December Holidays

The other holiday is Eid al-Adha, or Eid Kbir. This year it will probably fall right around Christmas. There are no "restrictions" on travelling to Morocco at this time, and in fact it is a very busy season with lots of European tourists coming to escape the Christmas holidays. You should know however that the whole country seems to grind to a halt for several days, and public transport is strained to the max. Were I travelling then I would choose a city to stay put until the holiday were over.

Thanks Chanol.

Do you have a suggestion for where might be the least touristy place to go during the holiday? Also, when you suggest staying put for a several days, are you suggesting a few days before & after? I was hoping to keep my schedule flexible, with no fixed dates to be anywhere once I'm in the country, but sounds like I need to make some advance preparations regarding hotel - at least around Christmas time. As of now, I'm planning to spend the month of December and possibly the last week in November traveling.

Thanks again!
Teri

Travelling over Eid can be a bit tricky and you need to think it through because it restricts you. But I always have an itinerary, anyway. I've spent the holiday in the country and in town and town was definitely easier. The afternoon of the first day the odd shop or cafe opened but no restaurants and you may find country hotels or gites shut for the day (the place where I was staying they gave me a key) and you would be hard pushed to find a taxi. If you go somewhere that isn't touristy you will be eating out of tins and I wouldn't arrive the evening before the holiday starts.

Last year I had three nights in Tangier before the holiday then travelled down to Casa by train on the first day. It was a good way of spending the quietest day and the train wasn't busy. The evening before the station had been mobbed. Everyone is in a hurry to get home before the holiday starts. Went on to Marrakech the following day by train. The only real problems I had was getting a bus out (it wasn't running the day I wanted to leave) and a few days later when I tried to pick it up at Asni it was full of soldiers and I couldn't get on. I suppose they were going back to barracks after the holiday. None of this is life threatening.

I sort of agree with Chanol about basing yourself somewhere but as you see I based myself in a big town when people were likely to be travelling and where I could get reliable transport from.

Rabat would be a good place to spend the run up to the holiday or the holiday itself and to travel from by train to either Fes or Marrakech or Meknes.

No problem with hotels in Tangier, Casa, Marrakech. Eid mubarrak!

Hey Nusnus. Thanks for the great information. I just looked the holiday up online and found that it takes place on Dec. 20th this year - or thereabouts. Apparently, the date is a questimate and may vary due to crescent visibility. I don't know how to find an accurate date at the moment, but I'm sure there's a way.

Would you say that spending three or four days before the holiday in a larger city and maybe a day or two after is the way to go? . Do you think Fes and/or Meknes will have accomodations and food, as well as Rabat?

Thanks again for the info!

Teri

Big places no problem because they will always cater for tourists. Just avoid travelling immediately before the holiday. You'll be OK. By rail you always get a seat reservation on first class, anyway.

terifc there is no way to get an accurate date until the day. if it is very cloudy and oscures visibility, it won't be on that day!

Thanks for the info. You guys are great. It's been awhile since I've travelled outside of the country and will be going solo, so I'm trying to gather as much info as possible. At some point, I know I just have to let go!
I've learned so much from the message board. Hope I can do the same for others!

Be well.
Teri