First time traveling to Marrakech

[mandyu1 5]

Hi eveyone,

I am new to the site and this is my first post. I am planning a trip to Marrakech in the fall, and I just heard that the hotels there may not allow me and my fiance to stay in the same room together. I called the hotel, and they said that me being an American I don't need to be married or show a license, but my fiance is Moroccan, and they said he would have to show a certificate of marriage to be able to stay in the room with me. Now I have heard from several other sites and forums that the nicer hotels don't request this information, and that if we were to get married before our arrival it would have to be a muslim marriage, they would not accept a court license from the united states as proof of marriage. Also, being that the reservation is in my name and I'm American would they still ask for both of our ID's and/or passports? This is all new to me, and when my fiance first told me I thought he was joking. Any information or tips would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone knows of a particular hotel that does not require or request this could you please let me know.

Thank you

[Jenn! 918]

We've stayed at the Kenzi Farah hotel and they did not require any documentation of marriage from us. We've also stayed at a riad in the souk and they didn't require anything of us there, either.

[msheesha 548]

We stayed at a hotel right on the Square (sorry, I don't remember the name), and even though we had the same last name on our official documents, they still asked for the marriage certificate. On a slightly different topic, ask to see the rooms before you agree to stay. We looked at two, but they had roaches in the rooms. Definitely ask to see the rooms first!

[Sandrila 1]

I don't know how my husband did it for us.

We were not married in 2006 when we travelled to Marrakech but we got a place. A couple of places gave us a hard time b/c I didn't have my passport (dah!).

You definitely need your passport and driver's license and all that

If i can find out the name I will let you know...oh we stayed at a hostel....not bad either

if i think of the name i will let you know and it was during the beginning of Ramadan too.

ahhhhhh memories

Edited August 14, 2009 by Sandrila

[Kenza 1]

I agree with msheesha about looking at the rooms first! and yes I always had a hard time no matter where I was with getting a hotel when we weren't married even when it was me, him, his parents and brother! although now that we're married, I haven't tried. The more expensive touristy hotels probably won't be as strict but who knows with Moroccans lol

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Ahmed had a friend working at one so we had no trouble there and it was very nice wish i could remember the name you could enter from two different streets, had a pool, etc we never had a prob in casa either

[mandyu1 5]

Thanks for the posts everyone, I really appreciate it! Also, can I ask, do people there speak english as well? I understand that it may not be as fluent as mine, but it is my understanding that the primary language spoken in Morocco is arabic and french, which I don't speak either fluently lol. And what about a physical or immunizations, are you required to have this done before entering the country? Sorry, don't mean to ask dumb questions, but I'm just trying to prepare myself. Thanks again for the other replys!

[Kenza 1]

Thanks for the posts everyone, I really appreciate it! Also, can I ask, do people there speak english as well? I understand that it may not be as fluent as mine, but it is my understanding that the primary language spoken in Morocco is arabic and french, which I don't speak either fluently lol. And what about a physical or immunizations, are you required to have this done before entering the country? Sorry, don't mean to ask dumb questions, but I'm just trying to prepare myself. Thanks again for the other replys!

The hotel people I am sure speak some English but not the regular people on the street-maybe a few words...You don't need any immunizations or anything like that, but I always make sure I'm up-to-date on the regular stuff. Have a great time and Marhaba!

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Hi eveyone,

I am new to the site and this is my first post. I am planning a trip to Marrakech in the fall, and I just heard that the hotels there may not allow me and my fiance to stay in the same room together. I called the hotel, and they said that me being an American I don't need to be married or show a license, but my fiance is Moroccan, and they said he would have to show a certificate of marriage to be able to stay in the room with me. Now I have heard from several other sites and forums that the nicer hotels don't request this information, and that if we were to get married before our arrival it would have to be a muslim marriage, they would not accept a court license from the united states as proof of marriage. Also, being that the reservation is in my name and I'm American would they still ask for both of our ID's and/or passports? This is all new to me, and when my fiance first told me I thought he was joking. Any information or tips would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone knows of a particular hotel that does not require or request this could you please let me know.

Thank you

Hi, and welcome to VJ MENA! Just an FYI: Morocco is a Muslim country, and it only Muslim marriages it recognizes are registered marriages. Also, Islam doesn't allow "paper" marriage for the purpose of staying together in a hotel. I'm just letting you know because a lot of Muslims are insulted by the idea of such a thing. An honorable Muslim man will not have a paper marriage with you just to sleep with you. Sex before marriage is not allowed in Islam. Apparently, you are a non-Muslim woman, so this is something you should be told.

Marrakech is a very tourist oriented city, now. There will be many hotels that will not ask you for papers, but sometimes the police will ask for them if you are too affectionate in public.

Have a safe and very happy trip!

[mandyu1 5]

You are correct, I am not Muslim, but I am aware that sex prior to marriage is forbidden. And being that he is Muslim I have even expressed to him that I would wait until marriage with him to be intimate, that is not really an issue. I'm just a bit nervous of traveling all that way, being in a country that I don't speak the language and don't know anyone, and being all alone. Not to mention, the cost of two hotel rooms instead of one. And he didn't mention of the paper license, I was just asking based on what I know they do here in the US. And I am just a bit confused because this is just all so new to me, I didn't think this was going to be an issue. Thanks again, and I am looking forward to my trip!