Hotel Kenzi Basma, Casablanca

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...Great value hotel right in the heart of Manhattan,at 147 West 43rd St, New York. Just off Times Square but more a quiet oasis than bustling metropolis. Extremely well run. Totally themed out in Morroccan style (mosiac tiling and palms throughout) its actually pretty authentic. Owner and staff are all North African or at least second generation. Bookings can be made and discounts can be haggled over online at casablancahotel.com. Thers free wine and cheese on various days in the lounge plus free internet access. They dont have a gym pool but give you free access to the one next door with amazing views. And its cheaper than other hotels of the same standard due to only having 48 rooms. Well worth it.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: lively city
Disadvantages: intimidating, unwelcoming, crazy traffic

...My partner and i took a cruise and Casablanca was our second port of call, and the one on our itinerary we most looked forward to visiting. We had been promised welcoming people, and great shopping in the soukes (markets). We lasted a whole hour before heading back to our ship in an almighty hurry. From the moment we stepped out of our petit taxi (which are allowed to carry no more than 3 passengers) we knew it was going to be a disappointment. Cars and buses going wherever they liked, beggars and street traders refusing to leave you until you had at least handled their goods. this all in the first half hour. The next was spent trying to shake off a local who had followed us from the minute we had entered the first shop and despite our attempts to persuade him in a friendly manner that we did not need him to show us around he... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Western comforts if that's your thing
Disadvantages: Wealth divide, Lack of culture, unfriendly locals

...I arrived in Casablanca by train and took a taxi to the city centre where i planned to stay. The taxi driver seemed to drive around in circles even though I'd given him a map in French of where I wanted to go, eventually dropping me off around half a mile away. I'd spent a bit of time in Morocco in the cities and desert and was wholey disappointed by Casablanca. Travelling on a budget I saw most of what the westerners staying at the beach resorts missed. The dead animals on the side of the streets and plenty of fighting between the locals. The city itself is trying to be as western as possible. Plenty of boutiques and fast food restaurants and the touristy market in the old town area is overpriced and low quality compared to the other regions in the country. The hassan II mosque on the coast is something worth going to see... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful