Morocco Trip

NatMast_2

I love hearing about everyone else's trip to Morocco - I can't wait to go. Of course, I am vaguely apprehensive about it being just myself going but to be honest I think I will manage just fine. I love soaking up another countries culture - Europe is still great of course.

I would definitely be asking for a guide recommended by the hotel - I think in a way I would prefer a male guide as it may lessen the attention on myself perhaps though as said before, I don't think it will be a problem.

I'm nervous about entering the souks on my own but I think I'll love the hustle and bustle of it all! Looking forward to haggling and everything - it's exciting for me. My parents aren't that keen on me going alone but no matter your age, I don't think they'll ever like the idea of little short me being a lone traveller!

I was looking at all the accommodation but nothing seems better than a traditional Riad, they're beautiful and highly affordable too!

DUKE

I've never been but my first trip abroad was Egypt & people liken that to Morocco. I loved the bartering although it can get a bit tiresome if you don't want anything & they keep trying to drag you into their shopss. If you fany a bit of peace & quiet wear your sunnies, say nothing, & just walk on. I love your enthusiasm - Have a great trip!

Miró

Don't get too excited about the souks....seen one seen 'em all! Full of far eastern, mass produced cheapo tat that, even after haggling, you will pay well over the odds for, and overpriced (to tourists) herbs, spices and argan oil products. The only interesting bit is the vegetable stalls. In the main square don't fall for the 'come to the rooftop terrace of my cafe to see the wonderful view' thing....all you will see is a wonderful view mostly of satellite dishes!.. As previously said beware of taxi drivers...they have 'conning' down to an art form. I, (lone, female, middle aged, confident traveller) wanted to eat in the main square after dark when the whole place transforms into one huge restaurant....got thoroughly fed up of the arm pulling and shoving to get me into every vendors place that I walked near.

Sorry for the negativity but you did ask!

At least the weather is good.

Mr_Wang

Never pay more than 1/3 of the asking price.

I am going to Morocco in a couple of weeks and we are staying in Marrakesh for a night or two, then heading to climb Jebel Toubkal.

From there we head up to Casablanca to fly to the Middle East and so won't be experiencing much - But the kids and I are very excited about going. However, during planning I was warned about Fez etc and told that really they are tourist driven scam hotbeds.

If you have been to other countries in Northern Africa/Middle east then you will know what to expect.

springdreams

I went to Marrakesh last February. Absolutely loved it.

I went on a camel ride and quad biking in the desert. I also went to a traditional show and meal in the desert, and visited a berber village and the place in the mountains where Moroccan oil and cosmetics are made, which I thoroughly enjoyed. All these excursions I booked through my hotel.

I did not, however, enjoy the excursion to climb Atlas mountain. The mountain is lovely, but there are loads of steep slippery rocks to climb, and you have to be physically fit to be able to make it to the top. I had to stop half way up as I am just not fit enough for such an excursion You don't need to be a gym bunny, but should at least not be over weight and do at least some form of exercise back home if you plan to climb the mountain.

As for the Square, do not take photos of the snake charmers and their snakes, as they will harass you to pay a fee for that priviledge. Also be careful of the women selling henna tattoos - they have some henna on their finger tips and touch your hand or arm, then say you need to pay for using their henna.

I also found it difficult to browse the stalls and shops in the Square, because if you even glanced at an item the stall holder / shop keeper almost dragged you into their stall / shop and keep pestering you to buy something. It put me off of shopping in the Square.

PompeyPete

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Never pay more than 1/3 of the asking price.

Never pay more than you think something is worth to you.

My experience in countries where haggling is the norm, is that the bloke trying to flog you something will, as often as not, have weighed your appearance up and put a value on you before starting the bidding.

If he thinks you're loaded then the starting price could be 10 times, or even a hundred times more than the item is worth. So simply dividing the starting price by three could still leave you well and truly mugged.

Dress down, look skint, and wear sun glasses is my best advice.

Mr_Wang

PompeyPete wrote: »

Never pay more than you think something is worth to you.

My experience in countries where haggling is the norm, is that the bloke trying to flog you something will, as often as not, have weighed your appearance up and put a value on you before starting the bidding.

If he thinks you're loaded then the starting price could be 10 times, or even a hundred times more than the item is worth. So simply dividing the starting price by three could still leave you well and truly mugged.

Dress down, look skint, and wear sun glasses is my best advice.

Absolutely.

I should have added 'generally'. My 1/3 is a guideline as the vast majority of hawkers will over price you, but not to the moon as they know you will just laugh and walk off. So though they will over charge you, they generally only over charge you by say 3 or 4 times. (of course I know you know this and this is for the benefit of other posters)

Like you said, only a fool would walk through a Souk dripping in Ralph Lauren and Rolex watches.

PompeyPete

I negotiated for the best part of an hour a few years ago at a souq in Abu Dhabi, over a genuine fake Rolex.
As soon as I'd sealed the deal I walked on, or at least attempted to The bloke on the next stall, who'd been watching me at his neighbour's stall immediately pounced, and tried to flog me another Rolex.

Mr_Wang

PompeyPete wrote: »

I negotiated for the best part of an hour a few years ago at a souq in Abu Dhabi, over a genuine fake Rolex.
As soon as I'd sealed the deal I walked on, or at least attempted to The bloke on the next stall, who'd been watching me at his neighbour's stall immediately pounced, and tried to flog me another Rolex.

Ha ha ha :rotfl:

martindow

Mir! wrote: »

As previously said beware of taxi drivers...they have 'conning' down to an art form. I, (lone, female, middle aged, confident traveller) wanted to eat in the main square after dark when the whole place transforms into one huge restaurant....got thoroughly fed up of the arm pulling and shoving to get me into every vendors place that I walked near.

Taxi drivers rarely want to use the meter so agree the fare before you get in. I never found it a great problem. One oddness to our eyes is that taxis will pick up other passengers along the way if there are spare seats. This is usual and not a thing done to annoy foreigners.

Again no need to get flustered by waiters trying to get you into their restaurant. Choose where you want to go and eat there. I always went to ones full of locals - there was a very good fish restaurant there a few years ago.

Morocco is a different culture and can be a shock. Marrakech is apparently far better than it was ten or fifteen years ago when it was full of 'guides' pestering tourists. There was a big crackdown as tourists were being discouraged from visiting and false guides now risk large fines .