Was Morocco Worth It? My Unfiltered Travel Experience
From haunted riad energy to stunning sunsets, here’s what no one tells you about visiting Morocco.
Hey creators + curious travelers —
If you came here from my Morocco travel guide blog post, welcome 👋
That post was all about what we did, where we went, and the beautiful, colorful, wanderlust side of Morocco.
But this post? This is the unfiltered version. The real story.
Because while Morocco is vibrant, unique, and absolutely worth visiting — there are definitely some truths that don’t make it to the highlight reel.
Let’s get into it 👇
So, let’s talk about the Riad in Fes — which they have only 5 star reviews and the name (which you’ll find out later), has Luxury in it.
👀 Luxury? Babe, where?
From the second we arrived, it felt… off.
We had just finished a 7-hour travel day from Marrakech to Casablanca, then to Fes. Everyone was exhausted. We were greeted by the hotel manager, who at first came off warm, friendly, and overly accommodating — asking about my work, chatting about social media, offering up their “local experiences,” etc. (More on that in a sec.)
When we were shown to our rooms, that’s when it all hit. The Riad itself was very old, with a dark, claustrophobic layout. My room had no external windows, only an interior one that looked down into the lobby. No sunlight. No airflow. No thank you.
The lighting? Basically non-existent. The single bulb in the bedroom flickered constantly — and if you're even remotely spiritual like me, you know that's not just bad wiring... it's bad energy.
There was this weird old portrait in the room too, hanging right across from the bed like it was watching me sleep. Creepy AF.
From the jump, I got haunted Riad energy — and no, I didn’t sleep that night. At all.
To top it off, we were near a mosque, so around 4:30 AM the prayer calls started blasting through the walls. Not knocking the culture at all — but on top of the vibes, the lighting, the weird room layout? I was already on edge.
🍞 The Bread Bloat Breakdown + Cooking Class Chaos
Now let’s talk food — Morocco is bread-heavy. Like, bread with every. single. meal.
And me? I'm gluten intolerant. So by this point in the trip — around day 4 — my stomach had already started revolting.
Bloated. Cramping. Zero appetite.
I looked pregnant with a gluten baby. (See below)
That morning, we had bread (again) for breakfast. Then a 7+ hour guided walking tour through Fes. I was dying by mid-day — tired, sick, and absolutely not in the mood to pretend I had the energy to cook a feast.
That evening, we were supposed to attend a cooking class — something the Riad manager had been pushing hard since the moment we arrived.
He asked us repeatedly to confirm. Said it had to be booked now. Said it was "a must."
The girls were down, so I agreed at first… but as the day went on and my body was screaming nope, I decided I couldn't do it.
I texted him to let him know I wasn’t feeling well, that I’d need to skip it — but I’d still pay in full.
His reply?
“You can’t cancel. It’s already confirmed.”
“You’ll feel better after tea and lemon.”
“You have to come. You’ll love it.”
I said: I’ll wait a few hours, and if I still feel terrible, I’m out.
👀 Enter: Creepy Manager Energy (0 to 100 Real Quick)
When we got back to the Riad after the tour, he was waiting for us. And you could feel the shift in his energy. Like, visibly angry.
He asked how I was feeling. I said clearly:
“I still feel awful. I won’t be attending the class — but again, I’m happy to pay.”
What followed felt unhinged.
He kept insisting I had to go. That it was “mandatory.” That this was “an experience you must do in Morocco.”
I told him, with respect: no. I can barely stand. I need to lie down.
And here’s where it got weird. Suddenly, after saying the day before we could all pay by card, he singles me out and says:
“You two can pay by card. But Nancy must pay in cash.”
Umm… what?!
He literally told me the day before that I could pay with card. Now, because I’m not going, I’m somehow penalized?
We offered to just use one card for everyone. He refused. Insisted I was the only one who couldn’t.
It felt like punishment. Like, “how dare you say no” energy.
And the only difference? I was the one who told him I worked in social media.
At this point I genuinely felt uncomfortable — like he was angry I wasn’t going to be there to post, promote, or document the class.
Sir… I’m barely functioning, and you’re worried about Instagram?
🔮 Thank God for a Travel Partner
Luckily, my travel partner from Afritrip Morocco stepped in (shoutout to him!) and handled it.
He was able to negotiate the cost down since I wasn’t attending, and made it clear the manager’s behavior wasn’t okay.
Still, that night? I was alone in the Riad while the girls went to the class.
The lights kept flickering. My stomach hurt. I had zero peace.
Spiritually, it felt like my guides were screaming: get out.
If we hadn’t been checking out the next morning, I honestly don’t know how I would’ve handled another night there.
The Riad, by the way? Amira Luxury Palace.
The “luxury” is... in the name only 💀
🧿 Is Morocco Safe for Women? Let’s Talk About It.
Let’s get into the question I got asked the most before, during, and after this trip:
“Is Morocco safe for women?”
And here’s my honest answer:
➡️ Yes — but with boundaries.
➡️ Yes — but with support.
➡️ And yes, but you need to be aware of how things work there.
Let’s be real — Moroccan men can be aggressive, especially in the medinas.
It’s not dangerous in the “I felt physically unsafe” way, but in the “wow you’re really not reading the room and you need to chill” way.
There’s a lot of energy. A lot of staring. A lot of pressure to buy, pressure to commit, pressure to say yes.
If you’re not used to that, or you don’t know how to be firm with your no’s — it can feel really overwhelming.
🙅♀️ Personal Experience: The Good, The Pushy & The Weird
🛎️ The first hotel I stayed at (on night one) wasn’t great either (Yaad City Hotel in Marrakech). The front desk guys weren’t helpful at all — I asked simple questions like where to exchange money or how to get a taxi, and they basically dismissed me.
That moment, I was like: note to self — book hotels that care and know how to help you.
🕌 In the markets, the pushiness continues. From catcalling to over-talking to just not understanding your space, it gets a lot. But important note:
They don’t grab you.
They don’t touch you.
It’s more verbal than physical — unlike parts of Southeast Asia where they can literally grab your arm to get your attention.
That being said — the pressure, the persistence, the comments? It’s still a lot. Especially for first-time solo female travelers.
🗺️ So… Would I Still Recommend Morocco?
Yes. 100%.
But I’d recommend you do it smart.
✨ Hire a local guide or travel partner.
For me, Afritrip Morocco made the trip. They handled logistics, smoothed over uncomfortable moments, helped with bookings, translated when needed, and were the buffer between me and the chaos.
If you’re planning to go, I truly recommend booking through them — you can even use my name “Nancy” for 10% off your custom itinerary: afritripmorocco.com
You can view my recent IG Reel to get an idea of what we did on our curated Moroccan trip.
✨ Book Airbnbs or vetted boutique hotels.
Weirdly enough, the safest I felt the entire trip? Was in our Airbnbs. It was clean, secure, comfortable, and the hosts were super responsive.
✨ Set clear boundaries.
Learn to say “no thank you” firmly. Walk away confidently. You don’t owe anyone anything — not a sale, not a smile, not a conversation.
✨ Bring meds or digestive support.
Bread. Is. Everywhere.
And unless you’re eating in very specific places, it’s going to be hard to avoid gluten. I wish I brought more digestive enzymes or a probiotic routine with me. (Next time, I will.)
💫 What I Did Love About Morocco
Let’s not let one Riad ruin it all — because there were so many things I loved:
🌿 The scenery — Morocco is stunning. Fes is lush and green. Rabat is breezy and modern. Marrakech is colorful chaos in the best way.
🍋 The food — My stomach issues aside, Moroccan food is incredible.
Chicken tagine with preserved lemon
Fresh seafood in Rabat
Mint tea and cinnamon orange desserts
I literally dream about that menu.
🎨 The craftsmanship — from ceramics to scarves to handwoven rugs — it’s all made with care and soul. Watching locals create these pieces during the tour in Fes was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
🤍 The sense of culture — Morocco doesn’t water itself down. The call to prayer echoing through the city, the way the medinas are preserved, the generational recipes, the pride in their crafts — it’s all so deeply authentic.
✨ Final Thoughts
Morocco will challenge you.
It’s not a trip where everything is aesthetic and curated and polished.
It’s a trip that asks you to show up fully — with boundaries, awareness, curiosity, and yes, a little spiritual protection too 🔮
But for every creepy Riad manager, there was a sweet shopkeeper.
For every aggressive moment, there was a peaceful tea on a rooftop.
And for every time I doubted it — Morocco surprised me in the best way.
Would I go again?
Yes — but now, I’d go smarter.
If you’re planning a trip soon and want to know more, or if you’ve ever had a WTF travel experience, I’d love to hear your story too. Drop it in the comments 💬
And if you made it this far — thanks for reading the real side of Morocco 💛
xo,
Nancy