Marrakech - I have always wanted to go to Morocco

Why Africa? Why Marrakech? Simple: Because it's amazing!

Well, the decision wasn't that simple after all. How do I get there? Isn't it dangerous? Will I be constantly approached on the street? Will the food be edible? Are there decent toilets? All important questions, especially when you're not the youngest anymore, don't you think?

How do I get there???

My "home airport" is Hamburg. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Marrakech. A layover in Cologne-Bonn and then flying with Ryanair is an option. Ryanair? No, I don't really want that. A layover in Vienna and then flying with Austrian Airlines sounds good. Then I had the idea to turn the trip into a round trip and stay a few days everywhere. Hamburg-Vienna-Marrakech-Lisbon-Hamburg, sometimes I have good ideas...

But this report will only focus on Marrakech. So, I flew with Austrian Airlines from Vienna to Marrakech. I booked an Economy class ticket but eventually thought I’d bid for an upgrade to Business class. The minimum bid was 110 euros. Of course, I never expected that to work. But then, three weeks before departure, I received an email from Austrian: "Your bid has been accepted." Sometimes you just have to get lucky...

 

 

Checking in without standing in line, Fast Track at security and passport control, relaxing while waiting for boarding in the lounge with free food and drinks, excellent service onboard the four-hour flight - that was worth every cent of the extra invested 110 euros.

Before the trip, I of course researched extensively online about Morocco and specifically Marrakech.

Great country, great city, of course...

Taxi scammers, pushy people, no photography without asking first, don’t ask locals for directions, beware of scooters, negotiate properly, speaking French is an advantage, oh...

That made me a little anxious already.

Where will I stay???

And then I also had to find and book accommodation in Marrakech. So, more sleepless nights on the internet... Habitually, I first searched for hotels. Almost all of them were located on the outskirts of the city, quite expensive, and had not particularly good reviews. While searching, the name 'RIAD' kept coming up as an accommodation option. What is that? One click later: 'Riad actually means 'garden' and refers to traditional houses with a courtyard in Morocco'. Well, I don't know...

The big advantage of the countless Riads is that they are usually located directly in the Medina, the old town of Marrakech, and thus all sights are within walking distance. I think that sounds pretty good, even for an 'old man' like me. ...Incredible how many Riads there are; many bad and mediocre reviews, some good reviews. How am I supposed to find the right one? Is it even like a hotel? Difficult!

Click, click, click... oh, this Riad looks quite nice. Great photos, great description, excellent reviews, managed by Germans, located on the edge of the Medina, not cheap, but okay. That's it!!! I decided to dare the adventure of spending the night in a Riad, checked availability for one of the seven suites available, and booked:

RIAD LA CLAIRE FONTAINE

riadclairefontaine.com

If this goes well...

Finally here!!!

The first glimpse of Marrakech. Incredible. Am I supposed to live here for the next four days? How will I ever find my way around here? Despair, fear, joy, curiosity. My emotions were totally out of control. 

The entry process was relatively unproblematic. Wait time at passport control was about 30 minutes. I had read much worse reports. The officers took their time, chatted with each other, and occasionally threw dark glances at the waiting arrivals. Important: They want to know exactly where you will be staying. So, it would be good to have a note or a booking confirmation with the exact address of your accommodation. When I arrived at the baggage claim, my suitcase was the first one to come out (thanks to preferred baggage handling in Business ;) ). 

Off to the exit, where my driver was supposed to be waiting to take me to the Riad. I had booked the private transfer for a reasonable amount when I made the Riad booking. Highly recommended!! Negotiating with any taxi driver would likely prove difficult and surely not work in your favor. Additionally, taxis can only drop you off at the edge of the Medina, and from there it means walking in search of the accommodation. And believe me, that would be the first big challenge that one would rather avoid. After a while, I found the driver in the hustle and bustle holding a sign with the name of my Riad. After a friendly greeting, he brought me to the car and safely to my destination. He also had to park outside the city walls but then personally guided my suitcase and me through winding paths to the Riad. I was so grateful. I would never have found it on my own!

The Riad - a dream from a thousand and one nights

Soulaimane welcomed me very warmly, explained everything important for the stay, and showed me to my suite. Wow, unbelievable, unique, oriental, this doesn't exist in any hotel, everything done right!

There was a larger window, which is rather unusual in Riads but was important to me. Just watching the people in the tiny alley visible from the window was a unique experience. 

The service at Riad La Claire Fontaine was just as great as the care and kindness of the staff. Every, I mean every wish was fulfilled immediately. 

Two small examples:

 I asked for non-alcoholic beer, which unfortunately was not available. Shortly thereafter, Younes appeared in the lobby with just that, wherever he had gotten it in such a short time.

When you're traveling, you also have to do laundry...

To dry my clothes, I hung them on the towel rack in the bathroom of my room. But when I returned from my outing, all my laundry had mysteriously disappeared. The solution to the mystery: The women from housekeeping kindly took my clothes to dry them on the rooftop terrace. Very nice, isn't it? Well, I did feel a bit embarrassed that there were now my underwear on the rooftop terrace for all to see :) .

There are many more wonderful things I could report about the Riad. For example, that breakfast was a feast for the palate and the senses, and here too, every wish was fulfilled.

Last but not least, the pleasant conversations with the staff and the owners Naima and Henning will be deeply remembered.

Here are a few more photos from the Riad, but it’s best to check out the homepage or, even better, see the Riad in person.

The Medina of Marrakech

That going from the airport building to another world that has absolutely nothing to do with European conditions is an intense experience. The following photos will give some impressions. What you can visit where, you can find out on a thousand other pages on the internet, I do not want to go into that specifically here. You really have to see it with your own eyes, hear, feel, and sense it…

Farewell

Of course, the four days went by way too quickly. Saying thank you one last time to everyone. One more hug and squeeze for Younes. And yes, the old man, affectionately called “Mr. Hans” by everyone at the Riad, really had to shed tears. Tears of gratitude!

I CAME AS A GUEST AND LEFT AS A FRIEND

Onward to Lisbon

If you're flying home or onward to another area, be sure to arrive at the airport on time. On time means at least three hours before departure. I arrived almost four hours early. The first security check occurs upon entering the airport building. Already here, the queue was significantly long. Check-in opened three hours before departure. Then through the second security check, which went relatively quickly. And then comes the hall with passport control… Endless queue, humid, uncomfortable air, hot, stuffy, terrible. 

After 1 hour and 40 minutes, I finally reached the passport control counter. Numerous people were close to exhaustion, others completely desperate because it was clear they would miss their flight.

It's a shame that the last impression of Marrakech was so negative. 

What remains to be answered

(Of course, I can only respond based on my experiences. Other travelers may have had different experiences.)

No, you don't have to be afraid in Marrakech.

No, the merchants in the souks are not aggressive and do not try to force you to buy their goods. Of course, you will be approached, but not in a way that they pull at your sleeves or touch you. A simple “la shukran” (no thank you) is enough!

Yes, it’s not easy to find your way around the Medina. However, on the second day, I managed to find my way home without Google Maps!

Yes, there are decent toilets. In the Riad, of course, it’s a standard Western toilet, and paper does not have to be disposed of in a separate bin. A bidet is also available. On the road, the toilets may sometimes not be very clean… But is it significantly different at places frequented by many tourists in our country?

Yes, the food is “different,” but very tasty. Dare to try it!

 I want to thank you for your interest in my travel blog! My goal was not to describe all the sights. I aimed to give you tips for the journey and the stay in Marrakech and make your decision to travel to Morocco easier.

The biggest thank you goes to my wife

Perhaps you have wondered why the old man is traveling alone.

Christiane, my wife, has always encouraged me to do so. Unfortunately, due to her long-term illness with multiple sclerosis, my wife is no longer very mobile. Long journeys are unfortunately very difficult or impossible for her. Nevertheless, she keeps encouraging me to undertake my adventure trips at least once a year. She enjoys my stories and photos and is basically there with me on my travels.

Thank you, Christiane! I love you!❤️