DOS AND DON'TS FOR WOMEN VISITING URBAN MOROCCO

These bitches went on a wild adventure throughout Morocco and while it was an amazing trip, we recommend women traveling with caution, especially if you're traveling alone. While most of our trip was spent in the rural areas of the country in the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, we did spend a few days in urban Marrakech. So we put together the dos and don'ts from our experience so you can hopefully feel more comfortable on your travels.

Do:

• Travel with a group - I do not recommend going out alone, especially at night. If at all possible, travel with a buddy and stay close together and be sure to watch each other's backs.

• Cover up - this is a different culture and you will stand out if you're wearing barely anything. Not saying you can't wear whatever you want, but if you feel uncomfortable at all, grab a headscarf - easy way to cover up your top half. Also get a headscarf in general, especially if you're planning on heading up to the Sahara Desert.

• Have your guard up - this is basic information for everyone, not just women. Don't go down dark alleys, beware of pick pockets, wear a crossbody bag vs. a normal purse or backpack.

• Pay a little more - compared to the U.S., things are a lot cheaper here. So spend a little extra money to help you feel safe - stay at a 5-Star Riad, book transfer service (Medinas are hard to navigate, trust me), and book a travel guide.

• Do a lot of shopping - like I said, items are a lot cheaper here, so it's a great place to go on a shopping spree. Some of the coolest souvenirs I found were the Moroccan lamps - so cool and so unique. Just be smart and haggle with them to get a great price!

• Wear sunglasses - this allows you to look around (especially while you shop) and not have to worry about making unwanted eye contact with others, preventing unwanted conversation.

• Stay in a Riad - Riads are a typical Moroccan house turned travel accommodation. But again, pay a little more to stay in a really nice one. Our 5-Star Riad that had 3 beds was only $45 USD a night! If you need a Marrakech recommendation, we highly recommend Riad L'Etoile D'Orient which is right next to Jemaa el-Fna - AKA exactly where you want to be! Ali at the front desk was our saving grace during this trip. Not only did he make us dinner one night, but he left the hotel when he was the only one working and walked us all the way through the Medina and waited with us until our cab got there so we felt safe.

• Have fun! - take the time and really explore the unique cities and a different culture. If in Marrakech, be sure to walk through the Medina and Jemaa El-Fnaa square, visit Bahia Place, and the Koutoubia Mosque.

Don't:

• Carry your phone in your back pocket - this was actually a tip given to us by Ali, the owner of the Riad in Marrakech we stayed at. Pick pocketing is very common here and a phone sticking out of the back of your jeans in easy to grab, especially in crowded areas.

• Look like you're lost - this is the best way to get scammed! People will offer to help you find your way around then ask you for a payment following. Make sure if you're exploring you know your route ahead of time and have the maps pre-loaded on your phone so you don't spend a lot of time looking down at it.

• Respond to unwanted attention - we found that in the urban areas of Morocco, we got a lot of cat-calling and comments yelled at us. It can feel rude to not respond, especially if what they're saying is flattering, but believe me it's not worth it as you'll risk them wanting to continue the conversation. If it gets too aggressive, be firm and let them know you will find the police unless they leave you alone.

• Get scammed - Emily can attest to this one, but throughout the Medina and the square there will be people trying to get you to pay for all sorts of things that you do not want to. Don't get caught filming a video of snake charmers or taking a photo of a monkey, they will insist you pay them for it. Don't get a henna tattoo and don't let them do a small, TEST henna tattoo even if they say it's free - it's not. And as I already said, don't look like you're lost.

Overall, have fun but be safe, be aware, and be smart.

XOXO, Cam