Marrakesh

Sensible Traveler’s Hot Take

Marrakesh is always at the top of people’s travel lists, especially if they haven’t been. Who doesn’t love a camel burger? Plus Marrakesh has beautiful accommodations as it’s filled with wonderful riads (think boutique hotels) and there’s certainly a bit of romance to getting lost in the Medina (town square/markets). However, one can only eat so much tangine, and continually getting lost in the Medina can take a toll on you and certainly put stress on your relationship if you’re traveling with a partner! At times one can also feel uncomfortable, not because of the snakes that are being charmed in the baskets, but because some locals make their living off of selling things to tourists and are very persistent in selling you their goods/services. It’s especially annoying when their goods are not even made in Morocco! Should you visit Marrakesh? Sure, make sure you visit the “Red City” at some point in your travels but it likely shouldn’t be at the top of your list as many may claim.

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Top Things to Do in Marrakesh:

1. Get lost in the Medina/View the architecture
   1. Walking through the Medina (center of town with all types of markets) is a fun and exciting experience. After a while you may get tired of it, and if you get really lost it may lead to a break-up with your spouse but it is something you must do.
2. Barter for something
   1. Whether you need to buy a water, a Morrocan rug or take a picture with a snake charmer, you will certainly need to barter over the price. It can/will get exhausting but that’s how the culture works!
3. Visit Ben Youssef Madrasa
   1. It’s an old Islamic college that is now a historical site and is absolutely stunning.
4. Smell the roses at the Majorelle Gardens
   1. This is the former blue house of a french painter who’s gardens, which contain plants from all over the world, were preserved from development. It’s about a 40 minute walk from the main Medina in “New Marrakesh”. Honestly, it was a bit underwhelming but you should go if you’re in Marrakesh for 3 days or more.
5. Get a Massage at a Moroccan Hammam
   • Who doesn’t love a massage? But in Morocco they essentially scrub your body with sandpaper before giving you the massage to remove all your dead skin! It’s a bit painful but “no pain, no gain”!

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Food to Eat in Marrakech:

1. Moroccan food is tasty but you will likely get tired of Tangine if you’re spending a significant amount of time in the country.
2. Take a Moroccan cooking class
   1. You’ll learn that a staple food of Morocco is Tangine and it’s a bit of a complex process to make. There’s a wonderful non-profit called Amal that provides cooking classes with the goal of empowering women to learn the skills they need to support themselves.
3. It’s a bit more difficult to find alcohol as it’s a muslim country but you can get it.
4. Camel burgers are certainly better than a Big Mac at McDonald’s. Plus camel is a great source of protein with less fat than beef or pork. You’re also supporting the local farming community and many find the taste to slightly sweet and nutty!
5. It’s common for tea to be offered. If ever offered apple tea accept it because it’s the best tea you will ever have.

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Value:

1. You can get to Marrakesh relatively easily from Europe as there are many affordable flights from Spain, Portugal, France, etc.
2. Food and accommodations are relatively affordable in Marrakesh as there are a wide range of lodging options. Everything from hostels to fancy hotels but the Sensible Traveler will opt for a Riad which is affordable and has charm.
3. Be prepared to negotiate for everything. This means that you’ll get a good deal on some things and at other times you may get swindled. Try not to dwell on negotiations as that really detracts from your visit. If you ultimately think it’s a fair price at the time of purchase then you should be pleased and move on.
   1. Six months after your trip you don’t want to be stressing about the price you got your Moroccan rug for. It’s much easier to just accept that you likely overpaid for it and move on with your life.
4. You can generally get around the city speaking only English but you’ll certainly have an advantage in your negotiations with the locals if you can speak Arabic or French.
5. Be smart about the time of year you’re visiting Marrakesh as you’ll likely melt in the summer months. We highly recommend a visit in May which has less rain but is not too hot yet.

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Any other Sensible Travel tips for Marrakesh?