Tangier, MOROCCO
Airing Date: Jan 1st, 2002
Just a two-and-a-half hour ferry ride from Spain, Tangier is the gateway to Morocco's Mediterranean Coast. Both exotic and mysterious, Tangier is a melting pot of people and cultures that can be soaked up for relatively few dollars.The place to start is the 19th century Hotel Continental where you can enjoy some delicious Moroccan coffee, served up with million-dollar views. The hotel has all the romance of a movie set and in fact, it was actually used in the James Bond flick The Living Daylights. Rooms at the hotel start at $40 per night.The next stop is souvenir shopping in the main square, which is located just a 20-minute walk from the Hotel Continental. This permanent market is alive with locals and tourists haggling for the best price. The tiny streets surrounding the square are full of stalls selling exotic Moroccan treasures.To track down the real bargains, you have to leave town and head for the twin seaside towns of Cabo Negro and Martil, which are about a 90-minute drive from Tangier. These simple little villages are where many Moroccan families go for their holidays and along the way you'll find roadside stallholders who don't pay taxes or rent. You know what that means...sensational bargains!Apart from the shopping, people also come to this area for the beach and The Golden Beach Hotel at M'Diq is just a short stroll away. The Hotel has fantastic views of the Mediterranean Sea and is also a steal at around $30 per night.
The facts
Thai Airways fly to Bangkok every day. From there, Lufthansa provides daily connections to Europe. Prices start from $1538 per person from Sydney and $1476 per person from Perth.
Lufthansa
Tel: 1300 655 727
Royal Air Maroc fly from Europe to Tangier every day.
Royal Air Maroc
Moroccan National Tourist Office
Tel: 02 9922 4999
M'Diq Golden Beach Hotel
Tel: 0011 212 39 975 077
