Morrocco with 20 year old and 16 year old DDs - advice for first time visitors!

[newnamenellie]

We're looking to plan our summer holiday and we're considering Morocco.

Having never been before, I know very little so would welcome any advice about location, dos and don'ts etc... We're looking at end of June/early July before the schools break up but after DD2 has finished her GCSEs.

What could we expect with two tall blonde European-looking daughters in tow? Is it likely they'll be hassled much?

My advice - don’t do it. I have traveled all over the world, often alone. Morocco was one of the two places I felt unsafe, constant harassment, literal groping in the street. I dressed modestly, yet the men have a poor view of women. I would not subject my teenage/young daughters to that.

Agree with above PP - and I’m a brunette.

Nope. Been once with my BF at the time. Fine in the resort but we did an organised trip (by the hotel) to the souk and it was awful! I was covered from my shoulders down, not even showing an ankle, waking with my BF and still got called (god knows what as it want in English). We witnessed mother with two daughters walking around in shorts and tank tops (their mistake for not dressing appropriately) and they were whistled at, spat at, catcalled - you name it. Awful awful experience. Not to mention all hustlers on the street who will try to put an animal
on your without consent and if you want them to take it off they will demand payment, women doing henna trying to grab your hand… just no.

We went as a family when DS was 12ish and loved it. Marrakech for a few days, then we did a fantastic tour out to the Merzouga desert and then went to Imlil in the Atlas mountains for a few days. We didn't get hassled at all and I was very surprised as I hated it in Egypt.

We stayed in a stunning French owned Riad in Marrakech called Riad Yasmine and did the tour with Merzouga journeys. Limoni is a very pretty restaurant near the riad that we ate at one evening.

My 'don't' would be don't eat at the Mcdonalds in Jemaa el-Fnaa square. We'd eaten delicious Moroccan food for a week and went there for DS and i got food poisoning. Also avoid the roof top places around the square as they are really rude there and then demand a tip. Loads of other great places to eat though, have a look on Tripadvisor. Visit the Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs and Koutoubia.

I'm glad I asked! I think this is why I've previously disregarded it as an option. Thanks all, good advice 😊

i have been with blond teens twice and was fine. One said teen did a school trip and they had time alone in Marrakesh aged 14 in small unsupervised groups and was fine too, along with walking and village trips. It will however be horribly hot then.

Don’t do it. As a blonde mid 30s, very modestly dressed, I was spat on, hissed at, groped and in one restaurant, refused an alcoholic drink because it “wasn’t appropriate for women”. I am VERY capable of standing up for myself but it was too much for even me. DH had to wade in a couple of times to get them to stop. Awful.

That was my thought exactly. Just don’t do it. There are many other places to go.

I was there as a 20yr old. Long blonde hair etc. I remember it being pretty awful. In one market had I to run from a man following me then he caught up and pulled a few of my hairs out. Ran off holding them in the air gleefully. Awful. Other stuff but that incident stands out. I don’t suppose it changed for the better in 30yrs.

Dress appropriately.

Now is not the time for girls/ young women to say fuck the patriarchy. They cannot wear what they want there without consequences.

They think they are saying fuck the patriarchy but in actual fact wearing highly revealling and sexualised clothing only plays into their hands.

Over here you see skirts so shorts they look like belts - and you can see their knickers.

Shorts / hotpants not much longer than knickers and showing arse hanging out beneath it.

It might be just barely acceptable here but not there. Ditto cleavage showing.

Make sure modest dress is worn and stay away from Marrakech which is a hell hole and I do not understand the hype.

Coastal towns such as essaouira are more laid back.

The comments about the very different attitudes to women are very interesting.

I was there for a day (cruise stop) and was fine, no hassle, but I’m a middle aged woman with a 6’1 husband plus had a local guide/driver. I would certainly go back without a guide but from experience traveling more generally you need fairly thick skin and willing to ignore unwanted comments and advances, if your DD’s are sensitive and not ok with brushing it off then they somewherewith a different culture. That said you can get hassled in southern Europe too, just less likely these days

Agree, bad idea.

It’s the only place I’ve ever felt unsafe. I was continuously harassed, men would literally come up and stroke my hair! I couldn’t walk down the road without being shouted at. Horrible

Ps I wore linen wide legged trousers, vest top and loose long sleeve shirt over, wide brimmed hat and had a scarf to enter one specific place - as advised by our tour manager on the ship. They advised both men and women to cover knees and shoulders as a minimum. We ate in a local house etc so you need to be respectful of their culture

Don’t do it. I thought it was dirty, all of my group got really bad food poisoning in a supposedly 5* hotel pretty much ruining our break. I also didn’t find the people very friendly/nice.

I'm a brunette but very white and have visited Tangiers, Fez and Marrakech and never been hassled in a sexual way. The vendors hassle you to buy things and you may also get hassled by people wanting to be your "guide" but it's mostly good natured and they eventually go away when they realise you're not giving them any money.

I went to Marrakech alone with my DD who was18 at the time, albeit she is half Egyptian and leans very towards that side of her heritage in terms of looks. She does however dress like a typical UK teen girl.
She got a couple of admiring glances, but no hassle or harassment. In fact the only hassle we got was a little in the souks and main square to buy stuff, but it is no where near as intense as Egypt.
We had a fantastic time exploring Marrakech and a trip out into the Atlas Mountains which was amazing.

Good points: We have been a lot and to many places. agadir is bland but nice beach and little hassle, Essaoria is lovely and lots of french etc live there, its the only place I would return to.
Bad points: 2 blond daughters !! local lads will have a field day, we went to Fes and Tangier and the hassle was horrific, blonde friend was groped, spat on , cat called etc and was so bad she stayed in hotel for 2 days. had to bribe local police in tangier a few quid to escort us to train station and they beat off the local lads it was relentless.

DD (tall, blonde, 21) and me (fat, brunette, middle aged) had a great holiday based in Marrakech last December. We were not hasselled at all. Whether she'd have hasselled without me as chaperone who knows.

We went to the Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert, and Essaouira (beach resort), and just wandered around Marrakech.

Flights were cheap, the riads were cheap. Trip to the Sahara was the only expensive element of the trip.

I have been several times. Once with my daughter who was 16.

she’s blond I am brunette.

i am disabled and use a wheelchair. The locals were very kind to me and helped me in several places get my wheelchair over a curb.

however I am old and (clearly) visibly disabled.

the shopkeepers and street sellers will talk to you and try to strike up conversations with you - I first came across this is Egypt and didn’t like it much but you do get used to it and they’re trying to sell stuff.

myself and a friend go there regularly - she loves the light in Essaouria and paints a lot there. Lots of artists there.

we’re vaguely planning to go for a month next January.

no food poisoning but I am vegan and don’t eat meat.

I went to Marrakesh with friends in our late 20s/ early 30s, we dressed modestly when we went to the markets and had no issues other than not falling for any sales pitches or people trying to get us into their shop or restaurant when we just wanted to mooch. Oh and avoiding any of the people with animals like monkeys who want you to ask for a photo.

We had a fabulous time in our riad. We really enjoyed the food at all the restaurants and street stalls we went to. Did a few touristy things like visiting the gardens. The evenings in the market square area were good, nice to be out and about without everyone being drunk, liked watching people playing games like swinging a hoop to catch a coke bottle.

I went there with my very beautiful 20yo dd. We dressed respectfully and didn't experience any hassle at all. Yes, they try to sell you stuff, but we didn't have any problems. No food poisoning either, but we don't eat meat, so that might have helped.

I went a couple of years ago as I wanted to experience the different culture. The constant begging by so many people, including very young girls and an old man in a mobility scooter at a traffic light, was very unsettling.
No sexual harassment directed at me though, because I was 70: I absolutely wouldn’t go if I was any age under 60. Absolute animals some of them.

Nope don’t go would be my advice,we stayed in a “posh” hotel but I have never been so ill in my entire life!everyone I speak to who has been to Morocco have also gotten ill!

Also they never hassled me but they did my husband,he works out,they were touching him/feeling him up,it was all very strange.