My choice of Marrakech for vacation this autumn was a spur-of-the-moment decision. The very first time I heard of the city was in March this year when I shared a train with a lady who told me she was headed there the next day for vacation. I recall asking what country Marrakech was in! By happenstance, I had some free time in November and I took the spontaneous decision to travel overseas. Marrakech came to mind, and I said why not. Here is a highlight of my Marrakech experience.

I had barely six weeks to plan this trip (I have a friend who has planned her July 2023 trip already!). Being a Nigerian passport holder meant I needed a visa, making it even trickier. Fortunately, Morocco (unbeknownst to me) has a very seamless visa application process having just transitioned to electronic visas in July 2022. All that was required was to fill a simple form online (https://www.acces-maroc.ma/#/), attach a few ID documents and pay an application fee of roughly £60, all done under 3 minutes. I applied on a Sunday evening and got my e-Visa by Tuesday. Passport holders of many countries do not require a visa to visit however. (Check here: https://www.consulat.ma/en/list-countries-whose-citizens-are-exempted-entry-visa-morocco)

Luckily, a friend referred me to a holiday agency called ‘Loveholidays’. I highly recommend them too (https://www.loveholidays.com/). Through them, I was able to secure a great holiday deal including an all-inclusive resort and a return ticket. I booked my airport taxi on Booking.com. This is also recommended as it is safer, cheaper and hassle-free. Although I exited the airport long after the agreed pick-up time (due to Customs and Immigration protocols), I found my driver waiting patiently with my name card.

I flew with Wizz Air (https://wizzair.com/), a very affordable and decent Hungarian airline operating daily flights from Gatwick to Marrakech for as low as £19.99 per trip, and even £9.99 for Wizz Loyalty members! For an additional £10 per trip, you’ll be allowed 10kg extra cabin luggage and priority check-in and boarding services at the airport.

I lodged in a beautiful resort called Valeria Dar Atlas (also known as Club Mammara Dar Atlas) (http://clubdaratlasmarrakech.hotels-marrakesh.com/en/), located in the outskirts of town, away from the noise, and hustle and bustle of city-center life, ideal for anyone looking for a quiet time to relax. Their hospitality was top notch and the service was world class. The rooms were sparkling and the food was delectable.

Scores of tourist agencies in Marrakech provide guided tours for different activities to fill your time. It is a booming industry there. I used two of them, Marrakech Tours (https://uk.marrakesh-desert-tours.com/) and First Marrakech Tours (https://first-marrakech-tours.com/). All of them are good but some are cheaper than the others.

Marrakech was an unforgettable experience for me, etched eternally in my memory. I highly recommend you visit, especially if you are on a budget. Ciao.