Thank you everyone for your wonderful tips and gracious advice. Please keep them coming as it’s all so gratefully received.
I had been planning to catch up with UK friends in Lisbon or Madrid in between tours, as I’ve not been to either city, but I’ve really taken onboard the advice to have some down time in between these 2 very active tours. I really like the idea of discovering more in Amman but I will also research getting to Essaouira before my Morocco tour starts. I head straight back to Australia at the end of the Morocco tour so will have no time for any extra activities.
We did a THS sit for two months in Essaouira @Crookie and it was fab! Old town is perfect for mooching, coffee, rug buying and all that good stuff. A shared taxi from Casa or Marrakech to there isn’t that crazy and you might be able to do a shared one and save the bus hassle. Or train to Marrakech which is good fun and then a taxi or bus. Sidi Kaouki beach is great as is watching the camels and kite surfers on the main beach. Enjoy! #magicmorocco
Essaouira is charming and relaxing. Istanbul is amazing — it has so much to see that it makes for lots running around, but worth it, IMO.
And Essaouira is apparently the setting of some “Game of Thrones” episodes, or so I was told. I don’t watch, so don’t know.
I was staying in Marrakech and hired a driver to take me to Essaouira. That might be worth considering if you don’t want to bus it or such. My riad arranged that at my request.
If I had extra time, I would’ve seen more in Istanbul. Not a fan of Jordan, outside of Petra.
Just had a little look, direct bus casa to Essaouira 6.5 hours. Private car maybe 4.5. Same bus stops at el jadida which is also small costal place, not been but some people like it. So many options so little time and money
With only four days, which in reality may only be two or maybe three given flight times and getting to hotels, I think Essaouira is not viable in the time available unfortunately. Looking at flights from Amman, all flights to Marrakech from Amman go via Casablanca and are upwards of 9 hours and more, and very expensive, in AUD terms. Then got to get from Marrakech to Essaouira when maybe flights don’t arrive until late. The logistics of getting to and from airports, getting to hotels etc takes a lot of time, energy and patience in these countries in particular. Cookie is a female travelling alone in I think her first Arabic country so it may all be a bit stressful, I know for me it was first time. I just don’t think Essaouira would work this trip. Also with the tour starting in Casablanca, it isn’t realistic to fly into there and out again, only to come back like two days later to join the tour. Best to either stay in Amman and search out things locally or just rest and recuperate after Egypt and Jordan, you will need it!!Theres a LOT of driving on both those tours and you will be tired, I guarantee it. We aren’t 21 anymore lol
@Cathie i believe that is a great idea and probably the best, or in Amman, whichever suits. I would use hammams every day if I could and they are so cheap over there. Sounds like a blissful plan At least the flights from Amman to Morocco all go direct to Casablanca so a lot less hassle. Airfares are so high! I remember flying from Marrakech to Cairo and I had a choice of Air Maroc, Air Maroc or Air Maroc They had a monopoly on flights.
Tell me more about Hamann I don’t know what this is @Cathie. Is it like a spa?
@Ziggy the only direct flight AMM-CMN that falls within my dates is on 22 Nov, 6h30m departing 02:20. Yeah/nah. There are no other direct flights AMN-CMN that I can see on Skyscanner. They transit through Madrid, Istanbul, Jeddah, Cairo, Rome, Tunis & just for “fun” Kuwait. Or if I really want to do a red eye long haul I can go via Doha to CMN! Yes please, said no one ever The quickest flight on the dates I’m looking at 20 or 23 Nov is 9h55m via Madrid. At least it’s a daytime flight. Air Maroc still have a strong presence but not a monopoly. I agree Essaouira will be too logistically hard in this short time with my tour starting in Casa. If I had extra days after the tour finishing in Marrakech I would consider a driver @Maggie8K but I’m heading straight home.
There will be big driving days on both tours, and not to forget multiple rides and desert camping. Yes this will be my first Arabic adventure and I’m definitely not 21 anymore
The one via Madrid is on two separate airlines with only a two hour stopover in Madrid, which will no doubt mean you will need to collect your baggage then check in again with the next airline, I’m pretty sure. That’s cutting it pretty fine to be using two airlines. Personally I would be doing the 0.2:20 direct to Casablanca. Arrive early morning and you are done. Have breakfast, go for a hammam and rest! Going via all these different routes, taking much longer, changing airlines, possible consequences, just to save taking an early morning flight just isn’t worth the hassle or stress. Getting through foreign airports trying to make connections is not always smooth sailing, particular as I mentioned before, in Arabic countries. You are setting yourself up for grief only because you don’t want to catch a very early flight but realistically, you have to be at the airport two hours before at least so just have a late night, getting there at midnight or earlier. Honestly, doing all the connections stuff is not realistic in this scenario. The airlines runway schedules are set by the airport to the minute so nothing is going to change with what you see now. This unfortunately is part of travelling, having to accept some early morning late night flights on routes such as this.
A hammam is the best thing you will ever experience lol It’s a bathhouse, kind of like a spa, where you basically lay on a circular very very hot stone, usually marble, around a large pool with a huge domed coloured roof and get scrubbed from head to toe, literally, everywhere, covered in wonderful aromatic bubbles, then scrubbed some more, then have buckets of water thrown over you to wash off. You then have an option to have a massage where you will undoubtedly fall asleep. You have a dip in a hot bath/pool before these scrub downs begin. You will never again feel so clean or relaxed An absolute must do, without fail. It’s a place you go to be scrubbed, washed, massaged, and relax. They have women’s only hammams as some or most go naked or just knickers Sorry if I intruded on you being asked the question by crookie @Cathie I get carried away sometimes talking about these countries, I left part of my heart with someone there
@Crookie, The direct flight doesn’t look too bad, does it? Red eye, I know. The daytime one takes twice as long. Keep an eye on Royal Jordanian some 3-4 months before departure. They often run fantastic promos with business class seats for peanuts.
I’m definitely with you @august, despite the inconvenient hour it is by far the best option without a doubt. It’s only time and time is meaningless when travelling
Thanks again everyone for your tips & ideas. I’ve decided to spend an extra 3 nights post tour 1 in Amman and 2 nights pre tour 2 in Casablanca. Now to work out a sightseeing plan for these 2 places.
A practical question for you about cash v card when out and about. Is there a need for much cash in Jordon and Morocco?
What about tipping? Where & what? Tipping is very unatural for Australians so it always increases my stress levels when that’s part of the culture, knowing how much to pay to whom.
No need to tip unless you want to in Morocco. Very cash based unless in upmarket restaurants etc. Can get cash easy enough through atms. In the smaller areas you will definitely need cash and if by chance you have a bit too much at the end of the tour there is plenty to buy in Marrakech No experience of Jordan so will leave that to the others.
hassle. Or train to Marrakech which is good fun and then a taxi or bus. Sidi Kaouki beach is great as is watching the camels and kite surfers on the main beach. Enjoy! 
At least the flights from Amman to Morocco all go direct to Casablanca so a lot less hassle. Airfares are so high! I remember flying from Marrakech to Cairo and I had a choice of Air Maroc, Air Maroc or Air Maroc 
They had a monopoly on flights.
The quickest flight on the dates I’m looking at 20 or 23 Nov is 9h55m via Madrid. At least it’s a daytime flight. Air Maroc still have a strong presence but not a monopoly. I agree Essaouira will be too logistically hard in this short time with my tour starting in Casa. If I had extra days after the tour finishing in Marrakech I would consider a driver 
rides and desert camping. Yes this will be my first Arabic adventure and I’m definitely not 21 anymore 
Sorry if I intruded on you being asked the question by crookie 
The daytime one takes twice as long. Keep an eye on Royal Jordanian some 3-4 months before departure. They often run fantastic promos with business class seats for peanuts.