Morocco Travel Guide

/ / /

The Adventures of Travel Cat: The Saadian Tombs of Marrakech

January 30, 2013 at 5:34 PM | by | Comments (0)

Kitty cats. They rule the internet and, whether we realize it or not, pretty much the world too. Ever noticed how cats sometimes stake out the coolest spots in a city? This new feature—Travel Cat—focuses on exactly that. Submit a photo to be featured by tweeting or Instagramming it to us (details below).

Travel Cat spotted at: Saadian Tombs in Marrakech, Morocco

This week's Travel Cat is from Twitterer @go_phetch, who spotted this set of three kitties (a mom and her two kittens) relaxing in the shade provided by the 16th century landmark.

Of the find, she notes:

#TravelCat (s) at Saadian tombs, Marrakech. Cats all over town but the new family in the tombs were very sweet.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

It's Hard to Believe Marrakech Airport is...an Airport

March 19, 2012 at 4:59 PM | by | Comments (0)

A first arrival at Marrakech airport is one to remember. Ours was five years ago, and we can still relive it like it was only yesterday. Travelers swoop down with snotty first world prejudices, assuming this north African airport is just another obstacle before the destination...and then they walk into this work of art that could be a palace or a madrasa or the fanciest hotel in the world. The only thing it really couldn't be? Going by UK or US standards, an airport.

Fly from Heathrow as we did last week and the difference is even more pronounced. From tired, grubby, work-in-progress-since-our-parents-can-remember Terminal 1 to this gleaming, light-filled palace. Never have we been more ashamed of the welcome the UK doles out to its visitors.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Checking Out Casablanca from 35,000 Feet

March 14, 2012 at 5:20 PM | by | Comments (0)

Casablanca. Has ever a city sounded so exotic? More to the point, has ever a city had a better advertising campaign than the 1942 film?

Casablanca is so ingrained in our psyche that when we found ourselves powering across the Mediterranean on our BMI flight to Marrakech last week, and found that we hit Africa at Casablanca rather than Tangier, as we’d expected, we felt a massive stomach lurch.

And how pretty did it look? The white city in comparison to Marrakech’s red city. The seaside town on the startling Atlantic, like Essaouira but closer to your heart. You can practically see the art deco buildings and the waterfront mosque!

more ›

/ / / /

The Adventures of Travel Cat: Marrakech, Morocco

March 14, 2012 at 2:03 PM | by | Comments (0)

Kitty cats. They rule the internet and, whether we realize it or not, pretty much the world too. Ever noticed how cats sometimes stake out the coolest spots in a city? This new feature—Travel Cat—focuses on exactly that. Submit a photo to be featured by tweeting or Instagramming it to us (details below).

Travel Cat spotted at: the medina in Marrakech, Morocco.

This week's Travel Cat (or, really, two Travel Cats) comes from Shannon Shirvan of Ellicott City, Maryland. Her story:

more ›

/ / / / / /

How Morocco's Marrakech Airport Celebrated International Women's Day

March 9, 2012 at 4:49 PM | by | Comment (1)

Yesterday, we got on a plane from London-Heathrow to Marrakech. Reading the papers on the plane, we noted that it was International Women’s Day, and thought no more of it. That is, until we got off the plane and noticed a line of women at the entrance to the airport, dressed in pink and holding bunches of pink roses. OMG, we thought, either we’re on the plane with someone who merits a pink carpet arrival, or this is to do with IWD.

And so it was. Each and every woman disembarking the plane was handed a pink rose and told, “Happy International Women’s Day, Madame." Once everyone was off the plane, the pink ambassadors came out to baggage claim to prowl around the carousel in case they’d missed anyone. As an introduction to Morocco, they did their country proud.

more ›

/ / / /

Follow in the Footsteps of Carrie and Company in Morocco

Where: Morocco
May 27, 2010 at 4:09 PM | by | Comments (0)

If just watching Sex and the City 2 in a theater tonight with your girls isn't enough, why not take them to Morocco, where the movie was shot?

The plot of SATC2 finds Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda on an all-expenses-paid vacation in Abu Dhabi. But, the conservative Emirati nation wasn't crazy about a movie with SEX in the title shooting there, amongst the other risque topics discussed in the movie, and so SATC2 ended up spending eight weeks filming in Morocco instead.

more ›

/ / / / /

Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow Break Bread in Morocco

November 30, 2009 at 10:29 AM | by | Comments (0)

Two of Brad Pitt's exes spent Turkey Day together in Morocco this year, leaving him to his family life. Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow, along with Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr, Salma Hayek and Adrien Brody, celebrated the re-opening of La Mamounia Hotel on Thursday in Marrakech. Suspiciously absent from the star-studded affair were the ladies of Sex and the City. All four women—Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon—have been filming scenes for next year's feature, Sex and the City 2 in Morocco since Oct. 25.

It's no wonder so many A-Listers showed up for the gala event. The hotel was a mainstay for celebrities for decades before it closed its doors three years ago. Even Alfred Hitchcock was a fan and shot The Man Who Knew Too Much in the hotel's lobby, which was also a favorite hang out for the Rolling Stones, Charlie Chaplin and Sharon Stone.

more ›

/ / / /

'Sex' And The Moroccan City

November 5, 2009 at 11:33 AM | by | Comments (3)

The title "Sex and the City" may become too limiting for the world's most fashionable set-jetting foursome. It seems "Sex and the City 2" has our favorite New Yorkers treading some very unfamiliar territory this week as Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon began shooting in Morocco. The women were spotted filming in the famous marketplaces of Marrakech, looking even more fabulous than the last time we saw them in New York City. Carrie was wearing a "J'Adore Dior" Tee and full lavender skirt while Miranda had on a flowy white dress with matching jacket.

Though Kristin Davis and Kim Cattrall haven't been spotted in Africa yet, rumor has it they will be joining SJP and Cynthia Nixon on the Moroccan set soon. All four ladies are also scheduled to film scenes in London before filming wraps next month.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Join Richard Branson Under The Moroccan Mistletoe This Christmas

October 5, 2009 at 12:53 PM | by | Comments (0)

We're not ashamed to be fans of all things Richard Branson, and with the Christmas season approaching scary fast, we're thinking Richard's ideas on how and where to spend Christmas sound pretty good. If you want to avoid the shopping mall headaches and escape the northern hemisphere cold, Virgin's Kasbah Tamadot Resort in Morocco has some very tempting Christmas deals.

There are five or seven-day packages over the Christmas and New Year period, and they'll certainly be a little bit different from your average gift-swapping, carol-singing festive season. Packages include festive Berber feasts, guided walks in the Atlas Mountains, market excursions and a ride on the resident mules. Booking soon would be a great idea, because these are special, limited-capacity vacations.

more ›

/ / / /

Gold Medal In Morocco

Where: Blvd Mohamed VI , Tangier, Morocco
November 20, 2008 at 2:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

Are you ready to expand your palate? Put down that steak and look beyond the salad plate at the world's best vegetarian restaurants.

On its website, Sable D'Or lists among its credits that the Pakistani and Sri Lankan national cricket teams eat there exclusively whenever they come to Tangier. Whether or not Sable D'Or is the only Indian restaurant in Tangier, it seems to be the best vegetarian option in a place where the word vegetarian often draws blank stares.

Named for a beach south of Rabat also known as Sid el Abed, Sable d'Or isn't wholly veggie--or wholly Indian for that matter. But where else are you going to go to watch European sports or listen to live Moroccan music with a side order of aloo dum? If you aren't too full, hit the attached bar afterwards for some dancing.

Want to see your favorite joint featured? Tip us off.

Related Stories:
· A Place In The Sun [TIME]
· Mash, No Bangers [Jaunted]
· Food Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Sable D'Or]

/ / /

Comic Book Travel: Following Tintin's Footsteps To Morocco

Where: Morocco
August 28, 2008 at 9:00 AM | by | Comments (0)

Anyone who has a fond memory of devouring the journeys in Tintin books is going to be a bit jealous of a British guy who's about to recreate the trip Tintin took in Land of Black Gold.

Barrimore England-Davis, major Tintin fan, has done up a vintage Jeep and will be driving through Spain and then across the desert in Morocco--along with a friend, and a dog named Snowy after Tintin's faithful hound.

The journey's scheduled to take six weeks and we're wondering if England-Davis plans to then follow a few more of Tintin's journeys. We're especially curious about what's going to happen when he sets out on Tintin's trips to fictional lands like Sao Rico, Syldavia or Borduria.

Related Stories:
· Tintin Fan's Epic Trip [Ananova]
· Road Trips Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ergates]

/ / / /

Take the Slow Boat to Morocco

April 9, 2008 at 9:00 AM | by | Comment (1)

Exotic Morocco is one of those countries we always want to know more about. Romantic and spicy, remote yet not that difficult to get to and holiday mecca for plenty of European travelers--we want to go.

And now we know the best way to get there: by ferry from Spain. The UK Times tells us you can get there in as fast as half an hour, but to savor the experience more, they recommend taking an older ferry to travel from Algeciras, Spain to Tangier, Morocco. It takes about two and a half hours.

Our tip is to buy a Moroccan beer on board, sit back and relax while Morocco slides into view. You'll skip all the hassles of lost baggage and flight delays that the average budget flight can bring and even if you don't find meaning in Morocco, you'll have a romantic start to your exploration of northern Africa.

Related Stories:
· Take the Ferry from Spain to Morocco [UK Times]
· Find Meaning in Morocco [Jaunted]

[Photo: ferry-site]

Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (effective 3/21/12) and Privacy Policy (effective 3/21/12). © Condé Nast. Your California Privacy Rights. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.
Ad Choices