Morocco

[Mooshamoo]

I was thinking of going for a solo trip to Marrakesh, Morocco next month.

Has anyone been recently? Whats it like?

Recently, no. Went with a girlfriend years ago during a bus trip round Spain. Planned to stay for 2 nights, left after 1 afternoon and fled back to Spain, via Tangiers (which was worse still) . Constantly harassed on the street and refused service in restaurants/cafes (simply ignored).

Would hope things have changed but I’d really research prior to commuting financially.

Last September. Loved it. Would not go alone.

I have also heard you shouldn’t go alone. My friend went and did not feel safe

Went years ago and would not entertain going there alone

Don't go alone if you're a woman, it isn't safe.

Have only been to Marrakech, I’d say it’s fine for a couple of days, the medinas are very full on and it gets a bit wearing being constantly hassled after a while. Can get a nice spa/massage in the hanmams.

The touristy restaurants are pricy but there’s some good cheap food from the street vendors.

You can do a trip into the Atlas Mountains from there which I would have liked to do but couldn’t afford, and I liked the YSL museum.

If I went to Morocco again I’d not go back to Marrakech but go to Essaouira on the coast.

I’ve been to Marrakech and travelled around it as a lone woman. You get attention but I didn’t experience any harassment, and I never felt unsafe. I think how you feel about it depends on ether you interpret attention as harassment - most of the time they’re just trying to charm you into stopping to buy something as is the culture there. Smile and walk on, and they’ll leave you alone. I was stared at a few times by other customers when I walked into a cafe or restaurant and sat down alone but I just minded my own business or read a book. It was curiosity rather than hostility, and I was certainly never refused service.

I would quite happily go back to Morocco alone but I think you probably need to be a fairly confident solo traveller to do that.

I go to Agadir every January on my own. I book flights (Easyjet) and hotel separately and then a transfer from the airport. I love the food, the people, the sun and never felt unsafe. A nice walk along the seafront and an ice cream. I'm.not sure about Marrakech tho.

I went in 2015 and absolutely loved it. I went with my husband but I often wandered down to the medina by myself (around 20 minute walk from our hotel) and never felt unsafe at all.

I went a about 10 years ago and was pickpocketed by a child of about 5yrs. I didn't enjoy the holiday or like going outside of my hotel.

I’ve been to Morocco by myself a few times - Marrakesh, Essouria and Atlas Mountains. Didn’t really notice much harassment apart from vendors trying to sell stuff. Wonder if that’s because I’m pushing 40 and quite grumpy looking though?

I'm also pushing 40!

Nope one place I’d never go back too and I’ve travelled to loads of places.

I loved going there with a friend but would definitely not go alone. It's not safe for a woman.

I'm stereotyping with my own experience... we are very frequent global travellers and we went last year.

We weren't too bothered by it. It's hot, dirty, smelly, and crowded. If you're a relatively infrequent traveller that likes markets, etc, and haven't seen 'Arabic' culture, great, you'll probably have a nice time... but for more experienced travellers, I'd imagine (like for us) it will be a letdown.

The temples or whatever are a bit simple, the bazaars are just tat, the hotels are so basic, and the people are that middle-eastern (stereotype) pushy. We basically left straight away on the first tour we could get to the Ouzoud Waterfalls because we really actually disliked it, and even they weren't particularly 'write-home'.

Wow. Totally the opposite of my experience. I’m a confident and we’ll-travelled solo traveller (including in the Middle East) and went to Marrakech on my own in my late 30s. There are certainly impressive things to see there which are totally different from what you will see elsewhere in the region - in fact I still have photos from the stunning palace I visited as the screensaver on my phone, and I still use the leather satchel handbag I bought there. The street entertainment in Jamaa El Fnaa in the evenings is listed on the UNESCO intangible heritage list - it’s worth reading up so you know what you’re seeing. Of course there is tat if you just look at the most touristy markets but there are also old craft traditions.

I agree with going to Essaouira too which has a relaxed vibe. In both places I behaved confidently in public and dressed relatively modestly and never had any issues.

I went to Morocco as a lone female for a couple of weeks in 2014 or 2015, can't remember which. I'm not sure if you consider that to be recent but I'll give you my opinion anyway. I went to Marrakech, Essaouira, Fez, Rabat, Chefchaouen, travelling around by public transport. I also went for a trip into the desert, organised by the hostel I was staying in.

Honestly, there are many other places I'd recommend ahead of it as a solo traveller. I did find it extremely wearing to constantly have my wits about me, as it seemed that nearly every interaction I had with a Moroccan involved them trying to get money out of me. It didn't seem particularly unsafe despite the general unfriendliness I experienced, I was just exhausted by being on my guard the whole time.

I did see some nice places - I loved Fez, Chefchaouen was very pretty, and sleeping out in the desert was really cool but I'm not sure they were good enough to make the rest of it worth it! I also met a couple of lovely locals who I will always remember. Obviously, what you're like as a person will affect how you feel about the harassment you may receive. I'm extremely pale so was clearly a tourist, therefore worth trying to get money from. I'm also not particularly assertive and have quite a smiley face so probably seemed like an easy target. I can be quite self conscious and am naturally introverted so didn't feel great receiving lots of negative attention. If you're a tough person you may be able to shrug it off and not let it ruin your trip.

I hated it. I was there with my husband in 2014 and we were constantly hassled for money. We were never left alone. We breathed a sigh of relief when we got on the plane home.