Discussion
Just at the end of our first day here. Is it too early to decide it's an utter s
thole?
I've had numerous people try to scam me, a guy tell me to fk off and that he will not speak to woman in the street (my girlfriend told him we didnt need his help) after arguing with us about whether or not a road was closed - he was very aggressive and followed us for ages -, a guy spit at me and call me a for not paying him 200 dirham for a tour I didn't want, his friend start pushing me about and refuse to let me leave that very nearly got violent, several people try to guide me places and then get angry I won't pay them even after i told them no and walked away. The city is dirty and smelly and because it is Ramadan there is basically no cafes or anywhere to sit. You can't stop for thirty seconds to check your map without being accosted. We are staying in a lovely little riad but they won't give us a key to the front door, so we effectively have a midnight curfew. Animals abused in the street by merchants.
Rant over. Is it just learning how to deal with it? We are not entitled British tourists and like trying new local things and have been to other poor or different places like Albania and Istanbul but neither were as bad as Marrakech - frankly its too exhausting.
We are going on a cookery class outside the city at the foot of the mountains on sunday and might go to the desert or to the clay cities another day, but if it continues like this ill be bloody glad to get home!
thole?I've had numerous people try to scam me, a guy tell me to f
k off and that he will not speak to woman in the street (my girlfriend told him we didnt need his help) after arguing with us about whether or not a road was closed - he was very aggressive and followed us for ages -, a guy spit at me and call me a for not paying him 200 dirham for a tour I didn't want, his friend start pushing me about and refuse to let me leave that very nearly got violent, several people try to guide me places and then get angry I won't pay them even after i told them no and walked away. The city is dirty and smelly and because it is Ramadan there is basically no cafes or anywhere to sit. You can't stop for thirty seconds to check your map without being accosted. We are staying in a lovely little riad but they won't give us a key to the front door, so we effectively have a midnight curfew. Animals abused in the street by merchants. Rant over. Is it just learning how to deal with it? We are not entitled British tourists and like trying new local things and have been to other poor or different places like Albania and Istanbul but neither were as bad as Marrakech - frankly its too exhausting.
We are going on a cookery class outside the city at the foot of the mountains on sunday and might go to the desert or to the clay cities another day, but if it continues like this ill be bloody glad to get home!
I loved Marrakech - we stayed near Koutoubia in the Medina for a week. Yes it can be tiring and you do have to be on your guard at times, but overall being firm and looking confident pays huge dividends.
Even after getting lost in the Souk for 2 hours we didn't ask anyone for help, just carried on. The police and soldiers are very helpful. It's useful to speak a little Arabic and some French.
SD.
Even after getting lost in the Souk for 2 hours we didn't ask anyone for help, just carried on. The police and soldiers are very helpful. It's useful to speak a little Arabic and some French.
SD.
Integroo said:
Just at the end of our first day here. Is it too early to decide it's an utter sthole?
I've had numerous people try to scam me, a guy tell me to fk off and that he will not speak to woman in the street (my girlfriend told him we didnt need his help) after arguing with us about whether or not a road was closed - he was very aggressive and followed us for ages -, a guy spit at me and call me a for not paying him 200 dirham for a tour I didn't want, his friend start pushing me about and refuse to let me leave that very nearly got violent, several people try to guide me places and then get angry I won't pay them even after i told them no and walked away. The city is dirty and smelly and because it is Ramadan there is basically no cafes or anywhere to sit. You can't stop for thirty seconds to check your map without being accosted. We are staying in a lovely little riad but they won't give us a key to the front door, so we effectively have a midnight curfew. Animals abused in the street by merchants.
Rant over. Is it just learning how to deal with it? We are not entitled British tourists and like trying new local things and have been to other poor or different places like Albania and Istanbul but neither were as bad as Marrakech - frankly its too exhausting.
We are going on a cookery class outside the city at the foot of the mountains on sunday and might go to the desert or to the clay cities another day, but if it continues like this ill be bloody glad to get home!
..... you are correct, it is a sthole?I've had numerous people try to scam me, a guy tell me to f
k off and that he will not speak to woman in the street (my girlfriend told him we didnt need his help) after arguing with us about whether or not a road was closed - he was very aggressive and followed us for ages -, a guy spit at me and call me a for not paying him 200 dirham for a tour I didn't want, his friend start pushing me about and refuse to let me leave that very nearly got violent, several people try to guide me places and then get angry I won't pay them even after i told them no and walked away. The city is dirty and smelly and because it is Ramadan there is basically no cafes or anywhere to sit. You can't stop for thirty seconds to check your map without being accosted. We are staying in a lovely little riad but they won't give us a key to the front door, so we effectively have a midnight curfew. Animals abused in the street by merchants. Rant over. Is it just learning how to deal with it? We are not entitled British tourists and like trying new local things and have been to other poor or different places like Albania and Istanbul but neither were as bad as Marrakech - frankly its too exhausting.
We are going on a cookery class outside the city at the foot of the mountains on sunday and might go to the desert or to the clay cities another day, but if it continues like this ill be bloody glad to get home!
thole, somewhere I have been, and would never go back!! They are all conmen, all on the make, and the place is disgusting, even if you do want your teeth extracting in the square! It makes Albania seem like a luxury destination, ..... I have been to both! On the other hand, a mile or so down the road, you will find the new town, and the contrast could not be greater. Four and five star hotels, nice restaurants, even a Mcdonalds should you feel inclined! You feel as though you have arrived in an exclusive part of Paris, with BMW's, Mercedes etc parked in the street, and when I did my homework, it would have been cheaper to have stayed in a five star hotel, rather than the dosshole termed a Riad. Enjoy your stay!
HTH.
We went for a few days before Ramadan, and a few days during. It noticeably changes, and you have to bear in mind people are going to be ratty not eating or drinking.
The big cafes and restaurants we found would remain open and willing to serve. We were careful drinking water, eating snacks in the open in the non touristy bits. But generally, we had no issues at all. We had a really good time. It was nice to get out the city though from to escape the heat if nothing else.
The big cafes and restaurants we found would remain open and willing to serve. We were careful drinking water, eating snacks in the open in the non touristy bits. But generally, we had no issues at all. We had a really good time. It was nice to get out the city though from to escape the heat if nothing else.
In 2014 I went on a motorcycle trip to the Sahara & came back via Marrakesh. I am never going back. I travelled all the way through Spain then ferry to UK with the most crippling Diarrhoea, including some full 48 hour stops in Hotels to regain some strength to ride the bike.
It took about a month to recover, one of my travelling companions was the same, but his didn’t start until on the ferry.
It took about a month to recover, one of my travelling companions was the same, but his didn’t start until on the ferry.
Integroo said:
It turns out the best way to experience Marrakesh is to go to the places the angry locals can't afford. We are in a very pleasant roof garden this morning, though it is just about as expensive as London!
.....even the flies stay away from that part, and just annoy the locals!!Was there 10 years ago, I've travelled extensively and it's the only place I've had bad experiences.
1) Approached by menacing young man demanding money.
2) Walking around slightly off touristy bit and told not to go further as it was where the locals lived.
3) The stuff for sale in the market and around the main square was expensive, the sales persons were only interested in taking your money.
Of course not everything was bad but it just left me with no desire to return.
1) Approached by menacing young man demanding money.
2) Walking around slightly off touristy bit and told not to go further as it was where the locals lived.
3) The stuff for sale in the market and around the main square was expensive, the sales persons were only interested in taking your money.
Of course not everything was bad but it just left me with no desire to return.
We haven't been harassed today (beyond what one could reasonably expect), and the new town at Guiliz is a bit more pleasant. We even found a few bars, though the beer is very expensive! Still not convinced it's a great place, not that much to see or do, and no doubt we will be harassed when we venture back to the souks.
The Yves Saint Laurent museum is worth a visit for the gardens and its over near the nicer newer part of the city but agree with most of what you said.
I recommend the local rose wine and asking one of the young hotel staff to get you a nice block of hash and then chill by the pool for the remainder.
I recommend the local rose wine and asking one of the young hotel staff to get you a nice block of hash and then chill by the pool for the remainder.
Ratski83 said:
The Yves Saint Laurent museum is worth a visit for the gardens and its over near the nicer newer part of the city but agree with most of what you said.
I recommend the local rose wine and asking one of the young hotel staff to get you a nice block of hash and then chill by the pool for the remainder.
Majorelle Gardens is a fantastic oasis of calm in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh. I recommend the local rose wine and asking one of the young hotel staff to get you a nice block of hash and then chill by the pool for the remainder.
SD.
Ratski83 said:
The Yves Saint Laurent museum is worth a visit for the gardens and its over near the nicer newer part of the city but agree with most of what you said.
I recommend the local rose wine and asking one of the young hotel staff to get you a nice block of hash and then chill by the pool for the remainder.
We visited the secret gardens, lovely way to spend an hour.I recommend the local rose wine and asking one of the young hotel staff to get you a nice block of hash and then chill by the pool for the remainder.
I now have a bit of a stomach bug, excellent.
We found that the people who got harrased were the ones who responded either politely or firmly. Get out your inner bd and just ignore them don’t answer them don’t wave them away just act as though they weren’t there. They will then move on to someone who will acknowledge then as these are more likely to give in to them.
d and just ignore them don’t answer them don’t wave them away just act as though they weren’t there. They will then move on to someone who will acknowledge then as these are more likely to give in to them. Went there about 15 years ago with my wife. We stayed in a beautiful riad, a green oasis down a stty alley. I came to the conclusion that the beautiful parts of Marrakesh are hidden behind high doors down the anonymous, muddy alley ways.
The souks are fun for about half an hour, then you realise (if you’re a bloke) that there’s absolutely nothing that you want to buy in them. The girls enjoy the slippers and cushions, but it’s all just tourist tat. I did eventually find a real old khoumya (Arab knife) away from the touristy areas in an antique shop and enjoyed drinking mint tea and bargaining for it. Don’t buy fake watches as you risk a chunky fine when coming back. The spice market was more interesting than the tourist souk in my opinion.
Our nicest evenings were in fancy restaurants with rooftop terraces, Guide Routard was a handy source. Go on Trip Advisor and see what people recommend in the forums.
Was happy to leave the place.
tty alley. I came to the conclusion that the beautiful parts of Marrakesh are hidden behind high doors down the anonymous, muddy alley ways.The souks are fun for about half an hour, then you realise (if you’re a bloke) that there’s absolutely nothing that you want to buy in them. The girls enjoy the slippers and cushions, but it’s all just tourist tat. I did eventually find a real old khoumya (Arab knife) away from the touristy areas in an antique shop and enjoyed drinking mint tea and bargaining for it. Don’t buy fake watches as you risk a chunky fine when coming back. The spice market was more interesting than the tourist souk in my opinion.
Our nicest evenings were in fancy restaurants with rooftop terraces, Guide Routard was a handy source. Go on Trip Advisor and see what people recommend in the forums.
Was happy to leave the place.
petemurphy said:
get a bus to essaouira on the coast its lovely or it was 10 years ago when i went. theres not much in marrakech once youve got over the novelty of the sheeps heads in the square
Would agree with the majority view on here. My wife and I went for 4 days with a day trip to essaouira. I wish we'd stayed on the coast with a day trip to the city.IMO the ideal length of a trip to Marrakech is about an hour and a half.
Have a wander around. Don’t talk to anyone, don’t eat anything, don’t buy anything.
It’s an interesting place, but it’s not a ‘nice’ place in the slightest.
Did I say don’t eat anything? Don’t eat anything. The week off work and stone lost was not good fun.
Have a wander around. Don’t talk to anyone, don’t eat anything, don’t buy anything.
It’s an interesting place, but it’s not a ‘nice’ place in the slightest.
Did I say don’t eat anything? Don’t eat anything. The week off work and stone lost was not good fun.
Currently just back in our hotel on our final night of 12 in Morocco, it sounds like you're doing it wrong.
Walking around the Medina of Marrakech doesn't need to be stressful, just smile and stroll on if someone gives you the hard sell. The old road closed trick is just another way to open up conversation. Act confidently even if you're not and you'll be left alone. If you do see something you like, be polite, shake their hand, Salam? goes down well and then bargain hard. We got a lovely rug down from 2000dh to 150...
Don't eat from crappy tourist cafes in the square, either eat where locals are eating or do some research and seek out the genuinely nice places that are dotted around. We spent the first 3 days of our trip in Marrakech and didn't have a bad meal. The following are worth a look as a starter. Loads of nice rooftop terraces dotted around.
Terrace de spices
Kosybar
La Maison Arabe
Nomad
Lots of options in the new town as well like you've found.
Then there's the rest of Morocco, completely different depending on where you go.
Rural Morocco is very poor with farm workers herding goats and carrying watermelons by donkey. We spent 3 ultra chilled out days in a hilltop Kasbah with beautiful food, gardens and pool.
The Atlas Mountains are equally poor but absolutely stunning with some incredible driving roads.
Agadir - modern city with nice beach and marina. Some chilled out little fishing villages popular with the surf crowd out to the west.
Essaouira - lovely seaside fishing town popular with hippies, French students and windsurfers. Much more chilled Medina if you can't hack Marrakech. Massive spotless beach but cooler and often pretty windy.
Hire a car or get the bus out and see the rest of the country. We've toured around in a hired Dacia Duster and it's probably been the best holiday I've ever been on. it's absolutely not Europe but all the better for it.
Walking around the Medina of Marrakech doesn't need to be stressful, just smile and stroll on if someone gives you the hard sell. The old road closed trick is just another way to open up conversation. Act confidently even if you're not and you'll be left alone. If you do see something you like, be polite, shake their hand, Salam? goes down well and then bargain hard. We got a lovely rug down from 2000dh to 150...
Don't eat from crappy tourist cafes in the square, either eat where locals are eating or do some research and seek out the genuinely nice places that are dotted around. We spent the first 3 days of our trip in Marrakech and didn't have a bad meal. The following are worth a look as a starter. Loads of nice rooftop terraces dotted around.
Terrace de spices
Kosybar
La Maison Arabe
Nomad
Lots of options in the new town as well like you've found.
Then there's the rest of Morocco, completely different depending on where you go.
Rural Morocco is very poor with farm workers herding goats and carrying watermelons by donkey. We spent 3 ultra chilled out days in a hilltop Kasbah with beautiful food, gardens and pool.
The Atlas Mountains are equally poor but absolutely stunning with some incredible driving roads.
Agadir - modern city with nice beach and marina. Some chilled out little fishing villages popular with the surf crowd out to the west.
Essaouira - lovely seaside fishing town popular with hippies, French students and windsurfers. Much more chilled Medina if you can't hack Marrakech. Massive spotless beach but cooler and often pretty windy.
Hire a car or get the bus out and see the rest of the country. We've toured around in a hired Dacia Duster and it's probably been the best holiday I've ever been on. it's absolutely not Europe but all the better for it.
Edited by snowandrocks on Sunday 26th May 01:35
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