Last Minute Marrakesh Madness - do I recommend?
- Katie
- Aug 19, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 27, 2019
It was a random Thursday afternoon and after weeks of having constant dreams about being in a hot country and still wanting to reward myself for writing my dissertation - that was a big step for someone who nearly failed English GCSE😂, I decided that it was a good idea to book a last minute getaway to somewhere exotic.
I was very specific in what I was looking for, I wanted an all inclusive hotel in a country I hadn't been to yet, that was still affordable. My first search was Greece and the surrounding islands including Kos and Santorini. After days on end of searching and googling and using every discount website I could think of (LastMinute.com etc), a deal for Morocco popped up on the side of my feed. Morocco had never crossed my mind but I had heard amazing things. 1 hour later and I had a holiday booked for 2 days time. Luckily for me and my boyfriend this was a luxury that we could just book a random holiday at such short notice as we had both just finished university and were yet to start full-time work so last minute deals made sense for us to do. Don't get me wrong I had a mini panic with only 2 days to complete all the classic girly holiday prep and also make a huge Pretty Little Thing order that depending on how Hermes was feeling that day, might or might not turn up in time...
To cut a long story short 2 days later I was sunning myself in my newly ordered PLT bikini at a 5 star hotel in Marrakesh, Morocco. We were staying at a hotel called Be Live Collection
Marrakesh - adults only.
I was told there was a family friendly hotel of the same name next door but we never saw or heard any children. The hotel was beautiful and the decor was somewhat very traditional. We had all inclusive so I was prepared to come home 2 stones heavier, however I have to say if there was 1 section that let the hotel down it would have to have been their buffet. Although I hate to dwell on the negatives and it wasn't a big negative at that, I just wish their was a better selection of food.
As I said the hotel was very traditionally decorated and that was lovely for us as we got a sense of Morocco before we had even explored the town. Below I will insert some pictures that I have of the hotel - apologies their not that great but me writing this blog wasn't even an idea in my head at this point so I thought the only person seeing them would be my Instagram or my mum... oops.
Now we had heard a lot about Marrakesh as a whole, both negative and positive! But we defiantly wanted to make our own opinion and not judge anything until we had experienced it ourselves. The hotel ran a free mini bus too and from the main town and local markets, this was defiantly a big plus as taxi safety and scams had been one of the main things we were warned about! Arriving at the town square it is nothing like I have ever seen before. The bright colours, moisaced floors, music from the snake charmers and people EVERYWHERE. I would insert some pictures from the square but every time I tried to take a picture I would accidentally get someone or something in the background that meant I then had to pay someone money - one of their favourite things to do 🙄. However it is 100 percent worth a visit, I felt like I had just stepped into Aladdin! *WARNING* There are a lot of performing animals there including monkeys, snakes and horses, although we might not see it everyday and we may not agree with everything that is going on, we had been warned that the safest option was just to avoid confrontation at all costs. Although it was sad for me to see an not say anything, I wanted to stay safe at the end of the day.
After walking through the main square you are hit with a maze of markets. The smells of the different spices, along with the golden lit stalls is something I will never forget. It is something I have only ever seen in the movies and to witness it first hand was crazy!
My Top Tips for the Markets of Marrakesh
1. Stay in a group - You may be hassled and asked to come into shops and hidden alleyways, just use your common sense and only go somewhere if it looks busy and well lit. However 99% of the people their are lovely and just want you to enjoy their country.. and maybe buy something from their shop
2. Cover up ladies!! - Morocco is relatively relaxed for a Muslim country on dress codes, however you will receive some unwanted attention should you choose to not be respectful. Just make sure both your knees and shoulders are covered and you should be fine!
3. Wear comfy shoes - There will be a lot of walking and in extreme heat so where shoes that will allow for you to roam freely around the markets
4. Keep an eye on your belongings! - One of the main things we had been told warned was too watch out for pick pockets! They target the markets and squares as they are so busy, however none of our group had any issue with this, but always just stay aware.
5. Learn to bargain - At the end of the day you're in one of the most magical markets in the world, with the most diverse stalls and one of the most crazy atmospheres you will ever experience so just enjoy it! Whether its fake designer goods, souvenirs or spices you are after there is defiantly something that will catch your eye, so pick wisely and start your bargaining!
Below are some pictures of the madness that is the market
Overall I extremely enjoyed my 5 days away in the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh and it was a great mix of excitement out in the local town and relaxation back at the hotel. I do highly recommend Be Live Collection Marrakesh with the highlights being the staff and the late night sports bar which alongside serving hand made cocktails until 2AM also served SANDWICHES until then also. The ham and cheese roll I had each night defiantly helped my head to be a little less sore the next day. There is defiantly a lot more to experience in Marrakesh including camel rides or quad biking in the dessert which makes me excited to go back and experience even more madness. The heat was a big plus for me as I love the sun but if your not too keen on hot temperatures, defiantly visit outside of the summer months! It is hard to describe the vibe that this country gives out and just how crazy it is, but it was one of the most magical places I have ever been.
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