Hotels near Marrakech-Menara Airport - RAK, Marrakesh

We spent 3 nights in Marakech (in a different riad) then went for a 3 night trip to the desert and eventually stayed one more night in Marraech before leaving Morocco. i think it was the right time to spend in Marrakech - Djemaa El Fna and the Medina are worth two or three tours in different times/days, plus there'e enough to visit in the city: El Badi Palace, Bahia Palace, Medersa Ben Youssef, several gardens (go see the Majorelle Gardens!) and plenty of small restaurants where you can get amazing food for chep prices. however, if you want to see the best of Morocco, spend as long as you can in the Sahara. 3 or 4 night at least,

Very warm for winter. Should have brought my sunglasses even though it was January! Fairly cheap. Great for walking around in. I didn't use public transport. Indeed, being crazy, I even walked from the airport to the hostal and then walked back again a few days later. Some of the palaces were excellent and only 10 dirhams for entry. I have quite good French which was useful for reading signs, menus, etc. Warning You get hassled about 50 times a day which wore me out. Everyone wants to sell you something or just want you give them a euro just because they were in your photograph. This really put me off. With what feels like 100s of stalls selling their wares, I ended up not buying anything as I just didn't want the hassle. Also, dozens of stalls seem to sell the same range of things. There are few places to sit down so after walking around for 4 hours, you get tired but unless you to to a restaurant, it's hard to find anywhere to sit.

Where we stayed was right off Jmaa el Fnaa which was perfect. This meant we spent no time travelling to and from the main tourist spot in Marrakech. Which meant our 4 nights there were plenty. I would also recommend a visit to Marjorelle Gardens. Walk there if you stay in Old Medina, walking into New Medina is a pleasant one. Explore the souks and the market. Try the street food, cheap and cheerful, and you can really feel the part. Try Square Food next to Argana Restaurant, tasty pizza and tangier and tagines once in a while. Do quad biking in the Atlas Mountains, Agafay Desert and Lake Takerkoust for a day. It'll be the highlight of your trip, the scenery is spectacular. And if you really want to indulge then fly a hot air balloon over Marrakech; we did it on New Year's Day, what a way to greet the first sunrise of 2016!

Marrakech is a shock to the senses for any traveller from the UK. Be prepared for a completely different way of life. Being constantly approached and hassled to buy something and everything may make you nervy at first but you soon get used to it .When you accept that it's their way of making their living and feeding their families and that we western tourists look fairly affluent(whether we think we are or not) then you can relax a bit and treat it with good humour.Enjoy the haggling for something you want to buy -- it's good fun. The Djemma el fna is terrific, day or night --food is good there -- great entertainment-especially the music. We took a trip out to Ourika in the Atlas Mountains -- fantastic -- would like to spend a few days up there in the future. Something to remember if you go up there -- the local children are mad for pencils and pens . We were told that 20 years ago when we visited the mountain villages and it still seems to hold true. Great tajines out there in the country too!O

We read all the blogs and travel guides, we thought we were prepared but nothing can really prepare you for Marrakech (and I spent my childhood in Kenya). The very first day, in spite of ourselves, we were lead by three guides (who insisted they were not guides) all over the Medina, bought a carpet and bag just so we could leave a shop, almost threw up in a Tannery, got lost in the Souks... Marrakech is hectic, as a European you stick out and everyone is trying to sell you something. You have to bargain for everything and they will try to trick you even for the price of water. That being said, a day in Marrakech can be an interesting experience, there's something for all the senses. But after a day, or two at the most, my advice is to move on. Take the bus to Essaouira and spend a couple of days on the coast, it's much calmer and very beautiful. Then if you feel like exploring, take the bus to Ouarzazate and go spend a night Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. Ideally spend ten days or two weeks in Morocco going from town to town. Their bus services are quite good and fairly priced.

If looking to stay in the Medina: Turns out that the part of the Medina where we stayed was one of the worst for scammers (this was told to us by a local tour guide after we were scammed MINUTES after walking out of the Riad). We had done our research and knew full well of the types of scams around, but my tip for you if you are going to stay in the Medina is to research the AREA within. A good tip for avoiding scams is to answer anyone offering you something with 'we have already been there', 'we already have one' etc. Do not let any of the henna ladies in the markets grab your hand, as soon as she gets you, you will have been 'henna'd' and have to pay her something. Marrakech city is much more modern, lots of shopping and restaurants. Cab drivers will scam you everywhere, always agree to a price before getting in. From the Medina to the city it should be no more than 50 dirums. From the Medina to the airport, no more than 100 dirhams. Pretty much anytime anyone 'helps' you with anything, they will expect payment, so best not to ask anyone for help, or accept anyone offering. It's hard work, but after being stung a couple of times, its better to be on guard.