5 Myths Every Digital Nomad Should Know About Marrakech
When we were planning our trip to digital nomad in Marrakech, I read sooo many blogs all saying the same things. Probably written by *influencers* who were writing something like “The Best 3 Day Moroccan Itinerary”.
Traveling and working allows you to stay in one place much longer than your average traveler, and in Marrakech, we got to see a whole different side of the city.
You might hear how traveling through Morocco is taxing, both physically and mentally – and yes that is true, I’m not going to lie. But we absolutely loved being digital nomads in Marrakech and I find myself missing the exotic culture, delectable food, and general vibes all the time.
We lived in Marrakech for 4 weeks, and traveled other parts of Morocco for +3 weeks. Read on to read the most common MYTHS about being a digital nomad in Marrakech!
5 Myths You Must Know Before Being a Digital Nomad in Marrakech
MYTH: Marrakech is Dangerous
During our month in Marrakech, I generally did feel very safe, even walking at night or by myself. There was only one incident that felt ‘unsafe’ (I’ll elaborate later..). But perhaps as a seasoned traveler I just have a higher tolerance for ‘safety’? I decided to get some cold hard facts to support my claim.
Crime Rate in Marrakech vs USA
The Marrakech crime index is 41.3; let’s see how that compares to some other US cities…
- Santa Cruz, CA: 39.39
- Kansas City, KS: 42.6
- Denver: 43.16
- Santa Fe: 44.33
- Phoenix: 51.77
- West Hollywood (LA): 54.77
- San Francisco: 55.15
- St Louis: 67.2
So according to the data, Marrakech is not anymore ‘dangerous’ than Kansas City or Denver.
But I will say this…
I’ve been pretty lucky in our 2+ years of traveling throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean; nothing bad has happened to us and I’ve never really felt unsafe. But – Morocco is probably the closest I have come.
As a white, American girl in Morocco, I definitely stick out. I would get a lot of attention, both good and bad just walking down the street. It is mostly cat-calling or getting hassled in the Medina; nothing I would constitute as ‘dangerous’, just obnoxious. By the end of our time in Morocco, I had my RBF down pat.
There was one time I was followed in the middle of the day on my way to meet Jack at a restaurant. I slowed down and he slowed down, I sped up and his pace matched mine. Luckily, we were on busy street that I knew well; there was a shopping area up ahead so I knew I could lose him there. As soon as we got to the mall I darted into a boutique. I didn’t see him after a while, so I ran the rest of the way to the restaurant.
MYTH: Everyone is Trying to Rip You Off
We met so many Moroccans who were genuinely nice and helpful people. Unfortunately, one bad apple spoils the bunch. And when you come to Marrakech for a short time and have a bad experience, you think everyone is like that.
Staying in Marrakech for a month, allowed us see a more genuine side that most tourists probably never experience. In the Medina, you will come across more of these types of people (which is why I avoided the main square like the plague), but not staying in Gueliz.
As you would anywhere else in the world, be smart and don’t make yourself a target, or get yourself into a situation you could have avoided. Here are some common tourist scams to watch out for:
Tourist Scams
Getting something for “free”
In Morocco, nothing is free. If someone hands you something as a ‘gift’ just politely refuse. One time in the main square, a women grabbed me and tried to give me a ‘free’ henna tattoo. Once I was finally able to free my arm, she demanded I pay her for it. I vehemently refused and things got heated (and this is why I avoided the square from then on).
Tip: just say no – and sometimes you have to be forceful.
Someone offering to walk you somewhere
A lot of Moroccans are super helpful, kind people, so unfortunately this scam makes you distrusting of everyone. You know the saying… one bad apple spoils the bunch. It is most common in the Medina for tourists looking lost to be targeted and offered help to walk them where they need to go. Or offer to show them ‘something cool’ nearby. Once they ‘help’ you, it is expected you pay them.
If you are actually lost and need help, don’t be afraid to ask! Just know that you might need to provide a tip after.
This isn’t as much of an issue in Marrakech, but in Fes it is common for someone to lead you to a dead end and then rob you.
Tip: don’t walk and look down at your phone, and decline any ‘help’.
Taxi’s not using their meters
Some taxi drivers will try to take advantage of the naïve tourist by not using their meter during the ride, and then charging a lot more once you arrive at your destination. One easy way to combat this is to negotiate the price before getting in the car, and ask them to turn on the meter.
It is technically illegal for their meters to be off or broken.
If the taxi driver refuses or claims it doesn’t work, simply get out and get another taxi. There are so many driving around you can hail another one easily, no need to get yourself in a sticky situation for no reason. We took several taxi’s during our stay and they were all pleasant experiences.
Tip: negotiate the price before getting in and make sure the driver turns on their meter; if they refuse or say its broken, get out.
MYTH: Women Should Dress Super Conservative
Spoiler alert: there is no ‘Moroccan Dress Code’ and you can wear whatever you want.
Moroccans do tend to dress on the conservative side. But Marrakech is a popular city that draws a lot of international visitors, and has a growing expat community, so it is not shocking to see people dressing any way they want. It has even been attracting and inspiring fashion icons, such as Yves Saint Laurent, for decades.
Some Muslim women wear full-body garments that only expose the eyes, while others do not observe any special dress rules. The majority of women wear something in between, like a hijab and full-length dress. Moroccan men mostly wear long pants and thobes (a long dress).
Since Morocco was just one stop on our tour around the world, I did not have the luxury of packing a suitcase of flowy skirts and dresses like you see all the influencers wearing.
I still wore shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, dresses, and crop tops just like I would anywhere else. I dressed slightly more conservative than my usual beach bum vibe, but in May the weather can be in the 100s, so I was not about to walk around bundled up just to avoid the male gaze.
Here are some examples of my outfits:
MYTH: You Should Stay in the ‘Old City’
If you plan to be a digital nomad in Marrakech, I recommend not staying in the Medina (the old part of the city). It’s cool for a short trip or to visit occasionally, but living there would be very stressful and exhausting.
Unless you look Moroccan, you get a lot of attention just walking around. Not to mention, you’ll be wading through hoards of tourists trying to get anywhere. When we were digital nomads in Marrakech for a month, I’m really glad we stayed just outside the Medina and only came in every few days to sightsee and walk around. And even that was too much sometimes.
More practically, most accommodations in the Medina are geared towards short-term travelers like hostels and hotels. If you want to live somewhere more homey (like an Airbnb or apartment), there are hardly any options.
We stayed in Gueliz and I highly recommend that area if you want to be a digital nomad in Marrakech.
MYTH: There’s No Alcohol
Muslims don’t drink alcohol. It is haraam, forbidden. But for everyone else, there is definitely alcohol in Marrakech (it just might be a little harder to find).
In the Medina, alcohol is not commonly sold in restaurants, and there are no bars. However, any nice restaurant will have at least beer and wine. There are actually several types of Moroccan beer, and they even have an exclusive type of wine, Grey Wine (or Vin Gris, a mix between white wine and rosé).
Outside of the Medina, in Gueliz or Hivernage for example, you can easily find alcohol. And believe me, Jack will find it. Hivernage is known for its pulsating nightlife complete with mega clubs, casinos, and chic restaurants. If you want to party until 6am, here are a few nightclubs to add to your list:
- Secret Room
- W Club
- Malak Emerald
- Malak Bay (day club)
Gueliz is a modern, French neighborhood brimming with European cafes, trendy restaurants, and wine bars. Sprinkled throughout Gueliz are also small, low-key clubs, where Moroccans go to have a good time, discretely. There is smoking, drinking and dancing – but no cell phones allowed. You wouldn’t want to get caught doing anything haraam.
Some of our favorite places to grab a drink in Gueliz:
- Le 68 Bar à Vin
- Pointbar
- LE KILIM
- Chesterfield Pub
- Taberna12
- Piu Piu
- Entrepotes
Heading to Morocco? Check out:
Digital Nomad in Marrakech: A Complete Guide
