My partner and I will travel to Morocco for three weeks in November. We plan on traveling to large communities such as Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes, etc. We'd also like to travel to smaller communities. When we traveled through France and Italy a few years back, it was relatively easy finding B&B's as we happened into towns, even though we didn't know the language.
Neither of us speak Arabic, French nor Spanish. With the language barrier, we are wondering if it makes more sense to make reservations for riads/hotels prior to travel? This of course, limits spontenaiety. Is it reasonable to find riads at the time of travel? Any recommendations on how to do so?
Too, what is the price range for riads? How does this differ between rural and urban areas?
Any information would be appreciated?
Thanks,
Daniel Collison
Juneau, Alaska
Here's my recommendation - check out this website, which is just a simple hotel search, and pick out riads you're interested in in each city, then keep the phone numbers on you (or do this when you arrive in each city). That's probably the best way to be spontaneous.
Actual riads only exist in Marrakech, Fez, Meknes, and Essaouira (and maybe a couple of other places). There are many hotels calling themselves "riads" but they're not.
Price range is 400-500+ (dirhams). Riads can be as expensive as 12,000 dirhams. I'd say the average is 600-1000dh/night, maybe a bit higher in Marrakech.
Why do you want to go to Casablanca?
In most places you will find that people working on the front line of the tourist industry will speak English. This said, I would never turn up to a country without at least a phrase book (you don't necessarily have to speak the words if foreign languages bother you that much but pointing to the line you want to say etc may help your case if you find people you cannot converse with).
I went to Morocco last summer and journeyed south of Marrakech. This meant I missed Tangiers, Fes, Casa and Rabat, but after 5 days in Marakech I was happy to be a out of big cities (though Fes had been strongly recommended to me by various people). Even Essaouira seemed large and impersonal when compared to the idyll of the atlantic coast further south (NOT Agadir!).
Have a good time...
Most people/places/hotels that have something to sell will speak at least some English. I've never had a problem communicating anywhere in Morocco.
Skip Casablanca.
Whether to reserve in advance is a continuing topic of debate in this forum. But most agree it probably is not necessary in the smaller towns.
trusted partner
