Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Morocco (Country Travel Guide)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Despite all the bad things that people say about LP, they're still one of the best books out there. They're not totally full of glossy pictures, and not just a bland reem of text. The maps are very useful, and highly detailed, and the recommendations for restaurants help you weed through all the tourist traps. That said, I've often followed their suggestions to restuarants or cafes that don't exist anymore. If LP could find a way to update their books every year, I'd be a bigger fan than I am right now. In this book, for instance, they tell you that the Morora is the only train station in Tanier, when the new Tanger Ville station was just recently opened. It could be a confusing moment if a cabby were to refuse to take you to a station that you don't know is nonexistent. But they do cover almost everything that you could think of in terms of transportation and navigating your way around. I like that with each city they put the population, so that you know what kind of a place you're going to. The overview maps also give you a way of figuring out where you are in relation to other places. It has its faults for sure, but I've not been able to find a much better series.

When I travel, in any country, I use Lonely Planet- including the country I live in, Morocco. It is a good book, very helpful, and very popular. Perhaps a little too popular.

This is now my third Lonely Planet Morocco. I've used this particular edition to travel to Melilla, Shoofshowen, Meknes, Walili, Mulay Idriss, Shalalat d'Uzud, Marraksh, Warzazat, Ait Benhadu, Sfru, Bhalil, Taza, Ifrane, Gouffre de Friwato, and my hometown of Fes. And I have found that it helped me find some decent hotels, figure out travel plans, and where to eat. But not as much as it once did.

Others online have remarked on this- the Lonely Planet Effect. It seems to be in full force in Morocco. As soon as a transportation method, hotel, or restaurant is mentioned in Lonely Planet, the proprietor will cut out the bit where he is mentioned to post on his wall, and jack up the prices- significantly. So though the book just came out, and was only a few months old when I began using it, nearly every place I go the prices are no longer what is listed. Now, this isn't LP's fault, certainly. But it does make the book less helpful than it once was.

I've now taken to using LP just for the maps and travel suggestions. When I arrive in a new town, I look for any hotel that is *not* listed in Lonely Planet, and try to find someplace clean. Those are usually the affordable hotels. Any place mentioned in LP is far out of my price range.

This book has been really useful for suggesting accommodations- if you can find them! The maps are absolutely terrible. My wife and I travel for a living, navigating through cities every day, and these maps were misleading and incorrect at best. The book was published in Feb 2009, and we traveled in late August 2010 so it seems impossible that roadwork has changed the cities this much in 18 months. We went to about 8 different cities and had problems in all of them, climaxing with a 2 1/2 hour search for our hotel in Fes, which we never did find. In defense of the book, google maps had a lot of trouble in Fes as well- so lonely planet isn't alone- but there are basic mapping errors, like right turns when you actually need to make a left to get to a hotel. To close, giving credit where credit is due, I found a lot of useful advice and info, and write-ups about the hotels, riads, and restaurants were pretty spot on- we just never made it to half of them!

So, I Took this book in my trip to morocco.
maps are absolutely terrible, I've been always lost. and in this book is information only of CTM Buses, not Supratour and it is notcomfortable. also, they misses some main sights in Fez, rabat, meknes.
So, it is not "perfect" book for solo traveler

I used this book to travel to Morocco. The information was very good and it is quite accurate. It was very handy and useful to carry this book for travelling. I love this book.

I still like the LP, but as I wrote about the LP Portugal last summer, it's getting more upscale. For LP Morocco, I wondered what the person reviewing Casablanca did. "Our pick" wasn't so cosy at all, thank god I checked the website beforehand. When we happened to pass by the hotel after having chosen another, our fears were confirmed. Another dimension where LP is pretty far off is kids activities. Some of the major Moroccan cities have really nice playgrounds while LP reports there aren't any. Will strat buying a 2nd guide as complement from now on.

The backdrop: I'm an avid Lonely Planet buyer and every time I travel abroad I buy the LP book for that country, regardless of whether I'm going to a developed or developing country. I've To me this is the best practical guide book for people that need useful information (not just nice glossy pictures).

The book on Morocco is too rosy!!! The authors should make it more realistic for the sake of their readers:

> The book recommends getting lost in the souks (Marrakech, Fes) and they depict it as a safe and fun adventure when in fact you're constantly approached by locals that try to take advantage of you money. On several times we got threatened in broad daylight. I would have appreciated a bit more cautious stance from the authors.

> The medinas of Fes and Marrakesh are extremely poor and look & feel like slums. I wouldn't recommend sleeping there to people with faint hearts.

> If you do want to get lost in the souks, I recommend you get an official guide. But be careful because they also will try to get you in stores and buy; even if you don't buy stuff, they might take you for an expensive lunch. They receive a big percentage from the retailers. Convey that you are interested in a cultural tour, not a shopping spree. Note if you want to buy something, ask the person from your Riad for recommendations.

We met quite a few other tourists in Morocco which tended to share our opinion. I've also traveled to quite a few other developing countries and I'm trying to be as objective as possible.

I don't want to sound overly critical of the country; there are great spots such as the desert, the todra gorge, and any small cities in general.

Lonely Planet's newest Morocco Travel Guide does a nice job of condensing the best places to see in Morocco; it even outlines some of the better places to go trekking, such as Mgoun National Park. I live and work in Morocco with an eco-travel company and we recommend this particular guide on Amazon.com to those who want to research the country and places to see. From Fez to Marrakesh and even highlighting some places of interest in Western Sahara (see Allah's Garden, a nonfiction account set in the region), Lonely Planet is unparalleled in their in-country research, facts, and even some off-the-beaten-path locales.

I particularly like the approach this book has about the special cultural concerns and attitudes of Morocco. I bought this book because I borrowed it from the library and really liked it; I didn't want to return it, so I got my own! I will take it when I go to Morocco--high praise, indeed, as I prefer to travel light.

Guys, for people living in spain I cant believe I am paying more than 8 euros for shiping and delivery can take more than 2 months!!!! actually is the same price than buying it in the shop!!! and I am going on a trip in 2 weeks and the guide has not arrived after aprox. 40 days!! I am definitively not happy with the service with no clear date of delivery!!! much better the Lonely Planet web page!!1 wont make the same mistake!!! Americans can enjoy their Amazon Amazing Service !!