On arriving Marrakech, we were escorted from the plane, onto the tarmac! It wasn't that hot in May we thought (but this was soon going to change)

We got to customs (my god be prepared for the queues of doom) I would suggest pushing your way through to the front if there is gap, as when we arrived there were around a 1000 people there, being individually checked for around about 5 mins each!

We were then taken by taxi - pre arranged by our Riad to pick us up from the airport, and were taken to our Riad, (gorgeous by the way) came to 750 for 4 days for 4 people. http://www.info-world.com/self.catering/morocco/marrakesh.house.rental.php

Get directions to Jma El Fna or "the big square" as it is otherwise known - and is where all the culinary delights are served up, there are some wonderful places to eat, European dishes if your feeling less adventurous, or you can check out the stalls in the middle of the square in the evening. Some great dishes, I suggest the steak haches tangines, which is basically small meat balls cooked in a tangine - spices, coriander etc, and really yummy! Vegetable tangine is also good, and dinner for one should cost between 40-60dihrams in the food hall area, for one dish roughly 3-5 pounds...and it is delicious. Whilst in the square look up and you will see lots of roof terraced restaurants - great for a summer evening!

Shopping - do not get foiled, the souks are riddled with shop owners who will literally drag you in, "look at my magic box" ignore the spice sellers completely - I got asked 100's of times, what this spice was, and what is that spice...and it is a ploy to get you into their shop.

Whilst in the Jewish souks I got foiled on the first day for spices, amber and henna...I was asked "you like henna?" and I said I did so he got a local to come in and she offered me a book with her designs in it...I chose a rather nice one in black henna (which I've since found out is dangerous - but luckily I didn't have a reaction to it.) She went on to explain that if I didn't like it I don't have to pay for it....the design was finished and so she asks " you like it?" and I say yes, and I said how much , she said around 300dihrams for this, and went on to say some guy had just got one done for 700dihrams...."for a little one...like this" *she demonstrates what a tiny morsel is* I' bartered her down to 200dihrams which is about £15 roughly (bit of a rip off) - avoid the henna people in the big square too.

There are some great places to buy leather from - but smell it to make sure it's not smelly camel hide, as it will stink when you get home, and also silver is quite expensive and is weighed to the gram - I managed to barter for an onyx ring and received a free gift from the shop keeper, who later became my friend as we passed the shop regularly.

You're going to be hungry so check Jma El Fna, and do not what ever you do take the first price they offer you, they will swindle you if they think you can be swindled! Barter your hearts out, don't fall for the limping children behind them, and certainly do not have sympathy - they will take you for all you've got! if you are allergic to cats I don't suggest you go, because there are stray cats everywhere!

Here are some useful phrases (typed phonetically)

La shokra - no thankyou
Zouina - beautiful
Rochella - beautiful person
Be saha - bon appetite

(These are really useful saying an will get you some kudos!)

Happy Tripping :)

We just come back from the beautiful city of Marrakech!
it was just great! perfetc weather, awesome landscapes, very welcoming people! [--XXXXX-XXXXXXXX.XXX--] made everything works for us. we booked with this agency and they took care about everything, restaurants tours, guide etc..
i definitely recomend this wonderful city..

We had our first trip to Marrakech in May 2009 and stayed in a fantastic Riad called Riad Orangeraie which is situated in a perfect location in the Medina behind the old walls, right next to the Souk and only two minutes walk from the place Jemaa el-Fna. We could walk to everything.
The Riad was like a sanctuary, like walking into another world from the noisy bustling city.
The Riad is owned by two French brothers and run by French woman they all speak fluent English. The whole atmosphere is very friendly and you feel like you are part of the Riad like you are part of the "family".
We ordered food on a couple of occasions and it was very delicious home cooked and fresh. The breakfast by the pool was magic.
We made some day trips and Veronique was very helpful with the planning and it made it all so much easier for us. In general they helped us with everything we needed help for.
They organized our pick-up at the airport which was such a nice way to arrive into this exotic city.
We can't wait to go back.
Charles and Anette Black, France

I can't really comment on luxury holidays, since I spent two nights of the week sleeping on public Transport while travelling up North to Melilla and back.

However, Marrakech is amazing and definitely worth the visit - but of course it is smelly and dirty and ladies definitely don't walk around without a man with you. Saying that though crime wise it seems pretty safe and I think it has a low crime rate.

Its amazing to walk through the Old Medina and Jemaa El Fna both of which are bustling and hot but to be able to see the Snow Topped Atlas Mountains in the background.

If you decide to stay in Marrakech then hotels in the Gueliz area would probably be best. A hotel I can recommend is the Moroccan House Hotel which is aimed at British Guests I think (most are aimed at French and Spanish) http://www.moroccanhousehotels.com/Anglais/Marrakech/Presentation/Presentation.htm

Gueliz is the more upmarket, new part of town, but it's walking distance from the main square Jemaa El Fna - in the Old City where you find the Souks, Snake Charmers and the evening food stalls (All of which are worth a visit - I even enjoyed the food and I'm massively fussy.) The Souks are such a maze we realised the first time we went that a day would have to be put aside just to explore them and we literally did spend a day getting lost in them!

Everyone's very helpful - the hotels can arrange most trips you would like to go on. We went Camel riding which was surprisingly good - we went out for two hours, and in the middle they provided us with traditional food, drink and music. If staying in Marrakech an absolute MUST is an evening at Chez Ali... I think all hotels can arrange it, a mini bus will pick you up - it's just outside of Marrakech - won't say too much but its amazing, food (I think 4 or 5 courses..) is included in the cost which I think was about £25 - definitely worth the money. I was slightly concerned about going, because I'm vegetarian - as soon as they found out, they went back to the kitchen and did me seperate servings of vegetarian food without me even asking and the food was brilliant.

Taxis are brilliant way of getting round but make sure you use Petit Taxi as the Grande Taxi's cost a bomb.

Oh, and slightly confusing is that you can't get Morroccan Dh before you get there and even if you do manage to you are only allowed to take 1000 dh (which is about £83.00) through customs. What's best is to get American Dollars, theres an exchange as soon as you arrive at the airport.

The CTM Bus service and the Train Services are very simple to use, and very reliable. We took a trip to Casablanca, although both my friend and I were very disappointed with it, and we thought one day was enough to see what we wanted to see.

Marrakech is definitely worth a visit - it's brilliant!