Unfortunately not, as the riad is not soundproofed enough to conceal for example the sound of a dog barking. Instead, we welcome the small birds that nest in the trees of the riad.
With a warm and semi-arid climate, Marrakech is a popular destination all year around. It rarely rains and the sunshine is more or less constant, though it can get very cold at night. In our opinion, the best time to visit is spring and autumn as some people struggle with the intense heat of summer (around 35°C in July and August). However, all of our rooms are air-conditioned and during these months you can explore the Medina without the crowds, giving you a calmer experience of the city. The low humidity level makes the heat more bearable; we’d just advise you to adopt the local habits and rest between midday and the early afternoon. During winter, the climate is pleasant with a lot of sunshine, but it can rain a little more often.
Although Morocco is a very moderate country in terms of Islamic practice, you still need to be respectful of the culture. Women should avoid miniskirts or mini shorts in the Medina, as well as any plunging necklines. It is perfectly acceptable for women to wear short-sleeve tops and knee-length skirts or for men to wear sleeveless t-shirts and shorts. You may like to carry a wrap to cover your shoulders when visiting religious buildings.
The vast majority of Moroccans are not very strict about dress practices, especially in Marrakech – some other cities are more conservative – and most Moroccan women do not wear a veil. Some wear a scarf that covers their hair; the ‘hijab’.
Between April-September, we’d advise you to wear light clothing, and from February-March and October-November you’ll want an extra layer or shawl for the evenings. During winter in Marrakech, you should dress similarly to how you would dress in autumn in Northern Europe, with warmer clothes for the evenings.
Electric plugs in Morocco have 2 round pins, similar to most European plugs, and the supply voltage is 220V. If you are coming from the UK or USA your electrical appliances will need adaptors.
Ramadan is a religious holiday that lasts about one month, during which Muslims refrain from eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset. The dates vary annually, and the end of Ramadan is marked by Aid Al-Fitr, one of the 2 major festivals of the Islamic calendar.
From our point of view, Ramadan is by no means a reason to not visit Morocco – quite the contrary. It is a period that is often calmer, and punctuated by the festive ‘ftour’ (breaking of the fast), which takes place every evening, when the buzzy atmosphere of the city is magnified ten-fold. If the Moroccans you meet during the day seem a bit slow during this month, remember that they started their day at 4am and won’t eat again until sunset!
Muslims are generally tolerant of tourists during Ramadan, but it is respectful not to eat, drink, smoke or show affection in public, especially in non-tourist areas.
As far as the souks, restaurants, museums, banks and government offices are open as normal, nothing really changes during Ramadan. Sometimes they close earlier than usual to allow staff to return home in time for breaking the fast. Trains, buses and planes stick to regular schedules.
Friday is a day of collective prayer, and marks the start of the weekend in most Muslim countries, but in Morocco everybody works on Friday and the weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday. The souks are open on Friday but there is a small slowdown in activity during the main prayer, between noon and 1pm.
In Morocco as a whole, it is customary to leave a tip if you are satisfied with the service, but it is not compulsory. As a guide, tip 1 Dirham per person for a coffee, 5 Dirhams per person in the cheaper restaurants, and 10-15% of the bill in upmarket restaurants.
We are often asked if it is appropriate to tip staff at the Riad. Our staff have no expectation of this, but if you are happy with the service you have received there is a tip box in the manager’s office. Its content is shared equally amongst all staff members.
Yes. There is a much lower level of crime here than in most cities in Europe or the United States. However, we’d always advise following basic rules of caution. Avoid carrying too much money, and do not keep your wallet and phone in your back pocket or wear conspicuous jewellery in the souks. Minor crimes do occur in Marrakech, but they are usually non-violent and non-confrontational. Tourist police are dedicated to ensuring that visitors feel safe here.
Terrorism can be a source of concern for some travellers, and the sad events in recent years, particularly in Europe and Africa, require us to talk about it. Morocco has been a stable country for many years – its liberal society is moderate and the country is geographically distant from any conflict zone. A terrorist attack can obviously happen anywhere, but the Moroccan police and security services are extremely vigilant. We consider the country to be much less exposed to this type of risk than most major European capitals.
Taking a taxi in Marrakech can be an adventure because drivers tend to take advantage of tourists. Here are some tips to make sure you are prepared for the most cunning of drivers!
Small taxis (beige colour). These cars are for 1-3 passengers, so if there are more of you, you will have to take more taxis. Insist that they put on the meter, which they often refuse to do despite this being illegal. If they will not, simply get out and wait for the next one – there is no shortage of taxis in Marrakech. If you do not want to wait, be sure to negotiate hard; there is no reason for you to pay more than a Moroccan. An average journey in town should cost 10-25 Dirhams, and at night, the drivers apply a legal increase of 50%.
Big taxis (usually old Mercedes models). Small taxis cannot leave the city walls so for longer journeys you will need a big taxi. Avoid these in town though as they are much more expensive. You will need to negotiate the price of the journey, which should be about 150 Dirhams per 20km.
Most things are not open to negotiation – eg restaurant prices and bus tickets. The prices are the same for everyone (locals and tourists) and will often be displayed.
However, prices are often hiked up considerably for tourists in the souks, which is why they are rarely shown. They can vary according to the time of day, the client, the mood of the seller… Haggling is part of the fun and the aim is a price that both the buyer and seller are happy with. Be prepared to walk away and you’ll do much better!