15

.... you might get a Kia Picanto, (like a toy car) for two days plus petrol.

16

Hello again Zut,
I've emerged from my temporary Sabbatical.........

I'm beginning to suspect that you're a REAL man like me, unlike some of the wimpish unisex types who seem to predominate the planet nowadays..
I hesitated to offer this advice originally, but now that your eligibility ( in my opinion ) has been confirmed to the Real man's club, why not check out my favourite Essaouira bar, just behind the Hotel Sahara, the infamous Bar le Trou, check out some of my previous ramblings on this forum for full details and secret video filming.........

The wife and weans might be an encumbrance, so just make sure they're safely tucked up in bed in the hotel, and make the usual excuse "I've got a headache, dear, and I need some fresh air "......then you can slip away and savour the late-night raucous action, it may appear uncivilised and intimidating at first, but don't worry, it's perfectly safe under the surveillance of the ' Gorilla ' bouncer, sitting on his seat in the alleyway. Moroccans are just noisy when they get drunk, which is always " par for the course " in this bar, but I never had any problems, except for two amateur beer hustlers, I sorted out one myself, and the " gorilla " was activated to sort out the other more persistent one, I enjoyed watching the action when the pest was physically ejected from the bar....grab yourself a table and summon the efficient waiter, Omar, to order your drink, he only speaks French, but sign language will suffice, sometimes it's too noisy, especially with itinerant musicians playing traditional music on wood instruments, which is always well-received by the clientele, to their visible and audible delight.

You pay for your drinks at the end of the evening before you leave, I always gave Omar a Dh20 tip, he makes sure my glass is re-filled promptly, and if I get hustled by some miscreant, he activates the formidable ' gorilla' to ensure I'm not inconvenienced..........

Can you follow in Miguel's footsteps ? I have confidence in you, Zut !........

Miguel.

17

Hahahaa! I also have confidence in me! :)

As for the rentals: I cant take the car straight back to Rak, if I want to stay in Ess. And also I prefer not to drive straight away in a foreign continent after flying long time. Better throw up my legs and grab a beer for the journey :)

And the charge was 700dh, not 900, my mistake. So i am guessing it is a good deal! Be there soon, so over and out here!

18

Weans?

Now really, unless you are Billy Connolly in disguise, Miguel, you could give zut a fighting chance of understanding you by using words he might recognise.....

Zut, you have made the right decision not to drive yourself, you cannot watch the Morocco passing by AND concentrate on mad men driving ridiculously badly at the same time.

Do remember, however, that "grabbing a beer for the journey" is not always so easy in a moslem country. A supermarket is probably your best bet, but the hours in which they are allowed to sell alcohol are shorter than normal opening hours- and there will only be one or two brands placed in the chiller....

19

I have actually been to Rak and Ess in 2008 and know about the alcohol policy. This was more like an expression :)
But things change during time and thus I wanted some updated info! Thanks again everyone! :)

20

Private taxi from Marrakech to Essaouira costs 600-700dh, depending mainly on the quality of the car. This should be prebooked via the accomodation offerer. No good comes from trying to get one straight from the airport. As I am travelling with children, going to center of the city to find a bus was not an option, due to late arrival.

Prepaid SIM for internet costs 180dh for one month. Widely available in the small shops of Essaouira Medina. This is only data plan though. If one would like a call + data SIM card, then it would cost more. It was 10dh per day of internet use + the calls + the fee for getting this. Do not remember all numbers, as this was clearly not for me - I went with the 180dh /month data only option. Intwernet speed was decent on rooftops /new city. And was quite weak in some parts of the old medina. But i could not find a place, where there was no coverage at all.

Average prices vary a lot! In better places these are ~150 per main dish. In medicore places one can get a "menu" (salad, main dish and dessert) for the same price. In low budget good places, main dishes are around 60dh and top budget places (in smaller streets, where locals eat) we have found decent meals for 20-30dh.

For people who stay a little longer, the daytrip to Sidi Kaouki is well recommended. But for people who have a week only - explore the city itself.
Get some fresh fish from the fishingboats or from the fish market. Get them grilled near the souqs (markets). Dont use the fish stalls in the port.
Go to a hammam. The ones in the new city are cleaner, if you want to go where the locals go. But there are some next to hotels, for tourists. But these cost double or triple the price of the local ones.
Stroll the beach. Take some wind /kitesurfing lessons, go camel or quad-bike riding.
Lots of good restaurants, where to go. You can get a clue from browsing this site for example. Also some bars for nightlife.
Visit nearby argan oil plantations.
Lots to do :)