| Learn the local customs of Rabat. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Rabat locals. Rabat Map |
 | Rabat Local Customs | Tips 11 - 20 of 25 |  |
 by JLBGLeave a Comment
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 by JLBGLeave a Comment
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 by DanielF
Wandering in the medina without being followed by any opportunistic vendors and would-be guides may be one of the highlights of your trip to Morocco. Leave a Comment
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Dress code is conservative. Cover your arms and your legs please out of respect for the local culture. Leave a Comment
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 by Krystynn
Well, cosmopolitan women traveling in Morocco are not expected to dress like traditional Moroccan women, and indeed, many sophisticated or foreign-educated Moroccan women have now adopted European fashion styles themselves... esp. in Rabat and Casablanca. However, no matter how snug those pants or how long your skirt length is, you must always try and keep your collar bone covered up. I guess it's the culture thingy again....
So pack carefully. Your lovely V-neck sweaters and t-shirts, no matter how chaste (ahem!) you may think they look, may be interpreted as risqué, disrespectful OR inappropriate in Morocco. I kid you not!
And when you have Moroccan men tailing after you for 2 hours, I guarantee you'd definitely wisen up!!!!
:-)
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 by Krystynn
The water is NOT SAFE TO DRINK here in Morocco. So... don't even DRINK the FRUIT JUICES here (because once something has been mixed with water, it's 'contaminated').... One of my greedy girlfriends drank a glass of orange juice from our hotel's restaurant and she suffered from severe stomache for the rest of the day. Sigh...
In a restaurant, ask for a bottle of mineral water UNOPENED. Have them open it at your table and you can be sure you won't get local water ... bottled. :-)
Most people know how to ask for unopened bottled water when traveling in areas where the drinking water is
not safe, but they may not realize that it's all too easy to get sick from ingesting water while showering,
even if trying to keep one's mouth closed.
The solution? Always keep mouthwash in your mouth while showering. It will help you remember to keep your mouth closed and the antibacterial agent in it will help purify any water that gets in anyway (e.g. through your nose).
For me, I used mineral water (costing 10 dirhams per large bottle... very cheap!) to brush my teeth and to wash my face. I don't want to take any chances because I don't want to fall ill in a foreign land.
P.S. The water is safe to the locals who are used to it. This doesn't matter if you're a resident of Morocco or the UK: remember, to the residents living in the country, the water is safe.... but not to the travelers! Our tummy's not accustomed to it yet. All water contains different sets of microbes and
mineral deposits, even in the US. If you aren't used to a country's drinking water, then you may get
sick just because it is different.
Be safe, buy bottled water cheap at the supermarket.
Please also DON'T trust the locals in a developing country to tell you that their water is safe to drink. Again, for them, it is safe to drink. For you, it probably isn't. The price is small compared to what could be a disastrous effect on your trip by
drinking the local water. When in doubt, play it safe!
Photo Below: That's me bending down a little so I wouldn't block the lovely view BEHIND me.... Yes, that's the city center of RABAT.
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 by Krystynn
When you're planning to visit bazaars and souks, but you don't like to be hassled and pestered incessantly by vendors (and Moroccan men) all the time, here's a tip: pick out one of those so-called students/ kids that offer to guide you around. Make it clear to him you want to walk and look around but don't plan to buy anything.
You pay him a little amount of money i.e. 10 dirhams (US$1) and he'll help keep the vendors (and yes, men) off. And another added plus is that you won't get lost in these dark, narrow streets (they all seem to look the same)!
Be Savvy!
When visiting a foreign city like RABAT, do carry along a postcard with the name and address of
your hotel, which you can show to cab drivers or when asking for directions (should you lose your way).
Speak Their Lingo!
There are not many places where the people aren't absolutely delighted for you to try out their language. If you use just the word for 'thank you', they'll still be impressed. If you know
more about their language, even if you are not fluent, you'll find yourself learning more about the real people, not just the ones shown to us in movies! These Moroccans are just as curious about us as we are about them. So, if you can speak FRENCH and ARABIC, now's the time to do it! :-)
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Traveling with Mr Brahim Sidate and his staff to and from Rabat and Casablanca, I learned a great deal about Morocco and the Moslem religion and customs.
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You must must have some French when travelling in Rabat. Unlike Casablanca or Marrakech, visitors from countries other than France are rare and you can't rely on English to get around. A few Arabic words would be even better, of course. Leave a Comment
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"Henna ladies" (as I like to call them) are ubiquitous in Morocco. Often they will aggressively grab your hand in an effort to start the hennaing process before you can say "no" or strike a price. I found that the best way to deal with this is to have your hands hennaed at the very first opportunity (either back home or when you first land in Morocco). When a Henna Lady grabs your hand and sees that someone has beaten her to you, she'll back off immediatel ... it's easier than saying no over & over again. Leave a Comment
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