AIBU to think Marrakesh was far worse than I expected?

It's not a safe place for western tourists. Particularly horrific for women. Yes I did cover up and I loved the Majorelle gardens. I drew the line at men leering at the 11 year old daughter. Just vile. Can't believe we're importing this culture into the UK too.

I’m glad you had a positive experience.

However it is incredibly naive - and also somewhat insulting - to suggest that all it takes to deal with aggressive men is a firm and respectful attitude.

I’m sure women the world over who have been raped or sexually assaulted wish they’d known it was as easy as just having the right attitude.

Didn’t you enjoy the YSL museum? Mint tea on roof top balconies? A hammam experience? There are lots of incredible bakeries etc.. I loved the souk ..as I know what I want to pay. Didn’t see the animals you did .spices, lanterns, carved boxes and hand made tiles. We were hit by the money for directions thing once. Visited the local 5 star..which is famous. I think you just need to research and re be ready. We had a lovely taxi driver who was wonderful and the hotel staff too. Did you try speaking to your hotel for help?

Like everywhere, experiences vary.

I went there last year with my 4 year old. It was actually much less hassley than I expected. There was only one man who upset us (because he took DC's toy and then wouldn't give it back as a "joke"). Everyone else, male and female, was actually lovely to us and very kind and generous to DC.

Maybe it helped having a child in tow! I'm also brunette and dressed extremely modestly, which I always do in sunny places anyway to avoid sunburn.

I didn't like the snakes and monkeys but just kept away from them.

Sounds dreadful, OP! What an experience! Am off to Tangier in a few weeks and I fervently hope not to be accosted by awful men. Am very visibly in the throes of no fucks to give menopause so hopefully they'll leave me alone.

My favourite city and have travelled widely around the country and am really sad that you had such a bad experience.
Love the food even at the hawker stalls and always found the people friendly.

I hated it

I would never go back, they really hate women and it was dirty

“I've been there 4 times & never remotely experienced what you describe. In fact, as per what you will also read in guide books, I have found the local men look out for you & if they even begin to think someone is giving unwanted attention (one teenage boy on our first trip & a group of kids on our last trip) they will shout at them & send them scurrying off.”

Slightly contradictory.

Cat poo everywhere and men pissing on the walls in the centre of Marrakesh- it stank. BoyF and I got followed by a man who decided to take it on himself to give us directions when we hadn’t asked for any and weren’t lost, then wanted money. Stayed in a roof top bar for 3 hours until he went away

I hated Istanbul. Beautiful city but the cultural differences were just too much. We were three young women together on a tour trip and we got followed, stared at wherever we went. There were hardly any women visible and there were very young children with babies begging on the street etc. It was not safe to go out after dark by ourselves. Would never go back.

We travel to Morocco regularly but always to Essouira which is amazing. Relaxed, friendly, great food and interesting things to do and see. Marrakesh is completely different - I've been a couple of times and wouldn't stay for more than a week-end.

I had family who went out . Mum Dad son, 2 daughters, maybe 14 and 16. After the first few days the dad HAD to go out everytime because the girls (and also mum)were harassed so much. On one day the girls were just ahead and 2 shop owners tried to hustle them into the shop, and even though they were objecting they only stepped back when Dad actually caught up.with them.
They loved the hotel, staff, landscape beauty etc but would never ever go back.

That was your experience so, it's fair enough. I went in 2013 as a student with two female friends. Two of us olive skin and dark hair (one of us part Tunisian), one tall German with light brown hair. Stayed in a cheap hostel and went round the souks and a hammam.

We had a great time but actually thinking about it, we were sunbathing on the roof of the hostel in bikinis and realised there was an adult man and teenage boy stood staring at us from a roof across the street. We told one of the men who ran our hostel who was appalled and went and had a massive go at them in person.

We did have to be careful not to be ripped off eating in the main square (we wrote what we ordered on the paper tablecloth after seeing someone nearby being told they'd ordered a whole meal that they hadn't and being told to pay for it) and we got ripped off our first day there buying black soap because we hadn't yet understood the conversion rate for the currency. But otherwise loved the food, met amazing friendly people and had a great time.

I agree. It's the touristy bits that are the worst.

The place I got the most hassle was Israel when I was about 15 (a few years ago, 1990, but still). A boy grabbed my leg and nearly followed me onto the coach!

I had a similar awful experience in Marrakesh in very similar situation with a female friend. We got locked in places til we bought something, touched /hugged without asking. I really wanted to love it but it was awful. I sadly think it’s a place you either need a man to travel with, or you need to stay out of the medina etc. and stay in tourist only areas.

Actually, no. I know plenty of people who have done exactly this.

I had similar expierence and I went with Dh.
Also constant asking for money by groups of kids when we were in the Atlas mountains. On one occasion our car was surrounded and they refused to leave and were banging on the doors. They all.looked to be under 11 and as daft as it aou ds to be scared of young kids it was frightening.

I ended up telling them to shut otherwise I'd run them over. Of course I wouldn't but with 8 people banging on a rental car because you wouldn't give them money extreme words were needed.
I swore I'd never go to Morocco again but I've been 4 times since to different places and its a lovely place.

That was my friend's experience too

I went and it was god awful- hated every minute. Travelled all over, some travel on my own too - it’s the only place I have ever felt unsafe!! and the bloody snakes they seemed to be everywhere (that I recognise is probably my issue tho!)

I’d rather sit by a pool than be called a whore and spat at. As happened in Cairo. Disgusting place.

Myself and my two female friends went to Marrakesh last year and we loved it.
Stayed in a Riad, in the heart if the spice market, where the service was second to none. We enjoyed a balloon ride, a hamman visit, the various palaces/historical places, the YSL garden and museum, the souks and had an excellent time.
We didn't get hassled particularly, it was easy to say no to the sellers and souk owners.
Parts of Marrakesh are really dirty and run down but I have to say every cafe/bar/restaurant we went to the toilets were always lovely - I've seen much much worse in the UK!

I've been there 4 times & never remotely experienced what you describe. In fact, as per what you will also read in guide books, I have found the local men look out for you & if they even begin to think someone is giving unwanted attention (one teenage boy on our first trip & a group of kids on our last trip) they will shout at them & send them scurrying off.
I have only ever travelled there with a group of females & never felt more safe. When walking through the souks I find a friendly smile & "no thank you" always does the trick. (The street food markets in the medina are a different story but easily avoided....)
Yes a huge culture shock but that is the charm!
As for the food, we have always eaten the most delicious meals in the most beautiful restaurants but like any city you have good & bad. And yes you do need to be careful what you eat, no ice in drinks etc but no different than many places.
As for animal welfare, I have never witnessed animals being treated cruelly or beaten, though certainly not up to our UK standards.

How absolutely dreadful and these fucking bastards that are so cruel to animals. How horrific. 😢

I was underwhelmed by the YSL gardens as well. I think people rave about them because it’s just about the only bit of greenery in the city. They were fairly scrubby and overly packed when we visited. The scenery around the Atlas mountains was amazing though. I would fly back to Marrakesh and get a taxi directly to The Capaldi for a lovely chilled break if I could persuade DH to ever return to Morocco or maybe on my own as it was perfectly safe in the hotel grounds.