Should I travel to Morocco alone as a young female?

Should I travel to Morocco alone as a young female? - Blonde barefoot female sitting by painted window in dark lobby with Gothic interior

I've already booked a flight for a one-week long winter holiday to Morocco. Due to a great change of circumstances (=breakup), my partner won't accompany me on the trip. I have never been to Morocco, is it safe to stay and possibly travel there alone as a young female? Are there any safety considerations I'm supposed to take? Marrakesh and Agadir are the cities I planned to visit before, using the public transport between the cities.



Best Answer

All of the city centres in Morocco's metropolitan cities are basically as safe as any other city. Tangier, for example, has cleaned up its act a lot. Most safety tips are 'generic' non-gender specific, like stay alert when using an ATM or walking on poorly lit streets after dark.

A few tips pertinent to women, however, are...

Train and bus travel -

Traveling by train or long-distance bus is generally considered safe, though it pays to keep one eye on your luggage at each stop. Women travelers should look for seats close to those occupied by Moroccan women. The country’s taxis— both petit and grand—are considered generally crime free, but may be poorly maintained and driven recklessly (a request of “beshwïya” [“slowly”] may or may not be heeded). Traveling on a crowded city bus can be unsafe.

Harassment -

Encountering unwanted attention from Moroccan men is unfortunately a possibility for female travelers. The relative lack of social interaction between the sexes in Morocco results in men having little exposure to women other than their immediate family. They often see Western women as not being bound by Morocco’s social restrictions, and perhaps have a not-so respectful assumption of them via easily accessible Internet pornography. This assumption of availability emboldens the Moroccan male to make advances on female travelers that they would never attempt with Moroccan women. This generally takes the form of catcalls and straight-up come-ons. Blonde women may be singled out, and women traveling alone generally receive more attention than most. Women on the receiving end of nonphysical sexual harassment should do what Moroccan women do: Ignore it. Showing confidence and self assurance also seems to deter a lot of would-be Romeos.

Dressing modestly

a long skirt and loose, long-sleeve shirt—can help. Having said that, I’ve seen Western women wearing jellabahs (the traditional robe worn by local women) on the receiving end of lewd comments.

A generic tip on the grands taxis -

There are some pertinent safety concerns attached to traveling in grands taxis. Many drivers are under pressure to work long hours, and falling asleep at the wheel is a definite possibility on night drives, so it’s best to travel by day. Within that busy day, a driver is trying to fit in as many journeys as possible, and will often drive as if there is no one else on the road. Overtaking on blind corners is common on many grand taxi journeys. Added to this is the lack of available seat belts, because it’s either too cramped within the vehicle or there quite simply aren’t any. Needless to say, when chartering a grand taxi, stress on the driver your expectations toward his driving.

Hustlers, Faux Guides, Pickpockets, etc - MeNoTalk's comment above applies. If someone is trying to distract you, go into hyper-alert mode. This holds true for both men and women.

Frommer's Morocco (ISBN 978-0-470-18403-5) has these and several other valuable tips. It's recommended. Citations from Google Books




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Can a woman travel alone in Morocco?

While traveling to Morocco as a female solo traveler may sound intimidating, it's certainly safe and doable. And I would add, well worth it as Morocco is an incredible country with amazing cuisine, unparalleled craftsmanship, and a warm sense of hospitality.

Is Casablanca safe for solo female travelers?

If you follow our tips above and if you don't undertake anything too risky, your travel to any Moroccan city as Marrakech or Casablanca should be safe.

Is it safe to travel to Marrakech alone as a woman?

Marrakech is generally a safe and friendly place to visit, whether you're travelling solo or not. However, as with any city of this size, you should take care to avoid isolated areas when exploring alone \u2013 such as the mountains outside of the city or along the Medina's quiet streets and alleyways at night.

Is Morocco good for young people?

Morocco is a fascinating place for kids and although it can be a bit overwhelming for them, it is not unsafe (from our experience). Moroccans adore children and your experience visiting Morocco with kids will be very rewarding.



Is Morocco safe | Female Travel Tips




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