AIBU to think Marrakesh was far worse than I expected?

I went to Marrakesh for the first time at Christmas with my friend. I could have written your post, after hearing people raving about it for years I was genuinely shocked. Our hotel was nice but that was it. Awful place, I will never return.

I've met/worked with some wonderful Moroccan people, and had a great time driving round the country with friends many years ago, but being threatened violence (I would be followed and stabbed, apparently) for not wanting to buy a carpet is not my idea of a relaxing time.

OP that was my experience 20 years ago and I haven’t been back.

My brother went to North Africa with his wife and another couple. Both his wife and his friend's wife are blond. They were harassed and followed and at one point my SIL was grabbed. My brother doesn't scare easily, and his friend is a big rugby player, but he admitted to being terrified. The worst moment was when they got lost and wandered into a bad neighborhood. So long as you stick to the hotel and tourist spots you're probably OK.

Cool story bro.
Now tell us what really happened.

I loved Marrakesh too: I think you’ll get the have to be realistic as it is still a poor country. You can’t expect just to have mint tea and see beautiful tiles - you were obviously expecting the Disney version.

I’ve yet to try Moroccan food that makes me want more. So bland and uninspiring every time I’ve had it (home cooked and restaurants in UK and Morocco).

Had many, many dreadful instances like yours OP whilst travelling around the Middle East and Morocco- there’s no way I would go back to any Muslim country including Dubai.
As previous posters have mentioned, it’s not just the harassment as a woman but the appalling animal cruelty.

Morocco is an excellent country. I've been there very many times - typically spending most of the time in Midelt or Oarzazatte as a base for 4x4 desert runs or motorbiking up the Cirque de Jaffar.

The countryside Moroccans and Berbers are some of the kindest you will ever meet. When you ask for directions, you don't just bark through the window of your car - you get out, greet each other, you give them some cigarettes, they give you some produce in exchange, and then you sit down and have tea together, and then talk about directions.

They still see each other as humans, and put us to shame in that respect.

There is nothing better than ending a knackering, challenging, but awe inspiring day on the bike on the rocky trails of the Atlas Mountains on with a class of sweet mint tea back at basecamp.

It is my absolute fave overland adventure destination.

Let's separate the city dwellers that hustle/hassle tourists from the general population living their lives as decent people.

I went with two blonde friends many years ago and we had a lovely trip with not too much hassle. Sorry you had a difficult experience though.

It's a very different culture, with very different living standards to the UK. Which is exactly why I wanted to go. I went a few years ago and found the majority of people wonderfully warm and friendly. I loved the bustle, noise and crowds, the life of the medina, the camels walking along the road. I never felt anything other than completely safe.
Did you do any research or talk to anyone who had been before you booked? I think its very well known that its not a sanitised resort type experience. Have you been to any other non westernised countries? I think maybe if it was your first experience of this then the culture shock is understandable, but I do think its sad that we in the west expect everywhere to be the same. The beauty of Africa is that its more raw and natural and honest.

Shame you didn’t enjoy it. But we all have different experiences and preferences.

I love Marrakesh and indeed whole of Morocco. Really friendly people. Delicious food. And plenty of mint tea and beautiful Zellige tiling. I was treated respectfully by men.

You do get hassled by hawkers, especially in the tourist areas. I was well aware of this before I went.

🤣

I had a similar experience to you OP. I was with a man too so maybe it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but the harassment put me off going back any time soon!

I've been. Never again. I had similar experiences, even though I was with a boyfriend. We were attacked and threatened twice in the Medina, one incident involving a massive and aggressive dog that jumped up on my shoulders and was growling in my face, whilst the owner laughed.

It's a hideous place.

I agree OP, had all the same experiences but I was travelling with a man. Disgusting place and vile men.

.

I went last year for a girls trip and had a fabulous time. We rented a riad, went out late at night, were not harassed at all. Nothing like when I went 20 years ago. We ate in high end restaurants - ceviche etc and none of us were sick. We bought alot of rugs and glassware. It was amazing for interiors and we never felt harassed. I was travelling with a group of ladies who had been many times before so had recommended some great places. Would also recommend taking a taxi out of the centre to the Beldi club - can pay to spend day at the pool, have massage, 3 course lunch - so good!

Essaouira is a very different vibe to Marrakech and Agadir. It's been a multicultural hippy resort for decades, it's where bans used to go to write albums in the sixties.

I must say, I haven't experienced the same as a lone female in Turkey. Being white has a lot to do with it, but not so much blonde or slim. There's a regional saying, beauty in a woman is measured by the pound. But the men do see women as available.

It’s a hole. Local food sellers shouting lines from ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and guys exposing themselves and then coming up behind us to swipe their penises on us.

There are some tiny pockets of loveliness, like the YSL garden, but I’d never go back or recommend it to anyone, especially women.

I went there last year and hated it. The mopeds, the men, the poor animals. The only lovely thing was the riad.

I loved Marrakech but I was there with my DH and DSs. We had fab food, tiles, sun and history. We did a private guided walking tour which was amazing - but I wouldn’t have gone down some of the alleys and side streets on my own! Like it or not 2 blonde women are probably going to get hassled there!

I've been to Agadir on a girls' trip and was prepared for harassment (I'd been to Turkey before) and it was about as I expected. The (unwanted) attention we did receive was very jovial at least and not threatening. The unexpected thing, was that I got more attention than the blondes, being dark haired, fair skinned and blue eyed. My friend pointed out that the models in advertising see saw all fit this description.

I think cities in general, and all over the world, attract the best and worst of humanity. In countries with values that don't really align with ours, the 'worst' seems far worse to us.

At the end of the day, you've travelled to their country and what's acceptable there goes. We travel for 'enlightenment' and to 'broaden our minds' but with typical Western arrogance, what we really want is the sanitised, romanticised version.

Yeah I am white - but dark haired and I don’t really stand out. I was about 42/43 when I went to Marrakesh in 2023. But my friend who accompanied me on that trip was tall (about 5 foot 7) and blonde haired; she got a lot of unwanted attention. It was annoying.

I wouldn't go anywhere in that part of the world for the reasons you mention.

Also, I remember a friend going to Tunisia with her family when we were about 16. She was a tall, leggy, pretty girl, with strawberry-blonde hair, and she got harassed everywhere she went. Got her bum pinched repeatedly. I remember her coming back to school and telling all of us how awful it was, and how she'd never go again.