Tangier – My Second Home
Tangier, my second home, a hidden gem and a little spot to see the real Morocco.
Tangier has become more recognised over the years by tourists, it was mainly known by Moroccans as an escape but as Tangier has embraced a rapid development and with it being so close to Spain, travellers have found their footsteps here exploring the streets of ‘real Morocco’. I have also noticed many expats as Tangier has now recognised many global companies and offers a variety of work for foreigners.
Souqs – the local markets
The local markets in Morocco are known as ‘souqs’ in Darija (the Arabic dialect spoken in Morocco). This is where you can buy a variety of traditional, designer inspired and many other good quality clothes for a bargain. Morocco is primarily a cash driven place so a lot of places you’ll visit will prefer cash as a payment method however they may also offer (and many shops do) to pay with credit and debit cards, but small local shops may not have the facility for this, so keep some petty cash with you
Stay costs
For a high end hotel and the affordability in Morocco, you can easily find good hotels/villas for 40 euros per night or you can splash out for something more luxurious from 60-80 euros per night. There are also many cheaper options for around 25 euros per night but if you prefer comfort, find something a little higher priced.
BUILD A LIFESTYLE AROUND YOUR BRAND, AND THE AUDIENCE WILL FOLLOW.
Public transport is the cheapest option for local travels which will cost you no more than a fiver (£5) per day depending on how far you want to go, always be vigilant for taxi journeys and book through Uber and keep an eye for the meter and your Uber cost to avoid scams. It is also a good idea to agree a price for local taxis prior to completing the journey or even entering the vehicle, use google translate as it helps with communication but many people speak basic English so communication is not the biggest issue.
According to Gordon Ramsay, Moroccan food has been ranked the best in the world and being biased I would have to agree (my wife who is not Moroccan herself, also agrees).
The main foods in Morocco are Tajin, Djej Mahamer, Pastilla, Harira (my favourite) and Msemen. You will find these everywhere in Tangier along with Attay (refreshing Moroccan mint tea). People are extremely welcoming and friendly here, so don’t be surprised if a random local family invites you over for some tea but in fact offer you a full course meal (be vigilant of course) but Moroccans are one of the most hospitable people so don’t be shy.
Flights are relatively cheap to Morocco especially from the UK, Gulf, Europe and Middle East starting from £50 off season and £150 peak season. Flights from the US, Canada etc will be slightly higher due to distance. We ourselves, tend to travel from either London to Tangier or Amsterdam to Tangier and pay no more than £200 during peak season.
Haggle at the souqs as much as you can, they will offer discounts. Do not accept free items as you will later on be charged for them, this includes henna and trying clothes on before purchasing, so be sure to make this clear.
