There are always two versions of a trip that exist in your mind. There’s the trip you actually went on, and the trip you tell people about.
The one you tell others about goes something like this: “Oh yeah, Morocco was greaaaaat. The souks were incredible! And the mosques, wow! You have to get a hammam massage while you’re there too. You can’t miss out on this amazing, amazing trip!”
Your eyes widen with a shrill enthusiasm for the cultural expansion you’ve just experienced. The glimmer in your gaze as you recount your Moroccon marauder adventures will convince them to call a travel agent and book the same trip at once. *If only I’d followed my planning guru Ellen’s itinerary on this one…* As you tell a tale over and over again, you begin to feel it and, in some ways, live it. Eventually, you rewrite the true (and way less palatable) story.
In your reality, however, your eyeballs nearly burst out of your head thinking about how horrible of a time you had, and that “glimmer” is a welling of tears about ready to explode. If they dare ask about a tagine or a camel ride, it’s game over.
Now, I took this trip to Morocco over two months ago now. Like a cockroach, it’s refused to die and remains fresh as a daisy, living rent-free in my mind. Now, the memory’s being evicted.
The song I was listening to landing in Marrakech from Barcelona. What an innocent young lamb I was, so full of hopes and dreams.
At this point, you may be asking yourself: why did she go on this trip? And what went wrong? For you, I’ll divulge in such questions.
THE WHY: Ah yes, the iconic Marrakech study abroad trip! Passed along like the green goddess salad recipe, those who came before me say things like: it was expansive! A dream come true! A must-do! Is there some kind of cult around these white women going to Morocco? Are they being paid? If so, where’s my check.
THE WHAT: Part of me is kidding when talking about this adventure, because it all worked out fine in the end. But arriving to a place you’ve never been and learning you have no hotel reservation certainly presented a challenge😂 Sadly, hopping hotels night to night soured the trip in totality, but we tried our best.
The true problem is setting expectations for traveling. My WHY gave me a picture-perfect Pinterest board of WHAT would go down, when really this trip was everything but what I envisioned. It was just so comically bad that I have to believe there’s an alternate version of myself who spent five days in Marrakech (one in the desert) and loved it.
I, in this timeline now, would not subject you to the itinerary which I (alongside my two warrior friends) “followed.” Instead, I offer the Chloe-in-the-timeline-where-this-trip-went-really-well recommendations for how to have a worthwhile experience in this admittedly beautiful and enriching city.
Riad Botanica
You’ll be quick to notice that most of these recommendations revolve around housing. And, if you are visiting Marrakech, I implore all of you to stay with Riad Botanica. Just off the ground this year, the owners personally offered my friends and me a literal safe haven after Expedia pulled the handmade Moroccan rug out from under us.
Angela and Mohhamed are angels from heaven, giving us a college student discount on what would be an otherwise lavishly pricey stay. Their insider recommendations for activities around the city (see: Chabi Chic, Le Jardin Secret) did not dissapoint. I’m a sucker for a love story and adored how the couple blended their Australian and Moroccan influence throughout the decor. The food followed suit - serving avocado toast alongside Baghrir.
This place singlehandedly saved us - and is just getting off the ground! So send anyone you know to Botanica when in Marakkech.
Riad BE
Riad is synonymous with hotel here, but it’s more of a bed-and-breakfast vibe.
This is the quasi-cousin of Botanica, just down the road, and we ended up splitting time between both since neither Riad had enough space to house us for our trip’s duration (word to the wise, mid-March = tourists in droves).
The staff here was incredibly kind, and this is another more “hip” and “millennial-tourist” friendly resort to stay at, offering ~yoga~ and fully-guided Souk Tours.
We also were part of a lucky bunch to test their new BE Agafay getaway… which I would not speak as highly of. A couple of months down the line, it could be the hottest spot for yogics and young travelers alike looking to ~escape~. For now, I would not venture out there for 50 minutes in a van only to ride a camel pulled by a man on his iPhone.
El Fenn
Now, if I had a few spare dollars, THIS is where I’d stay. Or at least hang out all day with a pool pass.
Richard Branson’s sister’s place (also see: his mountain resort, they’ve stamped their name all over town), we ended up checking it out on our LAST NIGHT - imbibing copious (hibiscus) margaritas as a special treat we do not see often in Paris.
Cool crowd, swanky vibes, rooftop sunset, check it out.
Sahbi Sahbi
This place… I feel conflicted about putting it on this list. Annabelle found this recommendation on her friend Charlotte Antonia’s be my guest blog, and I’m glad we checked it out.
Did I love the food? No, not necessarily. But I can’t say I was blown away by any of the food on this trip, despite this being a “food blog.”
Do I love that it’s an all-female restaurant concept? Obviously. The decor was neat, a modern take on the desert aesthetic, and it was clear the place was already drawing in a crowd despite being the first week open. So maybe it was me, my taste buds were shot at this point, so give it another try because there’s oh so much potential (try the Fès organic chicken trid, looked insane).
Chabi Chic
À la Angela of Riad Botanica, this was one of the cuter stores outside the souks or should I say “inside” the A/C. I’m one of those people that loves those little “emergency pouches” you can buy with the mini bandaids, deodorant, hair clip, eye of newt; those things have it all! But I am also the same person who resists the urge to open it as to keep all of the contents intact… I am the worst.
So, I was delighted with Chabi Chic’s little pouch of all of the makeups and oils you typically find in the souks. Efficiency! Why buy each piece when you can get it all in one swoop?
In the taxi back (we soon gave up on walking in the humid 80+ degree heat), the girls entertained ourselves with the perplexingly green lipstick - which matches the Ph of your lips to turn pink! Wildly fun. Also included orange blossom extract (for baking, yay) and the charcoal eye shadow (which my eczema will never permit me to use safely).
Le Jardin Secret
YSL this, YSL that. Don’t get me wrong. The man was a legend. But in terms of gardens, the Secret is where to be.
Nerd moment, the flow or “lifeforce” of the purified water from the Atlas mountains irrigates the entire thing. And the perfectly symmetrical design blew my noggin. Also a cute rooftop cafe made by the Italian man who bought the building.
Fantastic place to sit, read, nap, decompress, and hide — the superior of the gardens.
It’s taken me two months to even talk about this trip. Distance makes the heart grow fonder? (Or time allows the wounds to scab over… lol).
There is a lot of untapped potential and inspiration to be gained with a trip to Marrakech. Just plan in advance… And, for God’s sake, NO EXPEDIA!!!!
A special shoutout to Pat and all of my wonderful extended relatives I saw last weekend at my beautiful cousin Caroline’s wedding in Savannah. For encouraging me to get back on the (blog) horse!
And shoutout to Lizzie and Fran Arrowood❤️ Always keeping my out-of-control use of unecessarily complicated words in check.
Thank you to everyone who subscribes… For real, it’s such a treat for me to write made even sweeter knowing actual humans read it.
xoxo,
Chloé
No Expedia when you have travel planner me 😍
Great blog!! 💕💕