Vacation to Morocco
Essential tips for vacation to Morocco
So you’re searching for the best Morocco tips to prepare for your visit to Morocco!
And as with other country that is known, here are a few things you need to take into consideration and be mindful of. No worries though, overall Morocco remains safe and secure, the individuals are generally kind, you may have an amazing time! Just keep these in mind… |
- Weather and Clothing Tips For Morocco
- It’s not necessarily sunny in Morocco. In fact, Morocco gets SNOW should you didn’t know (it didn’t even cross my head). If you’re headed to Chefchaouen using a flowy dress certainly nothing else in February or March, you’re building a big mistake.
- Don’t underestimate the wind. It can be extremely hot outside when that gust of wind comes by (and infrequently it hangs out such as a stage 5 clinger), it may get quite chilly. Essaouira usually known for its wind and plenty of places over the coast of Morocco, including Taghazout, is often rather windy, which equals the requirement of at least, a lightweight sweater in spring.
- Cover up, lightly. Considering you’re going to a Muslim country, plus the weather can be quite a bit of a surprise depending whenever you are. This doesn’t only select women but also for men too. Don’t walk around shirtless or perhaps those muscle t’s as you loiter around a mosque, it’s just bad taste.
- There’s considerably more to Morocco regarding weather and getting a great look. Read up on when the best time for you to visit Morocco is and what Morocco is similar to Feb-April. And here’s where one can read more about style trends in Morocco.
- Transportation Tips for Morocco
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- Which bus to ride? The CTM is best bus to adopt around the country. It’s more pricey but it doesn’t stop as much, it’s should be the safer option along with the easiest. When you get to your CTM bus station in the important cities, you’re there to look at the CTM bus, the only person. So there aren’t 100 companies begging that you can buy a ticket if you walk in.
- Bring some coins should you have luggage. Remember, after buying your bus ticket, you'll need an extra 5 dirhams to check on in a bag within the undercarriage. (This is paid 60-30 minutes ahead of boarding public transit, not when acquiring the ticket)
- It’s preferable to book your bus tickets no less than one day beforehand depending whenever you’re visiting. They can load! If you’re over a tight schedule, even sooner.
- You can book at any CTM! Should you stay in one city and already at public transit station, you’re in a position to book your other bus tickets there all within a go-that produces life easier since you don’t be concerned about going on the bus station 2 or 3 days ahead of the perfect time to get the ticket and again to really take the actual bus five times in your visit.
- If you’re hiring a car, there’s you should not choose expensive hotels with parking. Someone advised us in this but we found it to become a bad tip. First, it turned out hard to get hotels at the medina (no less inside) with parking, and second, it’s not required. There’s a good amount of paid parking options round the medina only for $1-2 with the whole day. There’s no reason in getting a more costly hotel, outside the medina, to the sake of a parking spot.
- Renting a car it really’s VERY worth every penny.
- Taxis never must use their meter. We got accustomed to it. What you would like to do is:
- Agree on a sum first.
- Only pay AFTER you be able to your destination and all of the bags come in your hands (aka don’t pay before the trunk is open, or in addition to this, don't utilize the trunk when possible, they will hold stuff hostage but this can be rare.)
- Actually be sure you’re your destination. For example, we ended up taken towards the closest bus station because our taxi driver was lazy so we had to spend on another one to get for the correct bus station. We didn’t verify!
- Example taxi fares that individuals paid that can be used as reference:
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- Never catch a taxi cab outside the main areas or bus station. Always walk a bit not in the main and busy areas and catch one there.
- Never makes use of the taxis that beg you to definitely get in their car. Like if you’re outside a bus station plus the dude is yelling, “taxi taxi!” with your face… Don’t ride with him. Ride while using dude down the street minding his very own business. (This is my rule for round the world)
- Food and Drink Tips for Morocco
- Never drink regular water. Bring your water purification or buy water.
- Alcohol isn't a thing here. Sure you'll find, yes, it’s available (at hotels/bars), nevertheless it’s hard to find and you’ll often pay dearly. We found a crappy beer for $2.50 at our hotel once. And we bought “illegal” wine for $15 at another (it wasn’t really illegal wine, it was sold “under the table.”) We, usually, saw and been aware of beer and drinks costing $7-13+ though from the city at nicer hotels and clubs. Again, it’s not widely available-and that means you shouldn’t possess expectations.
- Haggling with food and groceries is distasteful. Shop around without purchasing to gauge what prices are and after that go back and buying. Most times I didn’t think that I was given a tourist price for groceries plus they were fair.
- Shop around for in places you eat! Especially inside busy medinas like Fes and Marrakesh! The touristy restaurants, during many countries, charge ridiculous amounts for your same food you’d get at a much more local position for a fraction of the purchase price.
- Menu scams are popular. This didn’t happen to us, but useless here, and lots of other places across the world involve providing you with a menu with regular prices merely to up the prices in your bill. When you ask to discover a menu again to evaluate, supplies the inflated one.
- Other similar scams involve a “special” tourist menu, aka a menu with inflated prices or mysterious charges for stuff you didn’t order. Another will be to charge you with the bread and olives they place on your own table-unless stated on the menu, these materials are ALWAYS free. Also, they'll place it for the table without you asking, implying they should be free. Double check your bill.
- Shopping Tips for Morocco
- Shop within the road. If you find yourself taking a excursion, try buying garments and trinkets for the side of the path and inside the small middle-of-nowhere towns. You could get a more affordable price. I got quoted 250-300 MAD for dresses within the towns and appeared getting quoted 130 MAD around the side of the trail and ultimately reached it for 90!
- Marrakesh markets may be intimidating for a lot of newer travelers, don’t feel obligated to buy here. Literally, all the large cities and in many cases some of the smaller ones, have similar stuff. If you do finish up in Marrakesh and even buy something without an excessive amount haggling, look out to the places with price signs already up.
- Where do you think you're from? Don’t feel obligated to say in places you’re from just before a price. They are seeking to gauge how much they are able to charge you. I know it appears like they are seeking to be BFFs together with you but consider it. When I ask the amount something is, please inform me why you need to learn where I’m from before answering my question? Hmm… Maybe as a result of countries like Australia, US, plus the UK automatically = filthy rich. Uh, no.
- Never state a cost before they are doing. When shopping, never answer their question when asked: “just how much will you deliver,” refuse, I want to find out how much it truly is. Then start negotiating. If you provide them with a number over bat you might likely be offering a lot more than what they might have given it for your requirements anyway.
- Morocco’s Common Scams
- It’s NOT closed. Don’t listen if they tell you the road (or restaurant) is closed in big cities. Find out on your own. It’s 99% times just a decoy to “help you” find something then require money. Or, “best case scenario” they lead someone to their friend’s place hoping you purchase something (to make sure they get a commission).
- On a similar note… they pretend they're helping you outside the goodness of the hearts and expect money. Never accept directions in the random individual who offers help around the street. Only get help if you ask for it and, sometimes it’s better to ask a concierge or random shop owner.
- Be wary of restaurant recommendations from the concierge or maybe your new “friend.” When they say their friend carries a place, these are happy to set you up, or maybe pick you up from a hotel, this really is a massive, within your face, sore point. What they may be actually doing is setting you around go to your most expensive restaurant inside the area.
- Walking Around Tips for Morocco
- Learn to ignore. When offered things, love to walk inside a store and appear around (because obviously you will need an invitation to complete this…?! *eye roll*) and the dude selling necklaces round the street (because who doesn’t impulse shop from random people walking around for the streets…) say “no thank you” (“laa shukraan” in Arabic) and after that ignore. You’re under no obligation to perform anything more or less along with the more you interact the greater they try!
- Be vigilant from the larger cities. It’s all to easy to spot an admirer if you’re actually focusing. Garrett and I spotted some people who were very obviously following us. Make it obvious you already know without saying anything (AKA stare them down that has a stank eye look…) if that’s uncomfortable, pop to a store, pretend to shop and so they won’t watch for you for very long.
- Always wear your bag inside the front, use anti-theft bags <https://whereintheworldisnina.com/anti-theft-backpacks-travel-bags/>, and stay overall very aware where your situations are. If you could have things as part of your pockets, you’re almost literally asking to become robbed. Thieves love people that you.
- Watch out for hotel name changes. Sometimes hotel names on booking sites have different names in person! Sometimes there’s an additional word like our hotel, Auberge Ouritz (on booking) was Auberge Berbere Ouriz (within the sign) in Adgz. And our Ouarzazate hotel was almost different! If it wasn’t for that map, and me asking, “uh, is that this you guys?” we may still be seeking it…
- Don’t get used by the wrong hotel. On a similar note, ensure your hotel will be the hotel you’re walking into. Once we started checking right into a hotel in Fes that have one letter difference within the name, these were neighbors. Very confusing! And in Imlil, we essentially got lied to, said we were within the right hotel, and that we weren’t! Booking.com emailed me to figure out I never showed as much as my hotel and that’s how you found out! (The names were extremely similar and also the signs, obstructed.)
- The mosques are beautiful but unless you’re Muslim, you’re not planning! Just letting you recognize so you don’t get a hopes up. You are allowed to peek in in the doorway if it’s open but that’s regarding it.
- General Morocco Tips
- This isn’t a celebration place. Before coming here and receiving your bubble burst, let me tell you it is not the place to go and party, all have night ragers, get shit up against your mates, and relish the nightlife.
- Sure, you can find a couple of bars and clubs from the cities and indeed in Marrakesh, in places you could have these things, but you can find far better places inside world to tip one or five beers back with friends. Come in charge of everything else but partying. Unless you like getting “wasted” on tea, then Morocco is THE place.
- Get a SIM card with the airport. It couldn’t be easier or better! Maroc Telecom sells SIM cards for very inexpensive; 50MAD gets you 5GB of internet data! And the service is pretty damn good too.
- Est-ce que tu parles français? French is yet another language you will get by with, easily. Arabic to become better though as it’s truly their language and shows you’re trying a little more. They only use their French to the tourists.
- Download Google Translate right meow. How have you ever not already? It’s an important tool when traveling anywhere. Also, download Arabic and French from the app which means you can put it to use offline!
- Also, download Maps.Me. Again, how have you ever not already!? This could be the map I ALWAYS use. For one, it’s an offline map (be sure to download it when on wifi first though) and second, it genuinely sometimes has better info than Google maps, like dirt roads and walking trails.
- Don’t take pics without asking first! They are VERY camera shy.
- Never tip the shepherds that tie these cuties up!
- Be careful with animal “attractions” or activities. While I found the camels and horses look well treated in the majority of areas, you'll find “snake charmers” lurking around and you'll find shepherds who tie their goats to tress for cash. Don’t support this! Read more around the goats climbing trees.
- Don’t go drugs! Did I need to mention this? If you’re compelled to anyway, (which goes for across the world) never buy on the person offering it for you. You should be one asking. Just know, people help police and you can be in serious trouble.
- Solo Female Travel Tips for Morocco
So, all of my solo traveling chickas available, heeeeyy. This is for you!
- Backpack and camera right in front. Solo or otherwise not!
- Backpack is always in the front. If you don’t wear a backpack whenever you’re outdoors, make certain you’re wearing a crossbody bag. This is no matter what you’re solo or otherwise, shoulder bags are the worst thing to make use of.
- · Put on sunglasses as, first, never walking on a night, EVER, so it’s likely daylight out, and second, it assists avoid full attention.
- My resting bitch face is on point. I’ve experienced a RBF since I can remember. I’m the woman that people take a look at, and say, “you should smile!” To which I want to truly rip their f*cking face off but I casually ignore, usually. My RBF looks mean, that makes me less approachable, which, honestly, is just what exactly I want. I want people to check out me and say, “oh damn, I don’t wanna mess along with her.”
- Look like you recognize what’s up. In the medina of Fes, it’s literally impossible to recognise where you’re going. The streets don’t seem sensible. Pretend you recognize what’s up if you’re wandering. You won’t, but LOOK just like you do. Ignore almost any help, like stated previously, only ASK for help, don’t take unsolicited help. Ever.
- Lastly, don’t be frightened, you’re FINE! Seriously, after reading every one of the Morocco tips here you may be thinking it’s scary AF to search to being a woman but it really’s not. You’re good to visit because you’ve learn about tips, you’re smart, there is an right gear, the correct mindset, and you’re READY!
- To see the least hassle, itnis recommend sticking on the coastal towns and much less busy spots. The cities are where a lot of the unwanted BS happens!
- Now get out there and stay the badass solo traveling woman you happen to be!
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