Morocco Trip Planning
Morocco. The mere mention of it transports us to an exotic land at the edge of the Sahara desert. The names of its cities: Casablanca, Fez, Tangier, Marrakech, evoke in our mind a contrast of black and white movie scenes and a burst of vivid hues from colorful spice markets.
The idea of going to Morocco for us started back when we were planning a trip to Spain in 2009. Since it was close in proximity, it seemed like a good idea to squeeze in a stop. But since Greece was also already in the itinerary, it didn’t leave enough time to fully savor what this fascinating country had to offer so we decided to put Morocco off for another time.
Choosing Intrepid Travel
During last year’s Cyber Monday frenzy, I spotted a great offer on Intrepid Travel. They were taking 20% off trips booked for the first half of 2015. A quick scan of their available trips showed that they had their Best of Morocco program, normally priced from $1380 to $1535, offered as a Hot Deal for $1285. The 20% off deal shaved off another $257, leaving a final price of $1,028 per person for a 15-day trip.
Their itinerary had everything that I wanted to see in Morocco: stops in Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Ait Benhaddou, Essaouira and Marrakech, along with forays into the Atlas Mountains , camel rides into the Sahara and an overnight stay at a Berber desert camp. Aside from the accommodation, local transportation and activities, it also included 13 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 4 Dinners. I liked how detailed and informative their trip notes are.
I read through reviews and compared prices and itineraries with other tour companies. I also tried to price the trip if we did it independently. Ultimately, we decided to go with an organized tour for the experience and went with Intrepid because of the unbeatable price and great reviews, including a recommendation from a seasons traveler that I respect, Nomadic Matt.
Intrepid’s travel style and commitment to responsible travel that respects local culture and the environment were another key factors that made us chose them. The Intrepid Foundation partners with and supports local organizations. During our trip, we’ll have the chance to stop at Horizon Foundation for People with Disabilities, a great bonus and something that I am very much looking forward to as a physical therapist. I would much rather support worthwhile causes like these rather than be herded into carpet and souvenir shops.
We booked the trip with a downpayment of $500 and paid the balance a month later.
Booking Air Travel
With that decision made, the next thing to do was book our flights. One of the reasons why we typically travel during the spring and fall months (a.k.a. shoulder season) is cheaper airfare. Delta was offering their own Cyber Monday deal and our search yielded a roundtrip ticket with a base fare of $238 that came out to $897 with taxes per person. It had an evening departure from Atlanta so we could still work on the day of our departure. We booked it pronto!
Extra Day in Marrakech
Intrepid had a good itinerary but we wanted to spend an extra day in Marrakech to really take in its sights, sounds and flavors. I also wanted to have the chance to stay at a local home, as we usually do with our travels. I’ve had several places in Morocco on my Airbnb wishlist, so now I had the chance to pick one. We went with Reb’s place, a beautiful riad in the Medina that looked exactly like the place I wanted to stay at in Marrakech. Well, maybe next to luxurious Amanjena and La Mamounia (maybe next time). Reb was very responsive and graciously ensured that we got the main suite, so booked our room for $78 for the night.
Trip Research
One advantage of going with a tour company is having them build your itinerary and taking off some of the load of having to research where to go, what to do and so forth. Still, we always want to make sure we are familiar with our destination, so we can make the most of our trip.
Since our favorite travel guide Rick Steves didn’t have a book on Morocco (he only covers Europe), Lonely Planet was what suited our needs. For Christmas, Glen gave me a travel-theme gift set that included the Morocco guide book along with some travel gear and accessories. The book is particularly helpful in planning what to do on our extra day in Marrakech.
Travel Gear and Guide
We’ve also read blog posts on Morocco, including the ones on yTravelblog and Leave Your Daily Hell, to get a real sense of what it’s like to visit apart from the guide book descriptions. Cole’s post made me especially aware not to kiss snakes.
Budget
So our current breakdown of expenses are:
Tour package: $1028 x 2
Airfare: $897 x 2
Airbnb room: $78
Lonely Planet guide: gift, valued at $20.19
Food, souvenir, airport transfers, and miscellaneous: $800-1000
Packing
As in our past travels, we carry on our luggage inbound. It makes it easier to get in and out of the plane and airport, and it minimizes the risk of lost luggage ruining the trip. Going home, we may check our bags in as they can be heavier with books and souvenirs.
Starting with this trip, I am fully committed to sticking to a sensible capsule wardrobe. I’ve had great advice from Alex of Travel Fashion Girl (one of the most useful and organized travel sites out there!) and took to heart the lessons I’ve learned from her 30 Day Travel Fashion Challenge. I’ll get my wardrobe up on Polyvore and Pinterest but her India packing list gave me good ideas on what pieces to bring.
Thank You