Money Needed Per Day
I was wondering if you could tell me a reasonable amount of money needed for meals (food only - not including alcohol) per day. I will be traveling to Marrakesh, Fes and Chefchaouen. I like good food but am also on a budget. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.1
...... its a bit like.... how long is a piece of string. I have got by on 20euro some days without thinking about it. On other days spent a multiple of that, depends on where you sit-down or buy and take back to your kitchen.To comment on alcohol, its not part of the culture, people drinking are considered delinquent, bad as it is for men to do it, its courting trouble as a female, I recommend you avoid been seen drinking. There's a delightful alternative, mint tea aka Berber Whisky (note Irish spelling), in good company just as intoxicating.
2
Hi,Fez is cheaper - the excellent Cafe Clock in the medina will provide you with a great lunch or dinner with quality food for about or below 10 EUR. Besides, they have free Internet access.
In Marrakech for a meal under 10 EUR you will have to rely on street merchants which might affect your stomach (cleanliness was never populare there). In Ville Nouvelle there is an excellent supermarket with prices, lower than in Europe or US.
In both cities there is a McDonalds in Ville Nouvelle with pricess lower than in Europe or US. Whatever they say about it, sometimes it is a life-saver.
WWell,
3
Uh oh,I've never been regarded as delinquent, when drinking in Moroccan bars, more like a hustler opportunity with the rich foreigner......... and the secret police, some of whom are on "nodding" terms with me in Chefchaouen, regard me as " a normal big- spender tourist, essential to the local economy ", and keep an eye on me to preserve my " spending wellbeing"
You will find the cities in the south more expensive for eating, in Chefchaouen my favourite eaterie is Restaurante Ben Moulay Rachid, in the street of the same name, just outside Bab el Ain gate and on the steep hill leading to Hotel Atlas. It's where the Moroccan tourists eat and can be quite busy at weekends with day trip tourists, but a meal with soft drink is less than Dh50, it's a clean basement establishment with no windows, but you can watch TV in the main salon.
Alternatively, the Bar/Restaurant Oumou Rabia in Avenida Hassan 2 only five minutes walk away, has an upstairs restaurant, the food is very good and you can order beers or a bottle of wine, I don't drink much wine myself, only occasionally with dinner, I prefer the local beer which ranges from Dh20 for local Flag Speciale, to Dh25 for San Miguel, the latter which I prefer. You can buy carry-- out alcohol here, I think a bottle of wine is around Dh130, and reasonable quality, just ask Abdul Latif the " baleine" (whale) barman for your requirements, or the waiters, Youssef or Jamal....
Again, you can eat well in this eaterie, for around Dh50, just ask to see the menu, the staff always need prompting in this respect, especially if the ubiquitous Kif pipe has been in action, and service is a bit slow.....
The place for lone females to drink is the Parador Bar, in the salon, expensive, and wine only served in the restaurant with dinner, but you will probably feel more comfortable there than in Oumou Rabia, sometimes the local hustler guides get drunk, after spending a successful day ripping off yet more gullible tourists and receiving their cash commissions.
Often, in the evenings, you can find other small restaurants, where they serve Harira, a vegetable soup, made in essence from sheep bones, and a delicate balance of egg, noodle and vegetables and spices, served with a chunk of Hoabs ( Moroccan bread ) is almost a nutritious meal in itself, if your stomach is still not full, order a second helping, the chef will be flattered !....prices for a bowl range from Dh3 to Dh10, anything more than this demanded is rip-off.....it's what the locals pay.
Avoid the rip-off tourist-trap outdoor cafes in Place Uta Hamman, adjacent to the medievil Kasbah, you will rarely observe Moroccans eating there, only gullible foreign tourists.
That's all I can think of for the moment, happy to help with any further advice...........Miguel.
4
Do not use euros; withdraw dirhams as needed from one of the many ATMs. Prices for food, hotels, etc., are simply a matter of personal preference. A nice evening meal for one person (not street food) should not cost more than 50-60 dirhams, often less. Sanitation can be a problem (always drink bottled water, use no ice) but eating where you see lots of locals often is a good choice. You are likely to get tummy problems regardless of where you eat; many people do.7
Marocfan is just envious because Miguel doesn't have the encumbrance of a permanent" burd"..........
Variety is the spice of life, so I've been told....
And as for today's obsession with political correctness, that's for " dunderheids " who don't possess the capability to think for themselves !
Translations..Burd = available, desirable female.....
Dunderheid = someone with a pound of minced beef, instead of a brain...
Back to the cupboard again, before the flak descends.....
Miguel.
8
Do not use euros; withdraw dirhams as needed from one of the many ATMs.
Sorry to threadjack, regarding ATMs in Morocco - I know there are plenty at the airport and in Marrakesh, should I assume smaller towns (up into the Atlas) won't have ATMs. Also, is it best to only use ATMs attached to proper banks?
Many thanks.
11
.... the exchange rate is set by the Central Bank / Treasury, the same rate more or less applies everywhere. $US can be exchanged in Banks or accepted if you are staying in hotels, some traders and restaurants in tourist areas take them too, the rate is usually the same everywhere, never observed street trading in currency, if such is offered, probably a con.
