went travelling in Morocco
I am a 20-year-old tall blond American girl and thinking about going on a study abroad program to Morocco next fall. I will be staying in a home stay for the first 8 weeks and am in a program with about 30 other students, but would it be safe for me to travel there? especially given the current situation in North Africa. Any suggestions for precautions I should take if I choose to travel there?
Has Morocco changed since the beginning of all the unrest in North Africa? Has it become more dangerous in any way?
My sister and I are going to Marrakech in October for 1 week, staying in a riad. We are in our early 60s so don't expect any hassle experienced by younger females! I went travelling in Morocco in 1969 with a group of "flower children" and we had a wonderful time. Has anyone any tips for mature ladies with poor French language skills, staying in marrakech, without their unadventurous husbands? Which tours would be suitable (we are a bit arthritic) and what's the best way of organising them? I'm hoping to add to my belly dance outfits - any suggestions much appreciated.
johnk5159 - I'm expecting great things from you!
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travel with a tour company to Morrocco
I was recently chatting with a friend who went to Morrocco 5 years ago. She traveled by back pack with another girlfriend, who was asian.
Horror stories.
her friend wanted to try a camel ride, so they met up with a man who offered them. He was recommended by another tourist, a Japanese male who said the guy was really nice, was an artist etc etc.
Anyhow, my girlfriend wasn't interested, but she went with her girlfriend to meet with the guy and agree on a price. the price was $100 for 3 hours.
The asian friend left with the man. Half way through, they are in the desert. The man demands $300 or he will not take her back. She didn't have the money so couldnt agree to it. He left her on the camel and walked off.
She was left in the middle of the desert, with only her sunhat and a bottle of water.
THREE HOURS NO ONE CAME, fortunately, the camel started walking by himself and took her back.
2nd incident:
They were walking in shopping district, it seemed safe as there were shops all around. Four men suddenly appeared and started walking behind them, trying the chat them up. Next thing you know, these men get in between them and separate the two of them. My friend turned around and saw her friend backed up against a wall surrounded by the four men.
Fortunately, my friend is very street savvy and aggressive. She pushed the men aside, grabbed her friend by the arm and yelled, "get outta her".
They walked for about a kilometer and found a small diner that served breakfast, so they went in to order food.
Unfortunately, the four men who harrassed them saw them in there and went in. they sat near them, were tossing bits of paper on their table, and then pulled their chairs right up to the table. My girlfriend tried to tell the restaurant owner to call the cops because they were being harrassed but he did nothing. My friend and her gf left the restaurant without eating their breakfast.
3rd incident:
My gf just checked in and left her knapsack in her room and went out briefly. When she got back, her door was open, the lights were on and her knapsack was gone. She reported it to the desk clerk, and asked him to call the police. She was taken to the jail, the desk clerk was also taken to jail but had to stay in the dungeon of the jail. The dungeon is exactly what it was. Down in the pit, with 50 other men, who were supposedly there for whatever reason, it was cold and dark, no windows. He was there for 3 days. His brother had to bribe the jail guard to give him food and a blanket, but the blanket was coveted by another inmate. There was only one hole in the floor to pee, and another man with a knife owned the hole. you have to pay him to use the whole. He also threatened the desk clerk that he'd kill him if he fell asleep. So the poor guy had to sit propped against the wall trying not to fall asleep. Finally , after 3 days, her court date came up, the Judge was totally corrupt. when the clerk's brother explained what happened to the judge, the judge basically told him if they paid $3000 USD, they would be free. The clerks mother was terrified and was clinging to my gf's arm as their family's livelihood was dependent on getting her son out of jail, and he's innocent...all he did was report the incident to the police. Basically, there is no law, everyone wants a piece of the action, and everyone expects the tourist, who is victim to pay
4 incident:
They met an Italian women who told them her horror story. She had prebooked a cab to take her to the airport early in the morning for an agreed price. half way through, the cab driver demands $600.00 USD or he won't go. She didn't have the money, so he dumps her out in the middle of no where. obviously, she missed her flight.
5.incident:
My gf also travelled met up with an Australian female with blond hair. Although the Australian wore a hat, her pony tail showed. The men were basically hounding her , tell her they want to "f**k her. It was just horrible.
ADVICE, do no travel to Morroco unless you are with a man, either your boyfriend, husband or male friend. If you have to travel alone, wear a wedding band and tell everyone you are married. That may help a bit.
do not travel to Morroco if you are an Asian female because they think you are meek and have lots of money.
The Morroco men leave men alone, so although some men on this blog have commented that it is basically safe, they really don't know how it is if you are a women travelling alone.
So although it may be safe for men, it isn't for women. BIG DIFFERENCE.
GOOD LUCK...BEST thing is to travel with a tour company.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
Horror stories.
her friend wanted to try a camel ride, so they met up with a man who offered them. He was recommended by another tourist, a Japanese male who said the guy was really nice, was an artist etc etc.
Anyhow, my girlfriend wasn't interested, but she went with her girlfriend to meet with the guy and agree on a price. the price was $100 for 3 hours.
The asian friend left with the man. Half way through, they are in the desert. The man demands $300 or he will not take her back. She didn't have the money so couldnt agree to it. He left her on the camel and walked off.
She was left in the middle of the desert, with only her sunhat and a bottle of water.
THREE HOURS NO ONE CAME, fortunately, the camel started walking by himself and took her back.
2nd incident:
They were walking in shopping district, it seemed safe as there were shops all around. Four men suddenly appeared and started walking behind them, trying the chat them up. Next thing you know, these men get in between them and separate the two of them. My friend turned around and saw her friend backed up against a wall surrounded by the four men.
Fortunately, my friend is very street savvy and aggressive. She pushed the men aside, grabbed her friend by the arm and yelled, "get outta her".
They walked for about a kilometer and found a small diner that served breakfast, so they went in to order food.
Unfortunately, the four men who harrassed them saw them in there and went in. they sat near them, were tossing bits of paper on their table, and then pulled their chairs right up to the table. My girlfriend tried to tell the restaurant owner to call the cops because they were being harrassed but he did nothing. My friend and her gf left the restaurant without eating their breakfast.
3rd incident:
My gf just checked in and left her knapsack in her room and went out briefly. When she got back, her door was open, the lights were on and her knapsack was gone. She reported it to the desk clerk, and asked him to call the police. She was taken to the jail, the desk clerk was also taken to jail but had to stay in the dungeon of the jail. The dungeon is exactly what it was. Down in the pit, with 50 other men, who were supposedly there for whatever reason, it was cold and dark, no windows. He was there for 3 days. His brother had to bribe the jail guard to give him food and a blanket, but the blanket was coveted by another inmate. There was only one hole in the floor to pee, and another man with a knife owned the hole. you have to pay him to use the whole. He also threatened the desk clerk that he'd kill him if he fell asleep. So the poor guy had to sit propped against the wall trying not to fall asleep. Finally , after 3 days, her court date came up, the Judge was totally corrupt. when the clerk's brother explained what happened to the judge, the judge basically told him if they paid $3000 USD, they would be free. The clerks mother was terrified and was clinging to my gf's arm as their family's livelihood was dependent on getting her son out of jail, and he's innocent...all he did was report the incident to the police. Basically, there is no law, everyone wants a piece of the action, and everyone expects the tourist, who is victim to pay
4 incident:
They met an Italian women who told them her horror story. She had prebooked a cab to take her to the airport early in the morning for an agreed price. half way through, the cab driver demands $600.00 USD or he won't go. She didn't have the money, so he dumps her out in the middle of no where. obviously, she missed her flight.
5.incident:
My gf also travelled met up with an Australian female with blond hair. Although the Australian wore a hat, her pony tail showed. The men were basically hounding her , tell her they want to "f**k her. It was just horrible.
ADVICE, do no travel to Morroco unless you are with a man, either your boyfriend, husband or male friend. If you have to travel alone, wear a wedding band and tell everyone you are married. That may help a bit.
do not travel to Morroco if you are an Asian female because they think you are meek and have lots of money.
The Morroco men leave men alone, so although some men on this blog have commented that it is basically safe, they really don't know how it is if you are a women travelling alone.
So although it may be safe for men, it isn't for women. BIG DIFFERENCE.
GOOD LUCK...BEST thing is to travel with a tour company.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
American female traveling currently in Marrakech
Hello All,
I am a 25 year old American female traveling currently in Marrakech. I have to say that i always feel safe here, however it has been difficult to get around at night without being hasseled. Be back at your hotel or riad at or before 11p. I can't stress that enough unless you don't mind having 4x the amount of approaches by men as normal. if they try and speak with you and follow you, just say "laa" which is "no" or laa shookran." i keep walking no matter what. it is not appropriate for a male to touch you either. hand shakes are okay, but no other type of physical contact. if a man touches you inappropriately just say "aib!" (ayeeb) which is "shame." if you stand and talk with a man for too long, people will begin to stare. be mindful of your surroundings and just use common sense. so NOT be out too late, otherwise more men will see your being out late as an invitation to talk to you.
i try to be polite at first, but if they aren't getting the hint i don't feel bad about walking away. if the man is persistent then walk into a crowd of women or a shop. Older men and women will usually look out for you or give you directions without asking for anything in return. Moroccan people are great as is Marrakech, but like any other city it has it's own underbelly. Just use common sense. Don't wear skimpy clothes, keep your legs and shoulders covered, always keep on you the number of your hotel or riad in case you need to call them to have someone pick you up (my riad had this). So Marrakech is a beautiful place and the good outweighed the bad so far. If you are apprehensive about where to stay, where and how to shop, where to eat, and suggestions or other comments about visiting Marrakech, either alone or with others, feel free to email me.
cly234@nyu.edu
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
I am a 25 year old American female traveling currently in Marrakech. I have to say that i always feel safe here, however it has been difficult to get around at night without being hasseled. Be back at your hotel or riad at or before 11p. I can't stress that enough unless you don't mind having 4x the amount of approaches by men as normal. if they try and speak with you and follow you, just say "laa" which is "no" or laa shookran." i keep walking no matter what. it is not appropriate for a male to touch you either. hand shakes are okay, but no other type of physical contact. if a man touches you inappropriately just say "aib!" (ayeeb) which is "shame." if you stand and talk with a man for too long, people will begin to stare. be mindful of your surroundings and just use common sense. so NOT be out too late, otherwise more men will see your being out late as an invitation to talk to you.
i try to be polite at first, but if they aren't getting the hint i don't feel bad about walking away. if the man is persistent then walk into a crowd of women or a shop. Older men and women will usually look out for you or give you directions without asking for anything in return. Moroccan people are great as is Marrakech, but like any other city it has it's own underbelly. Just use common sense. Don't wear skimpy clothes, keep your legs and shoulders covered, always keep on you the number of your hotel or riad in case you need to call them to have someone pick you up (my riad had this). So Marrakech is a beautiful place and the good outweighed the bad so far. If you are apprehensive about where to stay, where and how to shop, where to eat, and suggestions or other comments about visiting Marrakech, either alone or with others, feel free to email me.
cly234@nyu.edu
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
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