Marrekesh would you go on your own?

[Eggybreadwithnuts]

DS is going trekking for 4 days. Hotel 1st day then off on his guided trek tjen back to hotel. Im wondering whether to go with him on the plane but stay in the hotel and chill and enjoy the sites.

Few friends have said not safe for lone female. Now not sure

Yes. But I wouldn’t go out at night - during the day I found people very respectful so long as I was dressed modestly and didn’t catch their eye. Especially as you can join tours cheaply and then people leave you be as your tour guide is your kind of chaperone/helper.

After dark the mood changed a bit. Even at 8/9pm when getting juice in the square there was more shouting and grabbing and groups of men around. Lots of thieves among the people in the square pickpocketing.

Just head back to your hotel as the sun goes down and stick to main tourist areas and you’ll be fine.

I've been solo to Morocco and it was fine.

Just take the usual precautions you would at home.

It should be fine, @Eggybreadwithnuts . If I listened to everything people told me I'd never leave the house.

I wouldn’t go there at all.

The fact that you're asking should be your answer.

Yes, and obviously just use a bit of common sense when there. Marrakesh is lovely at this time of year.

I didn’t go solo but in the markets the men are very over-friendly, they will try and coax you into their stalls etc to buy things but they are respectful, but if you’re doing this solo you will probably feel vulnerable so keep that in mind x

Yes, if I had a nice Riad to unwind in absolutely. I stayed in an absolutely beautiful one with a pool in the middle and loads of tranquil little pockets to relax in. It was honestly just so gorgeous. Ate dinner there most nights. Went out on tours/walks during the day. Was fine. I dressed conservatively and kept myself to myself (as I do normally 🤣)

Only regret is not exploring the markets a bit more, but it did feel a little overwhelming.

Wear a wedding ring if you don’t already. Marks you as ‘off limits’ to most of the males who might be inclined to try and chat you up.

I used to work over there and you’ll be fine in Marrakesh. They are so used to tourists and for the most part will be respectful. Yeah you might get people try and scam you but just don’t engage with them. Or take photos of them, their market stalls or whatever else they’re doing for money. They won’t physically harm you as they know they’ll be in so much trouble with the police if they do.
I find that most people who talk shit about Morocco haven’t actually been themselves.

I have been on my own twice.

lone female in a wheelchair

Ive been solo all over Morocco and to many other Islamic ME countries (Egypt, Syria, Iran and UAE). I usually wore hijab when out alone and never got a second look. Wonderful for shopping and wandering around the markets. If you go into a restaurant or cafe as a solo sit at the back in the "family" section and you will not be bothered.

As other posters have said take all the kinds of precautions you would when travelling alone anywhere. Get a door lock gadjet from Amazon to secure your hotel door from over friendly house boys. In Islamic countries most of the room cleaning is done by (often very handsome) young men. Sometimes they will chance their arm with solo women. The gadjet wills secure your door at night even from someone with a passkey or key card. Also a good idea to unplug your room phone. Oddly the only country I had trouble from an over friendly room boy was Italy!

No

@Friendlygingercati don’t think I’ve ever met a friendly room boy in any country… why hotels are you staying in? 😂

Absolutely. Dress modestly, get the hotel to book your taxis, enjoy the beautiful city. I’d probably stay in the hotel after dark, which is a shame. The square is magical when the sun is setting.

I’ve been several times on my own and it’s fine. I had more hassle in Egypt x

No. I wouldn't. I went in my 20s as a light skinned woman with my DP and got so much hassle, even though I dressed modestly and covered my head. Whereas in Egypt I got a friendly vibe from all the hassling, I can't say I experienced the same in Marrakech.
Also the way they treat animals there is so upsetting. Add the noise, pollution etc. and I just found it downright unpleasant.

We went to Marrakech with our young adult daughter. Dh ended up spending a lot of time in the hotel dealing with an extended family emergency so it was just me and dd out and about for much of the trip. It felt perfectly safe and neither of us experienced anything remotely uncomfortable - yes, they try to engage you because they want to sell you stuff, but it was all perfectly respectful. I liked the people a lot.

We were there in November and it felt absolutely fine in terms of safety, though it's quite a frenetic city - good to escape to the calm of the road each day!

Nope, I went 15 yrs ago with another female. We enjoyed it but the harassment was a pain and we were very much covered up.

@Sugarfish what do you mean "take photos of them, their market stalls or whatever else they’re doing for money. They won’t physically harm you as they know they’ll be in so much trouble with the police if they do."

I couldn't understand if you were suggesting you take photos as evidence you show police or warning that taking photos is a bad/taboo thing to do as on some places and that advice isn't related to next sentence in that way? Genuine question as I was confused

Yes, I’ve been there on my own twice in the last couple of years and felt completely safe. It’s a big tourist hub and has been massively cleaned up in the past 10 years - some of the souks are almost Disney’fied it’s so clean and tourists are important to them so there is tourist police etc. Some great restaurants and outside of the walls you’ve got a modern city with Zara etc!
For context I’m blonde, mid 30s - I dressed modestly but genuinely felt no more vulnerable than I would in Spain. It’s a brilliant city, loads to do and see, great shopping, spas and everywhere looks stunning!

My next door neighbour went in the 90's, she lost all her belongings and had to join a hareem to pay for her return ticket. The British consulate didn't want to know

I have just been and my view is it is safe enough (people hassle you all of the time but they just want your money, they don't care whether you are a single female or two young British lads out on the town) but I would add some caveats. Choose accom carefully, the medina is labyrinth, dark and confusing in places, taxis cannot get in and the maps are bad, and then you get people trying to "help you" find your place. It is not the place to be on a budget if you have concerns. No uber or similar, the buses are actually OK, bit packed, a few dirham, but you need to know where you are going. Dress conservatively (no need for hijab or headscarf, but long sleeves, trousers and trainers isn't a bad move), watch your bag and pockets, and think about when you are going to be out and about ("normal" night time is actually no more than daytime, but it feels more over-facing when it is dark) Don't take anything off anyone (esp if "free" as it won't be), and don't overly engage. Look, I didn't personally like it, and I have been all over. I did not feel unsafe, but I felt hassled, almost constantly. The noise and the animal cruelty in the main square is hard to bear. x

Read the sentence before the one your mention . She was saying don’t take photos of them - ie don’t get in their personal space by taking photos. Don’t engage, don’t take photos. But they are unlikely to be physical as they’d be in trouble with the police.

Completely agree….wouldn’t go full stop