How to Travel Economically when Visiting Marrakesh Morocco
Marrakesh is known in the travel industry as “the magic Morocco.” While most of the country has slowly embraced parts of Western culture, Marrakesh remains exotic and majestic. The center of Berber culture, Marrakesh is attractive to tourists because of its large markets, ancient constructions, and the palaces and gardens that populate the city. The city itself is not expensive if you follow a few simple suggestions.
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Instructions
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Explore the city on foot if you come in winter or autumn. In the summer, when temperatures easily reach 100 degrees, this may not be an option, but at other times, it’s a great way to see Marrakesh at its best. Keep in mind though, that it’s easy to get lost here, so stick to the main streets and always carry a map with you.
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Choose a hotel carefully. Because of the hot weather and the dirty streets, deciding where you want to sleep will play a major role in how comfortable your overall stay will be. Small boutique hotels are the best: they offer personalized attention and a lot of extras at very good prices. The best hotels are situated near the city gardens or inside the old city.
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Take a shared taxi if you are going somewhere in a hurry but still want to keep your expenses down. While more expensive than buses, shared taxis allow you the luxury of few stops and offer the guarantee of a seat, hard to come by in crowded public transportation.
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Rely on buses if you want to experience the real Marrakesh. They are safe and relatively clean, although using them in summer may not be the most pleasant experience. Many lines run around the city, and some even venture outside to small villages and the rural countryside.
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Tips & Warnings
Bargain with everybody, for everything. It's expected there.
Be especially careful when visiting certain areas considered "tourist traps." Prices are higher here and people are used to dealing with foreigners, so you will have a harder time bargaining and finding good deals. The most important tourist traps are the suugs, a labyrinth of small alleys through two-story buildings in which both locals and tourists alike go to shop. The central town square, with his huge outdoor market and non-stop entertainment, can also be expensive for foreigners.
