Marrakech

[colandsuey]

My Mrs and I are off to Marrakech on Sat 30th - our first visit to any African country!

We would very much appreciate ANY advice on must-see places, local customs, dos and don'ts, safety and eating out.

Also, we understand our visit will be during Ramadan. Will we still be able to buy wine?

[Tanglefert]

Ok, i once went to tunisia...the one thing i can tell u is u have to be shrewd. Don't let anyone rip u off. There is always a deal to be made. For instance, in the hotel we stayed in (also during ramadan) we were given a bar bill at the end of the night which we managed to barter on. Have a good one.

[SteveD]

The following is from the Foreigh & Commonwealth website for Morocco:

"LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

Local laws reflect the fact that Morocco is a Muslim country. You should respect local customs and sensitivities at all times, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

In 2006, the holy month of Ramadan begins on around 24 September. During Ramadan, all street cafes and many restaurants will be closed until early evening (when the fast is broken). The larger tourist hotels continue to serve food and drink (including alcohol) throughout the day. It is not possible to buy alcohol in shops. Shops and banks open from 0900-1500 Monday to Friday as do Government ministries. Shops re-open in the evening and stay open until late. It is advisable to check train and bus timetables, which are subject to change. Extra care should be taken on the roads, particularly during the half hour before the fast is broken when driving standards can be more erratic than usual.

Women, especially when travelling alone, will attract attention. To minimise hassle, you should dress inconspicuously and avoid wearing clothes that could be regarded as provocative (eg short skirts and low-necked strappy tops), except on the beach.

Homosexuality is considered a criminal offence in Morocco. Sexual relations outside marriage are also punishable by law.

The penalties for possession of even small amounts of drugs are severe: up to 10 years� imprisonment, with no remission for good behaviour, heavy fines and confiscation of your vehicle/vessel. If you travel through the Rif Mountains, a major cannabis growing area, you may be harassed by drug dealers.

It is against the law to carry bibles in Arabic, to attempt to distribute any non-Muslim/evangelical literature or be involved in any such activity."

[behappy87]

I've been to Morocco (including Marrakech), I had a great time. A lot things are common sense, like don't buy food off random stalls in the street (although there might not be so many if it's Ramadan). When buying things from souks, they will over-price on purpose, assuming that you will heavily barter the price down. You can reduce the price by over a half.

For your wife, maybe it would be advisable to wear a hat as well as covering up. It's not nice to get 'looks' from some of the men, who aren't used to seeing Westerners exposing so much skin! But round teh hotel you should be fine.

I would advise you to visit the main square in Marrakech (I can't remember the name...something-el-Fna) At night as well as at day. Beware though of people trying to sell you things, I had a (rabid?!) monkey almost thrown on me, presumably thinking I'd like it, and then they could ask for money...it's fun to watch the snake charmers though. Also the tannery is interesting, (watch out for the stench though - they give you mint leaves to hold under your nose for a reason!)

Oh and as for drug dealers, obviously, it's common sense again, stay away from them, you could be asked in toilets if you want some hashish. (I was on several occasions!) We were told before we went that they could sell you out to the police if you buy some. Cue a night in a rat-infested Moroccan prison!

As for general safety you should be fine, just keep your wits about you, and don't leave your wife alone in public places (again common sense!) I had a great time in Morocco, I hope you do too!!

Ooh another thing I just thought of - a lot of Moroccans speak French, so you might want to brush up a little (especially on your French numbers - which you will need for bartering!)

[JonnoGenie]

In my opinion it is architecturally and historically very nice, but some of the people are a nightmare. Expect major hassle, worse than you might get in India, Bali etc. The main square is Djeema-el-Fanr... the hub of hassle in the whole country. Ignore beggars... too many people simply throw money at them to keep them away, (and so they come back onto others). Funny, people either seem to love or hate Morrocco, I've been all over the world, but the minority, of serious a-holes in Morrocco made it a nightmare for me.