I'm not gay cheap, but my boyfriend is

August 9, 2006 2:08 PM

Morocco on the cheap?

The BF and I are planning to travel to Morocco next year as our first big trip together. I'd like to begin planning and saving in advance, but have no idea what kind of financial goal to shoot for, which makes saving difficult.

How cheaply can two people stay there under modestly comfortable circumstances? A sanitary room that we would not be sharing with other people, preferably with its own bathroom, with a modicum of privacy is what I consider to be modestly comfortable.

If spending was mainly confined to housing, sustenance, transportation, and sightseeing costs, with a minimal emphasis on shopping, how much money should two people be armed with before they leave? I'm imagining a four or five day trip, but don't have the slightest idea what our costs would be like per day.

Any other personal recommendations or sites would be useful, even hints on airfare. I've read the other Morocco posts and would love to hear more. We don't mind roughing it a bit, but the whole point is to enjoy the trip, and each other.

Thanks a lot, crew!

posted by hermitosis to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

I would suggest trying to get to London cheaply and booking from there using lastminute.com or one of the other many cheap0 travel sites.
posted by k8t at 2:50 PM on August 9, 2006

Ps, what's "gay cheap"?
posted by k8t at 2:50 PM on August 9, 2006

I went there a couple of years ago. It was really very cheap for a UK visitor: taxis were virtually negligible. I think I spent 200 UKP on 2 weeks after fares, and I was seriously splashing out. Grab a copy of the rough guide or something. We stayed in the Hotel Medina (double room, real cheap, no air-con) in Marrakech; the Hotel Rif (twin room, lovely, again no air con tho) in Chaoen (sp?) and a hotel in Tangiers that was right near the ferry (so we got up well early, but had a triple room just because that was all that was free). Which was also very cheap.

I can't remember the details of the money. I do know I spent more on saffron than I did on any of the hotel rooms. Food is great and can be had real cheap.
posted by handee at 3:37 PM on August 9, 2006

LOL That was "gay cheap", which looked fine on preview.

K8t: Good recommendation, because even if travel plans fell through on last minute flights, hey, we'd be in London, where neither of us have ever been. Nice consolation.

Handee: Thanks for the hotel names at least, because I can inquire about rates on my own. I'm mostly afraid of a week's worth of cheap adding up to way more than I imagined though, so if you remember any $$ amounts, let me know :)
posted by hermitosis at 4:42 PM on August 9, 2006

My husband and I live in Morocco for most of the year (we have a hotel in the Todra Gorge) but have travelled all over the country.

For a great resource, check out Dysfunctional's page on Morocco - it has a hotel search, prices on transportation, tips on sightseeing, etc...

My personal suggestion for a 4-5 day tour would be Marrakech-Essaouira, with possible day trips to the Cascades D'Ouzoud, Ourika Valley, etc... Eat street food if you can, but only at stalls where Moroccans are eating. A nice hotel room can be had in Marrakech for about 300-350 DH, and I stayed in a fabulous riad in Essaouira for 300DH. City taxis are dirt cheap. Sightseeing fees are normally no more than 30DH max per site.

For airfare, Royal Air Maroc is a bit expensive at times, for example, right now all the émigrés are coming home to visit relatives etc... Try flying to London, and then hopping on Easy Jet - 66 euros round trip (sample RT I chose in March of 2007.)

Also, pay close attention to holidays - Semana Santa, Eid al-Adha, Ramadan - all of those will affect transportation, lodging, and eating.

Just email me at [e-mail] if you need more info or recommendations.
posted by Liosliath at 5:45 PM on August 9, 2006

You will find more accurate info in guidebooks or the pages linked above, but for me Morocco fits into a kinda middle league of developing countries in terms of cost, like Egypt or Thailand - roughly USD$15-25 per person per day as a ballpark estimate (accom, meals, transport, sights), although your stated goals might see you more in something like a USD$20-40 range. Just to give you an idea :)
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:55 PM on August 9, 2006

Using the hotel search Lioslath links above above, it seems we were staying in places that were about 150-200DH/night. They were proper basic, but nice, clean and friendly. I don't think it's a problem to ask to see the room before signing up so you can always look around.

When we went we got a cheap flight to Malaga (Spain), a coach to Algeciras, then the ferry to Tangiers, then the night train to Marrakech. It was a good 100ukp cheaper than the direct flight to Marrakech, even including a cheap hotel in Malaga the first night. And it was proper fun. I think there are cheap London-Morrocco flights now though.
posted by handee at 2:08 AM on August 10, 2006

I think there are cheap London-Morrocco flights now though.

There are; there's a new low cost airline to Morocco now but I'm struggling to remember its name.
posted by dmt at 2:26 AM on August 10, 2006

dmt means maybe Atlas Blue.

Eating where moroccan eat won't cost you much around 3 to 5 euros per person and per meal, decent hotels are easy to find and not expensive, just be sure to make a reservation especially in full periods (get a good travel guide).

Moroccans are for most of them very friendly,

so HAVE FUN :)
posted by zouhair at 5:31 PM on August 11, 2006