Tangier

Hoping to go in a few weeks time when on holiday is southern Spain. Booking a tour guide will give us the most of a short time there.

A guy has been recommended to us – will post again afterwards to see if he meets our expectations and the day is all we hope for.

We visited in 2005 with no real plan. We met a guy on the ferry, and ended up hanging out with him most of the time. Our trip consisted of wandering about looking at stuff and drinking gallons mint tea.

I really want to go back.

Best: Tangier Private-guide

Why: Because we had a wonderful tour guide named Jamal!

Worst: Tours in Tangier with a Large group!

Why: To be truthful, I didn’t want to go to Tangier! But, I’m so glad we did. We took our friend Larry advice who recommended [Jamaltour1@gmail.com] and arranged a private tour using Jamal Jamali or JamalTour. He was totally awesome! I contacted him before leaving the states and he emailed me immediately with our itinerary for the Grand Tour which. We were staying at the Marrriott Playa Andaluza and allowed ourselves an hour and forty five minutes to get there for a 9am departure. What we didn’t expect was the traffic jam! We got to the ferry at 9:10AM and to our good fortune it hadn’t left yet! Jamal was waiting for us holding up a sign with our name on it just aswewere getting off the pier. His A.C Van driver was waiting for us and then we were off on our PrivateTour! Jamal was born In Casablanca/raised in Tangier and has a wealth of information to Share about his Beautiful City! We toured the city for a little while in his van and stopped at various points of interest. My daughter and her friend rode the Camels. We then went on a walking tour. Jamal definately knows a lot of people! We’d always hear people Saying their hellos to him! We felt Safe and Comfortable walking in the Medina and the Kasbah Souk(Berber Markets). Everyone was So nice! We saw so many thing all the while Jamal was answering our questions of which we had many, and telling us about the areas that we were in. We were there celebrating our daughters birthday and Jamal took us to a wonderful Moroccan restaurant. It had a f5 guys playing music a belly dancer and great food. The staff was extemely nice. My daughter, friend and I even go to play in the band! It was so much fun! Jamal Surpised my daughter with a birthday cake that he had his wife order and bring to the restaurant. This is Something that she will never forget. That was so thoughtful of him! After they Sang happy Birthday to her in Arabic We were of on some more Sightseeing. When we decided that we should probably be getting back, Jamal waited with us at the ferry until we got on. We did a lot of Sightseeing/highlights and walking, were totally exhausted but we left with some wonderful memories of Tangier thanks to Jamal!

If you go by boat from Spain, I recommend getting out of the port as quickly as you can, and finding a tour guide once outside (or having them find you!). The tour guides are actually pretty friendly, seriously cheap, and they keep everyone away from you… anyone who might try to sell you things or bother you. They take you to the nice places, and, of course, recommend shops where they get a cut from what you buy, but hey, better than having people bugging you during your entire stay!

hehe, another fun place to visit. hotel manager will try to rip you off though. if you can’t speak arabic, then your spanish might come in handy. visitng hercules cave was quite adventurous. also discovering the partition between the atlantic and mediterranean was a moment when time stood still. camel-backriding was fun too :)