Marrakech?

[Anonymous]

DH and I have booked a five day, kid-free vacation to Marrakech for the last days of July. We've never been to any African country before and have no idea how to prepare for our travels.

Our main concerns at this point are:
A) Temperatures — Looks like we're talking 110/120 degrees. How to handle the heat?
B) Money — Our travel agent advised to use ATM's. Are they hard to find? How much cash should we carry for a day?
C) Food — Only breakfast is included in our Riad, we'll land in the afternoon local time. What do we do for dinner?
D) Clothes — In part cultural concerns, in part due to A). What is appropriate?
E) Safety — Are there parts of the city to avoid? Is hygiene a problem? What about going out after dark?

Naturally I plan to raise these concerns with our travel agent too. But I'd also like to hear from people who have traveled there before and can give me some perspective on what to expect. Other advice/must do's/don'ts are greatly appreciated too!

[Anonymous]

I lived in Morocco years ago. Most of my friends who visited us hated Marrakech, (too overwhelming, predatory vendors in the medina) but we enjoyed the sensory overload experience of it. The hivernage neighborhood is nice if you want to escape the chaos for a more European feel (check out the restaurant Jad Mahal for a fun belly dancing show and good food - it was quite the trendy scene when we were there). My biggest piece of advice: hire a guide to take you around the medina. Your riad can help you arrange one. Even if you don't think you need one, you do. It will really make your experience that much better (if for no other reason than the shop vendors will be less likely to harass you). And make sure you tell them you want to see the sights, not shop! Otherwise they will take you around to all of their "friends" shops.

A) Temperatures - We lived in Rabat, which was much milder, and I never visited Marrakech during the summer to be honest. But as in any hot climate, just drink lots of water, wear a hat, take a break during the hottest part of the day. Maybe drink some fresh orange juice in Jemaa el-Fnaa plaza (but give them your own cup or water bottle - they reuse the same cups all day!)
B) Money - ATMs aren't a problem to find. I wouldn't carry around a crazy amount of cash for safety reasons. You'll need small bills for shopping - vendors never have change. Most things will be pretty cheap. 1000 dirham would probably be more than enough for the day. If you purchase jewelry or antiques at the nicer shops, they take credit cards.
C) Food - So many restaurants. Look into trip advisor reviews. Your riad probably serves dinner, no?
D) Clothes - There are so many western tourists, you'll probably be fine in whatever you want to wear, although Moroccans are in general conservative dressers. I personally did not feel comfortable in sleeveless shirts or shorts, but wore short sleeves and skirts. In the summer, covering up with lightweight long sleeves might be your best bet, to avoid the sun. Just know that you will be leered at as a Western woman however you dress.
E) Safety - Use basic common sense. There isn't much violent crime, but muggings happen (and remember there was a terrorist bombing in Jema el-Fnaa in 2011). Try not to flaunt your wealth. Stick to well lit streets, with your DH you'll be fine (I wouldn't feel comfortable walking alone at night). In terms of hygiene - don't drink tap water, skip the ice in restaurants, avoid raw vegetables unless you really trust the restaurant (skip raw tomatoes and lettuce in general).

Hope that helps!

[Anonymous]

Marrakech is lovely and VERY touristy, so you will be fine. There are two parts of the city - the older, walled "medina" (Old City) and the newer, more cosmopolitan area outside of the walls (New City). I much prefer to spend time in the Old City, but the OC in Marrakech is annoying because they allow motorized vehicles (unlike other Moroccan cities), so you have a lot of gas fumes and need to be vigilant about not getting run over. That said, you will have a wonderful time exploring and just walking around. There is a cool garden (paid entry) in the NC and many excellent sweet shops (Marrakech is know for its cookies). At night, spend some time in the main square of the OC - it will give you the (wonderfully) stereotypical Moroccan experience with fire-eaters, snake charmers, etc. and many, many excellent food stalls.

Restaurants are wonderful and plentiful - just pick one. Buy bottled water, but food is safe (and very, VERY good). Of all the places I have traveled, Morocco is my favorite place to eat.

ATMs are easy to find. Bring a waist-style money belt and just keep a small amount of cash in a snapped/zipped shirt pocket or front pants pocket. Crime is not too bad, but pick pocketing is rampant, especially in the narrow and crowded OC.

Morocco is a primarily Muslim country, so you need to dress very conservatively (long sleeves and long skirts/pants). Do not take James Bond movies as your style guide. You will see young female tourists dressed in skirts and short sleeves, but you will also see that they get a lot of unwanted attention.

Because it will be so hot, I recommend very breezy, lightweight linen pants and button-down shirts. I actually find that dressing like this keeps me much cooler than having skin exposed and often dress like this in DC as well. Bring a wide-brimmed hat as the sun is intense. You may find that you divide your day for sightseeing and spend a long lunch hour inside in the shade eating and napping or relaxing to miss the worst heat.

You should also bring a lightweight scarf or shawl that you can use as a wrap if it gets cool at night (or in restaurants) or as a head scarf if you go into any mosques, etc.

I am sure you know this, but alcohol is pretty nonexistent except in high-end western hotels. Most Moroccans drink a lot of sparkling water and sweetened green mint tea. Cafe culture (like in France) is huge.

[Anonymous]

SO SO hot, and I'm Indian! Honestly, Marrakech is a massive cheesy tourist trap so definitely temper your expectations. I always felt safe during the day but not at night even though my riad lady told me it was super safe.

Check out the Beldi country club, it is spectacular.

[Anonymous]

9:43 again to agree with 9:39 - although there are some cool things to see in Marrakech, it was by far my least favorite place we visited in Morocco.

[Anonymous]

OP checking back in. Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply and the wonderful advice!

Speaking of the food: any local specialties we MUST try? I'm a pretty adventurous eater so I'm looking forward to all the country-specific dishes, but DH is a vegetarian. Could that be problematic?

[Anonymous]

I


Op, I am leaving for Marrakesh tomorrow for 10 days. Will post when I return. Have only heard great stuff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I


Op, I am leaving for Marrakesh tomorrow for 10 days. Will post when I return. Have only heard great stuff

That would be great, thanks! I'll hold you to it

Safe travels and a great stay to you!

[Anonymous]

Bring Imodium with you, just in case. I would not eat anything from a street vendors that is raw, like fruit or a salad, and always drink bottled water that is opened in front of you. Last year I went to Marrakesh and Essouria, I got sick from a mergez sandwich and then massive food poisoning from the super nice Relais Chateau hotel (from the carpaccio). Have tangine, it's awesome. If you were closer to the coast I would suggest eating fish.

Marrakech is pretty cosmopolitan, with many Western influences, so you probably wouldn't get too many looks for not covering your hair. However, I wouldn't wear any tank tops or sleeveless dresses, or shorts, or skirts, or anything too tight. I spent most of my time in Essaouria, which is on the coast and pretty conservative. 99% of the women there covered their hair, 50% covered their faces, and I saw a few burques. While there I felt more comfortable covering my hair, and wore linen pants and linen shirts. Once I was harassed in the kasbah, but otherwise everything was ok.

Morocco is a Muslim country, you may find many places don't serve alcohol. In public don't say anything negative about the King (there are pictures of him everywhere) and take the police seriously. My favorite thing I did there was take a cooking class with my DH, we did a chicken tangine, it was super fun.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if you have ever seen Absolutely Fabulous but your post reminded me of when they walked out of the airport in Morocco and passed out from the heat.

This is the full episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Qv-VjSnmA

[Anonymous]

Bringing this thread back for last-minute advice before we leave in a few days.

PP who's just been for ten days, how was it?

[Anonymous]

Hi again, OP!! I am the previous poster who said I would report back after my trip. I just got back on Monday evening. I loved it!!!!! Although very hot, hot, hot (and I was also in the Sahara Desert) there was NO humidity, and I was NOT dripping sweat (as I was in India, China, Vietnam for past summer trips.) I did a great job packing, if I do say so myself!! Mostly all lightweight linen and cotton, long-sleeved tunics, airy skirts, etc. Bring a good sun hat and walking shoes (I wore Keens). I also had a little portable handheld fan that was a lifesaver. Fascinating culture! People were generally gracious. Lots of fun stuff to buy in the markets. Anything else you would like to know, OP!?

[Anonymous]

2) Pp here again.. elso, despite what a previous poster said, no need to dress conservatively (at least in my experience.) Yes, it is a Muslim culture, but quite liberal. Food was very similar all over. Limited options. Food ranged from fair to very good. Lots of fresh watermelon and freshly squeezed oj. Of course, tangine and couscous which are typically very good. Lots of olives and nuts for snacks. Try a pastilla for another local food (meat inside dough, sprinkled with cinnamon.) Food was different than I expe ted, but that is the fun of travel!!!

[Anonymous]

3) just reread this tbread. We ended the tour in Essouria (coastal town.) And I had amazing fresh seabass, and u like another poster, I did not find the Muslim influence more conservative there. Also, I was pleasantly surprised to NOT see a big Western influence (no Starbucks, etc.) Please write back upon your return so I know how it went for you. Enjoy!!!

[Anonymous]

Hi PP, thanks for sharing your tips!

Regarding the dress code, I'm still a bit confused about what is appropriate. I'm a big fan of palazzo pants, so I was considering those with a tunic on top. However, they tend to brush the floor when walking, so I'm unsure whether I shouldn't just wear wide-legged capri pants (pinocchio style) that hit just below the knee instead. Especially now that you wrote they aren't all that conservative.

Same goes for tops. Is covering shoulders enough or do sleeves need to reach the elbow?

Shoes: open toed ok or better to opt for close toed flats? Are the streets generally clean?