Dear Fellow TT readers,
My boy friend and I are planning to head to Morocco in November. Interestingly friends I talk with quickly fall into two camps, those who love the place and those who run a way at the thought of going (or going back). I´m quite excited by the prospect after reading many of the TT posts and web sites. We only have 7 days and rather than trying to see everything want to enjoy a few places. So here is the plan - and I know it is nothing too original:
Day 1: Fly to Casablaca to pick up hire car and enjoy the city
Day 2: Self drive from Casablanca to Fes via Rabat
Day 3: Fes
Day 4: Drive from Fes to Marrakesh
Day 5&6: Marrakesh
Day 7: Drive or train back to Casablanca and fly out.
A couple of questions...
Rental Cars - We want to hire and return in Casablanca. Any suggestions on companies to use would be appreciated. Has anyone had experience with Morocar who I found online?
Balloon Ride - This is the treat of the holiday. I would love to do a hotair balloon ride out of Marrakesh one morning. I know that this is not cheap but one of those things I have always wanted to do.
Atlas Mountains Tour - I have found many companies that will run these day tours online. Given the short time in Marrakesh do people suggest we do this or use the time to get lost in the Medina.
Thanks for any advice...
From Casa you are much closer to Marrakesh than to Fes...so driving from Casa to Fes, spending one night and then driving BACK towards Casa on the way to Marrakesh is exhausting and doesn't do Fes any justice. "Pick up hire care and enjoy the city" will just not be the case.. you'll find Casa largely unpleasant, polluted, and an absolute nightmare to drive in/out of. Skip it.
In fact, your itinerary is short and easily accomplished relying on trains...unless you plan on taking the more scenic route from Fes to Marrakesh (which will take upwards of 9 hours solid driving) there isn't much to see on the "autopistes" you'd be taking between the cities of Casa, Rabat, Fes and Marrakesh. If you do go with a hire care, I've always used Budget.
I also think that Casa is interesting enough for a short visit. I never understand why some people here have to say immediately "skip Casa".
But the best nightclub? No! There are only a few and not so nice. Marrakech has much more and beautiful. But maybe they do more drinking in Casa, maybe that is what you mean.
Do they tour like you planned it, it is okay. But stop at Rabat, it is very nice to see.
If you have the rental car you don't need a Atlas tour. Take the car and do a day trip to the Ourika valley and up to Oukaimeden. There is a lift, you can go to the top and enjoy the view.
I have no information about balloon rides.
You are making the typical mistake of first-time visitors: trying to see too much in too little time.
With only seven days, spend it all in either Marrakech or Fes. My recommendation of course is Marrakech. Forget Casablanca, it is a complete waste of time.
A Google search, which can be done by anyone from any computer in the world, gave several listings for hot air balloon rides in Morocco.
ive sent you an email. re marrakech, essouira and telouet after enjoying an awesome visit to the hassan mosque at casablanca.
The first time we went was for a week. You're better off sticking to Marrakesh - it's a lot closer and there are a lot more places to go to around it (i.e. Essaouira and Tiznit) and getting to Fes is a long drive! We took grand taxis from town to town, if you are able to share taxis it gets a little crowded but less expensive (tried the bus once but we're just not bus people). We also find that they relieve the stress of trying to get where you're going (we rented cars in Germany). You could visit a town in the high Atlas but I don't know that you would have time to take a tour - you may be trying to plan too much with that.
Thanks to everyone for your advice. We have decided to extend our holiday by about 2 days and will basically head straight for Marrakesh. From there we will venture out for a few day trips and probably overnight in Essaouira. This trip I guess will be an appertiser and if we enjoy the country and people we can always go back for more!
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