Marrakech weekend break

Anyone been, thinking of taking the wife there for a short break next Feb

Anyone been, thinking of taking the wife there for a short break next Feb

You could get a cracking deal there this weekend;

http://www.google.co.uk/#q=explosion+in+marrakech&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=ivnsu&tbm=mbl&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=NWG5TZL2Ksyq8QPIn-hZ&sqi=2&ved=0CFEQ5QU&fp=30faf6876989e691

Sounds pretty bad, a gas canister exploded in a cafe. 12 dead, unfortunately.

I went there in December last. The hookers want 250 EUR so I took matters into my own hand.

been twice mate, be prepared, it's nothing short of an amazing place, but it depends on what you like. If you want beautiful buildings, expensive restaurants and peace and quiet then avoid it. It's hectic, manic and incredibly interesting, especially at night, the square comes alive at around 7pm when it gets dark. Shake charmers, story tellers, musicians, street traders, open air food outlets etc

First time i went we stayed in Agadir and did a two day trip there, went in November again for a week and stayed at a place called Riad Ziane which was absolutely brilliant

http://www.booking.com/hotel/ma/riad-zayane-atlas.en.html?aid=318615;label=EN_Whole_Hotel_riad+ziane

It's also worth doing a trip up to the atlas mountains while you are there, we also did a Moroccan cooking course for an afternoon, you go into the local market and barter for the ingredients and then go back to the instructors RIad where she teaches you how to cook traiditional Morrocan food. It's also cheap as f*ck, you can get a meal and a drink for less than a fiver, not many places serve alcohol though so you'll need to find the international hotel just off the square or a there is a posh resturant in the square (one of the few there are) on the right as you face it from the end the international hotel is at which will serve beer and wine.

Fantastic place, myself & Mrs Geezer spent our honeymoon there, can't really add much to what Turkish has said, but beware of rug & handbag sellers, they're persistant buggers.

Watch out for the motorcycles! Don't look lost! Don't get conned!

Go to Maison Arabe for a Hamman. Go to cafe Arabe for beer and food.

There has been a bombing in one of the Restaurants over looking the square. Sad times!

I'd like to go, but what keeps putting me off is the expectation of loads of hassle from the market traders/shopkeepers. Went Turkey last year and liked seeing the sights and the genuine locals, but the hassle did my head in. Also every shop either sold fake t-shirts, fake perfume, jewelry or leather. Has Marakesh succumbed to comercialisation to this extent or is it still hanging on in there as a genuine kasbah experience?

I sat in the bombed bar not more than three years ago.

Very sad as the whole country is a fantastic place and the had the added bonus of bumping into the beautiful Anna Friel.

I'm going in 3 weeks... providing there is no more bombings of course, I will report back

I'd like to go, but what keeps putting me off is the expectation of loads of hassle from the market traders/shopkeepers. Went Turkey last year and liked seeing the sights and the genuine locals, but the hassle did my head in. Also every shop either sold fake t-shirts, fake perfume, jewelry or leather. Has Marakesh succumbed to comercialisation to this extent or is it still hanging on in there as a genuine kasbah experience?

I've been to Turkey as well and Marrakesh is a far different experience, you still get hassled a lot and they do sell a lot of crap, but the place is just so different to Turkey you cant really compare the two, it really is a must visit place, you just need to be aware before you go that it's not like going to NEw York, Rome, Paris or Barcelona, i met a few people on both trips who appeared to be expecting this sort of a holiday when it clearly is never going to be.

http://www.villadesorangers.com/uk/index.php

Took the Mrs here a few years ago. Very nice but kind of expensive!