Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I'm three weeks into a month-long trip through Morocco, and I brought along the Rough Guide, the Lonely Planet Guide, the Blue Guide, and the Cadogan Guide to Marrakesh, Fez, and Rabat. The Rough Guide has become my go-to volume and I've actually thought about jettisoning the others because the RG really has everything I need.
The RG stands out above the others for providing helpful and informative context for sites of interest and for cities in general. The background information is usually just right--not too skimpy, not too verbose--and it helps me feel like I'm fully appreciating what I see. I never use the accommodation or dining information because Trip Advisor and Booking .com both provide more up to date and thorough reviews, but a guide like RG is still absolutely essential, particularly in a place where the language barrier can be a considerable hurdle and you're not likely to get information from people or signs at sites of interest.
The one criticism I would offer of the book is that I'm a single woman traveling alone in Morocco, and I find that the guide is almost always wrong in characterizing behavior towards women in various cities. It looks like the editors were all male, and I understand that it'd be hard for them to get a sense of this kind of thing, but they were super enthused about a couple of small towns which I visited on their recommendation and they were places where people acted like I was a zoo animal for being a woman traveling alone. That's certainly not the case in all of Morocco, and it's a problem when the guidebook tries to offer advice on this kind of thing and gets it wrong. I spent three days basically cooling my heels in my guesthouse in a southern city called Taroudannt because of the RG. The guide spoke so highly of it ("Taroudant is a friendly, laid-back sort of place," "one of the most elegant towns in Morocco"...) that I made a reservation for two nights. When I arrived, I was dressed respectfully and modestly (long sleeves and pants, plus a scarf, despite the fact that it was over 100 degrees out), I behaved just as I have in all the other cities I've traveled through in country, and people still literally stopped in their tracks to stare at me. It was so noticeable I was wondering whether there was something on my face or whether my shoe was dragging toilet paper or something. Nothing--it really just was the fact that I was female, visibly not Moroccan, and walking down the street alone. I really would have appreciated a heads up about that! As it was, I was basically stuck in my hotel room for three days--I ate one restaurant meal there and it was exquisitely uncomfortable. Me and 15 sullen men watching AlJazeera together on the big screen, with an unsmiling waiter. Not friendly or laid-back. Definitely not elegant, either, by the way.
The RG's assessment of Rabat was similarly out of touch--to a guy it would probably look a lot friendlier to women because more women don't cover their hair. But every third guy I passed there was making kissing sounds, suggestive comments, or trying to follow me. Maybe it's a reaction to women behaving more freely? Whatever the case, again, the guide assured me that it would be one of the more comfortable cities. Could not have been more to the contrary. Likewise, some of the cities that they suggested would be provincial and hard traveling for women turned out to be completely fine.
I really hope that they try to get a woman's perspective on future volumes of this guide. For my travels, knowing from a trustworthy source what to expect in various cities would be hugely helpful in clothing selection, decisions about whether to share taxis, ride the buses, etc. Substantial room for improvement in that area, but otherwise an excellent guide.
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"The Rough Guide to Morocco" is the ultimate travel guide to this African Kingdom with clear maps and detailed coverage of all the best Moroccan attractions. From the labyrinthine streets of Fes to troupes of barbary apes, striking mosques and vibrant arts and crafts, discover Morocco's highlights inspired by dozens of colour photos. Find detailed coverage of the must-see sights and practical advice on getting around the country whilst relying on up-to-date descriptions of the best bars, clubs, shops and restaurants for all budgets, as well as the best accommodation from cheap hotels, deluxe hotels, riads, quiet hideaways and mountain lodges. "The Rough Guide to Morocco" includes three full-colour sections on Moroccan architecture, Crafts and souvenirs and Festivals and music and a crucial language section with basic words, phrases and handy tips for pronunciation. You'll find up-to-date information on excursions around the country, from the Saharan oases to the High Atlas mountains. Explore every corner of Morocco with detailed maps and expert background on everything from Moroccan story telling to Moroccan wildlife. Make the most of your holiday with "The Rough Guide to Morocco".
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