Please tell me about Marrakesh!

[Thingsthatgo]

We are going to Marrakesh in October. We have been given the holiday as a birthday gift from family and I am so excited! What do I need to know? (I am not widely travelled!).
Do I need to cover up? And my 12 year old DD? I think I need some jabs, and I need to sort insurance.
What else? DC’s passports run out in March, is that ok? Gives us a clear 3 months.
Tell me all the things that I might not have thought about!!

Would never go back there. Women and girls are treated like shit, no matter how much you ‘cover up’.
Like most Muslim majority countries, it’s foul.

We went last year and loved it. We had no hassle in the main square or elsewhere, perhaps because we speak French and have travelled extensively in Asia so I have a mega dismissive face as I walk away saying “non, merci”.

We did day trips to the Atlas Mountains and to Essaouria, with companies we found on Trip Advisor. We booked the night before for a fraction of what others who prepaid did. We enjoyed the various museums we went to, and we loved the 1920s Bacha coffee house.

Our best meal was at Pepe Nero but we ate a lot of very good food. I didn’t get any vaccines before going but I also avoid touching any animals as I am terrified of getting rabies. I wore my usual clothes but all were long sleeved and nothing above the knee.

We bought a bottle of gin in the airport in the UK and bought tonic there to have a nice aperitif before dinner. We met a lot of very kind and charming locals. We changed our money (UK Sterling and US dollars) at an exchange company in the main square and got reasonable rates. I think we used La Place, but the one at Hotel Ali gets better reviews.

Definitely try a Hamman - there are several well reviewed ones, which tend to be more expensive. I went twice as the massages were excellent. I wish I had done a balloon ride now! It really does feel exotic and I hope you have a great holiday.

How many Muslim majority countries have you been to, to make such a sweeping judgement?

I've been to many, and the hospitality is amazing compared to anywhere that I've been to in Europe

My friend got the train around the country unaccompanied- she is partially-sighted and said the trains were really good too.

Okay if you're happy to witness animal cruelty