Readers usually ask us, is Marrakech protected to go to? Normally, it’s, but it surely does include a level of trouble and harassment. Listed here are some tricks to keep away from any hassle.
Is Marrakech protected? It’s a query we are sometimes requested by readers serious about heading to the pink metropolis – one of the vital fashionable locations in Morocco. Information of terror assaults, crimes towards western vacationers or anecdotes of being hassled in unique souks, shortly make their manner throughout each social and conventional media.
However the quick reply is, sure, Marrakech is protected. In contrast with america – for instance – you’re much less prone to be a sufferer of violent crime and far much less prone to be assaulted.
However Marrakech does have its challenges. It’s very probably that you’ll be verbally hassled by locals, significantly within the coronary heart of the medina. They could attempt to direct you to locations you don’t wish to go, to promote you stuff you don’t need, or act as ‘fake’ guides who might be tough to shake. They’re annoying, with out being useful.
So, the problem of travelling to Marrakech just isn’t that it’s unsafe, however that it will possibly, at occasions, be irritating.
Nevertheless, this shouldn’t cease you from having fun with a few days in Marrakech. Simply come armed with some useful methods, and you’ll shortly study that beneath the laborious promote, Marrakech is a captivating and delightful metropolis.
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COVID REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVEL TO MOROCCO
On February 7, 2022, Morocco re-opened borders for worldwide tourism. As with many international locations, you have to be totally vaccinated to enter Morrocco with two doses of an permitted vaccine administered no less than two weeks earlier than your journey. A well being type should even be submitted.
Moreover, a destructive PCR check have to be taken 48 hours earlier than your journey and all arrivals are required to take a fast antigen check.
On the time of writing, masks are obligatory in most indoor venues and temperature checks are taken on arrival.
Because the scenario adjustments usually, test the international journey recommendation from your property nation earlier than your journey.
TERRORIST ATTACKS & SERIOUS CRIME
In 2011, a bomb left in a bag in a café in the primary sq. of Marrakech killed 17 individuals, lots of whom had been vacationers. The Moroccan authorities responded by shortly tightening safety. Tragic occasions like these make worldwide information and are sometimes all we hear of Center Jap and African international locations. It may well construct a false image of the hazards of visiting these locations.
There have been no main points in Marrakech since 2011. Nevertheless, over this time, cities that many contemplate protected (equivalent to London & Paris) have had their very own terrorist assaults, in some instances, way more critical than the Marrakech incident.
The reality is Marrakech hardly ever has violent crimes and when it does occur, these instances virtually by no means goal vacationers. You possibly can stroll across the metropolis with good peace of thoughts understanding that the probabilities of getting attacked or mugged are very small. Over 2 million individuals come right here yearly and virtually all return dwelling trouble-free. Consequently, Worldwide SOS charge Morocco low danger for journey safety, the identical degree as continental Europe and North America.
However as in anyplace on this planet, the probabilities of incurring critical hassle are vastly elevated in much less populated areas and in case you are by yourself at evening. So keep central and in case you are heading out to a quiet space within the night and don’t really feel comfy, your lodging will fortunately organise somebody to escort you to and out of your dinner joint.
MARRAKECH SAFETY TIPS – AVOIDING SERIOUS CRIME
1 – Don’t stroll by way of much less populated suburbs
2 – Don’t stroll alongside empty streets within the medina at evening
PETTY CRIME
In all cities of the world, you want to concentrate on petty crime when strolling round. However specifically, the medieval medinas of Morocco current alternatives for light-fingered thieves.
The Marrakech medina is a maze of alleyways which are tightly full of road sellers, donkeys pulling carts and bikes winding out and in of vacationers. The place the lanes slim, you might be up shut and private along with your fellow travellers. It’s a part of what makes the medina such an unique and attention-grabbing place to discover. Nevertheless, it’s additionally a main vacation spot for pickpockets, purse grabbers and drive-by bag-snatchers.
So, it’s necessary to have your wits about you on busy thoroughfares within the medina and take some wise precautions. Regulate your belongings and don’t have any valuables on show – the medina isn’t the place to sport flashy jewelry. Maintain the money you carry to a minimal. If an space is especially crowded, carry your backpack reasonably than have it in your again.
Lastly, take heed to your belongings if somebody is making an attempt to distract you or speak to you. Working as a crew is a typical and efficient approach to steal from unsuspecting vacationers. By all means, have a chat, however preserve your hand in your pockets when you accomplish that.
MARRAKECH SAFETY TIPS – AVOIDING PETTY CRIME
1 – Regulate your belongings
2 – Carry luggage that aren’t simply snatched or opened
3 – Don’t have valuables on show
4 – Concentrate on your belongings if somebody is distracting you
VENDORS AND TOUTS
Whereas violent crime is very unlikely and petty crime attainable however nonetheless uncommon, the probabilities of being verbally hassled by locals is excessive. We’d say the chances are round 100%.
As you stroll across the souks and squares of the medina, younger males shall be lining the streets telling you that some points of interest are closed or that you’re headed within the fallacious route. Whether or not they know the place you’re going or not, appears irrelevant. They’ll then supply to assist.
Some will take you to their store or café and attempt to promote you stuff. Others will supply to information you to a selected attraction. If you happen to settle for these ‘guides’, no matter you pay them is not going to be sufficient. If you happen to decline, they’ll at occasions get a bit pushy.
We’re all the time eager to speak to locals and make mates in a brand new metropolis, however the alleyways of Marrakech medina just isn’t the place to do it. We suggest that you just reply to all requests, saying ‘no thanks’ firmly however politely and strolling on. If you are able to do so wanting assured in the place you’re going, even higher. If you’re actually misplaced and want some assist, ask one other vacationer, the police, or go into a bigger retailer and ask somebody behind a counter.
It’s this hassling tradition that provides Marrakech a foul title, significantly in locations like Jemaa el Fna. Simply bear in mind, it’s impossible that you just’ll get into critical hassle. After a couple of occasions of claiming ‘no thanks’ it is going to grow to be easy. If, nonetheless you proceed to seek out the trouble annoying, don’t let it spoil your vacation. Rent knowledgeable information and allow them to take the pressure.
MARRAKECH SAFETY TIPS – RESPONDING TO HASSLING
1 – Be agency and say ‘no’ to unsolicited assist
2 – Don’t head down empty alleyways alone
ROAD SAFETY IN MARRAKECH
Morocco has a poor highway security file. The highway fatality charge is roughly 9 occasions larger than within the UK. Fortuitously, Marrakech is a really compact metropolis, so there is no such thing as a want to rent a automobile. Virtually all sights are centrally positioned and simply walked to.
If you happen to keep centrally (in or on the sting of Marrakesh medina) a taxi experience to and from the airport is just about all you will want. As with most cities, it’s necessary to make use of licensed taxis and both agree the fare upfront or make sure that they’ve an operational meter. It’s a good suggestion to guide a taxi by way of your lodging who will hook you up with somebody dependable.
We’ve had glorious highway journeys in Morocco, so should you intend on travelling additional afield learn by way of our recommendation on driving in Morocco with ideas for staying protected on the roads.
MARRAKECH SAFETY TIPS – STAYING SAFE ON THE ROADS
1 – Keep in a central location in Marrakech
2 – Use licensed cabs and agree on the cab fare upfront
SOLO FEMALE TRAVELLERS IN MARRAKECH
By way of the commonest security concern in Marrakech – being hassled unnecessarily – there may be little to discriminate between several types of travellers. As two guys travelling collectively, we had been usually hassled. Married {couples} we’ve spoken to usually report the identical factor.
Portia Jones from the journey weblog Pip and the Metropolis says that the particular concern for solo feminine travellers is undesirable consideration and feedback from locals. “In some instances, this could doubtlessly result in aggression and harassment, which is fairly scary in case you are travelling alone.”
As a feminine traveller, minimising danger by understanding the native tradition is necessary. Morocco is a really conservative nation, so Portia’s recommendation is to “observe the native customs and gown appropriately to keep away from undesirable consideration.”
It’s additionally necessary to plan forward to minimise any potential danger in Marrakech. The central medina is a busy bustling hub of pleasure that each traveller will wish to expertise. However some sensible planning will assist preserve you protected. Portia’s recommendation for feminine travellers is to plan forward: “select well-located accommodations and riads and rent native, licensed guides; ask your lodge to guide your transport.”
Utilizing official guides was a typical tactic to minimise the danger of getting hassled in Marrakech from various feminine travellers we spoke to. Laura from Girls What Journey organised a licensed information to tour the souks of Marrakech which she felt took the stress out of the scenario and enhanced her journey expertise. “I feel being with a Moroccan man positively helped as we weren’t harassed in any respect, everybody was very well mannered and smiley.”
MARRAKECH SAFETY TIPS – FEMALE TRAVELLERS
1 – Gown appropriately to keep away from undesirable consideration
2 – All the time used licenced guides
HEALTH IN MARRAKECH
Staying protected in Marrakech means defending your well being. When you’ll see the locals drink the faucet water, they’ve been getting used to it for years. As a vacationer, it’s a lot safer to drink bottled water or take a filter bottle with you.
Temperatures in Marrakech might be scorching and the solar sturdy. Be sure you put on sunscreen and a hat and guarantee you’re always hydrated and re-energised. A sugary mint tea in a city sq. is all the time possibility.
For journey to Marrakech, it’s additionally a good suggestion to test your immunisations. Particularly, you must verify your Hepatitis A and tetanus vaccines are updated.
However crucial step in safeguarding your well being is to have complete medical insurance coverage. Being hospitalised might be costly and also you’ll need entry to good high quality well being care. When you have a medical scenario whereas in Marrakech, test along with your insurance coverage firm for the place you must go for assist. Most will ship you to the Clinique Internationale Marrakech.
For EU residents, keep in mind that though Marrakech is included within the community of low-cost European flights, Morocco just isn’t within the EU. Subsequently, you aren’t entitled to free medical assist. So, should you normally journey throughout the EU and don’t have a complete medical coverage, you’ll have to get one.
MARRAKECH SAFETY TIPS – HEATH
1 – Verify your required vaccines are updated
2 – Don’t drink the faucet water
3 – Take out good medical insurance coverage
IS MARRAKECH SAFE?
The Marrakech medina is a captivating and distinctive place. It’s thrilling, energising and a good way to expertise a really totally different tradition to what you could be used to within the west.
Cultural variations, plus the media’s over-representation of uncommon occasions, can typically make locations really feel like they’re extra harmful than they really are. Marrakech is not any exception.
However, don’t let fears of security put you off spending a few days in Marrakech. It has virtually no violent crime, petty crime might be averted and also you’ll quickly get used to managing the trouble. As one of many most secure international locations within the Center East and Africa, it offers a wonderful vacation spot for exploring a very totally different tradition.
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If you happen to want any encouragement, learn our information on probably the most fascinating issues to do in Marrakech.
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MORE READING FOR MOROCCO TRIP
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