Le Pilotis is a bar/restaurant on the Corniche with wonderful views of the sea. Le Corniche is a beach promenade 5km west of Casablanca.

Le Pilotis was a complete contrast to what we saw earlier in the day in the medina of Casablanca and would not look out of place in Marbella. It is where the 'beautiful people' of Casablanca come yet to our UK pockets was not that expensive. It's fascinating to watch these people and there's wine and mediterranean food as well as some good music.

Plenty of seafood restaurants out here in the Corniche but one place we'd recommend is Le Pilotis.

Boulevard de la Corniche, Casablanca
[5km west of the town]. Grab a red petit taxi which will set you back about 50 dirhams (c. £3.50).
www.bestrestaurantsmaroc.com/en//restaurant-maroc/detail/le-pilotis-et-le-lounge.html

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The Cathedrale du Sacre Coeur on Boulevard Rachidi is an example of an art deco church. Designed in the 1930s, it is all the more remarkable when you consider that Casablanca is in an Islamic country.

Unfortunately when we went there the church looked like it had been long closed. On Avenue Hassan II there is an Art Deco post office where even the letterboxes are tiled.

Cathedral - on Boulevard Rachidi off Ave Hassan II
Post Office - Avenue Hassan II

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OK... the famous 1942 movie Casablanca wasn't filmed in Morocco but on a Hollywood set.
However this bar/restaurant was based on the original set designs and really makes you believe you are sitting where Bogart ran his 'gin joint'.
A former US diplomat Kathy Kriger is behind this enterprise.

And yes... the pianist does play 'As Times Goes By'!

248 Boulevard Sour Jdid
North-western edge of medina
www.rickscafe.ma/gallery.htm

Just outside medina walls - easiest way to get to Rick's is to walk the Boulevard des Almohades between the port and the medina walls.

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Departing from Marrakech airport:

Once you pass through airport security you can only use your dirhams to spend on food in the cafes.
All the other shops including the duty free shops are NOT allowed to accept dirhams and only accept hard currency such as euros.

If you did have excess dirhams you can change these in the airport before you go through security.

Especially when the cigarettes are so cheap in the duty free shops, you'd be kicking yourself if all you have is dirhams to spend.

Marrakech airport

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One of the few restaurants in the medina that serves alcohol. The food was nice but to be honest the food in many of the places surrounding Djemma El Fna was equally nice and cheaper.

14 Derb J'did near Place Des Ferblantiers in Mellah area in the south of the medina.

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Worthwhile checking out the old Jewish quarter in the Mellah area in the south of the medina. The number of Jews in the area now numbers about 260 compared to more than 15,000 at the turn of the century.

You can see the evidence with the occasional Star of David and Hebrew lettering on buildings. There are still three active synagogues out of nearly 30. For a few coins the local kids will show you where the working synagogues are.

Mellah area south of medina

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For a totally different view of Marrakech not too far from the medina walls - this is a cafe serving coffee, tea, soft drinks and light snacks. As with most places within Marrakech this place does not serve alcohol.

The Hivernage is a neighbourhood of nice villas and five-star hotels so Café Extrablatt is an interesting contrast to the relative poverty of the medina. Watch as the customers pull up in their 4x4s dressed in their western fashions. Still not expensive from a western point of view but interesting to people-watch.

in the district of Hivernage at corner of Avenue Echouhada & Avenue El Qadissia. Not too far from Sofitel hotel just outside medina walls.

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Pleasant spot in souks area for a refreshing soft drink or light snack (sorry no alcohol as with most places within the medina!). You can sit on the roof terrace watching over the spice souk. Young and friendly staff.

75 Rahba Kedima off Rue Samarine (one of main roues into souk)
8am - 8pm daily

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We travelled from Casablanca to Marrakech on second class tickets. Very crowded and some people had to stand in corridors during the three-hour jouney.

In hindsight we should have booked first class tickets a day or two before. First class does not cost that much more (Train fares are very cheap compared to UK fares). When we bought our tickets on the day of travel, the first class tickets were sold out.

Casablanca Voyageurs station

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We don't normally go for city tour buses but this was definitely worth it. We paid 260 dirhams (about £18) for two tickets valid for 24 hours that allowed us to jump off/on the tour bus along the route.

The main reason why we recommend it was that one of the routes took us out to the Palmeraie area (palm trees, camels etc) which we would not otherwise have seen.

Red bus just off the Jemma El Fna square on Av. Mohamed V.

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Superb location. Just inside the medina walls and across from the Koutobia Mosque. Very central and in a good location. It cost us £114.00 for four nights for a double room in August 2008.

It is basic three-star accommodation in Morocco. May not be the equivalent of three-star in Europe but comfortable none the less. Only word of warning is that it is not a particularly quiet hotel.

279 Avenue Mohamed V, Marrakech
(across from Koutobia mosque)
Book with www.hotelconnect.co.uk

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Wonderfully ornate cafe which captures the opulence and splendour of early 20th century Budapest.
Now part of a five-star hotel and not cheap but certainly worth a visit.

VII Erzsebet korut 9 -11
Metro M2 Blaha Lujza ter
www.boscolohotels.com/photogallery/hotel_new_york_palace/photogallery_nwy_eng.htm

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This is a great place to have a drink. Very cosmopolitan and yet laid back. Seems to be very popular with young people and expats.

Not bad value either - a large glass of wine set us back about £1.30.

On the main square in the heart of the what was once the Jewish ghetto.
District VII, Klauzal ter 1-2, Around Kiraly utca, Budapest
Metro M2: Blaha Lujza ter

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This is the hotel we stayed in in Budapest. Really central and great value. You can book it on a number of websites such as the accommodation site of Ryanair.

IX. Ferenc körút 19-21
tiny.cc/oV0Fx

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To get from Dublin airport to the city centre most people buy a ticket for the Airlink bus which costs €6 one way or €10 return for adults.

A good tip is to buy a Family ticket which costs €10. This is available from the counter just inside the door of the airport. This ticket gives two adults and up to four kids unlimited travel on all Dublin bus services for 24 hours.

This can be used on the Airlink - I always use it when my partner and I go to Dublin and then use it to go around Dublin.

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This is an old fortress/prison set on the island of If a few kilometres from the main port of Marseille.
While the fortress has been on the island since the 16th century, its main claim to fame is as the place of imprisonment of the fictional inmate Edmond Dantès, the hero of Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Montecristo.

Only 20 minutes by boat from Quai des Belges in the old port of Marseille.

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This bakery is well known for its traditional torpedo-shaped biscuits made from orange flour.

68, Rue Caisserie in Le Panier district.
www.les-navettes-des-acoules.fr

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Hotel in Marseille right on the Old Port. Apparently a two-star hotel but there was nothing to indicate to us that it was in any way different to a three-star hotel. Seemingly for a few euro more you can get a room facing the port. Friendly and great location.

35, quai des Belges - 13001 Marseille
Tel +33 (0) 4 91 33 66 97
www.alize-hotel.com
alize-hotel@wanadoo.fr

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Third-generation chocolate makers in Marseille. This family-run business produces chocolate made from unlikely ingredients such as onion and lavender, as well as pralines (well it is France!) and traditional barres Marseillaises (dark chocolate covered in fruit such as oranges).

A very small shop but apparently is world famous amongst chocolatiers. Well worth a visit. Black and white pictures of previous generations line the walls.

49 rue du Petit – Puits close to Rue du Panier.

chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2004/07/un_weekend_a_marseille_part_i.php

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You hear so much about Marseille being dangerous, probably a legacy of the French Connection movies.
We went there in May 2008 and it is not at all the dirty, dangerous city of the movies. We would say no more or less dangerous than many European cities.
Probably advisable to avoid the Belsunce area (south west of train station) at night.

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