Tangier, Morocco

Hello,

My boyfriend and I will be travelling from Granada onward to Fes, but have decided to break that journey up in 2 days by staying in Tangier for a night before catching the train to Fes the following morning.
However, I am having trouble finding reasonably priced accommodations. We are looking for a guesthouse/hostel/apt--something non-chain hotel-ish, for somewhere between 50-60 Euros. Any help with specific suggestions or websites that arent widely known would be great!

Another issue we are concerned about is safety. I have read positive and negative: that is, how Tangier is not the "seedy" place it once was, but then I go on to read a review of a traveller who says he & girlfriend were accosted and threatened that they would be attacked every time they left their hotel (because they refused to pay the men 50 Euros for "guiding" them to their hotel). This was just last month! I do realize anywhere you travel you run that risk, but are there any suggestions to help steer clear of this potentially happening? I am looking forward to visiting Morocco SO much, and i would hate for something like this to spoil it.

Please reply with any comments, suggestions, ideas!

Thanking you in advance,
Ashley

The creaky old Hotel Continental is your best bet.

Inexpensive and brim full of character, and most of the rooms seem to have a view of the port and bay. It's just within the medina. There's no bar and breakfast is dull.

Keep your wits about you in Tangers. Morocco is a safe country and Moroccans are charming people, but Tangers is full of desparados trying to get across the straights and into Europe. There are all sorts of scams. If you have problems, go to the police, and insist upon the Brigade Touristique.

Common sense should be enough. If you don't want to pay someone for their help, don't accept it.

The port of Tangiers and the medina was perhaps one of the most challenging experiences I have ever had. It can be a bit scary but it is also an amazing place.

The very best advice I can give you is to completely and entirely ignore anyone who approaches you or tries to show you something you should buy. It is probably in your nature to take a quick look and say "no thank you." The second you do that they will latch on. Look right by them entirely. If they follow and insist just pretend they are not there. I compare walking through the medina with "running the gauntlet" (google that). You will have some from every angle approach you with their goods. BUT...if you ignore them there is another tourist coming around the corner.

Also...show no fear. If they sense uneasiness...they will latch on.

Don't be too scared. These are good travel skills to take anywhere.

[ Edit: Edited on 26-Jan-2009, at 17:35 by vickim ]