9 Ways to Stay Safe (and Sane) in Morocco

Wandering across the Fez medina, I might really feel the stares. “The place are you going? Need to go to the tanneries? I’ll take you. No cash. Don’t fear!” the medina’s fake guides stated as they chased me down the road.

“No, I’m superb,” I’d reply, making an attempt to dodge them at each flip. Turning down facet streets, stopping to have a look at a map, or admiring a view prompted them and any close by vendor to pounce and badger me, inviting me into shops, eating places, and sights.

There have been moments after I would flip down streets solely to have my spidey sense inform me to show again. Just a few guys tried to nook me earlier than I managed to slide right into a retailer. Heck, even just a little child tried to select my pocket. Whereas different cities weren't as intense as Fez, my visit to Morocco required a thick pores and skin and a watchful eye.

Earlier than my journey, I queried quite a lot of buddies about their experiences. I’d heard horror tales of touts, harassment, pickpockets, and scams. Whereas that's frequent all over the place, Morocco appeared to take it to a different degree. “Hold an eye fixed out,” everybody warned.

After two weeks traversing the nation (which is wonderful — see this post, where I fawn all over it!) with Intrepid Journey on their Better of Morocco tour, I may see why folks say Morocco calls for further diligence. Touts, scammers, and harassers abound and, whereas it wasn’t dangerous after I was with my group, once I was alone, it was intense. As I settled into the well-known and secluded Café Clock in Fez to chill out, I messaged fellow writers on-line to ask if I used to be overreacting or in the event that they felt the identical means.

“No, it’s not simply you,” was the common reply.
You’re unlikely to ever be in any actual bodily hazard in Morocco, however the petty crime and harassment require you to remain on guard — extra so than different nations. Nonetheless, if you happen to comply with just a few guidelines, you possibly can depart unscathed:

1. Don’t stroll alone at evening — Whereas strolling in properly-lit and busy areas may be fantastic, watch out strolling at night time. You by no means know what lurks across the nook within the medinas. Petty crime is rampant right here, particularly towards vacationers.
2. Don’t stroll alone when you’re a girl — A woman alone will entice quite a lot of unwarranted consideration from males, an elevated probability of being adopted, and the probability of groping. Even once I was with the women on my journey, they received a number of consideration. I may solely think about how a lot worse it was after they had been alone. And, as a feminine, particularly don't stroll alone at night time!
3. Costume conservatively — Morocco is a conservative Muslim nation, and it’s not applicable to put on skimpy clothes. Preserve your arms, shoulders, and legs lined (particularly if you're a lady) to keep away from any undesirable consideration and conform to native norms.
4. Keep away from flashy jewellery — An excellent common rule, this takes on extra urgency in a rustic the place theft is widespread and folks will see the jewellery as an indication of wealth and due to this fact attempt tougher to rip-off you in shops or rob you on the streets.
5. Don’t carry valuables — Since muggings and pickpockets are frequent, take the minimal you want once you depart your resort or hostel. Don’t take your passport with you – go away it within the lodge! A couple of folks on my tour carried it round with them and when my information discovered, he appeared like he was about to have a coronary heart assault!
6. Keep away from again alleys — The tiny alleys of the medina are stunning to discover however typically they make you simple prey for scammers and thieves. Don’t enterprise too distant from the crowds.
7. Look ahead to scams — If somebody asks you into their store for tea, they will use that as a pretext to get you to purchase one thing and, because of the engrained psychological concept of reciprocity, you’ll most likely give in. Don’t let anybody ask you to jot down a letter or learn a postcard that their “cousin” despatched to them in English/French/no matter your native language is. It’s a ruse to get you into their retailer and put on you down. Similar with letting somebody put henna in your hand. As soon as these distributors have you ever, they are going to be relentless about you making an attempt on garments, shopping for one thing, or giving them cash. Say “no thank-you” and stroll away.
8. Say no to tour guides — The individuals saying “no cash” positively need your cash. They may attempt to get you into their retailers or take you locations and ask for cash for the service. Be agency and inform them no. It doesn’t matter their age or how useful they're, if they begin strolling with you, they'll ask for cash!
9. At all times negotiate taxi costs up entrance — At all times negotiate the value for taxis earlier than you get in, as costs are going to be considerably inflated while you arrive at your vacation spot.

Whereas that is good recommendation for any nation, Morocco is extra intense than your common vacation spot as a result of sheer quantity of people that offers you undesirable consideration. It takes a variety of power to at all times be in your guard in a spot the place the easy act of asking for instructions typically leads folks asking for cash.

I used to be insulated as a result of I used to be on a tour, however after I was alone or with only a few folks, individuals got here out of the woodwork, catcalled my pals, grabbed at the girls, and blocked entrances to eating places with a view to accost us. Even after a decade of journey, I discovered myself wishing I had a companion to share the psychological burden and eager to scream, “Depart me alone so I can simply get pleasure from your nation!”

Many individuals have requested me if they need to go to Morocco alone. My sincere reply is: I’m undecided. It was my first time in North Africa and it was an adjustment. I used to be glad to be on a tour and have a information. For those who don’t have numerous journey expertise or are a woman traveling alone, it would simply be an excessive amount of. I'd recommend happening a tour first as an alternative of exploring the nation solo. It’s mentally exhausting and there are lots of groping fingers. Furthermore, it's arduous to get into the distant desert and mountains on the general public transportation methods. I wouldn’t drive right here both, as everybody races round mountain curves.

That’s to not say you would by no means journey solo right here — in case you are robust, you'll be able to — however general, I might say it’s a rustic higher fitted to a tour. You’ll discover it simpler to get round and be insulated from the harassment.

Morocco was a battery on my senses — the food, the colours, the spices, the smells, and the scenery have been unforgettable. (Additionally the doorways — they've such ornate and colourful doorways in Morocco. I've dozens of images of doorways). I might a hundred% suggest to anybody that they go to the nation, however ensure you preserve an additional eye out (particularly in Fez) and have a thick pores and skin.

How To Stay Safe in South Africa

 
On the second Wednesday of the month, Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes a guest column featuring tips and advice on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice. This month her column is on safety in South Africa.

At the dinner table back home in California, I asked my friends to name the first thing that came to their minds when they thought about South Africa. I expected them to say things like “elephants!” and “Lion King!” but instead “Ebola,” “soccer,” and “crime” were among the responses I got. When I told them that I would be traveling there by myself, they were horrified at the thought.

This is proof to me that much is misunderstood — or at the very least generalized and oversimplified — about this country, which has a lot more going for it than some misplaced Ebola rumors and a World Cup that took place a few years ago. South Africa is huge and diverse, spanning 471,000 square miles, with a population of over 53 million and eleven official languages.

Why South Africa gets a bad rap

South Africa is the first country where the locals have repeatedly told me that muggings and violent crime are a big problem and, according to most I’ve spoken with, on the rise. It seemed to me that South Africans were among the first to caution me about the dangers traveling around the country.

According to this post by the BBC, the rate of violent crime is the ninth highest in the world, and incidence of rape is the highest in the world. And in a 2012 study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, South Africa had an annual intentional homicide rate of 30 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

While this may seem high, it’s lower than Detroit (54), Honduras (92), and Belize (44). Moreover, the homicide rate has gone down since apartheid ended, and there have been no murders in Cape Town’s five safest neighborhoods, where tourists tend to flock. It’s not a war zone — most violent crime takes places between people who know each other in dangerous neighborhoods that tourists don’t tend to visit. Tourists in South Africa are the targets mainly of petty crime.

The country’s history — apartheid’s forced racial separation followed by its abolition and the subsequent movement toward reconciliation spearheaded by former President Nelson Mandela — lends a bit of understanding to where the country is today. Though still rife with political, economic, and racial struggles, South Africa is not as scary and dangerous as it is often perceived.

Staying safe

After spending nine weeks solo traveling through the country, I did find that I had to take more precautions than I do in Southeast Asia or Germany, but the dangers are not all that different from the big cities back home in the United States or other parts of Europe.

While much of staying safe means following the safety rules you obey back home and following your intuition, the following are some tips to make your visit to South Africa more likely to be hassle-free.

Know where not to go

Though crime rates are higher in the townships, which are settlements established during apartheid for forced racial segregation, staying safe does not mean staying out of them altogether. Some of my favorite memories, such as drinks shared around an unlicensed bar, little kids swinging from my arms, and delicious streetside BBQ, all came from my time spent in the townships.
They’re friendly places. They’re just better visited during daylight hours and with a local guide who lives there and knows the lay of the land. This can be organized through your guesthouse or by seeking information from the tourism board. Soweto in Johannesburg, for example, has everything from biking to bus tours and welcomes tourists thanks to the benefits of the money they bring in.

Don’t walk at night

People tend to become targets by walking in cities rather than taking private or public transportation. Even in a group, pickpocketing can occur, but it’s much more likely to happen when walking alone. Avoid walking alone when possible, especially at night.

Don’t be flashy

Wearing jewelry and designer clothing and taking your phone out when out and about are all great ways to become a target. Bringing expensive jewelry on vacation is not advisable in the first place, but if you do have pricey things like a camera, keep them hidden. And never keep your passport on you.
The more likely it seems that you’re a foreigner who does not know the lay of the land, the more likely you are to become a target for petty theft. Put the phone away and take it out when safely at home or in a café.

Lock your car doors and keep valuables hidden

Other common occurrences, especially in big cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, are car break-ins and carjackings.
Avoid these by keeping the doors locked while driving and keeping absolutely everything — sunglasses, phones, bags, and wallets — out of sight. Nothing of value or anything that seems like it could possibly be valuable, including cheap sunglasses, should be visible when the car is parked and unattended.
In the big cities, unlicensed parking attendants are always around to “watch” your car for you, so throw them a tip now and then for keeping an eye out for your car when you’re not around.

Have a dummy wallet

Though I believe I stayed safe mostly because I didn’t walk around much, there were a few times when I got tired of being scared and walked short distances instead of taking a taxi or a bus. To protect my belongings, I carried a “dummy wallet” that had just a few canceled credit cards and a bit of petty cash in it, while I hid everything else in my shoe or, honestly, in my bra.

If anyone approached me, I planned to freely hand over my bag so that the thief had something to take while the rest was safely hidden. It never came down to this, as I never experienced any crime first-hand, but I felt ready should a thief approach.

Be aware and listen to your instincts

It also helps to be hyper-aware. If you must walk, take in your surroundings, look in every direction, make a point of letting everyone know that you’re paying attention by keeping your head up and looking alert. Try never to be alone on a sidewalk, and get as close to families as possible.

I once walked down a quiet side street in the up-and-coming Woodstock area of Cape Town and, realizing nobody was around, immediately turned around and went back to the busy main road. It felt sketchy, and my alarm bells sounded.
If someone appeared to be paying me too much attention, I’d look that person in the eye and say “hello” or step into a store with other people inside.

Use universal common sense

I thought about my safety precautions in South Africa compared to what I would do at home. I certainly wouldn’t walk around most parts of Los Angeles or other major American cities alone and wouldn’t even consider it at night, particularly not with my phone out. I guard my bag like a hound in most major European cities due to the incredibly high pickpocketing rates. It really wasn’t so different in South Africa.


It’s very easy to travel safe in South Africa. You just need to take more precautions than you would in, say, Germany or Thailand.
It used to be that I couldn’t answer the question when asked about my favorite country I’ve been to. Now I reply “South Africa.” Though statistics can make it seem like a scary place, in reality I spent much more time enjoying myself than ever worrying about being robbed or becoming a victim of violent crime. While safety should always be foremost in your mind, South Africa did not feel scary, uncomfortable, or dangerous.

How to Take a Cruise for as Little as $30 Per Day

Cruises could be costly affairs. First, ships reel you in with a “low cost” room and an onboard credit score however then smack you round with excessive-priced drinks, non-included eating places, and greenback-a-minute Web. A few years in the past, I went on the Oasis of the Seas (one of the largest boats in the world) on a seven-day cruise around the Caribbean. The listed worth of this cruise?
$800 USD.

That’s costly for per week of cruising. You possibly can go to Southeast Asia for a month on that form of cash. Fortunately, there are, in reality, methods to cruise for as little as $30 per day. It simply takes a little bit of ability, a variety of self-discipline, and a little bit of sneakiness.
Notice: The place did I get that value? That’s the most cost effective listed worth on Cruise Sheet, a web site I clarify under. I’ve been monitoring costs for months, and that's usually the constant least expensive determine.

E-book a Low cost Cruise

Reserving an inexpensive cruise is definitely fairly straightforward and requires just one factor: flexibility. See, cruise pricing is much like tour pricing. The nearer you get to the departure date, the decrease the worth turns into. Why? As a result of cruise ships don’t wish to depart with half-empty boats, in order that they drop costs steadily till that boat is leaving port, since for them empty cabins imply much less cash. Cruises make nearly all of their cash from what individuals buy on board, so they need our bodies on these ships.

(Plus, many of the crew earns their cash from suggestions, so they should hold the crew comfortable — and in addition to, who's going to assume extremely of a cruise that's solely half full?)
You too can guide early, however I discover final-minute bookings to be one of the best. And since you might be reserving near departure, you have to be versatile with the place you're prepared to go or OK with not reserving the precise cruise even should you booked your flights.
 
One other tip comes Doug Parker of Cruise Radio, “When the children are in class, the charges are the very best.” This holds true in all journey however particularly cruising, as a result of it's such a household exercise. Don’t journey when everybody else is touring! In case you do this or journey through the shoulder season, yow will discover the very best charges. Chris from Chris Cruises additionally reiterates my advice: “Ebook far upfront or final minute for the most effective fares.”

So the place do you have to go to e book your cruise?
Doug advises that you just begin with a journey agent, as they've relationships with the cruise firms and may typically get higher charges and final-minute offers. And my expertise has me agreeing. Whereas there are lots of “do it your self” choices, journey brokers usually can discover a lot decrease costs and may act as liaison to cruise corporations when one thing goes flawed.
If you wish to go together with the “do it your self” angle, you solely have to go to a few sources to search out low-cost cruises:

• Cruise Sheet
• Vacations to Go
• Cruise Deals

These web sites do an in depth job of scouring the online for cruise offers. Holidays to Go is extra of a journey agent/operator and thus usually has higher offers since they'll negotiate with the cruise strains straight, however remember the fact that they add loads of charges. Cruise Sheet is solely a web site aggregator that crawls the net after which shows low-cost final-minute fares. That is my favourite cruise web site, because it appears to seek out all of the offers and makes discovering an inexpensive cruise simple. Cruise Offers has a weekly deals newsletter worth subscribing to.

When it comes to timing, don’t e book early. As Doug states, “the one profit to reserving early is to safe the room you need.” If you would like a selected cabin, e book early. In any other case, wait till the final minute. As I stated to start with, cruise corporations don’t need to sail empty ships and so do heavy final-minute discounting — be certain to enroll in cruise firm newsletters to remain knowledgeable!

Lastly, if you happen to e-book a cruise and the value drops, contact the cruise or your journey agent. They may usually provide the distinction as an onboard credit score.
As Chris from Chris Cruises states, “There are such a lot of ships now, costs are at an all time low.” Now is a good time to go on a cruise.

Three Issues to Keep in mind

Smaller is cheaper – Smaller boats are usually cheaper since they provide fewer facilities and points of interest.
Cruise within the off season – Touring off season (Caribbean through the hurricane season, Alaska in September) will get you markedly cheaper fares.
Take a repositioning cruise — Repositioning cruises are when cruise traces transfer ships from one a part of the world to the subsequent in anticipation of the upcoming season. These “cruises” are a good way to cross an ocean or sail down a continent’s coast on a budget and may be discovered on any cruise reserving web site.
What about your flight? Don’t ebook your flight with the cruise — ebook it individually.

The right way to Get pleasure from a Low-cost Cruise

Cruises aren't typically all-inclusive and change into more and more much less so annually. Chris states, “the gravy is what folks spend on board.” Cruise ships need you spending, since that’s the place they've the perfect margins. Nonetheless, if you're sensible and disciplined, cruises don’t should value way more than the worth of the cabin itself. Right here’s how to save cash whereas on board:

Skip the soda — A very long time in the past, soda was free. Now, it's a must to pay round $three USD for a tiny glass, or you may pay $forty five-60 USD for a soda card that offers you limitless soda at some stage in the cruise. You’d must drink quite a lot of soda to make that value it. As an alternative, keep on with the free water, iced teas, and juices on the ship. Your pockets and insulin ranges will thanks.

Say no to photographs — Do you really want some tacky “skilled” images of your loved ones? I didn’t suppose so. Get them accomplished again residence for much less or take a digital digicam and have somebody take them for you on the ship.

Keep away from the eating places — On most cruise ships as of late, there are specialty eating places you could ebook for an added value. Some are à la carte, some cost a set charge. (The sushi restaurant I attempted on the Oasis of the Seas was à la carte.) Keep away from these specialty eating places. The meals within the eating areas, the buffets, and the opposite retailers is simply nearly as good and less expensive. (In case you do resolve to e book, doing so earlier than you board can usually prevent 25%. Doug additionally suggests searching for eating packages, as they work out cheaper, too.)

Restrict your ingesting — $6 beers and $10 blended drinks can actually add up. Get pleasure from enjoyable within the solar whereas sober and skip spending a ridiculous amount of cash on booze. I used to be amazed at how rapidly my alcohol invoice added up after only a few days of wine with dinner and a few piña coladas whereas sitting by the pool.

Carry your personal provides — Cruise corporations will allow you to carry one case of your individual water, soda, and beer, in addition to a bottle of wine onto the ship.

Convey further booze — For those who do need to drink onerous liquor whereas on board, get Rum Runners. These helpful little luggage let you pour alcohol into them and — as a result of there aren't any air bubbles — escape the X-ray machine. You could be sneaky, however in the event you’re sensible, you may smuggle your individual alcohol on board and keep away from paying for prime-priced drinks.

Keep away from the on line casino — This goes with out saying.

Plan your personal shore excursions — Cruise-run shore excursions are overpriced and crowded. As a substitute, perform some research on-line and plan your individual actions with native operators who will get to maintain all the cash. You’ll lower your expenses, help the native financial system much more instantly, and keep away from the hordes that may litter your pictures.

Simply keep in mind that the boat will depart with out you, so give your self sufficient time to get again. Doug Parker recommends the corporate Shore Excursions Group whose actions are 30% cheaper and affords a assure that it's going to get you again to the boat in time.

Clear your individual garments — Having laundry finished on a ship prices loopy cash. As a substitute of sending a bag of garments off to be cleaned, you pay per article like in very nice inns. Frankly, my socks aren’t value $2 USD every. As a substitute, purchase some Woolite and clear your personal garments within the bathtub or sink.

Skip the airport transfers — The airport transfers cruise firms provide are overpriced, and you'll match right into a cab for a less expensive price.

Skip something that prices cash — That is apparent, however I wish to cowl all of the bases. The spa, the purchasing, the Web, the cellular phone entry, and so forth. All of them price cash. Don’t do it! Save the cash for one thing cheaper again on dry land.

And keep in mind for those who do spend cash on a cruise, through the use of the reserving suggestions from the earlier part, it's best to be capable of get a free onboard credit score that can cowl a few of your prices!

I like cruises. I think a cruise is a great vacation as a result of it's a probability to get away from all the things and have a spot the place you'll be able to simply calm down. Sitting on a ship by the pool, drink in hand, with no care on the earth. I eat properly (all-day salad buffet), sleep effectively, head to the health club, and calm down. I don’t consider it as “journey” however extra of a soothing break.

The ancillary prices of cruises are what actually add up and make a cruise “costly.” However for those who keep away from all the extra prices and benefit from your onboard credit score, you may cruise for simply the bottom fee of your cabin. It takes self-discipline to keep away from that subsequent piña colada, however you are able to do it. You may simply take pleasure in a whole cruise with out spending a penny!