How safe is Morocco?
Discussion
Absolute filthy hell hole in our experience.
Taxi drivers rip you off or take you where they fancy, shops rip you off, malnourished wild animals about, filthy restaurants.
If you stay in a nice hotel behind high walls and its metal detectors then it can be lovely
Whilst Dubai is lambasted, it's a lot nicer place to visit, or Muscat in Oman.....
mikees said:
.gov seems quite wary but know a couple of people that have been recently and sounds ok
Anyone care to share experiences or recommendations?
FCO advice is pretty generic, there's nothing there that would put me off.Anyone care to share experiences or recommendations?
ETA it's not massively different to the advice and warnings about UAE.
Really liked Morocco when we went FWIW.
Edited by Bill on Friday 12th September 17:19
We drove to Morocco in February, and toured the country in our motorhome.
We never felt unsafe in any of the cities, towns or villages we visited. There is a lot of hustle, you need to be firm about saying no to street traders hawkers etc.
The Police tried to fine us for alleged speeding but backed down when we showed them the dash cam evidence… Kids hassled us everywhere we went for sweets and goodies but was all pretty good natured.
On the whole the people were great. e.g In one town we were trying to recharge our SIM cards, went into a shop thinking they could help but they didn’t sell what we needed. The guy closed his shop and took us across town to another shop and sorted the SIM recharge for us. He wouldn’t take anything from us for his time in helping us out.
Not a great deal of choice food wise but we came well prepared with plenty of provisions, beer and wine.
We never felt unsafe in any of the cities, towns or villages we visited. There is a lot of hustle, you need to be firm about saying no to street traders hawkers etc.
The Police tried to fine us for alleged speeding but backed down when we showed them the dash cam evidence… Kids hassled us everywhere we went for sweets and goodies but was all pretty good natured.
On the whole the people were great. e.g In one town we were trying to recharge our SIM cards, went into a shop thinking they could help but they didn’t sell what we needed. The guy closed his shop and took us across town to another shop and sorted the SIM recharge for us. He wouldn’t take anything from us for his time in helping us out.
Not a great deal of choice food wise but we came well prepared with plenty of provisions, beer and wine.
I wouldn't say Morocco is unusually unsafe but, as with most places, you certainly have to take the usual precautions. If you like bling / show piece watches or jewellery you'd be better off leaving them at home. As someone said, behind the walls of a good resort hotel, all is well, but outside you should take care and it's a bit (well, a lot) of a dump). Mind you, if you stay inside the resort property, what's the point of going to Morocco in the first place?
bennno said:
Absolute filthy hell hole in our experience.
Taxi drivers rip you off or take you where they fancy, shops rip you off, malnourished wild animals about, filthy restaurants.
If you stay in a nice hotel behind high walls and its metal detectors then it can be lovely
Whilst Dubai is lambasted, it's a lot nicer place to visit, or Muscat in Oman.....
This times 100000Taxi drivers rip you off or take you where they fancy, shops rip you off, malnourished wild animals about, filthy restaurants.
If you stay in a nice hotel behind high walls and its metal detectors then it can be lovely
Whilst Dubai is lambasted, it's a lot nicer place to visit, or Muscat in Oman.....
I've quite literally been around the world and am pretty well travelled, had always fancied visiting marrakech and went a few years ago.
Firstly i knew about taxi drivers at the airport scamming people on the rate so agreed a price beforehand that i knew was about right to where i was staying. Pulls up at my hotel and gives him a note to pay and suddenly he has no change, i ended up going into the hotel and got them to break the note down into smaller notes so i could pay him the right amount.
Then went down to the big square where guys with monkeys basically throw them onto you and demand cash for a photo that i didnt even want.
Then you have absolutely ever shop owner trying to have your pants down for prices.
The only place i really liked was the Yves St Lauren gardens.
Definitely on my list of do not return!
Been a few times, package holiday to Agadir, couple of self organised trips to Marrakech and then down to Essaouira and many years ago a surf trip down the coast to the back of beyond.
Never had any problems on any of the trips other than on the package trip where we did a bus tour and were told we wouldn’t be stopping in some of the villages in the High Atlas as the locals wouldn’t be welcoming to us being there. Also the goat herders get a bit feisty if you don’t pay them for showing you their goats in trees by throwing/tossing rocks at you but nothing serious.
On the self organised trip to Marrakesh we stayed about 10-15 min walk from the main square and on the first walk there my girlfriend stopped on the way to say “you didn’t tell me we’d be going back to the f**king Middle Ages with scooters” but she enjoyed it.
It’s a really good country to visit and popular with lots of Europeans as most Moroccans speak Arabic, German, French, Spanish and English including all the school children I’ve met there, which is just embarrassing.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the trips I’ve been on but it will be different to what you would experience in more developed countries but horses for courses.
Never had any problems on any of the trips other than on the package trip where we did a bus tour and were told we wouldn’t be stopping in some of the villages in the High Atlas as the locals wouldn’t be welcoming to us being there. Also the goat herders get a bit feisty if you don’t pay them for showing you their goats in trees by throwing/tossing rocks at you but nothing serious.
On the self organised trip to Marrakesh we stayed about 10-15 min walk from the main square and on the first walk there my girlfriend stopped on the way to say “you didn’t tell me we’d be going back to the f**king Middle Ages with scooters” but she enjoyed it.
It’s a really good country to visit and popular with lots of Europeans as most Moroccans speak Arabic, German, French, Spanish and English including all the school children I’ve met there, which is just embarrassing.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the trips I’ve been on but it will be different to what you would experience in more developed countries but horses for courses.
FlyVintage said:
Or maybe immerse yourself in the culture and the friendly people; go in without western expectations and discover something different from the usual sterile holiday destinations:
Try that as a blond western woman. When my wife went it was relentless sexual harassment outside of the main tourist areas and only a bit better in the tourist areas. On a UK company organised trip there was a basic expectation from the guide that he was going to get to shag one of the girls, with behaviour that ultimately got the guide fired.paulrockliffe said:
FlyVintage said:
Try that as a blond western woman. When my wife went it was relentless sexual harassment outside of the main tourist areas and only a bit better in the tourist areas. On a UK company organised trip there was a basic expectation from the guide that he was going to get to shag one of the girls, with behaviour that ultimately got the guide fired.Experiences differ, as do attitudes whilst in-country.
I don’t know how to quote other posts but in answer to PaulRockcliffe (?) the package tour I went on was with a tall blonde and the only time she had any slight problem was swimming at Agadir which another local dealt with swiftly.
Other than that a big bloke in a bar told me wanted to marry her and in response I said give six goats, a camel and a house she’s yours, he declined the offer but found it funny…..
Other than that a big bloke in a bar told me wanted to marry her and in response I said give six goats, a camel and a house she’s yours, he declined the offer but found it funny…..
king scooters ready to run you down, never felt unsafe though, have your wits about you and you’ll be fine.I’d guess that, as with most places, it depends where you go.
I happened to be chatting to a cousin last weekend and he’d just come back from there. He’s a former squaddie and not the sort of guy to be easily intimidated, but he said that they’d wandered out of the hotel on the first evening to explore the local area and lasted about 10 minutes before deciding to head back.
He reckoned the area they were in felt very intimidating.
I happened to be chatting to a cousin last weekend and he’d just come back from there. He’s a former squaddie and not the sort of guy to be easily intimidated, but he said that they’d wandered out of the hotel on the first evening to explore the local area and lasted about 10 minutes before deciding to head back.
He reckoned the area they were in felt very intimidating.
I liked Marrakesh. I was more wary of the rabid stray animals roaming everywhere than anything the human populace might do. Avoid the usual tourist traps and the people were all very friendly.
Its hot, dusty and full of character. Definitely nice at the end of each day to return to a peaceful hotel complex.
Its hot, dusty and full of character. Definitely nice at the end of each day to return to a peaceful hotel complex.
stayed in the very center of Marrakesh last august
Had a great time, could go everywhere, eat anywhere, get run over by a moped everywhere !
Never felt threatened, walking through the shut sooks late at night felt a bit scary as it felt you were underground in a tiny cave system, but no trouble at all. Popped into a random doorway and had a really cheap and fantastic meal on the roof tops.
Taxi's though will charge you far more than a local, but, I left my sunglasses on the back seat of a taxi, the driver found them and returned to give them back.
The old town though, is an assault on your senses, people and mopeds everywhere. Utterly, utterly mad.
I won't go back because we have done it now, but if you are adventurous, go for it. You will remember it forever.
Had a great time, could go everywhere, eat anywhere, get run over by a moped everywhere !
Never felt threatened, walking through the shut sooks late at night felt a bit scary as it felt you were underground in a tiny cave system, but no trouble at all. Popped into a random doorway and had a really cheap and fantastic meal on the roof tops.
Taxi's though will charge you far more than a local, but, I left my sunglasses on the back seat of a taxi, the driver found them and returned to give them back.
The old town though, is an assault on your senses, people and mopeds everywhere. Utterly, utterly mad.
I won't go back because we have done it now, but if you are adventurous, go for it. You will remember it forever.
Stayed in Marrakech in a hotel in the Medina behind a wall with armed guards….
Ventured outside a few times.
Highlight was the horse & cart rank near the hotel where the horses pissed in the same spot for years…brought tears to my eyes that one.
Did a souk tour which included a palace & a madrasa. Amazing architecture & at the same time mad with the moped’s & Donkey’s.
Went to the square in the evening and that was nuts….thousands of people. Dancing Monkeys, fluorescent chicks in boxes(Avian type!) young kids selling things hawkers etc etc.
No issues. Most locals thought I was Spanish WHICH i’m not sure helped, & did I mention it’s very hot…this was July, 40 plus degrees every day. & yet still, some locals had trousers & jackets on. I was too hot for me. Basically spent 10 days under various different trees in the hotel.
Biggest negative for me was the airport. Terrible experience. Two hours to get through on arrival, many different queues basically checking the same thing.
On the return, we we’re asked to queue 6 times to show our passports. At one point I thought there must have been a terrorist or something which justified the extra checks.. was ridiculous.
Would not go back again because of the airport personally. Otherwise enjoyed it.
Ventured outside a few times.
Highlight was the horse & cart rank near the hotel where the horses pissed in the same spot for years…brought tears to my eyes that one.
Did a souk tour which included a palace & a madrasa. Amazing architecture & at the same time mad with the moped’s & Donkey’s.
Went to the square in the evening and that was nuts….thousands of people. Dancing Monkeys, fluorescent chicks in boxes(Avian type!) young kids selling things hawkers etc etc.
No issues. Most locals thought I was Spanish WHICH i’m not sure helped, & did I mention it’s very hot…this was July, 40 plus degrees every day. & yet still, some locals had trousers & jackets on. I was too hot for me. Basically spent 10 days under various different trees in the hotel.
Biggest negative for me was the airport. Terrible experience. Two hours to get through on arrival, many different queues basically checking the same thing.
On the return, we we’re asked to queue 6 times to show our passports. At one point I thought there must have been a terrorist or something which justified the extra checks.. was ridiculous.
Would not go back again because of the airport personally. Otherwise enjoyed it.
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