Headed to a morocco in two weeks!

[Jenny D. 1]

Hello! 

 

Im finally headed to Morocco for the first time in a couple weeks.  I’m so excited! Any recommendations on what to bring or advice for the trip? Helpful things to pack? How to exchange to dirhams? Gifts to bring from the US for boyfri nd’s family? Any advice would help me! 

 

Thank you! 

[mcdull 474]

28 minutes ago, Jenny D. said:

Hello! 

 

Im finally headed to Morocco for the first time in a couple weeks.  I’m so excited! Any recommendations on what to bring or advice for the trip? Helpful things to pack? How to exchange to dirhams? Gifts to bring from the US for boyfri nd’s family? Any advice would help me! 

 

Thank you! 

bring cautions! and bon voyage!

[nomadnoor 29]

Hi!

Given the time of year - it's now the cold and rainy season of Morocco. 

So pack layers of clothing that quickly dries and thermal underwear and wool socks and a good jacket like a Columbia interchange with a hood attached.  Wear shoes that can take a beating and keep going like Keen Boots.

 

Exchange money at Banks - never anywhere else or exchange before you go using your own bank and use http://www.xe.com/ to know the current exchange rate.  If you must withdrawal money - do so at an ATM attached to a local bank branch and be aware of the percentage your bank charges to do so and alert your bank you are traveling to Morocco and what your travel time frame is.

 

Please also be aware of pickpockets - its the number one crime in Morocco.

 

I suggest checking out Peace Corps Volunteers and RPCVs Pinterest board for host family gift suggestions like mine -https://www.pinterest.com/nomadnoor/peace-corps-morocco/

 

That said most Moroccan women love perfume, makeup palettes, bath and body bathing sets with soap, body wash and scented lotions and a nice brand name purse or quality leather one.

 

Moroccan men love cologne, brand name sunglasses, or a watch.  

 

Once you get to know them - you will learn person preferences quickly.

 

Lavish gift items would be electronics - laptop, tablet, digital camera or a new cellphone.

 

I wish you save travels!

 

Ally & Omar

 

[Mayi & MiMi 172]

When I went I brought a bunch of socks and jeans and shirts for my guy and for his family I gave them beauty creams.  They definitely love the creams.  Be sure to exchange your money at any currency exchange places - the rates are the same.  Leave room for yourself to bring back lots of goodies.  Also too, you may need a piece of pa

[Mayi & MiMi 172]

When I went I brought a bunch of socks and jeans and shirts for my guy and for his family I gave them beauty creams and perfumes.  They definitely love the creams.  Be sure to exchange your money at any currency exchange places - the rates are the same.  Leave room for yourself to bring back lots of goodies.  I also brought small candies for all the children I came in contact with.  They loved the bubblegum and chocolates.  Also too, you may need a piece of paper that allows your bf to travel around with you, some need it to prove that he is not a paid guide.  I got my paper with the governement office and paid like $10.00 for it.  It just basically is a paper that says that (name of boyfriend) and (you) are traveling together and that he is not a paid professional guide.  I know I mentioned this on my profile before. Have fun and be sure to bring some tennis shoes cause if you go to the beach there are a million rocks and its so much easier to walk in shoes.  Keep your purse in front of you and wrapped around you.  I always brought a small shoulder purse to carry my things in.  Be ready for the mouth orgasims that you will encounter - moroccain food is amazing ! 

[RJandHamid 1,133]

Lots of good suggestions in this thread for gifts. When I lived with a host family in Morocco, I brought them a little souvenir (a snowglobe) from my home town and they still have it displayed on a shelf in the main living room. 

When I started dating and visiting my fiance (now husband), I would bring coffee for his mom.  I brought him a watch once and his sisters small handbags. 

 

Travel tips: Bring warm and comfortable clothes as other have said. If it is your first time traveling to a MENA country, you will experience some degree of culture shock. Be open to new experiences (and food!). It is very likely that your boyfriend and his family will try to get you to eat a lot of different Moroccan dishes (most are very delicious!), but be firm in letting them know when you are full or if you don't like something. I hope you like eating bread with almost every meal and drinking a lot of mint tea. 

Be street smart and cautious of people in the street, especially people trying to sell or offer you something. Your boyfriend will likely be with you whenever you are out shopping, so he will likely be able to help you to haggle for a good price and not let a salesperson rip you off. 

 

As for money, I always exchanged my dollars for dirhams at the airport, except for 1 or 2 times when I went to a bank (in Morocco).  

 
Most of all, enjoy your time in Morocco and your time with your boyfriend! Morocco is a wonderful country. 

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

you are packing for your own stay so make the gifts small like perfumes, cremes, jewery,   believe it or not one of the things i get asked for most is ben gay or aspercreme and blue emo

most houses are not heated take warm clothing to sleep in

wrap up in the big moroccan blankets

carry some baby wipes as bathroom tissue can not always be found

at this time the days are warm / nights are cold

take gloves

they love name brand socks like NIke 

you are from Minnesota so you know how to layer for cold nights

respect the culture / no bare arms and legs if you want the mom to like you

no smoking in front of family 

beware that some of the bathroom facilities are nothing more than a hole in the ground

[Happytobe 164]

Great recommendations so far! My brothers-in-law ask for razors. I’ll go to Sam’s Club and get a ton of blades. We bring small, inexpensive toys for our young nephews (matchbox cars, etc) and I often will bring slippers, socks, scarves, inexpensive Jewelry sets, and such for his mom and sisters. I brought peanut butter and maple syrup on one of my trips, and it’s now a requirement to bring at least the peanut butter. My in-laws Love it! They asked for coffee filters once, and I sent some pretty table clothes from Walmart. 

[Oliversmom 250]

The number one thing my husband's family used to request was chocolates.  My husband just recently went home for a visit and we packed ten pounds of chocolates!  Also his mother does not like to drink water so we packed some of those Crystal Lite packets you flavor water with.  He took clothes, watches, bath towels and things like that. 

[Mayi & MiMi 172]

On 11/6/2017 at 11:38 AM, adil-rafa said:

 

carry some baby wipes as bathroom tissue can not always be found

beware that some of the bathroom facilities are nothing more than a hole in the ground

LOL so true.  I actually had to use a hole.  This is where aiming skills need to be on point LOL 

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

can also take things like  a selfie wand or bluetooth device / after several visits i take everything for facial creams to perfumes to ben gay