- Morocco seemed safe, but I did hear some horror stories about solo female travelers from Europe. My fiancée even had one not-so-great experience herself. So yeah, your mileage may vary—gender and circumstances definitely come into play.
- Airport procedures take a while. Two hours, two baggage checks, a manual passport check, and yeah, they still insist on printed boarding passes. If you’re used to Schengen area airports, brace yourself for a change of pace.
- Morocco is super popular now, especially since the 2022 World Cup. It really shows—when we visited Marrakech and Agadir, tourists were everywhere. Americans, folks from the Antipodes, and of course, loads from France and Spain.
- Morocco pulled in around 14.5 million tourists last year, and it feels like even more this year. Between the World Cup hype and all the new construction, it’s buzzing.
- Morocco is all about contrasts. One moment you’re passing a woman fully covered in a traditional djellaba (I had to Google that), and the next, you’re seeing someone dressed like they stepped out of a Parisian cafĂ©. It’s a place where ancient medinas meet the modern vibes of touristy, colonial-style districts.
- Moroccans know how to make couscous, and honestly, it’s great pretty much everywhere. They cook it with veggies in these clay pots, and let me tell you—it’s next level.
- The weather in October was awesome. Marrakech was hot—like 32-38 degrees Celsius—while Agadir was a bit cooler at 22-25 degrees, but still warm enough for my liking.
- It’s mentioned everywhere, but seriously—learn how to negotiate. And always settle on a taxi price before you hop in, or you’ll end up with a bill that’s… well, “surprising” is a nice way to put it.
- InDrive’s an option, but there’s some tension between their drivers and the local taxis, so they’ll only pick you up if they’re sure it’s safe.
- Marrakech is non-stop. The noise, smells, people—it’s an assault on the senses. Definitely check out Jardin Majorelle and El Bahia Palace while you’re there.
- Morocco has a fascinating story starting even before the Muslim Era. The region was home to ancient Berber kingdoms such as Mauretania and was influenced by various civilizations over millennia (Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine).
- Another interesting historical fact. During World War II, Sultan Mohammed V of Morocco played a crucial role in protecting the Jewish population in his country from the anti-Semitic policies imposed by the Vichy regime. He publicly declared that there were no Jews in Morocco, only Moroccan subjects, emphasizing his commitment to protecting all his citizens regardless of their religion
- As a non-national, you’ll definitely notice the “tourist tax” on popular attractions—higher prices just for you!
- I’m already thinking about going back. Next time, I’ll probably rent a car and explore the Atlas Mountains. Everyone’s telling me it’s worth it.
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