Top Morocco hotels
Djellabas and kaftans Marrakesh
6 Reviews The traditional Moroccan dress for both men and women is this long hooded garment known as a djellaba. It seems very practical – the body is protected from weather and from the dirt of the street,...
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Bargain! Marrakesh
9 Reviews When in Marrakesh expect to have to haggle for everything! Some general tips: - Have a maximum price in mind for the item and offer slightly below it. - If they offer you a ridiculously high price...
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Henna Ladies Marrakesh
3 Reviews Moroccan ladies desperate to paint henna designs on foreigners' hands and feet seem to be everywhere in the Medina, with the biggest concentration in el Djemaa el Fna. There are two types: natural...
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Moroccan Wine Marrakesh
2 Reviews Despite the huge growth in tourism in Marrakech, it's still surprisingly difficult to find places selling alcohol, especially in the medina. On our last night in the city, we wanted to get some wine...
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Moroccan music Marrakesh
3 Reviews The Jmaa El Fna square is a UNESCO heritage site, largely due to the story tellers that pass on stories in Arabic, but also note the musicians and various other stalls. However, be prepared to pay a...
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Water man Marrakesh
2 Reviews Around the Medina and some of the historical sites you will see men in funny looking attire with brass cups hanging off them. These are water men who supply the locals with water usually from local...
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Public Baths Marrakesh
2 Reviews Hamman Ziani is just down the road from Palais Bahia. It is a traditional style Hamman catering for tourists. 80Dh for Hammam, Steam, Gommage and Soaping - compared to 150 Dh at our hotel spa. I took...
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Taking Photos Marrakesh
1 Review This advice isn't unique to Morocco, but it's the first time I've been brave enough to try it and it worked a treat: I always look in travel magazines and books and am amazed at the magnificent...
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The Pink City Marrakesh
1 Review Well all the houses inside and, nearly all outside are pink ... why??? well the material with wich the outside wall makes the wall be pink, ... nowadays people MUST by law paint their houses that way...
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You may get to experience this as it is quite common - Moroccan Hospitality to Strangers.Again, you get the concept. You, the stranger, are eating in someone's house - whether you speak the language or not, with no idea of money being exchanged, just kindness to you, the stranger.Savor it. Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco MoroccoLearn Arabic Bargaining pt 1Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush
When hearing something about:1) The Devil2) The Jinn3) Your own or someone's demise4) Or you get the feeling there is a ghost at work in your houseYou can spit (air) down the front of your shirt or watch someone else do it - wards off the evil eye. Extra points if you can remember to say: Ah-oo-doo bee-lah him-in-nee Shay-tan rah-jeemFun.
The Evil Eye, a curse can be passed by1) thinking negative thoughts about someone2) sharing negative thoughts with someone3) creating a symbol of negative thoughts4) watching someone while steeped in negative thoughts5) praising someone's clothes, car, computer, etc (without adding Tbarak Allah alik)6) desiring another's possessions...You know you have been hit when 1) You begin yawning2) Things stop working all at once3) Something someone praised earlier in the day, goes to seed by night...The Jinn in MoroccoBayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco MoroccoLearn Arabic Bargaining pt 1Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush
If you hear the call to prayer - pause your conversation, stop any music coming from your stereo, lower your tv - until it is done. It is a high form of respect for the adan (call to prayer)extra points if you say "Allahu akbar kabeer" when you hear it... HEAR MOROCCAN ARABIC: Hamdoo LilLah HEAR MOROCCAN ARABIC: Salaam alikoom Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco MoroccoLearn Arabic Bargaining pt 1Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush
Learn some arabic, any arabic. The arabic you will find available on cassette, cd, etc. is most likely the classical arabic or Modern Standard Arabic. There are some major differences from Moroccan Arabic, but we are not going for fluency here. The basics of everyday life (bread, house, hotel, numbers) are the same. Learn what you can - for making real and lasting friends, my advice can't be beat. Nobody really thinks you will have spent the time to learn Arabic. So, the doors to the hearts of the people around you will open easier than if you are merely speaking Morocco's other colonial tongue - French. Don't let the differences between the languages stop you from teaching yourself what you have available. Perfection really is the lowest standard.If you only speak English and you really want to interact conversationally with people - I can recommend getting a good LICENSED English...
These colors together have a deep religious and political significance. Simply,Red is War, Blood, Mars, etc, Green is Peace, Islam, Love.For the Gnawa - red is the color of Sidi Hamoo, green of the Salaheen, the Shorfa, the Friends of Islam.Having no relation, you will be shocked at the red and green of the earth and flora as you enter Ourika and around... From a now deleted page on the colors: SOURCE http://ismaili.net/Source/myflag/11significance.htmlThe famous tradition has it that once Imam Hussain and Hasan mounted on the shoulders of the Holy Prophet when they were yet small boys. Imam Hussain wore red garment, while his elder brother was in green dress. Being asked why both brothers were in different dresses, the Prophet said, "This Hasan will fight for restoring peace in religion, while Hussain will sacrifice for the cause of Islam." It ensues from this tradition that the agency...
It's customary to bargain in the souks. The shop owners and stall holders expect it and if you accept the first price they offer, you're are making a big mistake! We were fairly strict about it and tried to set a limit before we even began bargaining. This didn't always work as sometimes we paid slightly more than we wanted for something. Also, in some cases, the vendors would not meet our price at all. Nevertheless, it was great fun shopping in this way - I usually hate shopping at home but here it became much more interesting.
Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country and as such it can be difficult - but certainly not impossible - to find places serving alcohol. In the big cities, most of the tourist-type hotels will serve alcohol in their restaurants and some will even have a bar. As it's mostly foreigners who stay here anyway this is not too surprising. Some of the more expensive restaurants will also serve alcohol especially the good French ones. But in small towns or in the medinas you'll find that alcohol is seldom served. You can occasionally buy it in supermarkets or grocery stores but often it will be hidden so as not to offend the local peoples' sensibilities.Wine was introduced to Morocco during the French occupation and there are many vineyards still producing today. The nicest red we tried was Guerrouane from the region around Meknes.
Mint tea (Thé à la menthe) is the national drink of Morocco and almost every visitor will try it at some point. It's served everywhere: in restaurants, cafes, hotels - even in the souks when you're being enticed into buying a carpet. It didn't take us long to get used to the taste and we found it quite refreshing though as a diabetic I had to take it easy on the sugar. Without adding sugar it can taste very bitter.
Arabic and French are the main languages spoken in Morocco and most people in the country can speak both. In some of the quieter, smaller places you might find people who only understand Arabic. Many visitors to Morocco don't speak Arabic and make little effort to learn it. However, if you can even learn a few basic phrases of Arabic, you seem to get a lot more respect from the locals. Touts and tour-guides seemed to give us much less hassle when we refused in Arabic and on a couple of occasions we were complemented on actually speaking it - maybe because we looked like such obvious tourists! If you have no French or Arabic, Spanish is probably the next most useful though English will be understood in the big cities, particularly in hotels and in the souks.
Riad Kniza Marrakesh
2 Reviews and 563 Opinions Beautifully decorated room, cozy aura, clean bathroom, delicious food and warmhearted staff. I got...
Hyatt Regency Casablanca
5 Reviews and 137 Opinions I worked very hard during the day in a office witout air conditioned. You can understand how I was...
Villa Maroc Essaouira
4 Reviews and 152 Opinions Suites #27, #29,#30 are built around an open central light well. There is no way to insulate any of...
Reviews and photos of Morocco attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Morocco sightseeing.
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Q: I am thinking travelling to Morocco with my nearly 6 yrs old Girl. We are landing in Marakesh and Plan to Array for 3 days After...
A: As you have 3 weeks the desert area is a must. A 'grand circuit' down to the desert via Ouarzazate, east to Erfoud, then north to Fez is easily done in two weeks. I'd...
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