Number 81
Over the years, I have tested a number of the barbecue stands at the square and #81 has been my favorite. The guys who serve are super friendly and they take good care of you. You might want to order some brochettes (shishkabab) or try one of the many other options on display. One thing to remember is that each both usually specializes in something, so if you just want soup or steamed goat, you will need to try another booth.

Fresh Orange Juice
The other thing to try is the fresh squeezed orange juice. Remember that you can bargain, so offer them less if you are buying multiple glasses. Ask them to squeeze it right in front of you and then taste the amazing sweet flavor.

Entertainment the cultural way…
I was actually pretty shocked that the entertainment (stories & music) was really geared to the local audience. It is all done in Arabic or Berber and very traditional. For culture lovers, it is a great experience. The way they gather the crowd and don’t start actually performing until they have enough money in hand…you might wait 15 minutes for the real show. But is fun and Moroccan….

Should I be watch out for anything?
The only thing you may want to be be aware of is the pick pockets. Not that they are everywhere, but if you are in a crowd, watching the entertainment, you might be an easy target.

The Marrakech square is well worth a visit on your tour of Morocco.

Thank you for making our trip possible

Pat and Ruth

Day in the Life of a Berber
About 120km from Marrakech is a small berber village and home of Mohammed. Mohammed runs a small program called “The Day in the Life of a Berber.”. This day excursion or overnight excursion, is perfect for those wishing to experience more of the culture. Mohammed and his family allow others to experience a little of their life. From learning to make mint-tea to baking bread in the clay oven, you spend your time in a hands-on experience. Every client I have sent to Mohammed has come away touched by the experience. This is well worth your time.

Hammam – Public Bath
Now, this is not for everyone, but I love to go to the public hammam. There are public baths in each city offering one time for men and another for women. Enjoy the hot spa type experience complete with massage and scrub. For those of you looking for a little “safer” experience, you might try the hammam at one of the riads in Fes or Marrakech. You can have the same experience, but in a private setting.

Night in a million star hotel
One of the other must do’s is the night in the desert. Yes, it is a long ways from Fes or Marrakech, but I would say it is well worth it. Enjoying the beauty of the visit Sahara Desert is something that you will never forget. The desert experience can be done in style (luxury tent) to the standard options. Ask your one of our sales reps about the different options.

So if you plan to go to Morocco on your next tour, make sure to do at least one of these…

Business Hotel
Casablanca is the economic capital of Morocco, with most of the major companies doing business there. There are a number of great business hotels located in the center of Casablanca, offering business centers, wifi access, and services. Make sure you do your research before grabbing any hotel – stick to the hotels that are reliable and have good reputations.

Business Transportation
While traveling to Casablanca or Morocco, you may need a vehicle and driver. Please contact us for the best quality drivers that Morocco has to offer. Our transport specialists will take care of all of your needs – from airport transfers to full day services.

Business Culture
Morocco has a different business culture than Europe or the USA…so make sure you do your research before starting your business venture in Morocco. It might be good to get a business consultant who can help you understand the business culture, so you start off on the right foot.

This is the time to travel on business to Morocco! Let us help…contact us for more information.

Well from start to finish.  I had been researching travel agencies that can set up a trip to Morocco, as I am sure you are aware there are a thousand online.  I found one that I really liked.  The guy that I was working with actually was based out of my home town in Seattle WA.  Making an instant connection of trust, I started planning my trip with him. After a week of extensive back and forth, he got tired of my emails and said that he had many people to arrange for the holiday season and couldn’t dedicate so much time to JUST my questions.  It was not rude at all actually, just honest and straight forward. He said I need to consult the internet and do some research and then we can proceed. Me being a perfectionist and having a case of OCD I immediately wrote back kindly and said that I really needed the one on one attention and didn’t want to consult my own research on the internet and that I understand that he isnt not able to provide the attention I needed.  I bid him well and we kindly parted ways.  So then the search continued and effortlessly I found your company name on Trip Advisor. After reading maybe just the top 5 good reviews I contacted you guys.

You respected my OCD as I needed, LOL.  The million and one emails back and forth, the changes, the questions, everything! I appreciated it very much.  Then Ruth rushing the travel documents to me upon my very short notice request, again a small detail but something that meant a lot to me.

Now the trip- everything was FANTASTIC.  Time managed very well, firstly.  Our schedules were perfect.  And i can not say that enough. People may not say this strange compliment, BUT the sites visited and the tours planned in a day, the start time, the end time, the break times, in any given day were PERFECTLY plotted.  The days were never exhausting, never bare.  We ALWAYS had enough rest, enough down time/ free time, and enough sight- seeing time.

Driver- AWESOME.  I don’t know who the Manager of the company is, but to you guys I wanted to say you guys really need to set him aside for your four to five star clients! Younes Lafhal, was PERFECT.  He was hilariously entertaining, would stop for coffee breaks whenever we needed him to, kept as safe, entertained and well informed throughout our drives.  I have to make a note to say that we crossed paths with other tourists through the entire trip who every chance they got complained about their driver.  If it was that he wouldn’t stop because he had a timeline to abide to (for personal reasons) when they asked, OR that he kept taking them to obvious places that he was getting commission out of if they were to buy something, putting them in awkward situations…to anything…they had complaints about them.  At least 4 tourists complained about their drivers.  We didn’t even KNOW that they gripes were possible.  Younes was very professional, definitely experienced, made suggestions when he needed to and let us have freedom when he needed to. We never felt awkward around him, he made us feel like he was not just our guide but our friend.  I will actually recommend his name to my friends that are interested in doing this trip, requesting his name specifically so much so that if he is not available, to reschedule their trip.  Hearing all the bad comments, a bad driver can really effect your trip.

Accommodations- Beautiful, the Riad in Fes was great.  The rooms were cold in the night, the heating system wasn’t as efficient as I would have liked, BUT nonetheless it was great. Excellent location. I would be so tired after the day of touring, so when we got back I would just chill in the room. My husband would just turn right around and head out the door the check out the little alleys of stores.  As far as the Xaluca accommodations, AMAZING.  The hotels seemed too majestic to be real. I LOVED them.  Now saving the best for last, Riad Clos Arts in Marrakech.  THis was just the perfect ending to the trip. Honestly after 10 days of eating tagines and being in rural Morocco atmosphere I was getting homesick for just ‘american food’ and maybe a little less of the Moroccan atmosphere.  Well as the driver pulled up to the parking lot for the Riad, we saw a man waiting for us. We soon learned that this was Massimo, the OWNER of the Riad.  How gracious that he picked us up at the car, didn’t send someone for us, but picked us up out there.  Then he walked with us, brought us into the Riad. As soon as we entered we smelled a sweet and FAMILIAR scent of chocolate chip cookies. His wife, Georgina was baking for us.  We had these cookies with tea, and Massimo, instead of just showing us into our rooms, sat with us in one of the sitting areas where he talked to us. Got to know us, told us about himself and his wife. Then pulled out a map and told us about the area.  He spent so much one on one time with us.  Then from the time we entered to the minute we left, they just made us feel that we arent staying in a Riad/hotel, it felt like we came home. It was a very intimate experience.  Whenever we left for an outing or came back, one of them greeted us and asked us what we did.  They are very involved and hands on at the Riad and with the guests.  Georgina (the wife) learned that I was vegetarian so made a special effort to prepare vegetarian options for me.  Massimo recommended an amazing Hammam, but then after recommending it he learned that they were booked until after we had left.  So they readily gave up their appointment so that we could go instead and have the experience.  Georgina prepared the most amazing meals.  They were mostly Moroccan with a swiss/italian flair.  .  Exactly what I needed. Then for New Years eve Georgina had set up a beautiful romantic intimate dinner table that invited all the guests for a New Years eve formal dinner.  It was GORGEOUS.  We were leaving the very next day early in the morning and this was the best ending to an amazing trip.  Though we were staying in a Riad it was almost as if it had a European flair which was so appreciated.  These two people really treated us like family, with a warm welcome every day and night that we were there.  I am so glad I stay there. I am sure all the Riads are amazing (our stay in Fes was just gorgeous and the room was HUGE and decadent), this was much smaller, but honestly I prefer this Riad to the one in FES just because of the people that worked there and the warmest welcome that we received. I would highly recommend my friends at least to go over there, to the point that if they didn’t have any rooms available, because this was such a significant part of the experience, to manipulate their travel dates so that they could experience this Riad.

Anyways, I don’t have any criticism for the arrangements, or the planning or anything actually.  Everything went smoothly, everything was perfect.  I would DEFINITELY without a flinch or a doubt recommend your company to any of my friends that are interested in traveling there.  I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.  I would definitely recommend Clos De Arts to them as the stay in Marrakech.

I thank you so much for all of your efforts.

Sana & Jalal
December 2011

There was no place to exchange money in New York or the Casablanca airport when we arrived at 6:40 a.m.   . . . our driver took us into town, and at our request we stopped for a light breakfast . . .  It worked out wonderfully that we saw the Casablanca sites and drove to Rabat . . . it would have been a waste of time to stay in Casablanca . . . we got to Rabat early enough, that some of the adults walked 5 blocks to the market and made some initial purchases.  This put us in the buying spirit.  The restaurant dinner and Hotel Softiel Diwan was a great start . . . the restaurant gave us a big private room for 11 of us . . . got our first chance to sample Moroccan food.

The Rabat tour and guide excellent.  Since we were in Rabat, we started our day at 9:00 a.m. and had a wonderful morning of sightseeing . . . all of the sights were worthwhile . . . guide was terrific and everyone enjoyed the Royal Palace and the Chellah . . . also saw the synagogue in the ancient Medina.  We pushed on to Fes and were overwhelmed with Riad Jaouhara.  I was glad the old folks were on the second floor rather than the third because of all of the steps.

We had a monstrous full day in Fes with sightseeing and buying combined all day . . . by noon we owned our first rug and a tagine for home cooking.  We saw everything on your list of suggested sights.  Could not have been any better.  The second night dinner at the Riad was marvelous.

Before we went back to our hotel, our driver, Hadji Ben Aissa, invited all 11 of us to his home for a snack . . . a highlight of the trip.

The day drive to Erfoud was fine . . . we could not find the Barbary Apes but it was okay . . . we never really stopped at a Berber village but it was okay . . . the scenery was gorgeous and the children amused themselves on the bus.  Kasbah Xaluca was wonderful; the buffet dinner and breakfast was the best; and everyone enjoyed a dip in the hot tub and pool.

The next day in Erfoud was good and I could write hours about the trip into the desert, camel rides, etc.  The deluxe tent was just that.  Loved it!!  It was cold and the facilities in the tent were a blessing.  I would encourage Americans to do the upgrade.

The next day ride that ended at Xaluca Dades was again good with enough stops for our people to buy a few things, take pictures, and stretch their legs.  Again, the accommodations and meals were excellent.

On the way to Marrakech, I thought we wasted an hour when we stopped at the Kasbah in Ouarzazate . . . we had seen enough Kasbahs in our day near Erfoud.  We were looking forward to getting to Marrakech prior to night fall in order to enjoy Djemaa el-Fna  . . . it was late but we insisted that the driver drop us off for an hour.  He did and he took the bags to Riad Moucharabieh.  As it was we went to the center square the next day and did the pictures with the children and snake charmers, etc.  Riad Moucharabieh was excellent . . . we loved the fire in the fireplaces at night.  You need to be sure that your people don’t stay in the modern part.

The next day we saw all the suggested sights that were on the agenda . . . could have skipped Menara Gardens (half the group did) but it was okay.  The guide was good and it seemed like we walked for miles which was okay.  Since the guides in each city wanted to take us to the good stores, we had one rug display too many.  We were polite but anxious to get out of the store.  The guide in the last city visited should ask the folks whether they have any interest in buying anymore rugs and/or what are they interested in buying.  The girls loved the natural medicine pharmacy and general shopping for plates, shoes, blouses, etc., etc.

The next day we remained in Marrakech which was far better than rushing back to Casablanca . . . our driver took us to the square and we agreed to meet him at 2:00 p.m. (after having lunch) so that we could drive to Casablanca.  It gave all of the families more than enough time to shop and buy whatever they needed for themselves and their friends.

We would recommend your organization . . .

Howard
December 2012

Family Fun
If you are looking for a trip that is just filled with fun, Morocco offers places like the Sahara Desert…jumping in the 4×4 vehicles, playing in the sand dunes, and camel trekking. The night in the berber tents was always a highlight for my family.

Family Learning
Perhaps you want your kids to have a more educational experience. Morocco is packed with historical sites, cultural activities and more. From guided tours to “The Day in the Life of a Berber”, Morocco has something for all. My kids love to take pictures and journal their trips…a fun way to learn and remember.

Relaxation
If you want to just hit the beach for some sun and relaxation, Morocco offers Agadir or Essaouira. Perfect for families…

Consider Morocco for your next family tour.

April tours to Morocco offer the beauty of spring, yet the warm of the coming summer. The flowers of Morocco are in bloom and the weather is perfect. Not too hot…but not too cold. Sometimes you may get a little rain, but I think it is well worth it.

April is one of the highest seasons of the year, especially around the Easter school breaks. For those looking to stay in the traditional riads, you will want to remember to book your April Morocco tour ahead of time. We recommend starting 3 months in advance to make sure you have some good choices. Some of the riads may already be booked full.

The best Morocco tours for April would include the Fabulous Fortnight and the Classic Morocco tour. Contact us today to start planning your April tour.