Travel in Islamic countries during Ramadan

[ancient]

Mrs Ancient, mini-Ancient and I are off to Morocco next month which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan. I'm aware that Morocco is Muslim lite so to speak but has anyone any useful advice regarding clothing and behaviour above and beyond the normal, bearing in mind the season. Not wishing to upset the locals, for example, will we be allowed into any of the mosques? Beach wear? Lunch: do we count as travellers and therefore able to eat or should we discreetly make up a horror bag? We have a six year old daughter. Can she dress as she wishes? What are the chances of getting an alcoholic drink in the hotels we are staying at? We're kicking off in Casablanca, then on to Oualidia, Essaouira, Marrakesh, out to Ouarzazata and flying back out of Marrakesh. All and any advice gratefully received.

 

[kelvin_273]

Mrs Ancient, mini-Ancient and I are off to Morocco next month which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan. I'm aware that Morocco is Muslim lite so to speak but has anyone any useful advice regarding clothing and behaviour above and beyond the normal, bearing in mind the season. Not wishing to upset the locals, for example, will we be allowed into any of the mosques? Beach wear? Lunch: do we count as travellers and therefore able to eat or should we discreetly make up a horror bag? We have a six year old daughter. Can she dress as she wishes? What are the chances of getting an alcoholic drink in the hotels we are staying at? We're kicking off in Casablanca, then on to Oualidia, Essaouira, Marrakesh, out to Ouarzazata and flying back out of Marrakesh. All and any advice gratefully received.

Don't let them go.

 

[SkippedOnce]

Mrs Ancient, mini-Ancient and I are off to Morocco next month which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan. I'm aware that Morocco is Muslim lite so to speak but has anyone any useful advice regarding clothing and behaviour above and beyond the normal, bearing in mind the season. Not wishing to upset the locals, for example, will we be allowed into any of the mosques? Beach wear? Lunch: do we count as travellers and therefore able to eat or should we discreetly make up a horror bag? We have a six year old daughter. Can she dress as she wishes? What are the chances of getting an alcoholic drink in the hotels we are staying at? We're kicking off in Casablanca, then on to Oualidia, Essaouira, Marrakesh, out to Ouarzazata and flying back out of Marrakesh. All and any advice gratefully received.

HEALTH WARNING: this is from experience in Tunisia rather than Morocco, but a similar 'Muslim lite' country.
- non-Muslim women allowed into the grounds of the mosque but not the buildings,
- beachwear only on the beach itself, and anything mildly revealing will get looks,
- make up a food bag just in case (to be eaten discretely, away from prying eyes),
- even 6 yo should dress discretely, and
- you should still be able to get a drink in the tourist hotels.

 

[mrdude]

Bugger that, why go to a terrorist type country when you can go to a nice westernised one? If a bomb goes off in your hotel and you lose both your legs - don't come running back here for sympathy. Meh!

 

[RoyalGreenJacket]

Mrs Ancient, mini-Ancient and I are off to Morocco next month which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan. I'm aware that Morocco is Muslim lite so to speak but has anyone any useful advice regarding clothing and behaviour above and beyond the normal, bearing in mind the season. Not wishing to upset the locals, for example, will we be allowed into any of the mosques? Beach wear? Lunch: do we count as travellers and therefore able to eat or should we discreetly make up a horror bag? We have a six year old daughter. Can she dress as she wishes? What are the chances of getting an alcoholic drink in the hotels we are staying at? We're kicking off in Casablanca, then on to Oualidia, Essaouira, Marrakesh, out to Ouarzazata and flying back out of Marrakesh. All and any advice gratefully received.

Morocco is not a good place for a 6 yr old (the fact you are being advised for your child to be dressed ‘discretely’ says it all!). Bring a bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup - you’ll thank me later.

 

[wafubustard]

Oh dear. Mrs WB has booked us to go there next month as well. I will watch this thread with interest.

 

[Blacula]

its sunny take plenty of t-shirts

 

[Buttmaster General]

Casablanca is a shithole - Rabat is not too bad. If we ever cruised to Morocco again we would not get off the ship.

 

[pickledtink]

It's a very long time since I was in Morocco but I did travel through it for a few months including the Ramadan period.
People are more irritable and tetchy especially when it's very hot. Basically be respectful about eating and drinking in public. They're having to work and function without water all day for example so be discreet when slaking your thirst.
It also ramps up the adherence to 'cover up' for ladies. Children however are kind of exempt so you can feed and water your daughter as and when she needs it. It depends where you are of course. In tourist hotels and areas it's accepted that westerners will eat and drink and be wearing beachwear but more off track travel requires discretion.
Getting on a train for example and tucking into your picnic whilst glugging happily at your water bottle in close proximity to people counting the hours till they can drink won't win you any friends. I've been in a few other muslim countries during Ramadan and it's pretty much the same. It's common sense really.

 

[clothears]

Was in Morocco in 2017. I wear long skirts a lot, so that wasn't a problem. Just drape a pashmina type scarf around your wife's shoulders. I kept getting called "sister" so I probably wasn't offensive, lol.

Here's the kicker, we stayed in western hotels, drank bottles water and boiled liquids, peeled fruits, etc. and I still managed to pick up Campylobacter Jejuni, and wound up in hospital for eight days on IV antibiotics. Fastest way possible to lose 10 kilos in a week. The antibiotics resulted in a further infections, CDiff and a further 5kilo weight loss. Still have gut problems nearly 3 years later.

I won't ever set foot there again.

 

[ordinaryforces]

I have vowed to myself never to go to any Arab shithole ever again, and let your family go to somewhere that they can relax and enjoy.

 

[DarkBrig]

I've been to a number of middle east countries and as a left hander I have noticed that they never want to share any half eaten packets of crisps or fruit, in fact they can be downright rude when you try and shake their hand.

 

[jarrod248]

For Gods sake don’t be a fanny, we didn’t win two world wars worrying about such trivial matters. Take a few litres of Vodka with you for yourselves to drink, nobody will notice as it’s clear. Neck some Viagra and bum your wife on the beach.
Discrete clothing is for old women, stop being a big girl.

 

[whatnow?]

Unless there was a dire need to go to a North African country, I would go elsewhere and avoid the hassle and worry of offending idiots who starve themselves for a sky pixie.
Holidays are meant to be enjoyable and should be stress free, not worrying about what to wear/eat or hide.

 

[clothears]

For Gods sake don’t be a fanny, we didn’t win two world wars worrying about such trivial matters. Take a few litres of Vodka with you for yourselves to drink, nobody will notice as it’s clear. Neck some Viagra and bum your wife on the beach.
Discrete clothing is for old women, stop being a big girl.

I’m not THAT old, you young whippersnapper