My bf and I are heading to Morocco for a couple of weeks in August. We'll catch the last few days of Ramadan (which should be interesting).

We don't have tons of plans yet other than we fly in and out of Casablanca and will try to do Fez or Tangiers and Marrakesh (to include a small desert trek).

Anyone have any tips? Any must-see things? Anything to be sure to skip?

i've had a pair of moroccans and a set of maroccas before, does that count???

Never been there.

And in the summer it gets really hot over there.

Really, really hot.

I'll ask my Moroccan neighbour for some tips.

Allthough the cities you mention are the good ones. So, you'll be fine.

I've not been, but I've heard it has a very very very big beach....

Hope that helps

Has been on the top of my travel wish list for some time. Enjoy.

I have never been personally BUT I have two friends who travel all.the.time. and they always seem to be going back there so it must be nice.

I was in Marrakesh for 6 days in July 2009

paradise if you ask me

probably the most "tourist oriented" of Morocco's big cities, but still with a completely muslim/north-african flavour

my only advice is to avoid the "tourist" uniform , I've always thought that the "western tourist uniform" looks silly and out of place in African/Asian countries (it's also impractical for safety reasons)

(UGH )

sadly, I should also add that there have been SEVERAL kidnappings of tourists/western activists in Morocco since the 9/11 turning point...

[Edited 6/20/13 10:23am]

ok, i went a few years ago & hated it. it was hot, dusty, smelly & dirty. constant harrassment by the locals, corruption, blatant paedophilia, dead people in the street & mistreated animals. i remember lots of spitting & throat clearing & women with moustaches. i'm being serious, it was awful!

excited said:

ok, i went a few years ago & hated it. it was hot, dusty, smelly & dirty. constant harrassment by the locals, corruption, blatant paedophilia, dead people in the street & mistreated animals. i remember lots of spitting & throat clearing & women with moustaches. i'm being serious, it was awful!

do you have mental problems or something??

I hope your post was a joke

JoeTyler said:

I was in Marrakesh for 6 days in July 2009

paradise if you ask me

probably the most "tourist oriented" of Morocco's big cities, but still with a completely muslim/north-african flavour

my only advice is to avoid the "tourist" uniform , I've always thought that the "western tourist uniform" looks silly and out of place in African/Asian countries (it's also impractical for safety reasons)

(UGH )

sadly, I should also add that there have been SEVERAL kidnappings of tourists/western activists in Morocco since the 9/11 turning point...

[Edited 6/20/13 10:23am]

I don't know that I ever look like a tourist by what I'm wearing, so that's likely not an issue for me (Pulling out maps and taking lots of pictured often can't be avoided, though ). I also know to dress modestly and keep my shoulders, cleavage and knees covered. That will require a bit of shopping (considering I'm dressing for very hot weather) but isn't a big deal to me at all.

Any favorite sites or acitvites while in Marrakesh you care to recommend?

excited said:

ok, i went a few years ago & hated it. it was hot, dusty, smelly & dirty. constant harrassment by the locals, corruption, blatant paedophilia, dead people in the street & mistreated animals. i remember lots of spitting & throat clearing & women with moustaches. i'm being serious, it was awful!

What oart of Morocco were you in? Dead people in the street? That sounds awful. What happened?

You're lucky, I'm a moroccan and i live in Nador, I can tell you everything you need to know about my country.

Shawy89 said:

You're lucky, I'm a moroccan and i live in Nador, I can tell you everything you need to know about my country.

Holy cow. Yay!

What can you tell me about traveling during Ramadan and Eid al Fitr? We will be in Morocco from August 4 through 16. I know that I should not eat or drink out in public during Ramadan and that I may find restaurants who cater to tourists to eat in during the day. And also that open times for businesses may be different (close early to get home to eat). As for Eid al Fitr, I have read differing accounts of how long businesses are closed down for the holiday. Is it just the one day? A whole week? Will I be able to travel on a train during that time?

Also - any thing you think I must see ro do while there?

Thanks for your advice.

Well I highly recommend you to visit Tanger

It's my favorite city, we're talking here about the most beautiful beach in Morocco, You can easily ask for "Malapata beach"..

I been to this place 3 times, It's heaven itself..

But seriously, If you're visiting Tanger, you gotta visit this wonderful piece of art called "Magharat Hercule":

It leads to this..

It's like when Gollum used to live in The Lord of The Rings, dark, cold, but fun.

Anyway there's other places like "Saeedya Beach" which are great If you love surfing and stuff..

We will go to Tanger for sure. That looks amazing!

CarrieMpls said:

Shawy89 said:

You're lucky, I'm a moroccan and i live in Nador, I can tell you everything you need to know about my country.

Holy cow. Yay!

What can you tell me about traveling during Ramadan and Eid al Fitr? We will be in Morocco from August 4 through 16. I know that I should not eat or drink out in public during Ramadan and that I may find restaurants who cater to tourists to eat in during the day. And also that open times for businesses may be different (close early to get home to eat). As for Eid al Fitr, I have read differing accounts of how long businesses are closed down for the holiday. Is it just the one day? A whole week? Will I be able to travel on a train during that time?

Also - any thing you think I must see ro do while there?

Thanks for your advice.

Concerning Ramadan, I know it's always painful to wait till "Al Maghrib" (usually 7 GMT) so you can eat or drink, but believe me, It's fun, especially during Night time, people go out and do fun things, You also gotta wake up in the dawn and hear "Al Adan", actually before that so you can eat and drink your meal, once Al Adan is finished, you're no longer allowed to eat.. and then go back to sleep and wake up whenever you want, and WAIT for 7 GMT.. I know you can EAT all the time but believe me, If you try to do such things you'll feel THE RAMADAN thing going on between moroccans.

Eid al Fitr is just one day, It's like celebrating the end of Ramadan, in order to welcome the usual days (having food whenever you want).

Man i gotta go now to do some biz, once i'm back I promise to tell you everything.

Shawy89 said:

CarrieMpls said:

Holy cow. Yay!

What can you tell me about traveling during Ramadan and Eid al Fitr? We will be in Morocco from August 4 through 16. I know that I should not eat or drink out in public during Ramadan and that I may find restaurants who cater to tourists to eat in during the day. And also that open times for businesses may be different (close early to get home to eat). As for Eid al Fitr, I have read differing accounts of how long businesses are closed down for the holiday. Is it just the one day? A whole week? Will I be able to travel on a train during that time?

Also - any thing you think I must see ro do while there?

Thanks for your advice.

Concerning Ramadan, I know it's always painful to wait till "Al Maghrib" (usually 7 GMT) so you can eat or drink, but believe me, It's fun, especially during Night time, people go out and do fun things, You also gotta wake up in the dawn and hear "Al Adan", actually before that so you can eat and drink your meal, once Al Adan is finished, you're no longer allowed to eat.. and then go back to sleep and wake up whenever you want, and WAIT for 7 GMT.. I know you can EAT all the time but believe me, If you try to do such things you'll feel THE RAMADAN thing going on between moroccans.

Eid al Fitr is just one day, It's like celebrating the end of Ramadan, in order to welcome the usual days (having food whenever you want).

Man i gotta go now to do some biz, once i'm back I promise to tell you everything.

Thanks so much! Really appreciate it.

Oh my god. They'd never get rid of me.

.

.

Carrie I hope you fully enjoy your trip.

.

I was under the impression women had to cover their head, some vague memory from some tv show, but apparently not, that's all I have.

[Edited 6/21/13 9:35am]

My neighbour said that she advices to go to the North Coast.

And not go the the cities, because it's too hot.


And get yourself a nice jallaba. However, be careful not to pay the tourist price.

Sahwny89's posts make me all ... I love that we have orgers from around the world chiming in!!

dJJ said:

CarrieMpls said:

excited said:

ok, i went a few years ago & hated it. it was hot, dusty, smelly & dirty. constant harrassment by the locals, corruption, blatant paedophilia, dead people in the street & mistreated animals. i remember lots of spitting & throat clearing & women with moustaches. i'm being serious, it was awful!

What oart of Morocco were you in? Dead people in the street? That sounds awful. What happened?

oh god, i can hardly think where to start with this place ..

i came away with some interesting memories, of course they weren't all negative. it's a facinating place with some great sights & sounds but the locals make no bones about trying to fleece the tourists. the bottom line is that visitors are cash cows, nothing more & nothing less.!. ..

& shawy89, you seem total darling so i feel kinda bad for slating morocco, but i think even you might identify with what i describe?

i work with an amazing moroccan lady, love her to death!

she holds her head & rolls her eyes when i tell her about my experiences in morocco, says this is why she lives in the UK. (she waxes her tache btw)

so i travelled with my husband & kids, we spent 2 weeks travelling from agadir stopping at marrakech, casablanca. supposed to have stayed in fes but by that time we'd had enough & so shot straight through tangiers for a day, then gibraltar.

the dead body drama was in agadir which was a complete dump. i found an old man dead in the street. people just walked past him... he hadn't just died, he was cold & this is a hot country!

an ambulance arrived, certified him dead & then with no explanation drove off & left him on the pavement!

we stayed with him & as more tourists gathered an undertaker arrived to scoop him up. god knows what happened to the poor old fella!

in marrakech we couldn't move for beggers, the souks were a nightmare with serious harassment from traders, their behaviour bordered on assault.

casablanca was a grothole & stunk of fish, one shopkeeper wouldn't let us out of his shop unless we bought something! we told him to fuck off & he called the police! when the police arrived they threatened to arrest us unless we paid a 'fine'.

we drove straight past fes!.. onto tangiers where there was a venue with bellydancing. my husband was so excited until he saw the dancers.. they were as old as his nan & with moustaches to boot.

all this without mentioning the constant letching at my 13yr daughter & mangy old camels we had a ride on & dead goats on the beach.

i've been to other arab countries & absolutely don't plan to visit any more. that said, i really hope your experience is good. at least the weather will be amazing!

Has KoolEaze seen this thread yet? He is extremely worldly. I bet he's been or lived there.

KingBAD said:

i've had a pair of moroccans and a set of maroccas before, does that count???

[Edited 7/12/13 11:17am]