Book in Advance or Just Show Up
Replies: 12 - Last Post: Oct 7, 2012 1:00 PM Last Post By: briantc
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Book in Advance or Just Show Up
Hi,I will be in Morocco between 21st December 2012 and 1st January 2013.
Am I best booking somewhere to stay during this time of year or will it be easy enough to just show up at a hotel / hostel and easily get somewhere to stay?
Chris.
3
Are you sure it's going to be that busy?I'm planning on going to Tangier, Chefchaouen and Fez. Fez and Tangier, I imagine might be difficult to find somewhere to stay, but is Chefchaouen really going to be that busy?
I'm supprised as well because Christmas is not celebrated there.
Chris.
4
This period is usually very busy as many from Europe, the UK and the Statestake the opportunity of adding a few days to the Christmas break. It's not the locals using this accommodation - it's tourists. The other problem is that a lot of local accommodation options close once the season is finished and only open if there are sufficient numbers. A couple of years ago I stayed in Chefchaouen over this period and finished up somewhere I didn't really want to be as my first couple of choices were still shut. By the time I left they were open.I'd book, definitely the first night and then if you are prepared to take whatever is available run the risk.
Don't forget to factor in the cold and sometimes damp. Make sure where you are staying has decent heating and hot water. So many still rely on solar.
6
If you are planning to go to Marrakesh, Fes or Essaouira for example, you might well find there are no rooms in decent hotels with decent heating if you try to find soemthing off the street. Morocco is very popular with Christmas escapees and people who wish for a different New Year from the norm. And plan your trip in such a way that you do not book a day here and a day there in the same hotel in Marrakesh. The chances are they will not accept your booking. Take a look at RyanAir's airfares for January 1st or 2nd and you will see what I mean about popularity. The airline knows and ups the prices astronomically then.7
Heating's going to be an important factor in choosing accomodation as I know that a lot of places in Morocco don't have it.I'm travelling on a budget so will be looking for cheap places.
8
I went to Morocco in 2010 during Xmas/NYE without any booking and had no problems finding place to stay in Rabat or in Meknes for example. It was a little bit harder to find something in Dakhla though but it was doable after asking in 3-4 budget hotels.www.clabbetravels.com
www.tipsoftravelling.com
12
I'm going to be there for 9 full days in total. I will arrive in Tangier, spend half a day and overnight and then head to Chefchaououen and I want to also visit Fez and Meknes. Then I will finish in Tangier, spending NYE there before heading back the next day.I imagine it's best to book for Tangier, especially for NYE, but I'm hoping to find places on the fly when I visit the other towns so that I have flexibility in how much time is spent.
