Marrakech tips for scaredy-cats, please!

[TwoWimminGoingWildish]

We are two women going on a week-long break to Marrakech to escape stressful jobs and demanding kids.

we

can’t

wait

However, my appearance is quite “alt” (I have rainbow coloured hair) and my friend is a pasty-white ginger. I’m quite worried that we’ll stand out a mile as targets for pushy salespeople etc. - would appreciate hints and tips on how to “be” in Marrakech!

Exciting! I’ve only spent a couple of days in Marrakesh, as I prefer Essaouira. You’ll be fine. I didn’t find it too bad pushiness- wise.

trousers or long skirt and covering your arms help. Sunglasses so you don’t make eye contact. Be polite, firm, “lo shukran’, if you are looking at something they shopkeeper will talk to you, often it’s quite funny. We found after a couple of days once you know where you are going you get ignored.

YSL gardens are great, the square is bonkers, wander around and get lost.

Dress modestly. Don't be rude, a firm polite no thank you said with a smile works well.
Look like you know where you're going, walk with purpose.
Be prepared to bargain for things but good natured.
I've been going since 1991 and I love it. I know the souks pretty well now but half the fun is getting completely lost and then finding your way out

Brilliant, thank you - we knew modest clothing was a must, but sunglasses is a good tip. Will research some key phrases as well.

I am USELESS at haggling - it stresses me out! Appreciate I’ll have to, though. What are good buys from Morrocco - is there anything in particular we should look for, souvenir-wise? Or anything that Morrocco makes really well? Obviously I’ll be doing some googling in the run-up to the trip but it would be lovely to hear personal experiences as well.

It IS exciting - honestly the thought of a week away from real life, in the sunshine, with different sights and smells and sounds . . . I’m so looking forward to it!

Went there last year, second what everyone else has said. It's a pretty safe and friendly place for tourists of all backgrounds.
And also strongly recommend doing one of the food walking tours - great way to see some of the city & get very full on lots of interesting food for not much money! We went with Get Your Guide, but sure there are lots of companies doing this.

when you get to your hotel just really look at who us around, there might be people just sitting or putting a key in their doors, or chatting together. You’ll see them all again as they have watched you go in and know you’re new so first morning out exploring just be extra aware or you will end up in the tannery buying a pouffe. I thought I was streetwise but ask me know I know that ha ha. All good humoured though, just don’t fall for any help or chitchat. Say no thank you and walk on . Have a fabulous time, go to Les Terasse de Epices. Gorgeous place

I was worried my red-haired baby would be the focus of much attention in Marrakech. In fact, red hair is not uncommon amongst the Amazigh and we were left alone (other than just about everyone being completely wonderful with her). We got more attention in northern Italy. Be confident, dress modestly and firm if you need to - it’s a magical place.

There are some nice shops on the road just opposite the jardin majorelle- fixed prices.

This is very topical for me as I am also going to Marrakech and am a massive scaredy cat. I feel genuinely anxious about it to be honest so the responses so far are very reassuring

Ive bought rugs in marrakech - make sure you haggle! Be polite. Keep away from the men in the square who have monkeys and snakes and dont take photos of them as they will want money.

its a wonderful place. They speak french as well as arabic.

Apparently you should say "la shukran" (no thank you) with your hand over your heart, to stop any unwanted haggling. And we were in Agadir rather than Marrakesh, but watch out for anyone putting anything straight into your hand as a "gift" as they'll be looking for payment - my kids got caught out with this.
We always felt very safe and had a brilliant time, enjoy your trip!

Mechoui alley- just off the djemma is worth a look and if you like lamb, a lunch. They put whole sheep into underground ovens early in the morning then served gorgeous roasted lamb with bread cumin and salt. Get there early as it's popular.
Café de epices - sit at street level and watch the world go by.
I love the blue and white Fez pottery but it has become expensive.
Carpets are good but you need to haggle.
I have lots of wooden spoons and a gorgeous chopping board from the wood souk.
An organised walking tour of the souls is a good idea to get the general layout - be aware that any shops they take you to are on commission. So go back on your own if you see something you like.
A day trip to the atlas mountains is good fun and you get to see some of the country.
Have a fantastic time.

I would have a day trip to Essauoria to do some shopping and for a bit more chilled atmosphere, they have beautiful things
don’t eat at the restaurants in the square they will add bits on and they are expensive

Navigate by gps if you need to as it's a maze.

Don't navigate using markers of stalls that will shut because then you'll be screwed when they shut. Learned that once the hard way.

Avoid the chicken district.

Other than that, it's amazing.

Im watching this thread because I am also going, but when I started my own thread about it I got heaps of people telling me how awful it is, and that I need a rabies vaccination!
Have you got your jabs sorted? I managed to get an appointment with my GP, but only just.

I bet that was mostly by people who’ve never been!

OP I went a couple of years ago and had a great time, felt safe throughout. Be careful of pickpockets and people trying to con you, but violent crime against tourists is vanishingly rare.
There are no obnoxious drunks at night as no one drinks!
Take a good quality paper map for inside the Medina.
Go to Les Jardins de Majorelle.
There are no cars in the Medina, but beware of motorbikes and scooters zooming around.

I hope you like peppermint tea!

Fresh mint tea is lovely and served everywhere.
We booked a hammam which was great and also spent half a day having a neck and shoulder massage, pedicure and hair done for about £20 all in. We also went out to Esssaouira for a few days but you probably won’t want to do that on a short break.

So many interesting things to see and do. The medina is fascinating- just be firm if you’re not interested in something. I bought a lovely soft leather bag that is still going strong 18 years later.
The food is very good and there are nice French wines in the better restaurants.

Almost everyone I know who has had major hassle in Marrakesh was not dressed ‘modestly’ e.g. wearing what we consider typical to wear in the summer in the UK - shorts and vest top etc.
I think it just signifies that you’re definitely a tourist as much as anything else.

I’ve been a few times alone and got very minimal hassle but also made sure to dress so I covered my legs and arms.

Forgot to add that it’s a magical place - dress appropriately, look confident and you will have an amazing time 😊

It's an amazing place.
Watch out for henna ladies around the main square who grab your hand and start applying henna then get annoyed if you don't want to pay. Just keep your hands to yourself when you see ladies doing henna. Of course if you want the henna doing, that's fine

The guys in the souks expect you to haggle, so do it! Have no shame bc it’s not necessary! go deep into the souk, where there are actual metalworkers and artisans.
id personally avoid the YSL garden - hideously busy and tbh I didn’t much rate it.
get a taxi to the mountains. You can have lunch at Kasbah Tamadot for instance and sit amid the Atlas Mountains. Very do-able as a day trip. You can buy lovely stuff made by women who work with the Eve Brandon foundation (don’t haggle here tho!!).

Just look like you know where you are going, even if you don't. Unless you want to interact or pay a small boy some money for taking you where you need to go - which is fun too.

Try not to let it stress you, and it if does - head into a cafe or up to a terrace - and have a mint tea and chill. The world will seem a better place.

If the Medina gets too much, head into the Nouvelle Ville which is more open and much less crowded, with some nice relaxed cafes and parks.

You’ll be fine. Lots of great advice so far. Dress modestly and smile. Most of the people are lovely and like a bit of banter.
The souks are amazing, but I’m like you and rubbish at bartering. I preferred going to the Ensemble Artisanal, which is a craft centre with fixed prices. The same stuff as the souks and the prices are comparable. It’s in the centre, next to the Tui medina gardens hotel. If you got to one of the many herbalist, buy the decongestant. It’s Nigella seeds and some sort of crystals. Blows your head off, but clears your sinuses out.
Have fun. Marrakech is great!

Dress relatively modestly, think looser t shirt and longer line shorts or capris rather than short shorts and vest tops. Last time I was in Morocco it was only for the day but I wore a dress with short sleeves half way down my upper arm and midaxi length, not low cut, just a normal dress but on the more modest end of my wardrobe and also a big hat. Added advantage is it helps with sun protection too. You can wear what you want apart from religious buildings but I prefer when travelling outside of Europe to avoid standing out/making a statement.