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?

I went last year for a girls trip and had a fabulous time. We rented a riad, went out late at night, were not harassed at all. Nothing like when I went 20 years ago. We ate in high end restaurants - ceviche etc and none of us were sick. We bought alot of rugs and glassware. It was amazing for interiors and we never felt harassed. I was travelling with a group of ladies who had been many times before so had recommended some great places. Would also recommend taking a taxi out of the centre to the Beldi club - can pay to spend day at the pool, have massage, 3 course lunch - so good!

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I agree OP, had all the same experiences but I was travelling with a man. Disgusting place and vile men.

I've been. Never again. I had similar experiences, even though I was with a boyfriend. We were attacked and threatened twice in the Medina, one incident involving a massive and aggressive dog that jumped up on my shoulders and was growling in my face, whilst the owner laughed.

It's a hideous place.

I had a similar experience to you OP. I was with a man too so maybe it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but the harassment put me off going back any time soon!

🤣

Shame you didn’t enjoy it. But we all have different experiences and preferences.

I love Marrakesh and indeed whole of Morocco. Really friendly people. Delicious food. And plenty of mint tea and beautiful Zellige tiling. I was treated respectfully by men.

You do get hassled by hawkers, especially in the tourist areas. I was well aware of this before I went.

It's a very different culture, with very different living standards to the UK. Which is exactly why I wanted to go. I went a few years ago and found the majority of people wonderfully warm and friendly. I loved the bustle, noise and crowds, the life of the medina, the camels walking along the road. I never felt anything other than completely safe.
Did you do any research or talk to anyone who had been before you booked? I think its very well known that its not a sanitised resort type experience. Have you been to any other non westernised countries? I think maybe if it was your first experience of this then the culture shock is understandable, but I do think its sad that we in the west expect everywhere to be the same. The beauty of Africa is that its more raw and natural and honest.

I went with two blonde friends many years ago and we had a lovely trip with not too much hassle. Sorry you had a difficult experience though.

Morocco is an excellent country. I've been there very many times - typically spending most of the time in Midelt or Oarzazatte as a base for 4x4 desert runs or motorbiking up the Cirque de Jaffar.

The countryside Moroccans and Berbers are some of the kindest you will ever meet. When you ask for directions, you don't just bark through the window of your car - you get out, greet each other, you give them some cigarettes, they give you some produce in exchange, and then you sit down and have tea together, and then talk about directions.

They still see each other as humans, and put us to shame in that respect.

There is nothing better than ending a knackering, challenging, but awe inspiring day on the bike on the rocky trails of the Atlas Mountains on with a class of sweet mint tea back at basecamp.

It is my absolute fave overland adventure destination.

Let's separate the city dwellers that hustle/hassle tourists from the general population living their lives as decent people.

Had many, many dreadful instances like yours OP whilst travelling around the Middle East and Morocco- there’s no way I would go back to any Muslim country including Dubai.
As previous posters have mentioned, it’s not just the harassment as a woman but the appalling animal cruelty.

I’ve yet to try Moroccan food that makes me want more. So bland and uninspiring every time I’ve had it (home cooked and restaurants in UK and Morocco).

I loved Marrakesh too: I think you’ll get the have to be realistic as it is still a poor country. You can’t expect just to have mint tea and see beautiful tiles - you were obviously expecting the Disney version.

Cool story bro.
Now tell us what really happened.

My brother went to North Africa with his wife and another couple. Both his wife and his friend's wife are blond. They were harassed and followed and at one point my SIL was grabbed. My brother doesn't scare easily, and his friend is a big rugby player, but he admitted to being terrified. The worst moment was when they got lost and wandered into a bad neighborhood. So long as you stick to the hotel and tourist spots you're probably OK.

OP that was my experience 20 years ago and I haven’t been back.

I've met/worked with some wonderful Moroccan people, and had a great time driving round the country with friends many years ago, but being threatened violence (I would be followed and stabbed, apparently) for not wanting to buy a carpet is not my idea of a relaxing time.

I went to Marrakesh for the first time at Christmas with my friend. I could have written your post, after hearing people raving about it for years I was genuinely shocked. Our hotel was nice but that was it. Awful place, I will never return.

I was underwhelmed by the YSL gardens as well. I think people rave about them because it’s just about the only bit of greenery in the city. They were fairly scrubby and overly packed when we visited. The scenery around the Atlas mountains was amazing though. I would fly back to Marrakesh and get a taxi directly to The Capaldi for a lovely chilled break if I could persuade DH to ever return to Morocco or maybe on my own as it was perfectly safe in the hotel grounds.

How absolutely dreadful and these fucking bastards that are so cruel to animals. How horrific. 😢

I've been there 4 times & never remotely experienced what you describe. In fact, as per what you will also read in guide books, I have found the local men look out for you & if they even begin to think someone is giving unwanted attention (one teenage boy on our first trip & a group of kids on our last trip) they will shout at them & send them scurrying off.
I have only ever travelled there with a group of females & never felt more safe. When walking through the souks I find a friendly smile & "no thank you" always does the trick. (The street food markets in the medina are a different story but easily avoided....)
Yes a huge culture shock but that is the charm!
As for the food, we have always eaten the most delicious meals in the most beautiful restaurants but like any city you have good & bad. And yes you do need to be careful what you eat, no ice in drinks etc but no different than many places.
As for animal welfare, I have never witnessed animals being treated cruelly or beaten, though certainly not up to our UK standards.

Myself and my two female friends went to Marrakesh last year and we loved it.
Stayed in a Riad, in the heart if the spice market, where the service was second to none. We enjoyed a balloon ride, a hamman visit, the various palaces/historical places, the YSL garden and museum, the souks and had an excellent time.
We didn't get hassled particularly, it was easy to say no to the sellers and souk owners.
Parts of Marrakesh are really dirty and run down but I have to say every cafe/bar/restaurant we went to the toilets were always lovely - I've seen much much worse in the UK!

I’d rather sit by a pool than be called a whore and spat at. As happened in Cairo. Disgusting place.

I went and it was god awful- hated every minute. Travelled all over, some travel on my own too - it’s the only place I have ever felt unsafe!! and the bloody snakes they seemed to be everywhere (that I recognise is probably my issue tho!)

That was my friend's experience too