To object to my husband stopping me from going to Marrakech because it's 'dangerous'

[LaviniaLee]

I was hoping to go to Marrakech city centre for a long weekend with a female friend.

I've wanted to go there for ages - I love the idea of the architecture and culture.

But my husband isn't keen on it as a city. He thinks it's dangerous. He's been before and thinks it's overrated too.

He doesn't want me to go because he thinks it's dangerous. I said lots of people go there and I would stay in a decent hotel near the centre. He said that if I go anyway, it wouldn't be good for our marriage. We don't have kids yet.

AIBU to object to him stopping me?

Woman here. I’ve been to Marrakesh. It’s no more dangerous than walking the streets of London alone or with a friend at night. In London you can get kidnapped by a police officer and you’ll be lucky if a bus goes by to catch it all on camera for goodness sake. Should you stop going out in your own country them? Where’s the line? I really hate the way people make out other countries to be more unsafe than their own.

should you be vigilant, careful, avoid alcohol, plan route home, have money on you for emergencies etc? Absolutely.

will you have a good time enjoying a different culture, a city that feels surreal - yes! will you get annoyed with vendors trying to sell you stuff every split second - yes! will you get cat-called a bit and whistled at - probably! (Same happened to me in Rome and London, even when I was a school girl).

enjoy the world. Dont let men stop you from exploring it.

Go, but tell him you'll own the risks. If you get in trouble, you won't rely on his help, and he'll have "I told you so" rights.

should you be vigilant, careful, avoid alcohol, plan route home, have money on you for emergencies etc? Absolutely

Avoiding alcohol is the default setting of a trip to Marrakech. You can't avoid avoiding it. When we managed to track down a bottle of wine it was expensive and revolting!
The plus side is there are no drunk and aggressive men milling around at night.

OP was talking about her husband not her dad...

I am afraid you have to go to the Marrakech now...

The "not good for marriage" comment shows your marriage needs some clarifications, and you need to start them soon (and than repeat over and over).

He shouldn't stop you or control where you go at all. But as I woman I went more than 10 years ago with a female friend and struggled with the harassment despite dressing very modestly. Followed, catcalled, even by young boys, really horrible gestures in side streets. I was called a F*king Cunt by a food stall guy because I had foolishly said we might come back to eat at his stall later and then went to another place. It was very beautiful but I don't think I relaxed unless we were back at our accommodation. I was pretty used to the street harassment here and in other European countries, but it was next level. Of course, there were lovely men too but the behaviour of lots meant I still didn't feel comfortable.

Just came back and happy to report it is no longer harrasing central! Lovely place, no aggressive selling, pushy but not aggressive and remarkably clean from the streets to the toilets (the only dirty ones were the ones mostly used by tourists as usual)

Highly recommend, I hated it with a passion 20 years ago but I have fell in love with it this time.

This is reassuring and makes me excited to go! Thank you!

Yep, this is what I've been trying to say to others throughout this thread. Marrakech is entirely different since the government and the tourist police decided to clamp down on the harassment that was giving the place a bad reputation and keeping tourists away. Any anecdotal stories of harassment during trips there more than a year or two ago can be discounted.

My trip two months ago, as a solo woman traveler, was entirely hassle free, bar a couple of rather bad tempered bargaining transactions in the souks. But I was comfortable hanging out in the main square until midnight. It was buzzing, yet entirely comfortable.

Enjoy your trip!