Mosques

The Hasan II Mosque was built as a tribute to the former King’s 60th birthday and is regarded as the 5th largest masjid (mosque) in the world. It is an enormous building and has the ability to hold a total of 103,000 worshippers at any one time. It’s minaret is currently the world’s tallest standing at a whopping 210m (689ft) tall. It is made to look even beautiful as it is located on reclaimed land and it rises tall above the ocean. Some parts of the floor are developed in glass so it almost gives you the effect of praying on water. Just like many of the world’s great mosques, this ome in Morocco is definitely not to be missed!

If you want to see it from the inside then you will be required to take a tour. There are several that take place a few times a week. One must remember that this is a place of worship where people pray so please ensure you familiarise yourself with the correct etiquette as you do not want to offend people. Tours start everyday at 9am, 10am, 11am and 2pm. Friday is a national holiday.

Discovering Casablanca

Since Casablanca has a great deal of art-deco buildings, the only real way to appreciate them is by foot. The Place Mohammed V and Marche Central is the area you want to head to. There is plenty to see building wise and the grand square holds the former police headquarters (wilaya), the law courts and the main post office building.

If you want to see something special, how about the Jewish Museum of Casablanca, the only one of it’s type in the Muslim world.

Open Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm (Tel. 022 994 940).

Sited at the top northwest corner of Africa and sharing two oceans, the country’s focal fascination for visitors has nearly always been the hot temperatures; but also the excellence of its crafts and its exotic and contrasting nature, also draws in tourists. In addition, in more recent years, visitors are coming across other unknown activities, predominately in the central and also northern parts of Morocco for example in the Rif and High Atlas Mountains. Here it is becoming increasingly popular to experience a skiing holiday! Contrastingly down south, we still find many sightseers are drawn to experience the golden sands of the desert, on camelback, horseback or 4X4.

Whether you travel to Morocco for the lovely sunshine, trek through the mountains or the blistering desert sands, you will find that you are inspired by the unchanging Medieval medinas of the colourful cities, this is particularly Fez and Marrakech, where the souks draw travellers into a colourful distant land. The overall recollection will be one of delicious mint tea, brightly coloured material, and the smell of the tanners’ yards pervading the air.

Although most of its suburban enclaves are ultra-modern, Morocco has more than its share of historical sites and superb historical buildings, echoing a difficult history form by its strategically placed location. Morocco with her rich past, together with a flourishing present, makes Morocco a mystery of surprises and enchantment for thousands of western travellers every year.  Travelling to an exotic destination does not necessarily need to cost the earth, there are plenty of cheap all inclusive packages  to Morocco available on the internet to choose from.  If you find a great offer that seems too good to be true, the chances are that many others have spotted it to.  Make sure to book earlier rather than later to avoid disappointment.

This country is about one-tenth larger than California. Rabat is the capital of Morocco. Its largest cities are Casablanca, Fez, and Marrakech. Arabic is the official language, though Berber dialects are also spoken. French is frequently used for government business.
The top ten cities on map of Morocco are:

• Agadir - Romantic, great windsurfing, an active nightlife, see Imouzzer, Souss Massa, Tiznit.
• Casablanca – Romantic with great sight seeing; Boulaouane, Marabout de Sidi Abderrahmane.
• Marrakech - Great for family adventure; Bahia Palace, Dar Si Said Museum, Bert Flint Museum.
• Essaouira - 18th century and medieval; visit the Sidi Mohamed ben Abdallah Museum.
• Rabat – French speaking, elegant and spacious. The Costume Museum or the Royal Palace
• Fez – Sightseeing, architecture, beautiful in spring; Andalousian Mosque, Bou Jeloud Gardens, Souk al Henna.
• Tangier - adventure, nice summers, the Gran Teatro de Cervantes or the Grottoes of Hercules.
• Oujda – French speaking, fun to explore
• Meknes – Museums, sightseeing, outdoor activities. Don’t miss the Museum of Moroccan Arts or the Dar Jamai Museum.
• Ourzazate -French speaking, a good family trip. Visit the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah.

Morocco is an unbelievably diverse and fascinating country. Use the map of Morocco to plan your holiday.

Your peak season would be in April and May, when there is perfect weather on both coasts, in the south, and in the mountains. July and August would be considered off season, because of the intense, dry heat. But it is a great time to find cheap flights and hotels, if you can stand the temperature!

If you are taking your holiday in the winter, you probably should go south, but bring warm clothing for the cold and bitter nights. In the winter and the early spring months, the north coast and the Rif Mountains are often cloudy and wet. Bring a raincoat and umbrella if you are coming at that time. The north coast, Tangier and the Rif mountains, will stay hot from May to September, with rainy periods mixed with warm, sunny days the rest of the year.

Autumn has weather much like spring, though it is not as lush and green. Morocco is definitely at its most beautiful from March through May.

What other way will you be able to see the famous street performers in the square in Marrakech; musicians, snake charmers, storytellers, and acrobats. Or the busy souks? You can’t miss Old Fez, which dates all the way back to the eighth century. New Fez dates back to the thirteenth century, and is home to the Mellah, the Jewish quarter and the Royal Palace.

You won’t want to miss the windsurfing at Essaouira, or the beautiful beaches along the Mediterranean. To see the Sahara and ski in the mountains on the same holiday, you need to have a car. Yes, there are buses, some trains, and also ferries. But to fit everything in that you want to see and to spend the amount of time you want to, you need to hire a car in Morocco.

The cheapest restaurants in Morocco are found in New Talbourjt, so if you are on a budget, head there. The variety and foods are still delicious…just not as pricey. You will find moderate prices around the Uniprix. There are both tourist restaurants and local favourites in this area. It’s a good idea to find yourself a map of Morocco so you are familiar with the area and can navigate yourself around.

Agadir provides for the interests and desires of the international tourists, so you will find night clubs and large cafes where you can sit and talk and have a few drinks. You might check out Hassan II, La Veranda, Le Dome, and LaFontaine.

Casa Blanca and Marrakech both have very active nightlife options. In Casa Blanca your best bet will be at the beachside strip in Ain Diab or the cluster of restaurant-bars on rue Allal be Abdellah. The ultrahip should try Mystic Garden.

For discos belly dancing and a wild time, you should visit Marrakech.

The maid, groundskeeper and cook see to your every need and desire, providing both French and Moroccan cuisine. Local crafts and produce are made available by the tribal souks.

Your Moroccan villa rental is just sitting there waiting for you!

There are natural attractions galore in this scenic and picturesque location. This hotel is just ten minutes from the centre of town, with easy access to the valley of the birds, Kasbah, and Agadir Bay.The bathrooms are private and well-equipped, and all rooms are air conditioned, have satellite TV and a balcony or terrace. There are three restaurants on the hotel grounds that serve Moroccan and Italian food. The piano bar makes for delightful listening while sipping your cocktails.

The Atlas Airport Hotel is modern, set in scenic gardens and one km from the centre of Casablanca. All 189 rooms have balconies, satellite TV, climate control, complimentary toiletries and available half-board rates. They offer fitness equipment, outdoor pool, and spa facilities.

In Essaouira you will find the Atlas Essaouira & Spa. It is close to the old city and just opposite its own private beach. There are separate children’s and adult pools, a spa, internet service, and a currency exchange. There are four restaurants, four bars, and half-board rate that gives you breakfast and dinner every day.

The Atlas Asni is located in Marrakesh, and is friendly and warm, despite its large size. The rooms are large and well equipped, and the view of the snow-capped Atlas Peaks is breathtaking. For your convenience and pleasure there are four restaurants, three bars, a pizzeria, a garden grill and a coffee shop.

There are many hotels in Agadir, Morocco, as well as sandy beaches, water sports, and attractions.

Avenue des FAR, the corniche, Agadir Museum, Agadir Theatre, and the Kasbah of Agadir, are all good reasons to choose a hotel in Agadir, Morocco for at least part of your holiday package.Enjoy the luxury of the Al Madina Palace Hotel, or the Sofitel Agadir Royal Bay Resort, only fifteen minutes from the airport. The Sofitel is 5-star, and can accommodate handicapped persons, has a health club, and many convenient facilities. Daily maid service, air conditioning, nice bathrooms, and several restaurants will make you so glad you chose to visit Agadir. If you’re looking for luxury then you may also want to consider the Atlas Hotel in Morocco.

The 4-star Royal Mirage is located in a resort area. It has a multi-lingual staff than can help see to your personal needs, a currency exchange, internet access, wheelchair accessibility, and child care. Your room has all the amenities you could need for a comfortable stay.
The

, has a 3-star rating and pricing, but the luxuries of a 4-star hotel. Designed in a mixture of modern and traditional Moroccan, the rooms are air conditioned, have cable TV, and internet service. They have three restaurants and room service for variety and comfort.

Located only 500m from Agadir Beach, the Italian inspired Hotel le Tivoli is another good choice. This 3-star hotel is in the tourist sector, with plenty of activity within close range.

Agadir, with its many hotel choices, should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Morocco!

Be sure to get hold of a Morocco map before you plan your holiday as this will allow you to become familiar with the area and make your trip even more exciting.

The Tanjah Flandria Hotel in Tangier has standard rooms and provides services that are average for a Morocco hotel. The Tagadirt Hotel in Agadir provides good value and comfort. Budget hotels have basic accommodations, but do not usually have hot water or air conditioning. However, a hotel such as the Al Jasifa in Essaouira, is moderately cheap and does provide TV, medium sized bathrooms with hairdryers, and an outdoor pool

You might want to consider a more rustic vacation, by staying at youth hostels or camping. The campgrounds around Morocco often have water, electricity and even a cafeteria. Before you take a step like this, learn the local etiquette. Certain behaviours that are perfectly acceptable in other countries can be considered offensive in Morocco.

The Anfa Port Hotel in Casablanca, The Wassim Hotel in Fez, and the Riad Sable Chaud Hotel in Marrakesh are all luxury hotels that are offering special discounts to encourage travel in these poor economic times. They have good facilities, air conditioning, hot water, television, and provide additional services.

With just a little effort, you will find cheap hotels in Morocco that fill your needs. Depending on the type you holiday you require, you can also find various types of villas in Morocco.

Holiday packages to Morocco are very popular. This is a great destination whatever time of year you travel. Ski in the mountains, sunbathe on the beaches, or venture into the Sahara desert. Learn about the vastly different cultures found from one city to the next as you travel on your affordable, cheap holiday. Water sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, scuba diving, and surfing can be included in your cheap holiday deal.

The food is different…a mixed blend of West African, Mediterranean and Arabic, that you will enjoy e, as well as international cuisine. So get started, and build yourself a cheap holiday to Morocco that you will remember for the rest of your life.

If you’re planning on staying for more than a few days then it may be worth considering car rental in Morocco as this could save you time and money in taxi fares. It will also allow you to travel whenever you want. Just don’t forget to buy a map of Morocco.

The main international airport you would come in at is the Mohammed V International Airport, which is 30km southeast of Casablanca. However, there are other airports that you might enter through when you are booking cheap flights to Morocco:

• Rabat-Sale Airport- 10km east of Sale
• Fez Airport- 15km south of Fez at Saiss
• Menara Airport- In Marrakech
• Ibn Batouta Airport- 18km south of Tangier.

There are eleven smaller, local airports operating in the country. It is easy to travel there by air, as there are 192 flights to and within Morocco every week, going to and from 37 different countries. This exotic country has always been a favoured destination for travellers from the UK. The flight time from the UK to Morocco is only about three hours, but the lifestyle is so different that one might have travelled for light years!

So if you want to experience markets with their spices, babouches, carpets, snake charmers; explore exotic mosques, or take a camel ride across the forbidding Sahara, hop on a cheap flight to Morocco!