Category: Morocco Top List Travel
Source: https://top-list.co/top-things-to-know-before-traveling-to-morocco-v4331.html
- Dress conservatively
- Learn some French and Arabic
- Beware of those that want to show you around or want to be your ‘friend’
- Learn how to haggle
- Get lost
- Non-Muslims cannot enter mosques
- Cash is king in Morocco and they use Dhirams
- Bring your own loo roll
- Understand the distances between locations
- Trains in Morocco are Reliable and Affordable
Dress conservatively
Because Islam is widely practiced in Morocco, where over 99 percent of the population is Muslim, typical scenes will feature modestly dressed ladies (and men). Women commonly wear a full burqa or a hijab (scarf) on their heads from head to toe. Although you are not required to dress like the locals do, they are aware that many visitors are not Muslim, so I wouldn’t rush to pack your short dresses and cleavage-baring tops.
If you don’t want a lot of unwanted attention, marriage proposals, groping, and male harassment, don’t do it. Anyone interested? No? That’s OK. Wear long dresses, jumpsuits, trousers, and blouses to keep your arms and legs covered. Also, don’t forget your secret weapon: a pashmina! This is a great piece to wear to hide your shoulders.
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Learn some French and Arabic
Are you fluent in French? Although Arabic is the official language of Morocco, French is widely spoken, particularly in cities such as Marrakesh. When it comes to bartering, asking for directions, and other things like calling a taxi, speaking French or Arabic might truly open doors for you.
Morocco has a diverse population, but the two official languages are Modern Standard Arabic and Amazigh (Berber). The majority of Moroccans speak French as their second language. Because English is not as widely spoken as French, you may find it difficult to converse at times.
The larger communication difficulty for us was Moroccans’ widespread belief that visitors would comprehend French. That meant that a lot of people would start chatting to us in French quickly as we stared at them blankly. And they seemed to assume that by not replying, we were being impolite.
However, written French and English both utilize the same characters. So, even if you can’t pronounce your hotel or riad name correctly, you can display it to your taxi driver on your phone and they’ll be able to figure out where you’re trying to go. Nonverbal queues, of course, help a lot.
The Google Translator app can also be really useful. There is a list some useful French/Arabic phrases below.
- Hello = f: Bonjour/a: Samaal alikum
- Thank you = f: Merci/a: Shukran
- How much is this? = f: Combien/ a: Kam althaman
- Where is? = f: ou est /a: ‘ayn hu
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Beware of those that want to show you around or want to be your ‘friend’
You’re new to town and want to see everything, so who better to take you around than a local who knows his stuff?! So, think about it before you leap in. Unofficial ‘tour guides’ can be found all across Morocco. They could be waiting for you in a restaurant, around the corner in the souk, or on the street. Don’t believe everything you hear; if something sounds too good to be true, it generally is.
These people are only for your money or worse, your valuables. Always confirm that your riad has arranged for a tour guide and that they are licensed tour guides. Before you agree, ask to see their license, do some research on the firm, and negotiate a fee knowing exactly what you’ll be seeing on the tour.
Don’t believe any of the nonsense about “pay what you want” or “it’s free for you.” It’s almost certainly a fraud if they approached you on the street. To generate business, no reputable company sends out scouts on the street.
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Learn how to haggle
Most pricing can be bargained unless the store is clearly labeled as a fixed-price retailer. Not just for souk items; taxi costs, riads, dinners, tour prices, and the lovely leather goods on display may all be negotiated. People treat you as though you’ve just stepped off a plane and are a bumbling tourist who’s a walking ATM. Prove them incorrect, then! It’s unfortunate, but it’s the norm in Morocco, and if you don’t haggle, you could find up spending 10 times the normal price.
You shouldn’t feel guilty about haggling; it’s expected, and it can be a lot of fun. Knowing that you have nothing to lose by not purchasing the item is the art of haggling. Maintaining your cool. Having a price limit in your mind and not exceeding it. If they refuse to negotiate, go away and wait for them to counter with a reasonable price. If you don’t receive the price you desire, remember that there are other stalls selling the same thing.
Photo for Illustration, https://www.feelmorocco.travel
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Get lost
It’s unavoidable that you will get lost in Morocco at some point. Is it any wonder that the Fes medina has almost 9,000 streets? It’s a maze within a maze. Even with Google Maps, you might not be able to locate your way because not all of the streets are included!
However, there will always be individuals willing to assist. The best advice is to take a screenshot of a site you want to visit or the address of your riad in Arabic on your phone, or even better, grab a map. People that volunteer to drive you around should be avoided. Trust your gut feelings. If you feel like you’re being led around in circles, you probably are. Presumably, the finest thing you can do is Accept getting lost! You never know what you’ll find in the souks, and it could lead you to the most amazing place you’ve ever seen.
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Non-Muslims cannot enter mosques
How will they know? Excellent question. People who do not observe Islam, however, are not permitted to enter Moroccan mosques. They couldn’t, anyway, in Marrakesh and Fes.
However, visiting the madrassas (learning centers) that may be found in the old portions of the cities is a terrific option. They have such intricate architecture that it will take your breath away!
While many mosques across the world allow non-Muslims to visit at least a portion of their interior, most are closed to visitors in Morocco. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is one of the few exceptions to the rule. You can either roam around the courtyard or pay for an interior tour.
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Cash is king in Morocco and they use Dhirams
Morocco is a closed currency country where Moroccan Dirhams (MAD) are used, and cash is king, so make sure you have plenty in your wallet!
Make it a practice to exchange large notes you get at the ATM. Particularly while going to the markets or hailing a taxi. Many people will be unable to exchange huge bills, which can be problematic if you are in a hurry.
- Tips: Another tip on ATMs; they can be a little hit and miss and few and far between! They will charge a withdrawal fee, so it may be worth getting out the maximum withdrawal which is around 2000 MAD (£200) to save losing more money than you need to.
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Bring your own loo roll
Friends, bring your own toilet paper! Paper is commonly used in the West, but not so much in Morocco and the Middle East. Although you will (hopefully) find a Westernized toilet with paper in your riad, Moroccan public restrooms are somewhat different.
Eastern toilets are often latrines (holes in the ground with two footholds) where you must squat. The villagers only clean up after themselves with water.This may appear to be a terrifying idea, but it is one that you must overcome. Bringing your own toilet paper will provide you with some Western comfort in these situations.
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Understand the distances between locations
Morocco is a large country, and the distances between major tourist destinations should not be underestimated. For example, getting from Marrakesh to Chefchaouen is not easy. That route could take anything from 8 to 9 hours.
The easiest way to plan your itinerary is to look at how many days you have and then realistically design your route, removing anything you won’t have time for.
A typical Moroccan itinerary includes landing in Casablanca, traveling to Rabat, Fes, Chefchaouen, and returning, and then taking the nighttime train to Marrakesh. After that, it’s off to the Sahara desert.
- Tips: A popular way to get around Morocco is the CTM bus or the trains system (ONCF). Planning your route as much as you can beforehand, will mean that you don’t get disappointed or overwhelmed.
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Trains in Morocco are Reliable and Affordable
Be cautiously pessimistic after seeing various countries where rail service is overloaded, prohibitively expensive, or entirely unreliable (ask us about the train we took in India that was 15 hours late). However, Many people discovered that trains in Morocco operate on time and are not only comfortable but also extremely inexpensive.
A first-class train ticket from Casablanca to Fes costs only 195 Dhs ($20 USD) per person. In a 6-person cabin with plenty of legroom and storage space, you’ll relax in a wide, comfy seat. You can save money by flying second class, but you will not be assigned a seat and it may be very congested.
The train station frequently has a line at the ticket counter, however they also have automated ticket machines in a variety of languages, so you don’t have to wait. Even so, it’s important to arrive at the station early. It provides you a little more time to buy your ticket and find a seat.
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