{"id":21371,"date":"2019-04-01T13:51:10","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T12:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/?p=21371"},"modified":"2019-04-11T13:02:47","modified_gmt":"2019-04-11T12:02:47","slug":"what-to-avoid-in-marrakesh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/what-to-avoid-in-marrakesh\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Avoid in Marrakesh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

No trip to Morocco<\/a> is complete without exploring the wondrous, 1000-year-old city of Marrakesh. Marrakesh is an ancient city that has embraced modernity in the most spectacular way, providing globetrotters with quite the captivating travelling<\/g> experience. Wandering through the Madina, bargaining at souks, savouring the authentic cuisine and discovering ancient palaces can surely leave you with a sensory overload, which can at times be overwhelming.
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With our top do\u2019s and don\u2019ts, you\u2019ll learn how to best navigate and embrace the chaos of the Red City, including what to avoid in Marrakesh, for an adventure that will delight your senses in ways you didn\u2019t know were possible.
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Travel to: <\/em>Marrakesh <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

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What to avoid in Marrakesh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t charm the snakes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t buy into the charm of the snake charmers, unless you\u2019re willing to shell out a pretty penny! Be wary of letting your guard down perusing the Jemaa el Fna (main square) or while wandering the streets scrolling through your phone at the awesome photos you just snapped. You may unexpectedly end up with a snake wrapped around your arm! Take a selfie with your snake buddy and expect to pay a hefty fee. You may even be hassled to pay up simply to remove the snake from your limb.
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\"Marrakesh,
The Red City has a lot to offer lucky travellers | \u00a9 Dani\u00ebl van der Kolk\/Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t dress in skimpy gear<\/strong>
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In terms of dress codes, Morocco is considered fairly relaxed. However, it\u2019s still advisable to dress on the more conservative side to avoid offending the culture, locals or drawing unwanted attention – especially as a woman. Save the short shorts and revealing tops for your next beach vacay; keeping shoulders and knees covered is your best option here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t get ripped off by taxi scammers<\/strong>
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Avoid getting jipped and paying outrageous prices for a ride from the souk back to your hotel. Read up on taxi rates and know your dirham conversions before you travel, and don\u2019t be afraid to negotiate if you\u2019re being overcharged. Insist that your driver uses the meter so the price you\u2019re quoted doesn\u2019t all of a sudden skyrocket. If they refuse, find another taxi. You\u2019re more likely to encounter a taxi scammer at the airport, main square and other main tourist attractions. If this happens to you, try your luck a few blocks away!
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See Also: <\/em>Off the Beaten Path in Morocco<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

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Don\u2019t drink tap water<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You do not<\/em> want to be hit with a stomach bug while you\u2019re lost in the center of Jemaa el Fna. You may think you have a resilient stomach of steel, but as a foreigner, our bodies are not accustomed to the bacteria present in the Moroccan water, and it\u2019s likely that you could become unpleasantly ill. Best not to risk it and stick to the bottled water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can find luxury on a budget in Marrakesh – if you know where to look | \u00a9 Toa Heftiba\/Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t get lost<\/strong>
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Easier said than done! While you can take all the precautions to stay on track by packing your maps, googling it and dropping breadcrumbs, you\u2019ll inevitably get turned around or lost at some point. But that\u2019s ok, it\u2019s all part of the adventure – try to embrace it! That being said, taking note of a few landmarks on your journey can be helpful. Or better yet, join a tour with a Marrakesh expert if you want to guarantee not getting lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do convert currency at the airport<\/strong>
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While you can get by at nice hotels and restaurants with credit cards, and sometimes with your local euro, dollar or GBP, it\u2019s best to also have some local dirham on hand. While you can withdraw at ATMs, they\u2019re not always easy to find or reliable, and your best bet is to\u00a0convert at the airport. The dirham will come in especially handy when bargaining at a souk, hailing down a taxi or grabbing a snack on the go. <\/p>\n\n\n

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See Also: <\/em>How to Experience Marrakesh Like a Travel Writer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

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Do learn a few French or Arabic pleasantries<\/strong>
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You will surely get by without any French or Arabic, but putting in the effort to learn how to greet and say please and thank you goes a long way in showing your willingness to adapt to the culture your visiting. Here are a few basic Arabic pleasantries to add to your dictionary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n