How to get the best experience from the Medina | Morocco Marrakesh

Thought it might be a good idea to document, information about my recent travel to Morocco.

This is going to be a long read, so I will create chapters so you can easily find the answer you might be looking for.

Just to give you a back story, we are traveling post pandemic in 2022 so prices are slightly expensive for obvious reasons.

The intention was to go to Southern Africa but due to late booking idea quickly became out of budget for us.

But we still wanted to travel so Morocco was a close second.

Unbeknown to us that  it was the best decision we made.

Flight tickets

These were bought a month before travel.

If you are a frequent traveller you know this is not a good idea always plan well ahead to get the best deals.

Well, that being said we ended up paying £1500 for three tickets using Ryan air.

Here is why the price was a little more than what we initially thought we would pay! If you are traveling by yourself with a small hand luggage like the one below you don’t have to pay for excess baggage.

Hand luggage size that you don’t have to pay extra

I would have been paying approximately £450 a ticket but I needed options so paid extra £24 per person for  an allowance of 23kg of checking luggage.

We didn’t buy food to eat on the plane because it’s just a 3hours 20 minute flight, we knew we would survive after all there is the delicious Moroccan food to look forward to.

Anyway, this was my first budget airline to be honest it wasn’t bad, no bows and frills just basic transport.

Accommodation

We booked to stay in a Riad in the heart of the Medina.

Let me explain a Riad is type of Moroccan villa that is known for it’s court yard garden open roof tops and a swimming pool in the middle surrounded by plants.

They are now mostly used as the equivalent

Of a serviced Airbnb.

It’s the best way to get integrated in Moroccan life, however it’s packed full

Of tourist and motorbikes more about that. later.

We booked via Expedia and for 4 nights we paid 3800 Dirhams, which converts to 308.

I believe for four nights, the reason our Riad was that affordable in the location it was, is because the swimming pool was out of order & it’s still under going somewhere

maintenance.

Pros and cons of staying in a Riad

Like I said the traffic is horrendous, both human, motorbike and cyclists.

And guess who gets priority?  The bikes do! you have to continually walk in the right side as the locals are always very happy to tell you as you roam about, it can all get a but too much, there is no consideration for the pedestrians at all.

Other than that you are in the heart of a traditional business centre that looks like you have just stepped into 1800 it’s amazing exhilarating, the people make you welcome of-course they want you to open your pockets.

It’s the smell the sounds, the greetings and the invites into different stall that make the medina experience truly a unique one.

It’s amazing, be careful when taking pictures

Some people don’t want to be in your videos just be courteous.

You will have to be very skilled at bargaining more about that later.

My personal experience is when I was in the riad it’s nice and peaceful.

Step out a few meters you are in a what seems to be organised chaos.

Very overwhelming, I found it particularly difficult at the Jemaa el-Fnaa it was far too much, I should have explored

less intense areas of the medina rather than jump straight into the fire.

You will have man walking around using different kinds of tricks to get you where they want you.

Don’t worry you are safe, however it’s a 30 minute walk and an hour maybe two of your life you will never get back.

Yet you will have to pay them for the diversion from your initial plan (don’t fall for it).

Remember the catch line changes each time and they work in groups, one will tell you where you are going is closed so I have a better plan for you and pass you to someone else etc.

They even claim they don’t need money but trust me you will pay an average of 200 Dirhams for saying yes to the detour.

That’s after they have asked you to purchase something at the final destination.

Mode of transport

We used taxis a lot but if you are staying in the centre of the Medina no cars can get in there, wear comfortable shoes and get ready to pound the narrow streets, along side bicycles and motorbikes or yes and donkeys pulling carts.

It’s an experience be mentally prepared you soon get used to it though.

I actually didn’t mind the donkeys even the bicycles but the motorcycles I couldn’t, (sighs) lord, I hope one day they will be banned because they have become the sound of the medina; not sure how other people feel

about them, as for me it spoils the experience.

The taxi fare was fairly priced, the only place I felt violated by being charged an obscene taxi fare was in Casablanca more so than while I was in Marrakesh.

It helps to have a have a guide on how much to pay for services, most people are really just having fun with you not really intending to scam you, if you simply threaten to leave they will tell you a decent price transaction done and you can be on your way. Your Riad staff are usually happy to help with such issues. (Just don’t be too tight these people earn very little and this is how they earn a living.)

Every service we used that was booked via the riad was top notch and took into consideration we were English speaking.

Staying in the centre of the Medina is so cool, it’s packed full of amazing spas known as  hammam, restaurants with good food,  and good prices too.

The best Spa I went to was the L’e Bain Bleu

More about that in a separate video.

I have so much to say, I understand that this might be too long a blog post to keep you hooked, so I will follow on with another post with more information.

Make sure you look out for it.

If you have anything else you want to know ask away in the comment section.