BootsnAll Travel Community

Hello all,

I am planning two months in Morocco during July and August and would like to get to know the people and a place rather than see all the sights. I want to rent an apartment (how realistic is this?) and base myself in one city for a good portion of that time.

I am looking for suggestions of a good city to base in for 4-6 weeks that will also allow me to visit a few surrounding areas.

I love the beach, markets, artist enclaves and would prefer somewhere a little more relaxed, less touristy.

Thanks for all of your help.

T

I'm going to Morocco as well but only for 2 weeks though . I've read a lot of good things about Essaouira. Should be a bit of an artist enclave. Supposedly it has a good beach as well.

Would love some advice from people who've been to Morocco.

Essouraria, Safi, El Jadida, and Agadir are all great beach towns full of art.
Essouaria has more of an art scene, I think. One that is a little more....authentic and less tourist related then Agadir. BUT Agadir has a nicer beach area, is less windy, and has better apartments for rent.

Now when you're headed into these cities (on the road outside) you will see people holding keys. You need to approach them --or have a trusted Moroccan friend approach them--They are the folks renting apartments.
Most of the apartment rentals in this case are short term. But I'm sure there will be a family (or someone they can point you to) that is willing to be more then accommodating. If you have the cash they will have the apartment.

Make sure you haggle but remember that your money will greatly impact the way these people live life, so don't be too cheap.

Those apartments are quite nice. Important things to remember is that they might not have a Western Style toilet. Also every apartment has a central area for air to come down. So you can hear pretty much what's going on in every apartment if you're near the air vent. It's also where you are to wash and dry your clothes. All floors are stone and should be kept up with some OMO and water mixed together...and then rinsed well with normal water.

Not all places have hot water. If that is the case get a large bucket from a local store and mix that with hot water from the stove (all gas--which can be acquired at local shops that also sell food/OMO/buckets)...then use a smaller bucket to rinse yourself with.

Now warning:
Some people might try to point you in the way of this house that's rather famous in Essouaria. "All travelers stay with him" they will say.
Don't.
He's a drug dealer and a brothel sorta fella. He will pawn you to local police with some hash in a second if he can score some money out of the deal. Better off sharing an apartment with a fellow traveler or by yourself.


Anyway other specific questions let me know.

quote:

Originally posted by Prisa:
Now warning: Some people might try to point you in the way of this house that's rather famous in Essouaria. "All travelers stay with him" they will say. Don't. He's a drug dealer and a brothel sorta fella.

BUT I'm a nice 'drug dealer and a brothel sort of fella'. And, yeah, my name does ring out on the streets of Essouaria.

Well this guy is quite charming--and speaks English quite well--and doesn't bribe/threaten all his guests. HA. But there is a reason the police don't come in and arrest him...and that's because he shares the money swindles with the local police and/or turns in these hippy type kids that really annoy the locals (so they're more then happy to charge/collect bribes from them).

Hi
also if you have time or you prefer a quite spot then try the desert ; i stil want to go back to morocco speciay to the desert ; someone from my desert trip told me that there are coupl houses to rent there ( 20€/15€ per day ) i saw one and i liked the place ...
-don't let a coupl sentences about drug-dealers make you change your mind -
all the best