Lauren’s Moroccan Merriment
March 17th-March 23rd
It’s Aries Season!!
Hey Family and Friends!!
Your favorite travel planner ready for another out of the country birthday trip and would love for you to join me. So lets have some fun in……………………………..
MARRAKECH
Travel Dates:
March 17th-23rd
Flight Information
Please see below for Flight Dates.
March 17th- Depart from USA to Marrakech, Morocco. We will not land in Marrakech until March 18th
March 23rd- Depart from Marrakech to USA
Choose flights within your budget because they vary depending on what you choose as the Departing flight
*NOTE* Screenshots are departing from Chicago and New York. Depending on your flight class(Economy, Premium Economy, Business), leaving from New York might be cheaper.
Tuesday, December 3rd is Travel Tuesday and airlines and hotels have the best deals!
Economy Options
The flights highlighted are my suggestions.
Premium Economy Options
The flights highlighted are my suggestions.
Hotel Choice
We will be staying at 2 different accommodations
A Riad- A traditional Moroccan house or palace with an indoor garden and courtyard. Think of this like a boutique hotel that only has about 8-12 rooms. The riads are located in the center of Medina and will give us a traditional experience.
A hotel- Most of the bars, lounges and restaurants are near the hotels.
Here are different options that fall in different prices ranges for both the Riads and the Hotels. Please choose which option suits you.
Note: The raids are within 10 mins walking distance from each other.
Riads- March 18-March 20
Option 1:
Name (rating): Riad Tarabel (4 star)
Room Type and Price: There are only 10 rooms at this hotel. Click on this link to see the Room Types
3 Rooms at the nightly rate of 3080 DH (280€) each one. Approx Total 595€ ~ $626 USD
1 Deluxe Room at the nightly rate of 3850 DH (350€). Approx Total 750€ ~ $789 USD
1 Junior Suite at the nightly rate of 5390 DH (490€). Approx Total 1035€ ~ $1089 USD
2 Deluxe Junior Suites at the nightly rate of 5720 DH (520€) each one. Approx Total 1100€ ~ $1157 USD
2 Suites at the nightly rate of 6710 DH (610€) each one. Approx Total 1287€ ~ $1354 USD
Booking Process: You must submit a booking request via the link below. You scroll to the bottom on the page and submit the request with the dates and your preferred room type. Once you have submitted a link, Tarabel will email you a payment link. No deposit required. Rooms are FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
Cancellations Policy: Full refund if cancelled by February 17, 2025
30% of the total amount of the booking in case of cancellation from 30 to 21 days before the arrival day
50% of the total amount of the booking in case of cancellation from 21 to 10 days before the arrival day
100% in case of cancellation from within the 10 days before the arrival day
Tarabel charges in Euros. All room rates offer complimentary breakfast and WiFi. This is my favorite option and where I will be booking.
Website: Riad Tarabel Tik Tok Review
Option 2:
Name (rating): Riad Sakkan(4 star)
Room Type: Luxury Room with a King bed- Flexible Rate(2 people max). There are only 5 rooms available. Rooms are FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
Price: Total € 715.50 Euros ~ $752 USD
50% deposit required.
Cancellation Policy: Free cancellation by 10AM - local time by January 30, 2025(45 days prior to arrival). After this date, a 100% balance will be charged.
Website: Riad Sakkan. Tik Tok Review
Sakkan charges in Euros. All room rates offer complimentary breakfast and WiFi. There is one suite available for € 965.50(Total). This hotel is a popular hotel and will get booked up fast.
Hotels- March 20-March 23
Option 1:
Name (rating): Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial & Spa(5 star)
Room Type: Contemporary Classic Room, 1 king-size bed or twin beds with Balcony(430 ft)- Flexible Rate
Price: Total MAD 13,671.60 ~ $1,369.11 USD
No deposit required
Cancellation Policy: Free cancellation by March 19th 6:00 PM local time. After this date, a 100% balance will be charged.
Website: Sofitel Marrakech. Tik-Tok Review
Hotel Information:
The Contemporary Classic Room rate does not offer complimentary breakfast. The room rate that includes complimentary breakfast is $50 additional per date. The Contemporary Classic Room room is the most economical room. It has free WIFI, City view, Balcony and Walk in shower. To upgrade to a Contemporary Deluxe Room(same as above but with pool view), the total price is MAD 14,481.23 ~ $1,450.23 USD. The hotel is within walking distance of most restaurants and bars/lounges and a 10 minute drive to the others restaurants/rooftops
Option 2:
Name (rating): Pestana CR7 Marrakech(4 star)
Room Type: CR7 Room Avenue, Twin Beds(398 ft)- Long Stay Price: Total €830.24~ $878.31 USD
Room Type: CR7 Superior Room, King Bed OR 2 Twin Beds(452 ft)-Long Stay Price: Total €897.10~ $949.04 USD
No deposit required
Cancellation Policy: Free cancellation by March 18th 12:00 PM local time. After this date, a 100% balance will be charged.
Website: Pestana CR7 Tik-Tok Review
Hotel Information:
Both rooms offer complimentary breakfast. The Contemporary Classic Room room is the most economical room. The hotel offers free WIFI and daily coffee or a refreshing drink. Bigger rooms are available. Pestana CR7 Marrakech charges in Euros. This hotel is not within walking distance to any of the restaurants/lounges, but is within a 10 min drive.
ITINERARY
Please read through the itinerary below and RSVP via the form for the activities you will participate in. Based on your RSVP, I will reserve the activities for the entire group(except for the spa) and send out the payment amounts and confirmations. For dinners, I have already booked reservations for us for the entire trip!
March 18-Tuesday
Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech: We will take some time to settle into our luxury accommodations at the Riad Tarabel.
Around 7PM, we will have a private dinner at Riad Tarabel.
If we are feeling up to it, there is Ladies Night on Tuesday at Club 555.
March 19-Wednesday
Day 2: Culture and Rooftops: We will go on a tour visiting the Ben Youssef Mosque, Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, Jemaa el-Fnaa and visit the Souks.
Time: 9:30AM
Price: $27
Link to Book: TripAdvisor
Attire: Prepare to dress cute but, semi modestly. Check out outfits below that I found on TikTok
Notes: Bring cash for entrance.
After the tour, we will enjoy lunch at the famous Les Jardins Du Lotus. We have some free time after lunch to shop.
Later that day, we will enjoy drinks and the sunset at El Fenn Rooftop before having dinner at Buddha Bar. The dress code for this restaurant is no sandals, shorts, sportswear and caps are allowed.
March 20-Thursday
Day 3: We will check out of the Riad at 9AM. We will have enjoy a cooking class making local Moroccan dishes.
Time: 10AM
Price: $41
Link to Book: Marrakesh Cooking class with Chef Hassan
After the class, we will check into the Sofitel and get ready to do some cool stuff- Aqua Karting.
We will get some rest as it will be a long night as we prepare to bring in my birthday!
We will start the night at Kabana Rooftop for dinner and drinks then go to the Theatro(bar/club).
March 21-Friday (My Birthday)
Day 4: We will do all my favorite things on my Birthday: Relax, cultural experiences and eat.
We will start the morning visiting Jardin Majorelle Garden and Yves Saint Laurent Museum. The cost to visit both is 330 Moroccan Dirhams
After that, I would like to go to the spa. Here are the 3 Spa Options that have the best reviews. Please choose whatever one you like best. Chrystal’s recommendation is La Mamounia so I will be choosing that spa. Ensure that you services are between the hours of 12PM- 4PM so we can all go to experience the sunset:
After the spa, we will go Dar Dar Rooftop for sunset and drinks @530PM.
My Birthday dinner will be at Comptoir Darna at 10PM. Attire is Furs and Feathers. Wear whatever you like as long as it as at least a fur or feather trim. This was inspired by Real Housewives of Potomac. The dress code for this restaurant is smart casual.
No Sportswear, shorts, flip-flops, sandals(for men) are not allowed.
March 22-Saturday
Day 5: We cant go to Marrakech without visiting the desert.
Our driver will pick us up by 10AM to take us to the Agafay Luxury Camp. The cost will be 869 DH Roundtrip for our entire group and the drive is about an hour away. Here are the activities they offer. Please confirm which one you would like!
A pool day with lunch + deckchair and towel: 590 DH / per person. Menu: (Chicken Tagine / Or Minced Meat Tagine / Or Vegetarian Couscous / Or Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce / Or Burger + Fries) + soft drink
Camel ride (1 hour) 🐫: 320 DH /person
Quad single (1h): 430 DH /person
Double quad (1 hour): 650 DH/ for 2 people
Full Moroccan lunch menu at 330 DH/per person. Full menu starter , main and dessert
Lunch from 1PM to 4PM
Please bring cash to pay for the activities! We will arrive back to the hotel after 4PM.
We will have dinner at dinner at La Trattoria at 830PM and enjoy our last night out at So Lounge!
March 23-Sunday
Leave to return to the US!!!!
If you want to check out some of the club/lounges options, here are a list of the favs on social media:
Theatro-House, Hip-Hop and Afrobeats(Thursdays/Fridays)
Monte Cristo - Live Band and Club
Club 555- Plays a mix, depending on the day
So Lounge(in the Sofitel)
Epicurean- Plays Afrobeats
BABOUCHKA- Plays International music
If you are concerned with how to dress in Marrakech, check out these TikToks!
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2dwgTQr/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2dKak8V/
