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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Is Morocco safe?

37 replies

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 16/09/2018 12:46

Trying to find a holiday that makes everyone happy... I’d like to go somewhere I’ve never been rather than the usual villa in Greece we tend to do.

I text my family WhatsApp suggesting Morocco and was met with horror.

Would you go?

OP posts:

donquixotedelamancha · 16/09/2018 12:51

I text my family WhatsApp suggesting Morocco and was met with horror.

Why?

Morocco is fantastic. We stayed in a traditional hotel in the poorer part of Marrakech. We wandered around the old town center every day.

The main hassles are:

Pushy salesmen in the markets.
Street performers who see tourists as an easy mark.
Con artists who try to befriend you or act as guides (never accept directions you have not asked for, ask in a shop).
Pickpockets (as any other tourist city).

The first two are really only an issue around the main touristy squares, but can be pretty grating.

khaleesi71 · 16/09/2018 12:53

Went last year and can't wait to go again - beautiful country and safe. Many friends go several times a year. However if their initial response is horror I'd leave it and best stick to Brit bound Med holidays. So dull though and there has been civil unrest and wildfires in Greece this year...

AmIUnderstandingThisCorrectly · 16/09/2018 12:57

Everywhere is safe, until something happens. You take a risk wherever you go. The real question is, how much of a risk do I feel comfortable taking?

JeffJarrett · 16/09/2018 13:03

I went to Agadir last year and the hotel and people were wonderful. Food was amazing and whilst it was hot (40 degrees!!) it was misty so didn't feel it at all.

Loads of people were horrified too when I told them and said I'd be hassled being blonde, but I had no problems at all and would absolutely go back.

donquixotedelamancha · 16/09/2018 13:12

Everywhere is safe, until something happens. You take a risk wherever you go. The real question is, how much of a risk do I feel comfortable taking?

But why would Morocco represent a significant risk compared to other destinations?

Original poster

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 16/09/2018 13:16

We’ve been other places, but this is a Trip also with siblings and parents. So ranging from 5 to 65, it was met with horror as they believe it to unsafe and I didn’t think it was, so just gushing opinion to screenshot

OP posts:

Aridane · 16/09/2018 13:19

Going in a couple of weeks!

CaMePlaitPas · 16/09/2018 13:19

I absolutely would go to Morocco.

WickedGoodDoge · 16/09/2018 13:23

I had a similar thread here a few years ago when PIL spent months scaring the living daylights out of DD by saying how unsafe Morocco was and how we would have to hold her hand the whole time in case “something bad happens to her”, blah, blah, blah.

Most people here told me they were nuts but a few said they would never go back because of being hassled (don’t make eye contact and ignore).

We went. We had a great time. We had such a great time we went back 8 months later.

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 16/09/2018 14:05

Pop over to the best and worst holidays thread. Morocco pops up as worst several times.

I don’t like going places where it’s routine to harass tourists in the street, follow them around, etc. Maybe you don’t mind it but I don’t imagine it would be particularly nice for a 5yo. There must be so many other options.

Original poster

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 16/09/2018 14:59

Essentially, we want a week / ten days, sunny (but not Dubai summer hot), pool, somewhere we’ve never been. We’re going to Croatia at the beginning of Summer and Florida later in the year, so just wanted something totally different. My parents and siblings coming sort of suggest Villa as the easiest option, but I don’t want the kids to be bored?

OP posts:

prettygreywalls · 16/09/2018 16:27

I've been twice , once on my own a couple of years ago and last November / December , it's lovely , less hassle than some places as the tourist police work to prevent problems but obviously the markets which are a huge colourful attraction are for selling so they will haggle with you , it was warm but not hot around 15-20 degrees in Feb and December which was nice and pleasant to be outside in t shirt and shorts , the summer can get very hot .
I've only been to Marrakesh so can't comment on other areas

prettygreywalls · 16/09/2018 16:29

Sorry should have said I was there on my own first visit 4 years ago and went with my partner last December

Morethanthisprovincallife · 17/09/2018 21:51

I've been a few times and felt safe (always be safe and take precautions though) but.. I must admit i I'm nervous about the amount of isis members being drawn from Morocco. Its such a laid back place but something is going on there.

I'd probably go back, I'd like too but I'd be more wary.

sadnessin · 17/09/2018 21:54

I went this year and it was amazing. Although admittedly we mainly stayed in our villa at the mandarin oriental 😻.

Just ventured out one day but found everyone respectful. Was an amazing, relaxing trip.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 17/09/2018 22:03

I love it and have been to Marrakech a few times. I've always felt safe enough. Having said that, when I dragged my parents over, they were a bit nervous.

This Riad is amazing - I went with a group of 7 women and we booked the whole place; the concierge helped us with everything, the food was wonderful and it was a total refuge in the centre of the city. French owners and so stylish. riadsmorocco.com/riad-marrakech/azzouna-13/

SJane45S · 20/09/2018 09:27

I 'v e heard from a number of parents in the last couple of years that they wouldn't go to a Muslim country right now - the reality is that it depends on the country & you're not 100% safe anywhere these days! As a Westerner, I felt very safe in Morocco - the only real danger I felt was my DD getting hit by a moped in Marrakech 's old town. But like Khaleesi71, if going there is going to be a bit of a worry for your family then you're probably better off somewhere else. We went with my parents, my Dad & DH & hated it -outside of Marrakech there's some wonderful landscapes but they loathed the madness & chaos & hassle of Marrakech. I liked it a lot but found it a bit hardgoing with a small DD who got freaked out by the snakes, monkeys on chains & her Dad loosing his rag with men stalking us (wannabe tour guides). Don't know where you're looking at but if it's Marrakech then maybe a night in a Riad & then the rest of the time at a resort on the outskirts? We had 5 nights at the Eden Andalou (AI resort with waterpark) after doing the Riad bit & the whole family (bar me 100% as I get bored & grumpy after a few days of flopping around on loungers & stuff your face buffets) had a blast.

BerkInBag · 20/09/2018 09:37

Have a look at Essaouira - I'm going there next week. It's gorgeous.

BabyBreaks · 20/09/2018 14:45

I believe you can't go wrong by staying in Marrakesh in a family friendly hotel like the Kenzi Menara Palace. I would also look at the villa option on OneFineStay and see whether they can organise a cook for lunch or dinner. Their villas are just amazing!

BarbaraofSevillle · 21/09/2018 05:42

Being pestered by hawkers and seeing monkeys etc chained up would ruin a holiday for me, so while I'm not automatically dismissive of Morocco, stories like that do put me off.

Roystonv · 21/09/2018 05:58

Revisited Marrakech last November with adult dd, stayed on the outskirts (Arabian Courtyard hotel - reasonable and good) but travelled in to centre using hotel car and hired a guide one day. Fascinating city with beautiful places to visit, not hassled at all in an unpleasant way but yes stallholders will try and attract your attention as you walk by, just say no thank you and walk on by. Did not feel on edge or scared at any time.

chatwoo · 21/09/2018 09:45

if you are looking for resorts, Agadir has been popular for a very long time, I wouldn't think that would be a problem. I've only been to the inland cities + Casablanca, and apparently Essaouira is supposed to be pretty nice.

SJane45S · 21/09/2018 11:13

Roystonv - possibly you had less hassle as you had a guide (which would be the sensible thing to do & we didn't). We got lost a few times and had to ask for directions which did result in us being followed by men trying to appoint themselves as our tour guide. One guy followed us for about 1/2 an hour despite repeatedly being told 'thank you but no', demanded money at the end, started shouting at us and then disappeared prompto when threatened with the police. We started asking stallholders after that which worked much better!

Roystonv · 21/09/2018 20:58

Hi again, we went in our own too but just happy to wander so no real need for help. Would not/could not have seen all we saw without guide and car.

harvestwheat · 03/10/2018 21:53

Morocco could be 1. Resort hotel never leave hotel and all inclusive
Or
More authentic stay in a Riad in Marrakech

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