed point in the medina such as one of the main gates and head to one of the main sites such as the kotoubia for example so that you can ask people along the way for directions while also exploring the medina. When I went to marrakech, we didnt plan to explore the medina like this, but it just so happened that we never found the site we wanted to go to in one go and ended up having to walk through the tiny streets in the medina asking for directions along the way. It was great though! Just be prepared to walk long distances in the heat and it’ll be OK!
Marrakech has a well deserved place in my travel diary heart. It is so full of vibrant patterns and colours, with so much to discover.
We went for 5 days, which was only enough to touch the surface of what the city had to offer. We took a hot air balloon in front of the Atlas Mountains, with Berber breakfast after the flight and then enjoyed a camel ride in the Palmeraie, (with Marrakech by air for 2000 DH per person), we relaxed at Nikki Beach Club, we visited the Jardin Majorelle, Berber Museum and the YSL Museum, we entered the Palais de la bahia and El Badi Palace (about 30 DH per person) and we haggled in the Jemaa el-Fnaa, we witnessed belly dancing, bands play and women dancing with candles on their heads while eating a beautiful dinner in the Comptoir Darna and we enjoyed a relaxing massage and hammam.
With all those activities, we had a mix of adventure, relaxation and romance.
My top 3 recommendations from the list of things we did, would have to be:
1. Visit the Jardin Majorelle, Berber Museum and the YSL Museum, it is a beautiful representation of the colour and history in Morocco and a chance to learn about YSL (200 DH per person)
2. Take the day out at Nikki Beach to cool down from the hot weather and enjoy good music (Wednesday is the lovers day – so your entry includes a 3 course meal and beautifully chill vibe) (550 DH per Person)
3. Explore the restaurants tucked away above the Jemaa el-Fnaa
Also the hot air ballon was so beautiful, peaceful and unforgettable! And Moroccan Mint Tea became a favorite, even in 90F weather.
Through all the things we did, we felt welcomed and were showered with amazing hospitality at Riad Malika, with large breakfast spreads every morning and free massages.
Also to note: Dirham (DH) is a close currency, which means you can only buy it in Morocco. If you are able to get some in the airport before hand you can bring around a max of 2000 DH per person. Morocco also accepts Euro (€), some places prefer it.
Note 2: the air balloon company will pick you up EARLY morning from your Riad or hotel
I visited in Morocco last month . Many people tell me that they did not like Marrakesh (Marrakech) because it is very touristy and that the Jemaa el-Fna Square was made to extract money from tourists.
Well, actually Marrakech is a frantic commercial city, but it has been welcoming foreign tourists for many centuries. It is not a city on the hippie route nor did it begin to receive tourists only in the ’70s. We are talking about 700 years of history when it comes to receiving foreigners: tourists, students, pilgrims, merchants and businessmen.
For centuries the markets of the old city have been given businessmen and merchants, and the famous Jemaa el-Fna / Jemaa el Fna Square has always been filled with street performers, musicians, acrobats, snake charmers, monkey sellers, storytellers , Dentists, henna tattooists, food stalls, tea vendors, and healers and for me that all the BEAUTY of this cities there is so much think to do .. Like the el fna square like I said previously but also you can visit many places like nicki beach to relax and have a cocktail plate of fruits in the heart of the city or musée Majorelle amazing building with so many Colours and flowers , musée Yves saint Laurent for thé lovers of fashion .. also visit the village and valley Berber with camel for less that 30£ .. Marrakech was so amazing you guys should visit ASAP
I recently visited Morocoo. First I stayed to Casablanca for one night at the Sofitel Hotel, then I drove 3 hours to Marrakech as I stayed in the tradition Riads (Challa & Goloboy). All 3 hotels were absolutely amazing. The staff was super friendly and the food was amazing. Being that I’m from the Caribbean we love tea, and their tea in Morocco didn’t disappoint. Although all 3 locations were amazing, I had to walk through the Modena. There’s their big market, square and the locals are very aggressive; especially since being black and from US. You try to bargain with you and you most be real stern as there’s no set price there. If you say no they curse at you, and if you bargain and they don’t like your price they curse at you also. Lol so be ready mentally for their aggressiveness. It almost overshadowed their beauty of Morocco being that I wasn’t aware how the culture is like there but overall I enjoyed it.
I recently visited Marrakech for 3 days and 2 nights. I stayed in a traditional Riad called Riad De Charme Piscine/Hammam in the Medina. It was a beautiful and clean Riad and the staff were awesome. However because it was in the Medina, I had to walk through the market and to the square to get to taxis. This could be very intense as the sellers can be quite aggressive to get you to go into their shops. Be sure to bargain for everything that doesn’t have a set price. While in my Marrakech I did a full day at the luxury spa La Mamounia, where i had an traditional Morroccan Bath. I booked like 2 weeks in advance. You have to provide them with a credit card number via email to secure your booking and it creeped me out – but I had no issues. Enjoyed it and actually paid extra for the breakfast buffet
I also visited the YSL Museum and had a traditional breakfast at the Riad Goloboy. There are so many things to do in Marrakech, airbnb experiences has a multitude of reasonable priced activities. I traveled alone and felt safe.
I have visited many places but this trip will always be my favourite. There is so much things to do and explore in this city such as quad bikes, camel riding, Ouzoud falls, visiting the markets etc. I was so happy with the traditional food, everything was fresh which is 10/10 for me. We found a really cool spot called ‘Mama Afrika’ that do Caribbean food and play reggae/bashment it was a vibeee ? For nightlife we went to So lounge at the Sofitel Hotel which was a nice little vibe, they played hip hop, Afro beats and dancehall! (On the Wednesday not sure about every night) Morocco as a country is beyond beautiful – everyone we met had such a genuine pure heart. Thank you so much to the locals who made us feel at home, we are so grateful for the memories created. “Good people meet good people” is what we was told by a local in the village whilst talking about all the friends we had made. It’s so sad to feel as if you have left behind family but Inshallah we will be back next year. Mehdi, Monseouf, Nabil and the beautiful ladies working at our Riad thank you so much ♥️
Travelled to Marrakech 2018, it is a very beautiful and relaxing place full of culture, take a walk through the local markets(be careful they will try and sell you any and Everything!!), the Markets are full of culture, food and all these amazing clothing and hand-made jewelry and trinkets.
Research before you travel as we went in September and I believe it was Ramadan(fasting period) and some of the places that may have been open where closed as a result.
The night life offers both a chilled and laid back atmosphere with hookah lounges as well as a few clubs, although we mainly opted for the restaurant and outdoor hookah bars. We took a trip into the Atlas mountains(excursion trip your hotel can offer) and had lunch in the mountains, they have little restaurants out there, where you literally sit in the middle of the stream with water running at your feet.
I will always recommend Marrakech and would visit again.
Don’t even know where to start! There’s a lot to do in Marrakech, I’ve been there twice and still feel that I have a lot more to discover. This time we stayed in a cute little hotel called ‘Majorelle City Center’, not far from the Majorelle Garden, which by the way is a must-see. For night life I recommend you the club ‘555’. In general, Marrakech is quite affordable and budget-friendly. There’s a lot to do such as short (or long) excursions to other cities (Fez, Essaouira), spending a few nights in the desert, camel riding tour, etc,… A few places you can’t miss: Bahia Palace, place Jemaa El Fnaa, Musée Yves Saint Laurent.
Morocco is different! Fun, but still different. While in Marrakech find time to feel a part of the city and culture. I got the chance to wear some of the clothing from the culture and ride a camel. This was fun but not thrilling, however it is a good chance to catch some great shots! After that hit the dirt and rock out on a 4-wheeler. The opportunity to get lost in the city with friends is very real, but it’s a good lost because you will find your way home and in the process you will stumble upon things to do and see. Lastly you’ll want to hit Le Jardin Majorelle. This is a beautiful botanical garden, giving one the chance to relax, take in some sites and get in some of the coolest pictures Marrakech probably has to offer. Marrakech is pretty quiet and I did go during Ramadan so that probably factored into the energy the city had to offer, but with that said it was still a great experience.
I went to Morocco with two female friends in May 2018, and we really enjoyed our time there. We flew straight in to Marrakech from London and took a taxi to our hotel.
For the most part of it Marrakech was fun, which a lot of options of things to do. We spent a night in the Sahara, went to the the YSL museum, Jardin Majorelle, the old town and lots of walking and site seeing. Activities in Marrakech were very affordable, however you typically had to haggle to get the best value for money. Whatever price was offered initially was probably over priced. We all bout straw handbags for half the price of what was initially offered along with other items.
Everyone tries to sell you oils, so take your time to decide and don’t feel pressured into buying anything. A lot of the men at the markets were quite overwhelming and would typically drag my friends and I to see something at their stores. We found ourselves getting into arguments with people over the way they were treating us far too many times. As a black female, it wasn’t alway the most pleasant experience and its not rare to hear men at the markets saying things that might get you upset. We just kept it moving.
Apart from that, it was very beautiful with very very delicious food and I would happily go back, but to a different and calmer part of Morocco
Flying into Casablanca for a short layover I was quickly introduced to the not-so-organized airport culture I would be encountering. While traveling in Morocco, I learned to ask multiple people the same question before trusting someone with the answer.
If you’re going shopping and are stopping in other cities outside of Marrakech, do it there as Marrakech will have tourist prices. Markets are beautifully vibrant as you see all over Instagram, however if you’re a female or group of females get ready for some male attention. They will not hold back and was truthfully one of the first times I’ve felt uncomfortably harassed and powerless as my friend ended up getting groped by a man who followed us for at least 5 minutes as local people around shook their head in disappointment but did nothing. This was not the action of all men, but as a female I would not recommend traveling solo here.
Other than the that, I would highly recommend planning ahead and booking a Riad (House/palace with interior garden) in advance for your stay as the nicer ones tend get booked fast early on and book a tour guide.
I went to Morocco with a group of friends. We flew into Marrakesh and stayed in at this airbnb.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20054881?eal_exp=1547497099&eal_sig=891f13ccb991e30ae64d44cd0b1411c095b0c02b8fde506f49beaff0f09d43b4&eal_uid=230820789&euid=5f9f1a62-fd02-3ece-085e-4c1a975aca48&guests=1&adults=1
Our hosts at the airbnb played a big role in our activities for the trip, as they provided a driver for us to move around the country pretty seamlessly. They also paid to have the host provide a cook for dinner the first night. On the way to the airbnb (which was pretty far from the city center), we stopped at a grocery store to stock up at the house with snack, drinks, etc.
Day 1: City tour which included
1) Majorelle Gardens (really beautiful, vibrant blues). You’ll get some excellent shots there.
2) Medina Market – a maze of local markets, get ready to souvenir shop and take in all the hustle and bustle and culture
3) A lot of random shops that the driver was connected to I’m assuming (pharmacy, pottery, etc)
Day 2: Day trip to Atlas Mountains (went to a beautiful restaurant with amazing view on the way up the mountain). Hiked the mountain with a guide that could speak English, saw waterfalls, etc.
After leaving the mountain, we went to some spot in the desert and rode camels for an hour as the sun was setting. A really beautiful experience and we got some epic group caravan picture.
Day 3: Our Airbnb hosts provided a Moroccan Cooking Workshop at the house. Our instructor was super nice and we got to experience a little more of the culture by making our own meals in the popular tagines.
After the cooking class and eating, our driver took us out to the desert and we met up with a Quad Biking shop. We biked for a few hours until the sun set. I keep mentioning the sunsets because they were just really stunning in Morocco.
Day 4: We had our driver take us to Casablanca for a few days. Honestly, it’s a lot cheaper to take the train and it’s pretty scenic, so I would also recommend that option. We took the train to return to Marrakesh. Casablanca has a modern, more urban feel. We stayed at Le Casablanca Hotel, which was really nice. We had dinner there the first night. We were a lively crew, so we ended up in a karaoke situation with the singer at the hotel restaurant/bar. We went to a hookah spot right down the street from the hotel.
Day 5: We visited the Hasan II Mosque – really beautiful. We also relaxed, walked around the city, and explored. We went to a nice rooftop bar called Sky 28 that had a beautiful view of Casablanca. We ate dinner at Le Marley. We ended the night at this dope Afrobeats club called BAO. The people and the DJ were live. You will definitely have a great time on a Saturday night. We made friends and didn’t end the night until 4am.
Day 6: We check out of our hotel and took a taxi to the train station to return to Marrakesh. Once in Marrakesh, our next Airbnb host provided a driver to pick us up from the station. We stopped to get food, and then went back to the medina market to buy some last minute souvenirs.
Overall, it was a great trip! All of the people were really nice. It helps if you know French, as a lot of the people speak Arabic or French, but I was able to stumble through conversations with Spanglish as well.
Visiting Marrakech was so different from all of my previous European travels. There is so much to do and the architecture is absolutely incredible. However, just as an FYI, if you are staying in the city center like I did, cars are not able to travel all the way in; so you have to walk or take a scooter in. That was something I definitely wish I would of known as I got in after midnight local time and the airport transfer from my hostel told me that abruptly; we ended up walking a mile in the dark to my hostel. Talk about adventure. We stayed at the Hostel Riad Marrakech and it wasn’t fancy but it was very clean, safe, and had everything you needed. Everything is pretty cheap in Marrakech. Our hostel was about $20/night for a shared room. The markets are great for shopping, I got a pashmina scarf for less than $20. Definitely get a massage, visit the festivals, and take a picture with the monkeys. I also recommend visiting the Sahara Desert if you have time. It’s about a 7 hour car ride but totally worth it if you want to do camel riding, sand surfing, and seeing the sunset over the sand dunes. As a black woman I recommend traveling in groups/pairs at a minimum in Morocco. The men are a bit aggressive (in getting your attention) but the power is in numbers. Stay together and you won’t have any problems.
My first time visiting Morocco I was excited and nervous. Being that I travel alone and have read the harrassment women have experienced when they’ve traveled there made me super nervous. However my trip there was phenomenal. I got to visit 3 different cities outside of Marrakech, went mountain climbing in the snow. It was fascinating because each city I visited was so different from Marrakech from the people, to their culture and lifestyle. Theres so many beautiful scenery in marrakech and places to visit that you’ll never run out of things to do. Also I use getyourguide.com for majority of my excursions they are usually cheaper with lots of options
There was sooo much to do In Marrakesh! Any and all of the food places I went to, we’re good! The hookah was really good and the people were extremely nice. If you go, definitely visit the souks and shop. Ride the camels, check out the monkeys in the center and grab some ice cream while you’re there. Not sure if the exact name of the sweet treat but it looks like ice cream and it tastes so amazing!
Being someone that loves to capture culture and vibrancy, Marrakech was one of the best cities to capture in colour. From the oranges in vendors’s baskets to the beauties of the Jardin Majorelle no wonder so many tourists are rushing in.
Packing
* Easy! Pack vibrant colours and comfy footwear.
* Loads of walking in a few dusty grounds so leave your expensive white footwear at home.
* Pack some Immodium because no one wants food poisoning but if it does happen then at least you will be prepared
* Carry a socket as the wall plugs are different from UK but similar to France en Spain. In Morocco the standard voltage is 220 V so you can use your electric appliances in Morocco, if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 – 240 V (as is in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa). US, Canada and most South American countries – you need a voltage converter in Morocco. You can also consider a combined power plug adapter/voltage converter.
Money
We read that there is only so much Moroccoan dirhams you are allowed to bring in to Marrakech so we exchange a small amount for our taxi transfer (which you should always prebook!!!!) and for the first day as we planned to exchange the day after our busy day travelling.
* Make sure to exchange just enough for your transfer if you have to pay for this (unless you booked a hotel that covers it in your stay)
* The rest of your money can be exchanged in Marrakech so many places with great rates in the town area from pounds or euros to dirham.
Airport
We arrived Marrakech around 10:30 am from what was a few hours flight in from London Luton. The return flight cost was under £100 as we had just come from Mykonos and were on a budget. Getting through customs was a long process, took us 2 hours!!!!! so I would advise not planning too much of a hectic day upon arrival.
* You are required to fill in a small form giving details of name, occupation , where in Marrakech you plan on staying (nothing difficult just know your accomdation name, if you are staying at an airbnb have the address ready).
* We were offered free sim cards at the airport by some companies (including Orange) we accepted but never got round to using them because our accom and most restaurants had wifi, our house keeper offered her mobile when we needed to call our taxi and our drivers did not mind offering their phones for emergency calls (we were very lucky but get a sim incase you don’t get so lucky).
Food
After arriving and checking in we went out for food.
* Because there isn’t always good wifi reception I would suggest you go on tripadvisor and review the restaurants in your area.
* When the option is presented, chose to eat inside the restaurant unless you don’t mind cats roaming around you while you eat.
* Important always buy bottled water.
* There are so many rooftop bars in Marrakech. Maybe rooftop hop? But remember to book ahead for food as most great spots are usually busy, eg Nomad.
There sooo many great places to eat
Cheap eats in Marrakesh
1. Corner cafe
2. Amal
3. La Cantine des gazelles (book! ahead))
4. Roti’Dor
5. Cafe Caravan
6. Bakchich cafe
££-£££ eats Marrakesh
1. La table al badia at Riad al badia
2. La salama – belly dancing
3. Hotel la reinicance
4. Nomad (not really that expensive but on my list as expensive because I expected it to be due to rooftop and viewss!)
5. Naranj
6. Comptoir Darna (Belly dancing book ahead!! Dont miss this).
Beach life
Marrakech is sizzling hot! And you will wish they had a beach but fortunately for you there are plenty of options.
* There are some hotels that allow pool packages or you can stay at one with a pool!!
* If you want more of a buzzing environment theb you can head over to Nikki Beach pay for the bar entry so so you can dip your feet in the pool and sip some juice or a cocktail. Unfortunately we never got to go as we had such a packed stay in Marrakech.
* Day trip to Essaouira it you have the time which has a beach (which we didn’t).
* If you are bad and bouje why not treat yourself to a package deal at Palais Nanaskar. I would recommend a brunch day or pool day at this hotel. It is gorgeous but it ranges from £50-70 pounds pool-brunch.
Waterfalls
Be sure to visit 1 or 2 of the near by waterfalls in the area.
* Our group booked a full day tour (we found out about by asking around) that took us around to the Berber villages, the Ourika valley and waterfalls, argon oil making tour, a camel ride and a free full course meal at a restaurant and views of the Atlas Mountains.
* The following day we took a half day trip to the Ouzood waterfalls.
Night life
* The square comes alive at night with loads of different stories being sang in songs and food vendors selling. It is truly culturally stimulating and requires at least viewing. We were a group of 5 girls so we had to stay aware that we are in a foreign country so behaved responsibly and respectively of the culture.
* Unfortunately we only had one night out due to our busy days so we had barely any energy for night life. We did spend some time in Comptoir Darna (see above), which is a restaurant that turns into a night club after around 12 on an uostairs section, very glamorous. We danced and drank till our feet went sore.
* On our plane back a group of guys we met did mention to us a club called 555 and said they had a great time there.
* Some clubs depending on the night do offer ladies drink free as a promotion to invite more female to the clubs. So if you are a female looking to booze out then there you go just remember where you are and enjoy yourselve responsibly.
Tourists attractions within Marrakech
There are so many places to see, so little time. Our trip was 5 nights but still wasn’t enough so left some things for next time. This list should give you an idea of places to go to however so places charge and close on certain days so please do double check times to go and entry fees, etc…
List of things to do …
1. Medina – Jamaa el -fna square
2. Jardin Majorelle (open 8am -5:30pm) -*tickets needed –
3. Le Jardin secret (9:30 -6:30 )
4. Koutoubia mosques
5. Saadian tombs (open 9am -6pm) 10 dirhams
6. El Badi Palace (open 9am -5pm)
7. Bahia Palace
8. Musee Tiskiwin
9. Dar si Said Museum
10. Museum of Marrakesh
11. Ouzoud falls
12. Ourika river
13. Atlas mountain
14. Duasamrah
15. Hamnannh
16. Essaouira- has a beach for camels, surfing, quad bikes and the suiok
17. Tin mal mosque
18. Museum of Marrakesh
19. Ben Youssef Madrasa
20. Almoravid Koubba
Safety tips:
1-Do not follow anyone
2-Only haggle if you want something
3-Don’t respond to rude comments
4-Book trips with hotel if you feel unsafe we stayed at a safe place be sure to research all you can
5-Go in a group, especially if you are female as I would never advise on less due to safety concerns
I hope this extensive list of research is
helpful in your amazing trip to Marrakech. Remember to joy each experience as travel is not only about seeing new places but about developing yourself.
By Nyamu (ig: amidnightlight)
Happy to answer any questions ?
I found the souk situation a lil nerve racking!!! Men everywhere trying to grab us & make us go to their stall. I found the deeper we walked into the souk much calmer, but I was still WORN OUT!! I was too overwhelmed so I did the majority of my shopping at a nearby mall. No haggling & the prices were still cheap.
THE RETURN TO THE MOTHERLAND! (A really long layover here) Marrakesh was our teaser experience into Africa and truly has us searching for flight deals to return. The customs line was outrageous but that seems to be the norm based on what our friends have experienced as well. Our taxi driver was really nice and gave us a tour of the city. The people are crazy chill and extremely welcoming. It was one of my best international while black travel experiences. You have to have tagine (a local dish) after a vigorous day of negotiating in the souks!
Two of my girlfriends and I visited Marrakesh back in April to May and we had an amazing time. We stayed at Riad dar Yema which was a beautiful and about a 10-minute walk or less to Jemaa el-fnaa. Breakfast was included which was prepared to your liking and at the requested time in case you had to be out extremely early. Arrange transportation from the airport. We didn’t and trust me it was a regret. We got approached by undercover police telling us not to ask these men for directions, ruining pieces of our luggage from rolling them on the uneven roads to, realizing how much walking it was, which could have all been avoided if we paid for the transport. Because its a maze sometimes finding locations can be a bit tricky and frustrating. For the most part, we used maps.me which helped a lot but eh getting lost is apart of the charm I guess.
Another place to stay is really to visit the Sahara Desert (Erg Chigaga Desert Camp) with Top Desert. By far one of the best experiences I’ve had surrounded by dunes, watching stars and waking up to watch the sunrise. Still, to this day I cannot explain the feeling. Not to mention you get a private driver throughout the whole experience.
Few tips to note: it’s a cash city, make sure you bargain with everything and bring small change as they’ll tell you they don’t have any to give back (especially when taking taxis).
I went to Marrakech with a group of friends. Honestly it was the hottest city I’ve ever been to in Morocco. The walls are mostly red and orange and there’s so much activity going on especially in the Main Kasbah where you’ll find snake charmers, millions of vendors and street performers. It was in this Kasbah that I got into a fight with a random henna painter that took my hand and forcibly drew on it. As an African traveler from Kenya, I didn’t experience any racism in my time in Marrakech but I was instead consumed with adventure. This is the city that never sleeps. There’s always something going on. The city is filled with so much history too such as the exclusive Le Jardin Marjorelle which is Yves Saint Laurent’s Museum. It’s absolutely spectacular! The history and architecture is amazing. There’s also the Bahia Palace which has so many beautiful patterns and architecture. To end your experience, you can walk through to the spice market which is so stunning. I saw spices I’d never seen in my life! This city is known for its wild nightlife. The clubs are all very different but enjoyable experience. All in all, everyone who visits Morocco needs to go to Marrakech! But in all honesty, the prices are crazy expensive and you shouldn’t shop in Marrakech. I think it’s the most overhyped city in Morocco, I expected way more but you must go there just for th experience!
My husband and I visited Marrakech end of August it was extremely hot. About 115 degrees to be exact. Anyway. The riad we stayed at was amazing and friendly Riad Karmela. But staying there was in the heart of the Medina right outside the riad was the big square. That’s where snake charmers , monkeys, people eating snails, shopping and all kinda stuff goes down. Due to where we stayed ( which was beautiful ) every time we left the hotel we walked thru the alleys where locals were selling things . They yell at you that you’re going the wrong way and even called my husband a big black nigger. They can tell who’s a tourist so they try and confuse you with wrong directions and some try and scare you. Besides that I didn’t experience much else traveling while black in Marrakech .. we were on day trips most of the days we were there and every one was great.
I had a wonderful time in Morroco while traveling with my male friend (I am female). However, the one day I traveled around Marrakesh alone, things became ugly. As a female walking alone, I was harassed multiple times in broad daylight by several groups of men. When I refused to entertain them, I was called a nigger for the first time to my face. Whoo! It definitely stung and never did I expect to experience this in Africa of all places. Now this was an isolated event and I’m usually all for solo travel. However, I cannot in good conscience recommend that a black female travels to Morocco alone. If you are with someone else, especially a male, you will not be an easy target and have a great time.
Visiting Marrakesh was a great experience for me.
The culture is so different the food is amazing definitely tasty.
You can get local food pretty much everywhere you have many restaurant at the Jamee El-Fnaa.
There are many things to visit there:
Place Jamee El-Fnaa
Yves St-Laurent museum
Majorelles garden
Medina
Riding camel and Quad
Local Spa (Hammam )
Souks
They have nice local accommodation names Riyads very typical.
Kesh-Marra
I travelled alone from Zürich to Marrakesh for 4 days only and stayed at the Hotel Printemps for 320$.
I’ve visited the YSL Museum, Jardin Majorelle, Koutoubia Mosche, Bahia Palace and of course the souks at Djemaa el fna.
I walked most of the time or took coaches for only 10$ and didn’t take taxis. I met many people on the street and restaurants, they were sooo friendly.
My stay was really short but I enjoyed it, especially the Spa at la Mamounia and I recommend for a good hammam and massage the mille et une nuit spa at the el fna square for only 25$.
I will definitely go back soon.
P.S excuse my english.
My Dad and I flew into Marrakech, Morocco from Lisbon, Portugal (using Air Portugal). We stayed at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the best 5 star hotel in Morocco.
There are well-organized city tour of Marrakech, to visit wonderful sites such as the Menara Gardens, Koutoubia mosque and Bahia Palace with its lush Moorish-style gardens. Later, we shopped for silks, spices and delicacies in the atmospheric souks (markets). Our tour ended at the lively Djemaa El Fna Square where at the end of the afternoon, storytellers, snake charmers, tooth-drawers and dancers entertain the crowd.
I must say I’ve never experience more racism than in the United States. However, Marrakech came in 2nd place. I tried my best to enjoy the city in which I did but traveling here as a black woman was tough. In the streets people called me names like “Africa”, “African”, “Bob Marley” and a few other things I’d rather not mention. I would never discourage anyone from visiting anywhere. What I will say is, as a black woman, keep your radar up and your skin must be tough to handle the remarks you will get. I raveled with another woman who was more fair skinned and she did not have the same issues I had. I did come Across some nice people along the way so I can’t generalize every Moroccan. I feel like I would’ve had less of a hard time if I were with a man to be completely honest. . One horrible experience was when My friend was taking photos of me, an older man asked her “how much for this one?” As he pointed at me. Then he started shouting out numbers. It was disgusting. I explained my experiences to my riad staff and they apologized on those people’s behalf. For any black person (especially women) visiting Marrakech, take the good with the bad. I did enjoy the food, the architecture and the culture. But I definitely can’t get those remarks out of my mind
Marrakech is a wonderful city! I loved the medina, (we stayed at a riad nearby) and the Jema EL Fnaa square! This square really comes to life at night but during the day you can enjoy shopping and can always bargain, the Kaftan and Djellaba (Moroccan traditional dress) are so colorful that I wanted to get one in every color.
Beside sight-seeing I also recommend if time permits that you visit the Royal Mansour Hotel and/or La Mamounia. You can visit for free and take beautiful pictures. My friends and I did a spa day at la Mamounia we booked a massage and the day pass gave us access the the pool,gym and some other areas in the hotel. I truly suggest you pay a visit to one of these 2 hotels.
Most amazing place ever! There culture alone is what caught my eye ! The raw ness off the city is so great old buildings , tradition and food so authentic
Marrakech is a beautiful place for anybody but especially black travelers. You get an influx of so many different African roots from all over and other black roots from Europe, America, and the Caribbean islands. It has a feel like Atlanta or somewhere in the south with the amount of blacks that visit there, work there, or have moved their for a better life. There is a big gap between the rich and the poor but tourism is a major source of income for the people of Marrakech, and you can see how much effort they are putting into their city.
I definitely recommend staying in one of the Riads in the Medina. The Riads are very cheap and so beautiful. I stayed at this one called Central Oasis Spa. Which I could not recommend more! The staff was super friendly and helpful and the Riad itself was beautiful and the interior very elegant. There was a jacuzzi upstairs (which I didn’t use because Morocco is already hot at least in June and July when I was there) but the view is amazing and very peaceful. You could request a steam room or massage on site. The bathroom was very nice with authentic Moroccan bathroom and robe. The location is great, many reachable places like a local plaza that’s a 3-5 minute walk, a bunch of restaurants, coffee/tea shops, shopping center, taxi area and if you wanted to go to the world famous Jemaa el-Fnaa (Marrakesh largest market/Souk). It’s only like a 15-20 minutes walk which I highly recommend because it’s a safe walk right on the main streets with lots of cars, lights, and hundreds on other local people and tourists on the streets. The markets truly lives up to its lively famous hype. From spices to tea sets and from clothing to ornate rugs, the markets of Marrakesh offer a wide assortment of goods for sale. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, strolling around Marrakesh’s vibrant markets is an experience not to be missed. But I guarantee you’ll buy something. There is just about anything you can think of and something will catch your eye. A big warning though, try to take as little items as possible when you go to the souk/market. Their is a lot of theft and picking pocketing once you get the the Medina square.
Also bargaining is a must and definitely part of the norm. If a vender tells you a price, you can expect the price to be up to two or three times higher than what you need to pay. Bargaining is fun as long as both sides gain from it. Don’t buy at your first spot especially if it’s not a price you want to pay. You’ll find multiple of the same products the deeper you go into the market.
One thing that was so underrated about the Riad I stayed at is how quiet it was at night and how the staff are available literally 24/7 to help with whatever you need. They also had complimentary breakfast from 7am-10am which was very delicious.
A fair warning you might get annoyed by is the constant battles with locals/workers trying to get you to come eat a their restaurant or to buy their products. They hustle a lot. But you have to understand for many this is their source of survival.
Overall I highly recommend everyone to visit Marrakech! It’s not your usual Ibiza or Amsterdam trip, but it takes you right into a different beautiful world of its own.
On my girls trip to Marrakech we stayed at riad reve d’orient . It’s a nice hotel , very clean and the staff is very helpful. The only thing is noise travels , it’s also in the middle of the medina which I loved because everything is either within walking distance or a short taxi ride. On one of the nights upon request they might even have a dinner with belly dancers and the staff sings local music and plays drums for their guest for about $35 . Very close to the riad is the jardin secret (secret garden) it’s open to the public to visit and is very beautiful. Jemaa el fna square is also a must its lively during the day but even better at night you can buy souvenirs and anything you can possibly imagine but be ready to negotiate because as a tourist everyone will try to sell you at maximum price. Jardin marjorelle is also another garden to visit . On our second day in Marrakech we did a camel ride and quad ride (1 hour of each ) that we booked on expedia for about $60 they take you through palmeraie palace and give you s history on morocco followed by tea at one of the local’s house . We had lunch at cafe argana it’s in jemaa El fna square it’s a two story restaurant with an ice cream parlor . The food is amazing especially their rabbit tajine and their virgin mojito is very refreshing. If you really want to try cheap and good local food walk through the streets of the square and pick a shawarma place with only locals some will try to tell you its for locals only but its worth it and you can have a full meal with fresh fruit juice for about $4 . On the third day we had a spa day at La Mamounia hotel this hotel so beautiful even if you don’t book anything there you should go visit it . We booked a ceremonial massage for $130 which also gave us access to the pools, the hot tub, the relaxation room and the gym for the day. Right across from la mamounia is a mosque along with a garden that is also worthy of a visit. The people of Marrakech are very welcoming every store owner will try and convince you to visit their store and have tea don’t hesitate to sit down and have tea with them even if you don’t purchase anything that day they will tell you many stories that will have you laughing and make you feel like you’re at home .
Myself and 8 other girlfriends recently visited Marrakesh for 4 days. On one of the nights, half of us decided to venture out to party and we ended up at the Theatro Nightclub, which was about 5-10 min away from the Médina. We arrived around 2AM. Entry was free and drinks were 100 dirham ($10) and strong! The music and atmosphere were EVERYTHING! The DJ played a mix of hip-hop, Afrobeats, and local artists. People were actually dancing and enjoying the whole night as well. Honestly, this was probably one of the best times I’ve had at a club (both domestically and internationally)! We ended up leaving close to closing (5 AM). Definitely would recommend this place to anyone while there!
Marrakesh was an interesting experience. It was chaos in beauty to me. I loved seeing all the beautiful colors at the souk, the street vendors, the spices etc. I also was a little overwhelmed by the people and the constant approach of locals attempting to sell different things. If you are prepared before you come, it can be a great experience but Marrakesh is not a city for relaxation in my option. It’s filled with adventure and chaos and you should approach it as such. I loved how beautiful the riads were. The food and mint tea were great. I also loved visiting the Majorelle Garden and seeing the beautiful architecture. The city does not serve alcohol so that’s also something to note if you think you are coming to relax and sip on a cool drink. They do have other great non-alcoholic options tho. Overall, I loved my experience here but would not choose it as a top choice for a relaxing vacation.
I travel to Marrakesh, Morocco for my birthday for a couple days. flight and hotel came up roughly £223 (booked in advanced).
Stayed at Opera Plaza Hotel Marrakech for a few days which was nice however if you really want live life the locals I would recommend Riad, especially Riad Kniza. The place is meticulously maintained. Rooms are big and beautifully decorated, the staff are so accommodating and nice, 1 day wasn’t enough.
I can say Morocco is very affordable especially if you a good at negotiating the price in other words (haggle). I spent roughly £200-£250 on taxis, camel riding, food, market shopping and quad bikes.
For activities please shop around, you can always haggle the deal with there is a group of you. You hotel may offer to have this sorted of you at a certain price ( obviously they take cut). So if you can go directly to guides.
Its must to experience the Medina market, the souk is quite big so you may get lost, you might get harassed a lot to purchase things but its all part of the experience. If you know how to carry yourself this will not bother you much. Lovely cafe and restaurants to choose from.
Marrakesh, beautiful, exotic and safe.
I traveled to Marrakesh after spending a week in Spain. The flight from Madrid to Marrakesh was less than $50. I flew on Ryan Air and left luggage that was not needed at the Madrid airport in a locker. I suggest staying in a Riad as they are less expensive, safe, gorgeous, and pleasant.
There are several beautiful architectural buildings you can go visit. Some are palaces and others are royal tombs. They’re really pretty. The best thing to do in Marrakech is to go shopping lol. I swear i wanted to spend all my money on the place. But be careful because the vendors are very pushy. Always haggle prices down. The hotel you’re staying in can book excursions for you to do. One i recommend is going to the sahara. Its a far drive but a cool experience.
We stayed at Riad Abaka, located in the heart of the Medina. Choosing a Riad in the Medina is the best option when you are in Marrakech. We spent 3 days intensive in Marrakech. I have two restaurants to recommend, the NOMAD restaurants which offer a magnificent view of Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains in the background. Special mention for the Nomad Couscous which is a real delight! The other restaurant is Les Terrasses des Épices. A DJ leads the evening, the dishes are good and we have a very nice view.
Here are the things to do in Marrakech during a weekend:
– Discover the Medina: walk in the souks and pass obligatorily on the Place Jema-el-Fna through the Koutoubia Minaret.
– Go to a cooperative to buy argon oil.
– Visit Bahia Palace and El Badii Palace.
– Discover the Majorelle Garden and visit the museum of Yves Saint Laurent: take the ticket that combines the two to avoid the long line.
– Ride a camel in the Palmeraie.
It was a perfect weekend, unfortunately too short. But it made me want to come back for a week this time. There is so much to see. The Moroccans are very hospitable, really, Marrakech was a nice surprise for me.
When visiting Marrakech, you will need to decide whether you want stay in Old Medina (Riads, Souk, Moroccan restaurants) or New Town (Clubs, Hookah Lounges, Hotels). We stay in a Riad in Old Medina (Riad Badi), it was really nice, close to the souks and restaurants. Only thing I did not like is you have to leave your room key every time you leave the Riad. Another thing to note is you cannot bring anyone to your Riad/Hotel. My nephew stayed in New Town, when we visited the souks I wanted to show him the Riad but they would not let him in. Same with his hotel, I could not go up and had to wait in the lobby.
Must Do’s in Marrakech:
Faim d’Epices Cooking Class – 550 Dirhams
Ouzoud Waterfalls – 150 Dirhams (You can walk the trail by yourself for free but I highly recommend going with the tour guide to see all of the extras like making argon oil for an extra 20 Dirhams)
Overnight Luxury Desert Safari (1400 Dirhams 2 days/1 night) – We haggled this price down to get the private luxury tour since we were in a group and wanted to stay together. Highly recommend this excursion. We stayed in the desert overnight, went sand boarding, road camels, and sat by the camp fire watching the stars. Keep in mind that the desert is 8-10 hours away from Marrakech. With the private luxury tour you get your own vehicle and will be able to make stops on the way to see different attractions.
555 & SKY5 – If you want to club or smoke some shisha these are good spots and they are right beside another. It’s also other restaurants/bars in this area.
Marrakesh is a one of the most inexpensive cities I’ve ever visited. I stayed in a hostel (Kif-Kif) for less than $5/day! The food is very inexpensive as well. The most you should spend on a meal is about $5. The taxi drivers will try to overcharge you if you have the “I’m a tourist” look, but a trip from the airport to the Medina should cost no more than $5-7. Most people visit Marrakesh because it is a jumpoff point for multi-day desert tours and trains to other cities. The Merzouga desert tours can range from $200-300, but they are well worth it!
If you are in Marrakesh and want to live like a rockstar for a day then I highly suggest purchasing the day pass at The La Mamounia! It was about $60 US and so worth it! You can take a dive in one of the outdoor pools. Treat yourself to a spa day and let’s not forget about the ig worthy pictures that you can take. The staff treats you like you royalty. I spent about a half a day there just relaxing, it was nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of everything going on in the streets.
When you visit Marrakech, I recommend staying the medina. This is the old city with fortified walls and inside are an abundance of Riads (bnbs to stay in…some have spas inside them), the square Jemaa al Fna which has the markets, snake charmers, food, drinks, henna and the night market which is full of life, the souks (also markets) plus restaurants and other attractions. Things to consider buying are spices, Argan oil and perfumes.
It’s important to haggle whenever you buy anything from the market or buy a tour as the first price quoted will be highly inflated.
A great way to view the city during sunset is at one of the rooftop restaurants.
There are beautiful mosques which aren’t open to non Muslims but can be enjoyed from afar.
Outside of the medina, definitely visit Jardin Majorelle which is a beautiful garden and was owned by YSL at one point when he was alive.
We also enjoyed camel tours which can be done about 20 minutes away from Marrakech if you don’t have much time or in the Sahara for a real experience. The Atlas Moutnsins are close by and perfect for a day trip too.
Moroccan food is mainly couscous, tagines and meat which can be hard for vegetarians/vegans…just be really clear exactly what you want if you can’t have meat and mostly they will try and accommodate you. Alcohol isn’t widely available but shisha can be enjoyed.
I absolutely loved their tea which they pour from a high height and had a sweet taste…it is served everywhere, usually for free.
A perfect way to relax is at a hamman spa which can be found everywhere in the medina. We paid £40 and had a full body massage for an hour, hamman scrub, facial and jacuzzi time (plus tea!)
As a woman travelling to Morocco, it’s advisable to cover up as much as you can, but you can keep your hair as you like without being troubled.
Finally, lots of Moroccans will offer to show you directions…often it’ll lead to their friend/family’s stall so best to avoid this unless you are prepared to buy something from that place. But they will leave you alone if you politely yet firmly decline.
Marrakesh is a huge urban and cultural center in Morocco; it’s an international city where you will encounter people from all over the world.
I stayed in the “Medina”(my name sake lol) which is basically the old city with a huge market square. You can find everything from clothing and rugs to spices and jewelry, prices are cheap. (I also saw a Monkey wearing sunglasses and a tuxedo). I stayed in a small hotel (Riyahd), which there were dozens and dozens of in the Medina. The rooms were very nicely decorated, bathroom and wifi were included in our room, (no TV in the room) but we only went there to sleep and store all the trinkets we bought in the market place.
Morocco is known for its fresh juices (or smoothies). I fell in love with a honey avocado drink it was delicious cheap (about $1 USD) and filling.
Night life in Marrakesh gets a 10 out of 10. If you go downtown they have dozens of really fancy hotels with night clubs and Casinos that you can enter for a small cover charge. There are many other bars and clubs downtown that cater to western/hip hop crowds, it was quite easy to stay out all night.
If you want real adventure there are buses that leave every hour from Marrakesh to Zagora, a small town on the edge of the Sahara Desert, it’s a 7 hour ride (with stops). I rode Camel back and camped in the largest desert in the world it was like being on another PLANET, one of the best trips I’ve ever taken.
I can only base this on our experience… Our hotel was FAR from any and EVERYTHING and that impacted things greatly. We travelled in February 2016 and it rained for 70% of the time we were there… We were all inclusive so chose to stay in our room most of the time. Meals were TERRIBLE and we were so hungry one evening that we took a taxi into the main town to get a bucket of KFC. Once again this was only our experience at our hotel and I know MANY people who had better experiences.
Our highlight of this trip was taking a hot air balloon ride at sunrise and it was FABULOUS. It was a bit pricey but phenomenal and worth every penny.
Marrakech was my first trip. Everything was beautiful however the street vendors do not respect tourists we felt aggression when we did not buy. There are waterfalls to do in a small village 40 km from the city is something not to be missed because it’s beautiful
If you only get to do 1 thing in Marrakech, make sure you go to the Jardin Majorelle. It’s beyond beautiful and peaceful and with the craziness of Marrakech, you’ll definitely enjoy just walking around. Make sure you go to the restaurant inthe jardin too, the food was pretty good!
I would not go back to Marrakesh- i was not that impressed. I went because that is where they filmed sex in city and thought it would be exotic but compared to other countries i could of visited in Africa i would chose somewhere else. Plus everyone was so hungry for money your going to get ripped off right and left. Watch out for Pp that put animals on you and want to take your picture, they will ask for a ridiculous amount of money afterward
There was not much to do. I did a city tour, desert tour, and bathing house. It’s a Muslim country so clubbing was basically out of the question as far as night life. And all the activities i picked i was not that impressed.
I stayed in the souk which was cool beauce it looks so ancient. But the vendors are so thirsty after a while your sick of people badgering you to buy something.
I visited Marrakech a few years ago and loved it, the bright colours and architecture were lovely. The town centre is bustling with people and it’s so vibrant. There are so many souks and it’s so dirty cheap I couldn’t believe it. The hotel I stayed at was beautiful also! I would defo go back
Marrakech is a beautiful city full of life all day and night. From the colors and smells in the souks to the beautiful hotels (both in old town & new town) to the siteseeing (YSL gardens) to mint tea all day long. Morocco is one of the most liberal Islamic countries in Africa so you will see melting pot of cultures all around. Speaking french is a plus in case you don’t speak morocccan Arabic. We speak french and had no trouble communicating most of the time. We would also recommend a 2 or 3 day trip to the Sahara desert. It’s a long trek (10hrs by car with views of the Atlas Mountains along the way from Marrakech ) but the views of the Sahara Desert are breathtaking. Also remember that you have to bargain when you shop, it’s part of the Moroccan culture. They will respect you more for it :)
Marrakech is a city full of sights, smells, and adventures! A perfect day would be waking up in a Riad ( they are pricey, but worth it!), going for a dip in the pool, getting lunch ( and tea) served while you lounge (there’s a lot of bread and heavy sauces so you may need a snooze) , taking a stroll through the souks (markets) and landmarks (Ben Yousef Madrasa is a must), then finishing with a hammam ( traditional bath) to be relaxed to do it all over again the next day! Try to wear flowy clothes that aren’t too revealing to respect the culture, although it’s a city so they are used to Western dress. Alcohol is really hard to come by, especially if you are a woman so you won’t be going too hard, but should to go to long and filling dinners ?