BootsnAll Travel Community

There seem to be mixed views on whether or not Morocco can really still be considered a cheap destination...I'm talking roughly US$500- $750 for a months travel. Can anyone out there give me an estimate of what their "budget" trip cost them? I am planning to go to Morocco for the entire month of January, and I DO want to go into the desert, do some hiking and (and snowboarding) in the Atlas Mts, which I am sure brings the price higher...but is all of this is doable on less than $1500 for the month??(including food, accomadation, transportation and trips...)

Any feedback would be appreciated! THANKS!

-Sylvia

I am going to Morocco in January too. The cheapest flights I can get is $1048 JFK to Rabat round trip. (student discount)

But as far as in country expenses, I'd say even a $1000 should make it for a month. Of course I have not been there yet so I don't know, but from what I am researching you should be just fine on that.

Maybe I'll see you there

cheers

Morocco isn't all that cheap anymore. I would allow yourself at least $25 a day for budget accommodations and food. Factor in transportation between and within cities & town and the probability that you'll want to buy yourself something nice (and you'll be overcharged. A desert excursion will cost you at least 1000 dirhams. Snowboarding ... not so sure.
Good luck and have fun!

I was in Morocco March of 2006, it was pretty budget, we regularly ate for around 3 or 4 dollars, stayed in hotels with private rooms (shared bathrooms) for 4-5 dollars a piece, we went on an excursion into the Merzuga Dunes and I would say you can certainly do it on your budget. Casablanca was more expensive, but Marrekech and Essouria were both very affordable. 30 cent orange in Marrakech is the best in the world.

I think its bordering on true budgetness. You should be fine.

quote:

Originally posted by jon m:
I am going to Morocco in January too. The cheapest flights I can get is $1048 JFK to Rabat round trip. (student discount)

If you haven't gotten your flight yet check out doing it this way:
JFK-Madrid $500 return including tax. (for instance on Swiss)
then
Madrid-Casablanca/Marrakesh on easyJet or Atlasblue ($30-50 return)

Also connecting through other parts of Europe may even be cheaper--do a standard search on a website like farechase.yahoo.com for the transatlantic and then check out european budget airlines as connections. Just leave plenty of time between flights you book. These European budget airlines are good for flying to Morocco: Ryanair(from "Barcelona", "Frankfurt", Marseilles, "London") , Jet4You (from Paris, Milan, "Brussels"), TUIfly(Germany), MyAir(Italy), Clickair (Barcelona), easyJet (Madrid, Milan, London, Geneva, Lyon, Basel)

PS you are welcome to send me any money you save this way.

Maybe not cheap as it used to be, but $1500 for a month is plenty for a budget traveller (not including airfare... don't know what those prices from the States are looking like nowadays). Luckily, the utter shittiness of the value of the USD hasn't been affected in regards to the Moroccan dirham. I think I might have spent about $200 in a week in Marrakech, and that included a trip to Essaouira and to the Ourika Valley... granted I had Moroccan friends that made it a little easier to get cheaper prices on some things...

Thank you Brambles! I can save about $400 that way, and get to spend a day in Madrid....

The only thing, have you, or anyone had any bad experience with easyJet?

Really Nerokerr? The dollar has gone down from about 8.5 to about 7.5 in the last two months, a real difference when you talk about global costs.

Also, How 'touristy' are places like Rabat, Fez and Marrakech?

I know Morrocco is big on tourism, but I would like an experience that is not simply people trying to sell me stuff the whole time I am there... I know that sounds pretentious but it can ruin the real experience I feel...


Anyways thank for your help

quote:

Originally posted by jon m:
Thank you Brambles! I can save about $400 that way, and get to spend a day in Madrid....

The only thing, have you, or anyone had any bad experience with easyJet?

You're welcome.
easyJet is good, especially on short runs. I have never had any of the issues with them that you get with huge delays, lost baggage and all in the States.