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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that DD will not be kidnapped and sold into white slavery when we go to Marrakech?

98 replies

Taz1212 · 11/02/2015 17:01

We're off to Marrakech later this year- DH, DS(12), DD(9) and me. I know Marrakech isn't everyone's cup of tea, but the ILs and now DH are starting to drive me up the wall! The ILs don't generally approve of how we are raising our DC (too much independence, too many activities etc) but DH usually rolls his eyes and says, "see how it was when I was growing up?" However, they have been going on and on and on about how they would never take children to Marrakech (not that they would ever go themselves...) and how DH is going to have to never let DD out of sight- and preferably never let go of her hand- so that "nothing bad" happens to her.

DH is now paranoid and is saying he is doing this holiday under duress. It all seems full of histrionics to me. I get that ILs like their holidays to be all sanitised - resort holidays and cruises where they never have to leave their little bubble. I like the odd sanitised holiday myself, but I also like a bit of adventure and that's what this is going to be.

Surely if kidnapping little British girls were a rampant problem, I would have heard about it, no?

OP posts:

SummerHouse · 11/02/2015 17:04

YANBU. Hope you have a lovely holiday. Its a fan opportunity for them.

SummerHouse · 11/02/2015 17:05

*Fab not fan. Although it may be hot!

OddBoots · 11/02/2015 17:05

I think your instincts are correct, if it was a big concern there would be more made of it. The Government travel advice for Morocco doesn't mention it so maybe show your dh that.

ash1977 · 11/02/2015 17:05

Feel your pain. I went to Marrakech four years ago with my now DH, when I was 27. My DM was convinced that I would be attacked for my luscious long locks as apparently there's a strong trade in women's hair

SunnySomer · 11/02/2015 17:07

My uncle insisted my DS would be kidnapped in Marrakech too. He wasn't.
He was only 2, so we did hold on to him, as we would have done anywhere, but...
You will have a fab time!

motherinferior · 11/02/2015 17:08

I may actually die of envy, so I suggest that you give me your tickets and stay safely at home.

PopTarts · 11/02/2015 17:09

How very odd.
What is it about Marrakech in particular that your ILS dislike so much?
What exactly is a 'sanitized' holiday sanitized from..

Bonsoir · 11/02/2015 17:10

I have been to Marrakesh several times. it's extraordinarily safe and boring but lovely weather and the hotels are very pretty!

YellowTulips · 11/02/2015 17:10

How bloody silly and xenophobic.

Tell your DH to get over himself.

Your holiday sounds great and you will have an amazing time

PtolemysNeedle · 11/02/2015 17:11

Obviously, your children will be fine.

But saying that, we took our two boys to Marrakech when they were 9 and 11, and wandering round the centre was the first time they willingly held my hand in years. I'm well used to travelling alone, especially in middle eastern countries, but I didn't feel completely safe with my dc and we ended up not going out and about and seeing as much as we normally would. There were men constantly draping hats and scarves around them, one woman grabbed my child's hand and was about to cover him in henna before she got a mouthful from me. It took away some of their enjoyment tbh.

So while it was fine and I would go back, having to be that much on guard constantly while out with children did make it a more intense holiday than I had imagined. The dc did learn more on that holiday than any other we've had though.

AlistairSim · 11/02/2015 17:12

Now, if you'd said you were going to Tangier...

BowiesJumper · 11/02/2015 17:13

I was in Marrakech last year, I loved it! I'm not sure what they're imagining but I hope you all have a marvellous time, it didn't feel remotely dangerous or kidnappy. (Not sure where would to be honest).

Pick up a leather pouff or two!

kateclarke · 11/02/2015 17:14

I'm going next week, just me and dd (11) wonder what they would think of that! We go quite often and always feel safe and have fun.

NutcrackerFairy · 11/02/2015 17:14

We are going to Marrakech in May with our DSs, five and three years old....

Hadn't ever thought about the possibility of them being kidnapped and sold into slavery... more worried about more prosaic things like whether there might be an unfenced swimming pool at resort tbh.

But will wait to hear from MNers knowledgeable about this region whether this is another thing to worry about, along with are our passports still in date and packed and did we leave the oven on before we left for the airport

scotchmincepie · 11/02/2015 17:18

Marrakech is safe. You will get hassled by people trying to sell you things (especially on the first couple of days till they get used to you when you'll either then get ignored or get some polite chat). Be polite - just no thank you. You'll end up walking down the same streets all the time so being polite pays off. Don't buy anything till you've been there a couple of days. If you've been anywhere else with a haggling culture you'll be fine - if you haven't it might take a bit of adjustment.

There's some fabulous cafes with terraces around the main square which are fantastic viewing points if you go upstairs.

The main square is fun. Ask your hotel for a guide to take you to the main spots - we did this and paid a bit extra not to go to shops.

The main thing to watch out for is the bl**dy motorbikes being driven through what you think are pedestrian streets, you'll need to keep hand in hand with her for those till she's used to it.

I've been 3 times now - and really enjoyed it.

Sn00p4d · 11/02/2015 17:19

I always wanted to go to Marrakech! So I did. Spent 6 days of the 7 hospitalised with severe food poisoning, the other day we got things thrown at us in the street fwiw I was dressed and behaving in an appropriate manner, clearly we went to a dodgy bit! Hope you have a better time than I did, it's a swear word in my house!

SistersOfPercy · 11/02/2015 17:21

They will be fine though watch out for locals giving gifts.

DD attracted a lot of attention in Egypt (blonde hair, blue eyed teenager) but she was old enough to ignore. Funny thing was several men kept giving her 'gifts' of little scarabs and trinkets which she would always try and refuse but wasn't so easy. One asked if he could teach her arabic. She knows a little arabic and his face when she replied 'La Shukran' was priceless.

Original poster

Taz1212 · 11/02/2015 18:00

Ha! I'm not completely mad then- I need to show DH this thread!

PopTart A sanitised holiday is one where you don't leave leave the little bubble of the shiny clean resort to mingle with the pesky locals. The ILs like their all inclusive resorts and cruises where they can flee back to the safety of their ship at the end of the day.

For example, I love Istanbul. I can't express just how much I love Istanbul. The ILs went there as a day trip from one of their cruises. They hated it. It was dirty! There were feral cats and dogs wandering about! They were hassled in the street by people trying to get them to visit their cousin's rug shops!

As I said, I like the odd holiday where I don't have to do anything and can just relax by the pool, but I need more than that!

OP posts:

Original poster

Taz1212 · 11/02/2015 18:03

Being treated like a little naive child who just doesn't understand the dangers annoys me.

OP posts:

cavkc · 11/02/2015 18:10

You'll be fine, I'm a blond haired small woman and I worked there for several months without any problems.

TwoOddSocks · 11/02/2015 18:17

YANBU. The main areas are very well policed (we even had a policeman stop a particularly persistent beggar from hassling us).

I would say when I went to Morroco including Marrakech women in general were gorped at and approached or shouted at quite a bit and generally treated very differently to men; eg. we went in a group of 3 girls and 1 guy meaning we needed 2 taxis (they were only allowed to take max 3) the taxi with 2 girls was always charged twice as much and when I was travelling with a the only guy and happened to be the one to pass over the cash the driver showed my friend the money so he could check I'd given the right amount - I guess under the assumption it was his money and I couldn't be trusted.) We found when we were walking about with a guy with us we got no "hello beautiful"'s and more "hello England"'s.

Definitely make sure you get a cooked meal in a Riad, the restaurants are generally rubbish as there isn't a culture of eating out, the food in our RIAD was bloody amazing!

Feellikescrooge · 11/02/2015 18:18

Well I had wanted to go for years,and loved Casablanca and Egypt, so went with my then 17 DD2 a couple of years ago. Hotel and weather were amazing but the rest of the holiday was ghastly. Two unaccompanied females and one of them a very pretty blonde were clearly too much for many locals, especially taxi drivers and the men in the souk. By the third day we stopped leaving the hotel. My DD still shudders when we speak about it, one taxi driver forced her into the front seat and was trying to hold her knee by the time I dragged her out.
However I gather it is easier if you travel in a mixed group and at least it made DD aware of the importance of women's rights!

foslady · 11/02/2015 18:20

I feel your pain - I've had this about booking our holiday to Turkey!

Zara16 · 11/02/2015 18:21

I'm very blonde with green eyes (both rather unusual out there), I've been there 7 times starting when I was six. I've never had any problems at all, honestly she'll be absolutely fine

FesterAddams · 11/02/2015 18:21

Was in Marrakech over Christmas - our third visit to Morrocco.
It's less secular and a little more conservative than Istanbul so e.g. you can't visit mosques. If you want to be polite don't show too much skin (that goes for your DH & DS too), but it is not necessary to cover you hair.
It's perfectly safe but, as in any touristy place, look like you know where you're going and don't be too polite to say a firm no (or "non, merci") to people trying to sell you stuff or randoms offering you unsolicited advice or gifts.

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