Hot take: rudeness, arrogance, and scams in Morocco
Hey everyone,
I recently got back from a 3-week trip through Morocco. Our itinerary covered Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, and Fes. Going into this trip, we had high expectations based on all the cinematic Instagram reels, glowing travel blog reviews, and exotic descriptions of the culture.
Unfortunately, our reality was vastly different. I want to share a balanced, honest account of our experience so others can make an informed decision before booking.
1. Sanitation and Hygiene in the Medinas
The iconic Medinas were one of the main reasons we wanted to visit. While the historic architecture is visually impressive from afar, the ground-level experience was extremely unpleasant.
\* Dirt and Trash: The narrow streets were heavily littered with garbage, food waste, and plastic.
\* Odor: The smell in many parts of the Medinas—especially near meat vendors and alleyways—was unbearable. It felt like basic hygiene and sanitation standards were virtually non-existent in areas heavily frequented by visitors.
2. Local Hospitality & Hostility
Given that Morocco's tourism sector is a vital pillar of its national economy, we expected a warm welcome or at least basic hospitality.
\* Instead, we frequently encountered rudeness, impatience, and an almost arrogant, condescending attitude from many locals we interacted with.
\* You constantly feel like a walking wallet. Every minor interaction felt transactional, and the feeling of being constantly scammed, overcharged, or tricked ("over the table pulled") took a massive toll on our ability to relax.
3. Markets and Souks: Cheap Knick-Knacks vs. Authentic Craftsmanship
If you are expecting rich tradition, handmade artisan goods, and authentic craftsmanship in the souks, prepare to be disappointed.
\* The vast majority of stalls were selling mass-produced, low-quality junk likely imported in bulk.
\* Finding genuine local handcrafts felt like searching for a needle in a haystack amidst rows of identical cheap souvenirs.
4. The Food: Way Overrated
We tried the food across the entire spectrum—from traditional local eateries hidden deep in non-touristy neighborhoods to high-end Western luxury hotels (like the Sofitel, Fairmont, and Hilton).
\* Local Restaurants: The food was mediocre at best. Tagines were often bland, oily, or uninspired.
\* High-End Hotels: Even in 5-star international chains, the culinary experience was severely underwhelming for the prices charged. Overall, Moroccan cuisine felt heavily overrated compared to its global reputation.
5. The Absolute Worst Part: Harassment of Women
By far the most unacceptable aspect of the entire trip was the behavior towards women.
\* In the Medinas: Walking through the streets meant enduring relentless, aggressive staring (gierige Blicke) and discomfort.
\* At Luxury Hotels: You would expect high-end hotel pools/beach areas to be a safe haven, but even there, the intense, disrespectful gazing from men made the women in our group feel extremely uncomfortable while swimming or relaxing.
The level of disrespect was staggering and completely ruined the vacation vibe.
Final Thoughts
Morocco certainly has rich history and striking geometry in its architecture, but the overwhelming combination of poor hygiene, constant hassle, underwhelming food, and systemic disrespect towards female travelers ruined the experience for us.
If you are thinking about going, be prepared for a mentally taxing trip rather than a relaxing cultural getaway.
Would not recommend.