Morocco: hospitality or tourist scams?

Our experience with tourist industry in Morocco

Morocco so far: They welcome you with open arms… And ask money in return. So far hospitality hasn’t been free for us. Men on the streets try to help you find the market/restaurant/city centre and when you don’t pay attention, you have to pay money. 

A few days ago we parked at a camping, but it was closed. As if by fate a man walked by and invited us at his ‘home campsite’ for 100 Dirham. As a comparison: parking lots are 20 Dirham and the campsite we stayed at the night after was only 45 Dirham a night! We were tired so we said yes anyways.

We also said yes to the welcome tea, which we drank with only the two of us, because our host went back to the camping to pick up more tourists… Us meeting him hadn’t been fate after all. 

The night wasn’t perfect (lots of noise) and in the morning we used his broken, dirty shower (included in the offer) in his own house and then it was time to say goodbye. We talked a bit about our vanlife and not having a house in The Netherlands and immediately he offered another tea. We hoped it would turn into a more serious conversation, but the topic returned to the weather and the sweet tea. 

”When you don’t pay attention, you have to pay money”

Time for the grand finale: Pay time! Jonathan asked the man how much for the night -giving our host a chance to name a bit more reasonable price- but the man said 150. Because of the tea. Jona reminded him of the 100. Again the man said ‘but the tea’… 

Luckily we could keep it at 100, but the tea did taste sour after departure… 

Thin line between tourist scams and tourist industry

We hoped so much for the warm welcome we had read about, but it turned out to be all business. Don’t get me wrong: I know the tourism industry means bread on the table. There’s a thin line between tourist scams and tourist industry.

Even after being in Morocco for three months we still had to be watchful for “hospitality”. We know there are a lot of different stories out there about lovely, welcoming experiences, but for us -with one exception-, the tea was never really for free. It’s just hard and sometimes upsetting to learn what is hospitality and what is business.

We keep our heads up and we keep learning the ways of Morocco! Did you ever get scammed? Spill the tea! 😉

Lots of Love, Jonathan & Eline