Hi everybody,

Already bought tickets to Casablanca and back for a week tour in July. Have done some research, but still would like to get some advice about places that are worth visiting as the time there is very limited and i don't want to miss something that you would add to the "must to see" list.

There are so many choices where to go, so far considering Fes, Marrakesh, Essaouira. Also want to see Sahara and the mountains... but time, time, time... didn't book any hotels or tickets within the country and don't plan to, but would really appreciate your advice - where to go and what to see there.

As well as if there are some advices about the local "don'ts" - would appreciate if you share the information about them.

thanks in advance!

One week is not near enough time to do Morocco and truly appreciate what it has to offer. Anyways, my first piece of advice...

- Get out of Casablanca. It is an absolutely dive. Its fully modern and developed (it was a foreign territory until only a few years ago). You won't see any guys walking around in Jawa cloaks like other cities and there are Macdonalds and KFC on every street corner. The worst thing is the polution as its very industrialised. Cassablanca is also listed as a terrorism hotspot on most foreign travel sites.

- My advice is to get out of Casablanca and head off to Marakesh and Fez. They are full of tradition medinas, good food, mosques, historical buildings, and rich culture.

Things to be careful of:

- I'm guessing you're a woman. Your trip is doomed to suck already. If you looked up the words "sexual harrassment in the dictionary, you'd find a picture of a Moroccan man. They will stare at you, follow you, whisper in your ear, make rude gestures to you, and generally make your whole trip uncomfortable.

- You think Shanghai beggers are bad? Wait til you get to Morocco. They will pester you for money and will follow you for yonks. If they work out where you're heading to, they will "lead" you whether you need them or not, and then demand money from you.

- By far the worst thing in Morocco are the touters. These guys are horrible. You think Chinese markets are bad? Well picture this... being followed by ten guys who will follow you for MILES trying to take you to some hotel, tour, shop etc. They speak like 5 languages so it backfired on me when I said I don't understand in Portugese and they all started harassing me in Portugese.

My number one piece of advice.... TRUST NO ONE!

Thanks, Gazza, that's a good advice - especially the warning part.

Yeap, being a woman, and, in fact that's the reason why I wasn't able to make this trip for the last 3 years at least. Finally, found a friend who agreed to go with me there. My guess is that if there are two persons traveling there and one of them is a man, the first issue in your list is not the one to be worried about?! Or still not safe and better buy some hats or even paranja?!))

Anyway, thank you once again, I'll keep all those things in mind while going there.

Definitely miss Casa

Train station in basement of Casa airport-leaves on the hour, connects to main line. Trains are good-clean, etc. Take trains over buses. 1st class is cheap and comes with a guaranteed seat-useful in peak times.

Change money at airport. A cash society. You can use ATMs with confidence. Dirhams worthless outside country-keep some receipts to change money back in.

July could be a much bigger problem - the interior gets very hot. Consider coast especially Essouiria.
Culture - Fes- get a good map and do an overview with a guide. Hire an official guide and tell him upfront you do NOT want to go shopping. guides get 40% or more. official guides are 150 dhm (half day) and if no shopping, tip 50. Hit the Clock Cafe -its great, esp. if you get tired of local food. Camel burgers are wonderful! Riads -try dar el hana, riad Norma or www.riadfes.com
But it can get unbelievably hot. Be sure your accommodation has a/c. SAme for Marrakech-many riads have plunge pools. Plan being active only early and late in the day. Midday siesta or poolside.

Places on the coast get breezes off the Atlantic and remain cooler. usually no need for A/c at night. Essouiria is beautiful -stay inside the medina. Also a cultural scene-they will be in their huge music festival in late June gnawa music (trance) and the place will be packed and people sleeping on the beach. You will be after and should be able to find accomo. Bus or car from Marrakech-no train or plane to essouiria. Famous for windsurfing. Good restaurants. If the restaurant does not serve booze -you can bring your own. Booze store just out the back gate of medina. Best local wine is Medallion-red, rose or white. Best local beer is Casablanca, flag export.
Mirleft much farther south - a beautiful village but not much going on except landscape and surfing. gorgeous.