Marrakesh

Can it be done in a long weekend? Or is it worth going for a week?

Hi,

I went for a long weekend, I think it was 3 nights, we managed it ok, I think if I was to go again id go thurs - monday, as the flights get in late and we didnt get to our riad untill around 10pm on the first night!

Loved it, it was brilliant - and weird all at the same time!

How expensive is it - I have like the idea of going but if it's really expensive to eat and drink it always takes the fun out of the holiday for me.

The whole weekend cost me about £300, that included flights, taxi's, transfers, city bus ride, hotel, food (cheap and expensive) and gifts !!

You can make it as cheap or as expensive as you like !!

Our flights were about £85 return, I stayed in riad, 3 of us just bunked in a triple room meaning it only cost us £60 each for 3 nights, which included breakfast.  We ate there the first night as it was really late, the house keeper made a fab meal for 15 euros ! The second night we went somewhere a bit more expensive which was about £100 for the 3 of us, and the last night we ate on the square for about a tenner !!!

So really, its not expensive at all, I normally am I holiday snob and like to stay in tip top places and gorge out, but Marrakesh was more for fun than lavishness, it was great fun, loved it so much !

That's an amazing offer! What company did you book through? was it a package or did you book it all separately?

That's brilliant- definitely going to look into it!

We did it all seperately, got an squeasyjet flight out there (which wasnt as bad as I thought) and theres riads a plenty !! Just google riads and a couple of websites pop up. Ours was called Riad Dar Selene.

Voila a cheap and cheerful weekend!!!

There's a good feature on Riads in the weekend Times, I think it was Sunday's one top 10 Riads, maybe the feature is online but I do know that Times have gone premium with some of their content.

No way - I have just looked at the Times website and you can't access any of the features, they must be taking a massive hit in traffic!

I've read that since the paywall was introduced on the Times website that their traffic has fallen by 90%. Who really is going to be prepared to pay for what you can generally find elsewhere for free?

Exactly- there's so many places you can get your news for free.

Got to get myself to Marrakesh- the thought of the amazing food an markets is enough to tempt me.

What speciality food to they have in Marrakesh?

The market stalls were awesome to eat at,they were just glorified burger stands with benches, but meh...it was delicious!  We had lamb kebabs, lots of meaty stuff !! The only thing i didnt like, after id finished a beggar came up to my plate, took my food, and walked off !!!! The vendours were most apologetic, i was shocked but thought it was funny at the same time.

We also ate at the riad, which was quite tradtional couscous, breads, minty salady stuff.  The breakfast of pancakes and breads where equally yummy.

I dont remember going hungry the whole weekend!

The food sounds great. Did you just go for the weekend then? Did you manage to see everything you wanted?

I went Friday to Monday, and as I didnt read a guide book I dont really know what I missed or should have gone to see. Something Ive NEVER done, just turn up and not have a clue !!!

If I was to go back id definately try go to the Atlas Mountains, this was a girly weekend and all we wanted to do was stay in a riad, go to the market and also the square to see if the monkeys, acrobats, snakes and firethrowing story tellers were real or not.

They were !!

MMM the food sounds so nice. I don't need anymore of an excuse to eat kebab!

I think it's feasible to do it as a weekend break now, the flights aren't too bad and you get a good sense of being away.

Quoted from Wes1

Would you consider it suitable for a romantic getaway or is it just too hectic a place. I just imagine it to be full of bazaars and souks and lots of noise and hassle.