AIBU to think Marrakesh was far worse than I expected?

[LondonLass37]

I'm 40. I went to Marrakesh for a week with a female friend of the same age. Both white, both blonde. Just looking for some warmth, culture, and a proper break.

What I experienced was genuinely awful.

We were harassed constantly , not just persistent sellers, but followed, hissed at, and touched. A man spat at my feet because I wouldn't give him money for directions I never asked for. Later, a drunk local chased us through the medina. We had to hide in a shop for nearly half an hour.

The medina is filthy. In the markets, animal carcasses hang next to food. Live donkeys are visibly mistreated and beaten. I'm still upset about what I saw.

The food was bland and lukewarm. My friend got food poisoning.

I wanted mint tea and beautiful tiles. Instead I felt unsafe and miserable.

So – AIBU? Or is Marrakesh genuinely as terrible as I found it?

Been twice. Once as a solo traveller and once with a friend a similar age (late 30’s) had no problems. Both of us have travellled extensively. Researched where to go and the best rooftop bars and restaurants.
We had a great time, yeah we got hassled to buy things but just said no thanks and walked off. I had a lovely time on both occasions and would definitely go back

I live in Spain and went years ago, like 20 years ago, from Spain on the ferry and then the overnight train Tangiers - Marrakesh. I was with my brother and Spanish boy friend (who is dark and was thought to be Morrocan quite a bit in Marrakesh), so didn't get hassled as a woman but we got hugely hassled at the ferry port and train station in Tangiers. It was very oppresive. From Marrakesh we went to Essaouira which was very chilled.

I find it baffling for any woman to love a destination that requires a 'male at your side' to make it safe for you to be there. Definitely wouldn't be supporting such places financially (via tourism spending) with my hard earned money either.

That’s how I went on ferry to Tangiers.

That’s how I went on ferry to Tangiers.

And I forgot we did stay overnight and went to Marrakesh by train.

So cultured! Not like the rest of us Frightful Plebs who don't get it.

Do you have boots that are itchy?

Yep, both of us (women travellers alone) felt threatened and unsafe, despite reading into how to be respectful to their culture and dressing appropriately. At one point I was deliberately separated , while I was distracted, from my friend who literally pulled me out of a group of men. I had some amazing experiences when there, but I would NEVER go back. Same with Turkey and Tunisia. In fact in Turkey we had a very open and honest conversation with a Turkish guide who told us exactly what Turkish men think of white western women travelling without men, spoiler alert it’s not good.

I'm also extremely surprised to hear this. Malta is a Catholic country and one with very recent British influence.

Whereabouts in Malta were you when this happened?

Well, we did have males behaving lecherously at young girls in this country as growing up, I routinely experienced it and worse It could even be said it was part of British culture given Saville, Carry On films etc To think it's been completely eradicated from the "native" UK population is naive & untrue. I agree we don't want any more but don't see how we would achieve that.

I went to Tangiers many years ago and like you Marrakesh i found it distressing. The thing i noticed in addition to the sexual harrassment and beggars was that when i wasnt being treated as a woman i.e. sexual object, i was treated as neither male or female ..hard to explain but there are many subtle differences in how a woman is mostly treated in the uk...i.e. common courtesy etc.

I haven't been to Marrakesh, but have been to Fez and Agadir. Both times were harassed persistently including by the hotel staff.
My friend went to Marrakech by herself once and I advised her against it. She still went, and said she had never been harassed so much in her life. And she was a well seasoned traveller.
Would never go back.

Sounds like my experience of Egypt. Middle Eastern/North African men are a disgrace. Never again.

Are some women "looking for evil" when they recount tales of intimidation and assault?
It either happens to a woman or it doesn't, but don't blame the women when it does.
We have people on here claiming that they weren't hassled or harassed in Marrakech and could stroll around unbothered. Good for them. It doesn't mean it's not a problem. However, enough women are recounting that it's a problem, even if they don't "suffer fools gladly".

It happens in Catholic countries, too.

I went with my boyfriend years ago and we were constantly constantly harassed by young men looking for money . It was horrendous. I loved Morocco because it’s so interesting and different and it’s well worth a visit. the scenery is diverse and amazing and we did meet some great people such as the staff working in the hotels . The constant hassle from people on the street gets so so irritating after a while . I did feel sorry for these young men who are clearly unemployed and desperate for money but it got very annoying and I breathed a sigh of relief getting on the plane to leave .

Agree with the OP. Utter hole and I don’t ever want to go back. Even as a 6’2 man I was hassled constantly, abused, spat at and so on. Went with my girlfriend a few years back and the entire time without pause that we were walking around the town centre we were getting pulled, pushed, come see this, come do that, give me some dollars and so on. There are no doubt some genuine people there but if you give off tourist vibes then it’s immediately all about the hustle. We had some guy insist, and I mean insist by pulling and shoving us that we visit his rug shop. Spent four hours in there trying to get out and eventually I pushed my way past him and the assistant to be shouted after ‘nasty Americans’ (we’re not). Everything was a scam and as a bloke the constant threat of violence was heavy in the air. I will never go back.

My DD has been solo travelling there just now last week and fine lol maybe it’s a you problem

It’s as grim AF and I’d never go back there.

Even then, Ive never felt unsafe in Luxor. We’ve been there several times, and Im not worried walking around late at night on my own. In contrast, I wouldn’t walk to the shops 200m down my road after dark.

We spent a month in Morocco and Marrakesh was by far the worst place we went to. Go back and bypass it

DD solo travels a lot and never had any big issues so far.

She didn’t like the vibes of the hotel she picked in Agadir, checked out the following day and that was it. Also didn’t like the vibes of Fez in the evening, but to be fair she got lost and was returning much later than usual.

Really? Which ones?

To be fair, I think every child under the sun would prefer the resort in Greece.