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I journeyed 4,069 miles to the vivacious cultural gem of Marrakech, Morocco. And as with any journey, you always leave with a new way of seeing things and the world. If you are thinking of visiting Marrakech, checkout my personal travel tips below to make the best out of your trip:
Check the Weather
This may sound really old school, but before traveling to a different country, I always google the almanac of my destinations so I know how to dress and prepare for travel. For example, some countries may have rainy season, and it would be a shame to plan a dream vacation only for it to rain every single day. During my time in Marrakech, I asked a local guide what the best visiting months were, and she recommended April-May. July and August are too hot for travel according to locals. The daily weather forecasts on your phone can be tricky too. One morning it may not call for rain, and all of a sudden you may experience a pop-up shower. One Friday evening as I was resting in my riad, a hard rain shower came from no where.The heavy raindrops sounded like buckets of water hitting the beautiful Moroccan glass in my room. It only lasted for 20 minutes, but the forecast did not call for rain.
Check for Holidays
Our trip was one week before Ramadan. Ramadan lasts for one month and according to locals, businesses operate on shorter hours, staff is limited, and some local restaurants may actually close during this time since families prepare for their large evening meal called “iftar”. I was told by a local that some businesses are closed during the holiday of Eid-ul Adha. So prior to travel, be sure to look up Morocco’s list of public holidays.
What to Know About Their Airport
Marrakech has a small international airport. Upon arrival, the distance from the airport to the medina is around 15-20 minutes. You will also need to fill out a customs form on both arrival and departure. Do not enter airport security or customs without your customs form for departure, or you will not be permitted to your gate. Custom forms are found everywhere at different stands near check-in queues. You must go to a check-in desk with a completed customs form before heading to security, even if you are not checking luggage. At the check-in desk, they will verify your flight information, stamp your boarding pass, and they will verify your passport. You will need to show this, the customs form and your passport at customs.If you have leftover dirhams that you want to use in the airport on the way home, the duty free stores do not accept dirhams. So I would recommend exchanging these prior to departure.
Where to Stay – Stay Where the Action Is
If you truly want to be adventurous and bask in the culture of Marrakech, I would recommend staying in a riad in the old medina vs a traditional hotel or the new part of the city. Marrakech is divided into two parts – Old Town (medina) vs New Town (Guéliz). The riads in Marrakech are beautifully restored houses or palaces. Most of these have beautiful interior courtyards, and peaceful gardens. During our time in Marrakech, one of my girlfriends and I stayed at the El Finn. In all of my travels, this was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever stayed. The staff and service was spectacular, they took care of all of our needs, and they are very close to all of the attractions.
Currency & Cards
The local currency is the dirham (MAD), which can only be used in Morocco. Cash is king here, so I would recommend ordering these notes through your bank prior to departure, or exchanging some in the airport upon arrival. Be sure to ask for a few small bills if you plan to shop in the souks and bargain. If you plan to travel with a debit or credit card, notify your bank prior to your travels so your card does not decline, and I recommend using cards that do not charge international fees. Visa and Mastercard were widely accepted in Marrakech, however not everyone accepted American Express.
Getting Around
Prior to your arrival, contact your hotel or riad to see if transportation is available through them. Uber and Lyft are not available in Marrakech, but taxis are everywhere and are quite cheap. However, in most of the cabs I noticed that the meters were broken. So be prepared to agree to a price prior to hopping in the taxi. The average rides were typically 50 – 70 dirham, with prices increasing to 100 dirham after 9:00 PM. The taxi cab drivers are very thrifty, and will try to ask for more money than the average ride since you are a foreigner, or they will offer to make additional stops for sightseeing that you did not ask for and ask for additional money afterwards, so beware. If you’re up to some local sightseeing, horse carriages are also available with the company of a local knowledgable driver.
Watch Out for Street Guides
Marrakech is truly a friendly and safe city to visit. However, in the midst of all of the friendly locals, there are some who will go out of their way to help you … but for a price. If someone walks up to you on the street and offers to give you directions, a tour, escort you, or take a photo of you, they will expect to do so for money.
Hire a Local Guide
If you’re looking to experience Marrakech like a true native, I HIGHLY recommend booking Hanane Chouquir or her brother Mustapha Chouquir. Their tours cover the medina, historical buildings, museums, gardens, souks (and they will help you bargain since they know the locals), and other must-see places in Marrakech. Their family has also toured many celebrities such as Madonna in her recent visit to Marrakech. We spent half of the day with Hanane, and she truly became our long-lost friend. Hanane lived in Italy for some time, so she speaks Arabic, Italian, English, and French. If you wish to contact her, here’s her information:
Hanane Chouquir
Tel. 002126 10465171
hananechouquir7@gmail.com
Instagram: Hanane_chouquir07
How to Shop
Shopping in Marrakech is a unique experience. If you plan to shop in the local souks of Marrakech, you must be prepared to haggle. Never accept the first price when buying goods. Haggling is a common practice here, and the shop keepers will not be offended if you counter their offer. I would recommend coming in low and slowly negotiating with the merchant. One trend I noticed after haggling over an item for some time is the merchant would ask me “what is your final price?”. At this point, I started to notice this meant they were tired of dealing, and would more than likely accept my final offer. So if this happens to you, make sure you give a price that you’re happy with, preferably low :).
What to Wear
In the old medina, many of the streets are made of dusty cobblestone. So I would recommend wearing flat comfortable closed toe shoes for long days, preferably not flip flops if you’re going to be doing a lot of walking since your feet will get dirty. If you plan to go out at night, and be dropped off at a specific location, open-toe shoes are fine. While shopping, you may be tempted to not only buy, but wear a pair of traditional Moroccan slippers, called a babouche. However, please keep in mind that these beautiful leather shoes are handmade, and will take a few wears to stretch and feel comfortable. So I would not recommend wearing these for long periods of time if new.
Depending on your month of travel, Marrakech may be very hot, so pack light-weight fabrics and light colors that reflect light, not absorb light/heat. Marrakech is also a predominantly Muslim country, therefore your attire should respect the culture and be modest. This does not mean as a woman you have to walk around with a head covering, Moroccans do not expect this of tourists. However, short, tight, or revealing clothing should not be worn to avoid being disrespectful or creating undue attention. I would recommend knee-length or longer garments, covered shoulders (or bring a scarf to do so), and swimsuits are ok within riads or hammams.
The Language
Believe it or not, you will be surprised at the diversity of language in Marrakech. The main language here is Arabic, with French coming in as a strong secondary language. Many of the guides, restaurants, and merchants speak English as well. However, I strongly recommend taking the time to learn a few key phrases in French or Arabic prior to arriving. Most locals will be impressed with any attempt you make in their language. The most common phrase I used every single day was “Choukrane” or Merci in French, or Thank You in English. Choukrane sounds like (Shoe-Crun) in english 🙂
Photography & Video
If you plan to capture beautiful footage of Marrakech, there are some customs and legal regulations you need to be aware of. Drones are not allowed in Morocco for security reasons. I remember traveling in the airport, and this was one of the questions asked by a security officer. Some of the locals (especially older ones) do not like to be filmed or photographed. If you are going to take photos or capture video of certain subjects, it would be wise to ask for permission first.
Tipping
During my time in Marrakech, I felt inclined to offer tips since everyone was so helpful and accommodating, but I wasn’t sure if it was an acceptable custom. So I asked a local and they advised that for a good service, a 10% tip is typical. The same applies to restaurants.
Say NO to Henna
A trip to Marrakech would not be complete without visiting the famous Jemaa el-Fna Square. This lively square is full of food, music, snake charmers, and shop keepers. However, beware of the women offering to place henna designs on your arm. I was told by a few locals that these women target tourist, will grab you by the arm and draw a design on it for money. If you refuse to pay, they will purposely smear the design, and the ink is hard to remove since the ink they’re using isn’t the typical henna ink; instead, they’re using quick-dry chemicals that may irritate your skin.
Now that you’re prepared to travel to and find your way around Marrakech, what are some must-see places to eat, see, and experience? Learn more in my must see places of Marrakech here. (link coming soon!).
Video Guide
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