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[quote=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.[/quote]

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