You may be considering traveling to Morocco, and if you’ve never been, you’ve probably been doing a lot of research on the Internet. It’s important for you to brush up on the local customs and codes of behavior that are customary for tourists to abide by these etiquettes. The owners of Moroccan Furniture are originally from Morocco, and they travel there every summer in order to handpick items for our store. They are accustomed with the many myths that have been floating around that could deter you from visiting such a beautiful place, but we’re here to set you straight.
The Myths About Traveling to Morocco
Myth #1: A woman must wear a headscarf to be respectful of local traditions.
The headscarf is called a hijab, and it’s a religious tradition for Muslim women. In Morocco, women aren’t required to wear a headscarf to cover their heads, and in bigger cities, such as Marrakesh, the locals are used to Western wear. Although covering your head isn’t required, you must know the modesty is an expectations so make sure you’re covering your shoulders, arms and legs out of respect.
Myth #2: It’s rude to barter in a country that doesn’t have as strong as an economy as the United States, and you should always pay the asking price.
Moroccan street vendors expect the customers to come in a barter, and many of those vendors actually enjoy the bartering process. The business owners of Marrakesh and other larger cities are very savvy business people, and they understand the value of the goods they’re selling, not only in Morocco, but also in the United States, Canada and Western Europe.
Myth #3: You can and should eat anything that is cooked.
There are several restaurants in larger cities like Marrakesh that are Westernized, and you can certainly get recommendations for places to eat from concierges or guides that you can trust. Even if it’s cooked, you may experience unsafe food practices that contaminate the food and aren’t regulated as they are in the United States. Try to stick to the one-pot meals, like the beef or chicken tagine, because it involves less meal prep.
If you’re interested in traveling to Morocco, and you’d like to get some apparel to help you fit in, try visiting our website. Moroccan Furniture have a variety of Moroccan apparel options that you can choose from, and we offer free shipping! Contact us today!
