Is Morocco safe?

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

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?

Why would you want to go somewhere where you're being hassled all the time?

I hated Morocco - I went to Tangier & Marrakesh. I liked the markets but that was it. I got harassed to high heaven, women chucked fruit at me & the men just constantly hissing & touching me. Food was awful. Mither just walking down the street. Also, the poor drugged-up monkeys in the street for the tourists to have photos with :(

I didn’t like Agadir, it felt a bit sex touristy. But down in that southern part of Morocco there are great things to do. I’d use Taroudant in the Souss Valley as a base. It’s sometimes called a mini Marrakesh, smaller obviously, and not quite as intense. You’re in reach of the coast, mountains, oases. Much to recommend.

Im going back to marrakech in October with our grown up DC and partners - cant wait! Ive been to marrakech 4 times and fes once - love Morocco. Ive never been harassed to the point of getting angry or having things thrown - i can only imagine people are being rude or uptight to get this response from locals. Treat them with respect, be friendly! Women do need to dress appropriately for a muslim country so perhaps some are being harrassed because of the way they are dressed?

The treatment of animals in Morocco is awful I wouldn’t go.
The hassle, the stalking, the sexism, the pushiness, the filth…
No idea why anyone would go.
There are plenty of other places to go op!

Women do need to dress appropriately for a muslim country so perhaps some are being harrassed because of the way they are dressed?

Victim blaming? How patronising.

I've been to Marrakech quite a few times as a solo female traveller. I cover up completely but still get bothered by men unless I'm with a guide / local. With a guide I may still get bothered by sellers etc but it's good humoured. Without a guide, it can quickly become quite threatening and intimidating. The medina is particularly bad for this. One of the locals I know who grew up in the medina and still lives and works there says that some of the not-so-nice locals track tourists, especially lone women, through the medina calling to their 'counterparts' to let them know that there's basically new meat coming through. You can be quite vulnerable. If you're in a group or travelling with a man, you may never be aware but as a lone woman, it pays to keep your wits about you. Sad but true.

We went to Marrakech, Merzouga for the Sahara and then up to the Atlas mountains. Loved it, in fact we were very surprised at the lack of hassle in the souks and main square, they've obviously really cracked down on it in recent years. I went to Tangir many, many years ago and that was constant hassle.

@bilbodog i was dressed completely normally - wasn’t covered from head to toe of course but certainly didn’t walk round with my titties/arse out. I dressed appropriately in western style clothing. I was 20 & found it utterly intimidating.

Also, when I politely declined to have my photo taken with a drugged up monkey that was wearing a shirt with its feet squashed into a pair of sandals, the man slapped my arse!

Essaouira is a dream!

But I love Morocco and have visited many parts of it from the north to the south. There is so much character in the country. Depending on time, for a first visit I would dual centre with a stay in Essaouira (don't miss the tree-climbing goats and the fabulous argon producing womens collectives), with Marrakesh. If you are as sensible as you would be in the UK (so maybe leave the diamond collection in the safe if you intend to tramp around the back alleys!) then there is nothing much to worry about. In many visits I once got "pickpocketed" - I had foolishly left my brand new, hardly used, argon oil lip balm from the Body Shop in the front pocket of my bag. The Body Shop thought is was so funny that that was what was stolen in the country that produces the best going, they replaced it for free!

@StarDolphins sorry you felt like this - unfortunately it was probably your age. Im much older than you, frumpy, and travelling with my DH - so i think thatvdoes help in countries like this. Ive also worked in the middle east and travelled to india and egypt so probably more used to this type of place. I also like haggling for rugs!

In my experience I think Morocco is often mistaken with being in the Middle East. I don't know why.

I've been going to Morocco for twenty years. I've travelled all along the west coast and it is marvellous. Food, culture, beaches, shopping. I have never been during our summer months though, it's too hot for me. It is a perfect temperature from October to March.