Morocco is a beautiful country, and we definitely recommend you visit if you get the chance to. However, like many countries around the world, due to the difference in culture to the UK, there’s a few top tips we’d like to share with you to ensure your holiday to Morocco will go smoothly.
Dress Appropriately
Morocco is a Muslim country, so when packing your suitcase, we advise you take this into consideration. Mostly, men have more free reign when it comes to clothing, but women are required to dress modestly. Many tourists don’t follow this advice, and find they are heckled a little by the locals.
Our advice is to always have a shawl on hand to cover yourself if you can feel your outfit drawing a little attention. When heading into the town centres and Medina, long, floor length dresses and skirts are advisable over shorter ones, and having your chest and shoulders covered is a great idea too!
When you’re in the comfort of your hotel or resort, these restrictions are relaxed a little. Wearing a swimsuit or bikini is perfectly fine, encouraged in fact! Shorter dresses and short shorts are also fine, but remember to be respectful towards other hotel guests and staff, especially when choosing clothes for mealtimes, i.e. don’t swear swimwear in restaurants!
Learn To Haggle
A big part of Morocco’s culture is haggling for a bargain at the markets. There are some beautiful markets throughout Morocco, the most famous being Marrakech’s Medina. Here you’ll find local sellers offering everything from leather goods to spices, clothing and even perfect gifts to take home to friends and family.
Sellers will often price things a little higher in the hope they’ll bag some big sales from tourists who aren’t aware that haggling is encouraged. Make sure when you visit the Medina and markets that you practice your haggling skills so you can get the best price for the items you want to buy!
One of our top tips would be, if you know what items you want to buy before your visit, have a set price in mind that you won’t go above. By doing this, it ensures that you don’t come away feeling like you’ve overspent. Similarly, if you’re not quite sure what you want to buy, have a budget in mind, so once you’ve bought some things and reached your limit, you can walk away feeling happy with your purchases and not frustrated for spending too much.
Tours and Directions
When visiting a country like Morocco, exploring is a must. The country is so diverse and there are so many sights that are unlike anything you’ve seen at home. Many locals offer tours to show you around however, you must do your research and ensure the person you are using is reputable.
Often, some of the ‘free’ tours and directions that you can receive have hidden costs and end up costing a lot more than the organised tours that you pre book. Due to the layout of the Medinas, it is very easy to get lost inside them, and sometimes unreputable guides can pressure you into spending money with sellers they make a cut from.
If you’re interested in booking a guided tour for the Medinas, or for any excursions, speak to your hotel first. If your hotel has access to a TUI rep, then they’ll be able to offer you a wide range of excursions at great prices. Alternatively, you can book an excursion using the TUI Musement website.
Fridays Are Holy Days
In Morocco, Fridays are considered to be holy days, so you might find that many shops, attractions and excursions are not open on a Friday. This just means that during your holiday to Morocco, Fridays are reserved for poolside chilling and a day of relaxation!
You might also find that shops and attractions are closed during holy celebrations such as Ramadan. The towns and cities will also be a lot more buzzing during these times, so if you’re hoping for a quieter escape, we recommend you check the dates of Muslim holidays before booking your getaway.
Helpful Phrases
As with all countries you travel to, learning a couple of handy phrases is considered very polite, and they’re sure to help you throughout your stay. Here’s some that we think will be useful during your time in Morocco:
- Hello (Peace Be With You): Salam Alikome (salaam a eleikum)
- Thank You: Choukran (shokran)
- No Thank You: La Choukran (la shokran). This one is useful when you street vendors offer you something you don’t want to purchase.
- Watch Out: Balak. Although you won’t use this yourself, you’ll most likely hear this in the medinas or souks. Locals will say ‘balak’ if coming by with a mule, motorcycle, or cart to warn you to get to the side.
Magical Morocco Awaits
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