Sounds Of The Souks

Tag: safety in Marrakesh

An exploration of The Red City known as Marrakech.

  • A Few Scams To Be Aware Of Around Marrakech.

    Popular tourist traps.

    Image by Freebird Tracey.

    Marrakech is a safe place for travellers with a relatively low crime rate, but scams can happen.

    Like any other destination, there are several things to be mindful of as a first-time visitor to the red city.

    There are a few potential scams that visitors for the first time to Marrakech should know about.

    .The road is closed.

    This is a regular scam that can leave tourists confused.

    You’re trying to locate your riad or a point of interest, and someone (usually a young male) tells you that the road ahead is closed.

    He asks you your destination and offers to escort you via an alternative route.

    Before you know it, you’re wandering endlessly through the souks until you arrive at his friends shop.

    You’re still lost, and now you’re being offered mint tea whilst his friend brings out a multitude of exotic spices or rugs.

    The male who took you there gets a commission for safely delivering you there.

    Slightly more if you buy.

    If you’re approached in this way, a firm no thank you or La shoukran usually does the trick.

    If he is very persistent, head to a nearest trader, and ask their advice about whether the road is closed or not.

    Make your boundaries clear but remain polite and try not to get too impatient.

    It can be difficult if you’re tired or overwhelmed, but showing your weakness will only show how vulnerable you are feeling, and you may become a target for more opportunists.

    . I can take you to your riad.

    When you first arrive in the medina, you are faced with a maze of alleyways and tunnels.

    Often, your riad will be tucked away inside the souks or down one of these alleyways, hidden from view.

    A tourist who looks as though they’re lost will invite the so-called ‘ helpful guide’ to your side who can show you exactly where you need to go.

    He will escort you, taking the long route to your riad, and then demand a payment from you.

    He may become quite persistent and insult you if you refuse to cough up.

    I was taken off guard seconds away from my riad.

    A young male basically nudged me along the narrow alleyway shoulder to shoulder. He demanded a payment, holding his hand out as I knocked on the door of my riad.

    I told him I wasn’t lost and knew where I was going and that I hadn’t requested his help. He was quite cross with me and began insulting me in Arabic.

    I stood my ground and ignored him until, eventually, the door opened, and I was let inside my riad.

    This can feel somewhat intimidating, but don’t give in.

    There are occasions when friendly locals really do want to genuinely help you find your way, and you will be grateful for their knowledge of the area.

    Especially after a long flight.

    However, this is a common problem and can become irritating, to say the least, if you have luggage with you.

    Marrakech has a good police presence, and, in the worst case scenario, threatening persistent hangers on with that often does the trick.

    Most will back off before it gets to that situation, though.

    Image by Freebird Tracey.

    .Over inflated prices for tourists.

    There is a price for the attractions around the medina for tourists and a price for Moroccan residents.

    This happens in many countries nowadays and you can’t protest much about it.

    On the other hand, prices for street food and things you might wish to purchase in the souks are often much higher than they should be.

    Learn to bargain with the salesperson, try dropping around 25%, and eventually, the pair of you will reach a price you’re both happy with.

    Haggling is an art form, and it takes time to feel confident, but it’s a way of life in Marrakesh and can be quite a rewarding experience when you think you’ve managed to buy something for a fair price.

    If you’re not happy, shop around. There are plenty of places selling the same goods around the souks.

    There are also fixed price stores such as Dar Bouchaib in the kasbah.

    . Gambling games in Jamaa El Fna.

    During the evening, when the square comes to life, there are a few pockets of entertainment where gambling games take place.

    These are scams that involve the winners working with the person in charge of the game.

    They impersonate curious onlookers and ask to take part. They win, and a prize is exchanged.

    These are not genuine participants, and the likelihood of you winning a cash prize is virtually nil.

    . Unofficial tour guides.

    Some tourists mentioned being approached by unofficial tour guides whilst visiting some of the attractions around the medina.

    Males who begin by asking where you’re from, then following you around telling you a brief history of the place.

    After some time, they ask you for a fee.

    If you want a genuine tour guide, check the website of the attraction you’re visiting or consider booking an activity through Get Your Guide.

    Booking. Com also offers attractions with a guided tour and transport.

    Payment is upfront, and the guides are very friendly and knowledgeable.

    Marrakech is an amazing destination with so much to see and do.

    I have pointed out a few negative aspects that you should be aware of.

    You may not experience any of these things.

    I have been incredibly lucky with taxi drivers who often get a bad press for inflating prices.

    I have had some positive experiences with taxis and felt very safe whilst travelling back to my hotel in a remote area.

    Generally, the locals are very friendly, and tourists are  made to feel very welcome.

    There are the occasional poor people in Marrakech who see tourists as financially secure with more money than sense.

    My advice is to make your boundaries clear from the start.

    Get yourself some data by buying an Orange SIM for negotiating your way around the medina, and learn a few words of Arabic or French to help you to say no thank you.

    Like anywhere else in the world, keep your wits about you in crowded places, and stay calm.

    You will have an incredible time in Marrakesh.

    Image by Freebird Tracey.
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  • Jamaa El Fna At Night.

    Sunset in the main square.

    Image by Freebird Tracey.

    The main square comes alive after dusk.

    If you think that the main square in Marrakech is a busy place during the daytime, be prepared for a surprise once the sun begins to set.

    Gone are the snake charmers and monkeys on chains,  replaced by food vendors, henna ladies, street musicians, and dancers.

    Images by Freebird Tracey.

    The scene is organised chaos and a complete sensory overload.

    The sights, sounds, and smells are not for the faint-hearted.

    The drumming becomes intense, and the square takes on the appearance of a huge fair ground with thousands of people congregating.

    People from Marrakech and beyond come together to meet each other, alongside tourists all vying for space to watch the spectacle unfold.

    The atmosphere is electric and vibrates with a magnetic energy.

    Street vendors pursue potential customers with menus as they try to navigate their way through the crowds.

    They hop in front of you, and you have to dodge them like you are part of some assault course.

    Images by Freebird Tracey

    Sometimes, they can be very persistent, and you can feel pretty intimidated.

    Camel head and fresh snails may not be your thing, and you have to be quite firm when telling them you’ve already eaten.

    Although the scene is very intense, it is magical and exciting.

    I really enjoyed myself, but other people were saying that they felt overwhelmed.

    They preferred sitting on the edge of the square, sipping mint tea, and observing from a safe distance.

    It is unlike anything else you may have experienced.

    There is so much to see. There are games being played, and a few little scams take place to trick you into coughing up a few dirhams.

    Locals hang around the cafe de France, chatting with each other over coffee.

    Youths play football against the walls of the medina.

    Sugarcane and fresh juice are sold from vending carts by lively vendors in high spirits.

    Bemused onlookers sit observing everything outside restaurants or from the rooftops around the square as the Koutoubia mosque rings out the call to prayer.

    As the sun sets, the crowds flock, and the atmosphere becomes electrifying.

    The square is transformed into a social hub where anything and everything takes place.

    It’s an incredible experience.

    The bright lights dazzle from the food vendors, and beautiful Morroccan lamps sit for sale on blankets lighting the way, giving off a wonderful glow.

    The scent of fragrant incense competes with the aroma of sheeps head cooking, floating through the air on the breeze.

    Tourists tempted to try a traditional bowl of snails queue to sample this culinary delight.

    Drums beat, belly dancers perform to curious onlookers and acrobats show off their skills to the gathering crowd.

    You can not escape the craziness.

    It draws you in.

    It is the heartbeat of the city.

    Image by Freebird Tracey.

    Jamaa El Fna magnetises you.

    The sheer chaos is a complete assault on the senses in every way possible.

    Image by Freebird Tracey.

    Just be mindful when stopping to take photos.

    Someone in the thick of the action is eagle eyed and continuously watching for interested tourists who have stopped to watch.

    They will spring upon you from out of nowhere, cap in hand for a donation.

    After sunset, it’s as though the whole of Morrocco has come out to play in Jamaa El Fna, and they are determined to have a good time.

    It is truly a spectacle to behold.

    Lively, colourful, aromatic, and noisy.

    Be sure to visit and become a part of what makes Marrakech so unique.

    It’s certainly an eye-opener.

    Although it’s mostly safe around the square, exercise the usual caution in large crowded areas and try to avoid obvious scams.

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  • A Few Things You Need To Know Before Coming To Marrakech.

    Helpful advice for visiting Marrakesh for the first time.

    Image by Freebird Tracey.

    I’ve put together a few useful tips to help your trip run smoothly.

    Marrakech is a cash society. Although many cafes and restaurants take cards, cash is often the preferred method of payment.

    In the main square called Jamaa El Fna, you will need cash to purchase almost everything.

    There are plenty of 🏧 machines located around the city.

    I use the one outside the post office where the horse and carriages stand, close to the taxi rank.

    The exchange rate is good, and it was usually working.

    You can get cash at the airport, but the exchange rate isn’t great.

    There are also plenty of places to exchange money around the city.

    It’s advisable to carry a small amount of cash with you for tipping, small purchases in the souks, and picking up a bottle of water.

    Something you may want to consider if you don’t have  cash at the airport is to ask your accommodation to organise a taxi to your hotel or riad in advance.

    Most accommodations will do this for you when you book. It’s prepaid, so you won’t have to worry.

    You will probably need a SIM card.

    I got an Orange SIM in the airport, and they put it into my phone for me.

    This saved me any hassle, and I had data from the moment I arrived in Marrakech.

    Having data gave me reassurance as a solo female traveller.

    I could use Google maps in the medina, which was helpful in case I got lost.

    It’s worth noting that Google Maps may not work in some areas of the souks, though.

    Tipping is not customery in Marrakesh, but the food and service are usually very good, so it’s nice to be nice.

    I generally leave a small tip of approximately 20-30 dirhams.

    You can drink the tap water allegedly, but personally, I  wouldn’t recommend it.

    Some tourists have what’s called a GRAYL water bottle, which takes out the bad stuff, but I haven’t tried one myself.

    I preferred to air on the side of caution, plus the water doesn’t taste that good and water purifiers don’t change the taste of the water.

    There are plenty of places selling bottled water around the medina, and riads or hotels also sell it.

    Non Muslims can’t go inside the Mosques, with the exception of Hassan ll Mosque in Casablanca.

    Koutoubia Mosque has the most beautiful gardens, which are well worth a visit. They are open to everyone, and particularly nice in the evening when they’re lit up.

    Image Freebird Tracey.

    Some tourist attractions get incredibly busy, so try to arrive at opening times for the best experience.

    Places like Bacha Coffee can have waiting times for up to 2 hours, so come early and join the queue.

    The same applies to Bahia Palace and the Madrasa Ben Youseff.

    I found shopping in the souks early in the morning favourable.

    It was less crammed with tourists, and I avoided the mid afternoon heat.

    Although Marrakech is an Islamic city, it’s fairly relaxed and liberal.

    However, out of respect for the culture of your hosting country, it’s appropriate to cover your shoulders when visiting certain religious places.

    Aim to dress modestly without exposing too much flesh, and you’ll have a great experience.

    I have written a separate post on what to wear when you’re visiting Marrakech.

    Marrakech is a dry city. However, there are bars and clubs that cater to Western tourists.

    There are a few nice bars selling alcohol and cocktails around the medina, such as Le Pergola and Kabana rooftop bar.

    Gueliz and Hivenage have plenty of clubs and bars if you want a night out with alcoholic beverages and entertainment.

    Some high-end riads and hotels will also serve alcohol.

    It’s forbidden to consume alcohol in the medina unless you’re in a place that is licensed to sell it.

    If you get tired of haggling in the souks, there is an artisans market.

    The prices are slightly higher but you can simply buy the products without having to bargain for them.

    There is also a fixed price store in the Kasbah called Dar Bouchaib.

    People in Marrakesh can be quite camera shy.

    It’s best not to take photographs unless they specifically say you can.

    Be prepared to have to pay for the privilege, too.

    Most travellers are discouraged from starting conversations about the King of Morocco.

    Try sticking to conversations about the history of Marrakech and Amazigh culture.

    The locals will love telling you all about it..

    There are a few scams going on in the square, but it’s mainly opportunists trying to make a few dirhams.

    I haven’t had any problems myself, but just keep your wits about you and don’t fall prey to anything.

    Marrakech is relatively safe, but just like anywhere else in the world, exercise caution with your personal belongings in crowded areas.

    Keep your personal items in front of you and don’t carry large amounts of money around.

    The Souks close around 9.00 to 10.00 pm, so be careful if you’re walking around after that, especially if you’re a solo female traveller.

    I haven’t experienced anything unpleasant, but it can feel rather unnerving in the dark alleyways after dark.

    See my separate post about solo female travellers in Marrakech.

    I hope some of these nuggets of advice help you to have the best experience in Marrakech.

    Happy Travels.

    Image by Freebird Tracey.
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