I appreciate Forum contributors sharing their experiences and impressions for those seeking, as I was, RS- like tours to destinations outside Europe.
After reading itineraries and reviews for Gate1, OAT, Odysseys Unlimited, Tauck, Road Scholar, Kensington and a few others, Intrepid's tour and company philosophy and this particular itinerary in Morocco in January were a clear choice for me.
Rather than reviewing the itinerary here is the link:
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/morocco/premium-morocco-depth-159507
For those beginning their Morocco research this "loop" is fairly standard. Some go to Tangiers rather than Chefchouen, some Essouaria, some are faster paced and some offer different levels of service. I always read between the lines for shopping stops!
I chose the "premium" option but according to the guide there's minimal difference between that top tier and "comfort", at least for itinerary. I understand the top local guides are assigned for each visit and the lodgings, mostly locally operated riads, were quite posh! Desert ultra glamping!
Just beginning retirement, the luxury of traveling off season is fantastic. The guide shared many of our stops are usually mobbed with visitors starting in later February. The climate reminded me of the winter SW US, with beautiful warmish days and very cold nights, especially in the mountains (snow!).
Differences from Rick ( caveat- I only experienced the premium level):
12 is the group limit, so a sort of mini bus was used
You are not expected (or allowed!) to carry your own luggage. Related, most of the group had large suitcases and on the two 2 night stays wanted laundry done. The buddy system wasn't used to keep track of us (how I like that RS method!) but thankfully the group was small enough that counting didn't take long and it soon became clear it was always the same person missing!
You can arrange a free arrival airport transfer even if you don't book flights with Intrepid. That was SO nice!
For departure, it was a reasonable price for a pre-booking a ride to the airport, also really convenient.
Most tour members were my age or older- mid late 60's on up to late 70s. I enjoyed not having all Americans. There were only 4 of us of the 12, the rest Canadian, Scotland and an Australian mom and adult daughter. Again, not sure if that's the norm.
Later starts, typically 9 am departure.
All tips included but suggestion to additionally tip the lead guide and driver and I did. (A guide on a challenging hike was so helpful to me I did tip him.)
Similarities to Rick
Excellent and engaging, fabulous guides
Excellent driver
Clearly stated travel times in each day's itinerary
Really well travelled group. Some had been seemingly everywhere! Open-minded and friendly.
Low maintenance as far as casual travel clothing, think fleece and Eddie Bauer pants worn on repeat so not sure what laundry was being paid for!
I'm unable to think of one specific highlight because the entire trip was a highlight! Also, the stops where shopping was an option all benefited that community- a women's rug making cooperative, a private meal in a local road, for example. I never felt pressured and in fact was thrilled to have a vetted opportunity to buy the best and genuine products: rose oil, for example, or pottery.
I'm pretty French fluent, which was helpful, but younger people are learning Spanish and in most tourist areas English is spoken. Do NOT get tap water in your mouth and use the usual food precautions. (Prophylactic Pepto ended up being worse than just being stringently careful.)
Above all, regardless which tour company you choose (or if you go yourself), Morocco is a fascinating country and you will learn so much! (They really depend on tourism dollars, and are still recovering from the earthquake.)
Posted by
OP
West Coast
257 posts
Sorry, a few more impressions about Intrepid:
Responsive and efficient registration and payment process.
24 hour online chat feature ( used several times) as well as phone options.
Great communication - a few hotels changed and the new invoice was updated and sent.
Information provided for local Intrepid emergency assistance until meeting with tour leader.
I didn't use their airfare option for reasons discussed on other threads. If something goes wrong I want to deal directly with the airline as well as vetting connection times, airlines, seats, etc So I can't review that service.
Posted by
OP
West Coast
257 posts
And lastly, just some experiences with money and food:
Prior to the trip I had posted a query about the potential for GI issues from the water or food. My concern was also if my (nearly 2 lbs of!) protein bars and PB pouches were enough for almost 3 weeks since I am gf and vegan. Fortunately, especially when traveling, I do eat eggs.
While I always travel with (but have fortunately never had to use) a blister pack of anti diarrheal tablets and some hydration powder tubes, the travel nurse at my clinic prescribed an antibiotic if things turned grim. Advice on the Forum and confirmed with further research advised using Pepto Bismal prophylactically, from 2 days before to 2 days after the trip.
Trusting my instincts, having never used it (!) I took 1 rather than 2 tablets twice daily (and took one before that to be sure of no allergy). I'm a small sized person and glad I listened to myself- without TMI let's just say it "worked" but I felt quite uncomfortable and quit taking it after arrival in Morocco.
Caveat- on the tour we were in upscale lodgings and all but one had a free bottle of water in the room. It took a few days to get used to not using the tap- at all- for toothbrushing and also facewashing. (For that I had a pouch of facial cleaning wipes, which worked great.) It was also an adjustment to using plastic bottled water and decanting it into my own small aluminum drinking bottle. Water was cheap in stores but more costly in restaurants. The guide had big huge plastic jugs from which we could fill our own bottles anytime which was a real convenience.
If you have no food restrictions, lucky you! Bread is ubiquitous at every meal and the traditional Moroccan bread and breakfast pancakes looked SO good. Plus French- ish pastries and cookies. The other tour members seemed happy with the various meat tagines and everyone loved the orange juice.
The guide was really protective and went so far, literally, as to go into some kitchens to confirm about dairy or gluten. A popular breakfast or lunch is une omelette naturelle cooked in (if lucky) olive oil and (if not) a lot of sunflower oil. So I had that almost daily and sometimes twice. French fries are also popular, yay. Sometimes I just had a protein bar and that was fine. It was not Intrepid's job to cater to my dietary restrictions! The plane rides were tough as always. I came home just in time with only one small protein bar left!
If you are traveling on your own just be very sure you're understood. Tagine mean couscous (not gf) so be careful!
Speaking of tagines I learned most in Morocco have
lead. You won't know what's under the beautiful glaze so do some research if you plan to bring one back (unless you don't care)!
Money- the dirham is restricted. I was surprised when I asked an exchange in the Paris airport and the seller had some, but only in huge bills and for an outrageous price. I'm in the minority but prefer to have cash before leaving the airport. The US bills must be very crisp and new, the agent inspected each of mine and rejected one. Some of the hotels could also change dollars, if they had any, and I used that option. The tour bus stopped at ATMs which for the most part seemed to work fine for those who used them. It's really helpful to have cash outside the larger cities and you'll need coins (and tp) for the toilets.
One tour member's card wouldn't work at multiple machines, then the account was frozen, etc. Hence why you need a back up card, wherever you travel, dude...he was so frantic and had zero cash. Or bandaids for that matter...
Anyway, my money stayed safe in my stretchy waistband money belt and I stayed healthy!
I hope this proves helpful for anyone else planning a trip to Morocco!