 | Marrakesh Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 63 |  |
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I read on another VTers page that "all of Marrakech is a tourist trap". Maybe that's a little harsh, but I can see where he's coming from. Most of the people in the places where tourists go - Djemaa el Fna, the souks etc - seem to view foreigners as money trees. The people who want your money include henna artists, "photogenic" people, "guides", carpet salesmen, people who get commission from carpet salesmen, food and drink vendors and just about anybody who is in the souks. They will constantly try to engage you in coversation in order to get hold of some of your money. I am told it is rude to ignore these people, as they will lose face, so I found the best way to deal with them was to constantly say "la shukran" (No, thank you), smile and keep on walking. Sometimes they will yell after you and sometimes they will follow you. Then, I found the best way was to show a stern face and say "khalas" (finished). Eventually they will give up. The most persistent ones are the "guides". Sometimes you have to get a little bit angry with them in order to shake them off. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Water Sellers / Beggars / Intrusive People: You think you might be LOST don't PANIC!! | Tip Rating: | | | | |
We had spent hours in the souks, and felt a little lost....the main problem was that we were near the tanneries. This is where you will be offered many trips to the tanneries, people will start to follow you, and even though you have not asked and they are following you they may ask for money for taking you the right way! We met a man close to the tanneries who said that he would take us around and show us them. So we thought it would be interesting, I asked how much and the man said nothing. We looked round and at the end of the tour got dropped off at a large shop selling every leather. A man then started to put on a display of all his items, getting all the slippers, poufees out etc. We felt embarrassed as we didn't want to buy any of the items. So we decided to leave at the start of the display rather than the end! The man shouted at us, and suddenly the first man arrived. Asking why we didn't want anything, and then demanding £50.00 for the tour. This is the only time I have felt scared as the man was aggressive and we were in an area where there were hardly any people around. We managed to leave giving him only a small amount of money, but I was worried as if I had got my purse out he would have seen we had more money that what we had told him. On the way back we then got followed the entire journey by a man who then demanded the equivalent of £20.00 when we said no, the man then started to make a scene, so we gave him a small amount of money. My tip here is to say "we do not want a guide, and we will go to the tourist police" .....this makes people disappear in a flash. The tourist police are very good.
If you are in this situation say something like "we do not want a guide, and we will go to the tourist police" ....
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Yes , it took for ages before we could enter the city. We had to queue when we arrived in the airport , before we could collect our luggage. The authorities took their time. Important is that you get one of those documents , write your name and passport number , the adress where you are staying , how long , where you came from.... When you go back home you need to do the same... Don't forget. The waiting takes already long enough for the people who come behind you. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Water Sellers / Beggars / Intrusive People: The Medina - Saying "No!" doesn't work | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
The Medina or marketplace looks and sounds like a great place to see the local culture and pick up some trinkets. But, be warned, it's very disappointing and may leave you with your blood boiling. A note from my professors brochure: "Snake-charmers and their bored reptiles entertain the tourists. Dentists display heaps of teeth and ham it up for foreigners. Often merchandise is shoddy but the craftsmen are not enticed to do better when tourists buy the poorly made items. Since most of these people have never traveled except for a trip to Mecca, they believe Allah has sent we fools for them to partake of. Their Berber blood can make the merchants assertive to the level of aggression. You can expect that a rebuff will not be accepted graciously. Marrakesh has a long history of cursing, so don't take their response personally. Develop nerves of steel and play deaf. " While walking through the marketplace I used those words of wisdom. However, while I was looking a one vendor, a group of men came up and put a monkey on my shoulder. The next thing I knew, they were all yelling and demanding money--I supposed since the monkey had sat on my shoulder. They weren't going to let me budge until I gave them monkey and meanwhile, the monkey was pulling at my hair. It took a male professor with our group to get me out of the situation and get them to leave us alone.
Go in a large group & watch your back (and your shoulders for monkeys)!
There are plenty of vendors around other tourist areas (hotels, near palaces, etc.) that sell the same stuff.
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