šŖš²š¦ Donāt Go to Morocco Before Reading This šŖš²š¦
Published: Mon, 01/23/23
Don't Go to Morocco Before Reading This
I love Morocco, but itās unlike other places Iāve visited. In short, what I saw online while doing my research was completely
different from what I experienced on my trip.Ā
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Iām here to set the record straight with some tips on how to make the most out of your trip.
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Haggle!- Haggling is a part of the culture; itās almost like a sport. In Morocco, itās common for items not to have a price listed.This can shock American tourists who are used to paying the sticker price.Ā
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So whatās my point?
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If you want a souvenir, a taxi or even aĀ bottle of waterā¦Gotta Haggle!
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Youāll be broke or thirsty if your haggle game isnāt strong. If haggling scares you, then practice before the trip, go on a guided tour, or bring a friend with good negotiating skills.
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Lack of Ride-Sharing
Services - Ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft used to exist in Morocco, but there was ātensionā with the local taxi drivers.
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Okay, I lied.š¤„
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Ride-sharing services exist, but only in a few non-touristy cities like Rabat. And even my driver would drop me off two blocks from the train station because he didnāt want any trouble from the local taxi drivers.š¬
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Language Barrier - Most locals only speak French and Arabic, so English-only
speakers will have difficulty navigating around.
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However, I couldāve sworn that some allegedly āFrench-onlyā speakers actually knew English, but didnāt want to speak it.š¤·š½āāļø
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FYI:Ā Unlike most locals, the taxi drivers and merchantsĀ doĀ speak English.
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NOTHING is Free - If a local helps you inĀ any way, expect to pay a tip. If not, youāll be pressured into giving one.
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Need help finding the Badi Palace?ā¦expect to pay a tip
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If youāre lost and a local offers to be your unofficial tour guide...youāll need to tip.
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Nightlife? - Morocco is an Islamic country, so drinking isnāt common.Ā Ā
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What does this mean?
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Donāt go to Morocco
expecting to party because youāll be disappointed. You can drink in some places, but prepare to pay U.S. prices for weak drinks.
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So, for all my party animals out thereā¦ be sure to BYOB š
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Carry Cash - Cash is king in Morocco, so donāt expect to use your credit card for most purchases. When you arrive in Morocco, I recommend going to an ATM first to get cash.Ā
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P.S. Remember to break up your bills for tipping!
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Be Careful Crossing the Street! - Before crossing any street, look both waysā¦AND THEN LOOK AGAIN.
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Pay attention to the sounds around you because it's common for people to ride scooters and mopeds in pedestrian areas.
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Larger vehicles have the right-of-way, so bewareā¦donāt walk in front of a bus! The bus will win.Ā
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Ask Questions - If any service is āincluded,ā be sure to ask whether itās free. This may seem tacky, but do you know what really sucks?...
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Getting asked to pay for shuttle service at the airport when youāre on your
way home and have spent all your cash.
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Bring Toilet Paper - Some public restrooms expect you to bring your own toilet
paper and cleaning supplies, so donāt be caught unprepared!
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Tipping - Please donāt tip like you do in the states. Locals tip between 5 and 10%Ā max.
Also, be on the lookout to see if gratuity is already included. Itāll appear as a service fee on the bill.
Paying a tip on top of a tip isnāt fun.
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Dress Appropriately - Right or wrong, people in Morocco dress more
conservatively.
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Use common sense; no one is saying to cover up completely.
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Just leave the crazy outfits at home when going to a Holy place.
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Quick Currency Conversion - Doing the conversion is easy; just divide by 10. For
example, if something is 100 Dirham, that would cost around 10 USD.
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Limited Mosque access - Typically, only Muslims are allowed to enter mosques, but someĀ mosques are open to everyone.Ā
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With all that being said, I recommend a trip to Morocco. The architecture and customs are different from what youāre probably used to, but itās worth
it!
Are these tips helpful? What do you think?Ā Ā
Cocktail of the Week Ā
This variation of the Radler was invented in Chicago - Try the Das
Radler.
8 ounces Ayinger Brau Weisse
8 ounces blood orange soda
1 ounce vodka (optional)
Pour beer into a pint glass and top with soda. Finish with a shot of vodka or other spirit, if desired.
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Random Travel Thought
Apply for TSA Precheck, passports, etc. now to avoid any
delays with the possible government shutdown.