MikeJ

I was thinking of taking a trip to Tangier - staying a couple of nights. Has anyone done this and can offer a few tips?
We thought that we would drive to Tarifa, leave the car and take the ferry across staying a couple of nights.

• where to park in Tarifa? Is it safe or should we look for secure parking.
• Is it feasible to drive to Tarifa (from Ayamonte) and take the ferry the same day or should we think of an overnight in Tarifa to maximise time in Tangier
• Any recommendations for hotels in Tangier? Riad vs modern hotel?
• What is there to do/see in Tangier?
• Is it worth organising a guide/tour?
• Any other tips/warnings/advice

Many thanks for any thoughts.

rafikiphoto

[*]where to park in Tarifa? Is it safe or should we look for secure parking.
We took the fast ferry and parked in the ferry terminal car park right in front of the terminal. It looks expensive but take your car park ticket with you and on return get it stamped in the machine in the arrivals hall and you then get a substantial discount.

[*]Is it feasible to drive to Tarifa (from Ayamonte) and take the ferry the same day or should we think of an overnight in Tarifa to maximise time in Tangier.
We drove down the night before fron seville area. Our friends got up early and came down same day. From Ayamonte I would definitely book a hotel for the night before.

[*]Any recommendations for hotels in Tangier? Riad vs modern hotel?
We were on a package and had a hotel just on the edge of town. TripAdvisor gave it a horrible rating but we found it in need of renovation but reception, service, restaurant were all fine and it has a bar! Plenty of taxis both blue and white passing outside so room for haggling.

[*]What is there to do/see in Tangier?
We spent most of our time in the old town. We just wandered around and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. There are some restaurants with local entertainment and our friends went out to one but we where knacked so used the hotel restaurant.

[*]Is it worth organising a guide/tour?
Lots of unofficial 'guides' will pester you. We firmly declined several times and wandered around ourselves.

[*]Any other tips/warnings/advice
If you smoke, cigarettes are very cheap at the ferry terminal on exit but subject to the usual 2 blocks limit on entering EU. Don't bother with the local guides. Haggle massively if you buy any souvenirs, clothes etc. Walk away and they'll follow you with a 'better price'. Blue taxis are sort of mini cabs and cheaper than the larger, white Mercedes. Meters usually don't work (allegedly) but we had a blue one with working meter from old town/ferry port entrance to our hotel on the edge of town and it showed 15 dhiram (from memory about 1.5€). Bars in town are few and far between and difficult to locate. If you like a drink stay in a hotel that has its own. The fish market is worth a visit as are the several covered and open fruit/veg/meat markets.

MikeJ

Thanks Rafi - karma given

Greg Holliday

Hi Mike,

Have sent a PM to you.