Saturday, January 11, 2014
Morocco: Budget Travel
Morocco is a wonderful destination if you are on a budget as your money can go a lot further when compared to Europe.
With
lots of airlines flying to Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca and Tangiers
you can easily pick up a great deal on flights if you are prepared to be
flexible. Both Easyjet and Ryanair fly from the UK and bargains can be
had if you avoid school holidays and book in advance. Check out Royal
Air Maroc, British Airways and Air Arabia, who often have special deals.
You could buy one way with one airline another one way with a different
one, if you are that flexible you will get to Morocco for a steal!
Don't rule out package holidays it is worth doing some online research,
ice-lolly have had some very competitive deals. One week (October 2013)
London to Agadir flights with Easyjet, B&B in a 2* star hotel and
taxes for just £149
Unless you speak the language you will never
be able to get the deals that locals receive but transport,
accommodation and food will all be considerably cheaper than back home.
Learn a few words of Arabic before you go and read the pages on culture
and dress. You will gain the respect of locals and will always get a
better price if you respect the culture and can say a few words in
Arabic. Moroccans are generally very warm and strangers will strike up
conversations, often the motive is to try and sell you something or to
guide you somewhere. A smile and a no thank you is usually enough.
Be
mindful that in one transaction you can save a fortune only in the next
to lose everything and more on top. Remember if you want any
international brand names, with the exception of cigarettes imported
goods cost a lot more, often three or fours times what you would pay at
home! If you get a taxi, check the meter is working or agree a price
beforehand. Buses and trains are cheap as are shared taxi's.
There
are hundreds of cheap places to stay and good standard accommodation
doesn't have to cost a fortune. There are cheap hostel and hotels around
the medina in Marrakech If you are looking to hang out on the beach in
the glorious sunshine but also want some culture head towards Auorir,
Tamraght and Tagazhout, which are north of Agadir. There is lots of
budget accommodation, surf lodges and cheap apartments and rooms in an
amazing ocean setting. Auorir is famous for its bananas and is known as
banana village, Tamraght is a hillside traditional Berber fishing
village and Tagazhout a chilled out village popular with hippies and
surfers.
Food is cheap if you know where to go. In Marrakech you
must try the food stalls in Jemaa el-Fna. Here you can get a meal for
under 50 Dirhams (just over £3) It is popular with locals and there is a
great atmosphere.
If you are really on a tight budget you won't
go hungry! Get a bowl of harira soup and as much bread as you can eat
for 5 Dirhams (40p). Harira is delicious a blend of chickpeas, onion,
lamb or beef stock, tomatoes and a special blend of spices, it is often
served with a wedge of lime and makes a tasty filling meal.
Bread is baked fresh twice a day and is just over 1 dirham for a loaf, so you will never go hungry.
If
you are staying in an apartment and have kitchen facilities you can buy
fruit and vegetables cheaply at the local souk. The travelling souk at
Auorir on a Wednesday is great for every type of organic fruit and
vegetable at very cheap prices. A week supply of fruit and vegetables
for under 50 dirhams. Argan and olive oil as well as honey are also
excellent buys. If you want a whole chicken for a tagine this can be
purchased alive, slaughtered and prepared for you for 40 dirhams.
Alcohol
is expensive so bring your duty free allowance. Moroccan wine is
excellent and very well priced. Flag and Casablanca are the domestic
beers and can be purchased in various size cans and bottles 10 dirhams
at the Marjane supermarket.
Many Moroccans earn as little as 50
Dirhams a day. (Just over £3) It is worth remembering that you maybe on a
budget, but don't forget that for many people tipping makes up a big
part of their salary. There is no welfare state and families support
extended families and less fortunate neighbours. Always remember to
leave a few dirhams when in cafes and 10% when eating out. Remember to
budget a tip for your maid/housekeeper.
If you are planning on
clubbing in Marrakech and heading for the trendy hang-outs you are going
to near a very large budget, vodka is 100 Euros a bottle and yes you
are expected to buy a bottle.
If you want to chill out on the
beach and explore the surrounding countryside you can easily do it and
do it well for 200 Dirhams a day.
0 comments:
Post a Comment