I'll be going from Dublin to Fez to the Sacred Music Festival. Any advice about dress, safety, health, etiquette? Has anyone had experience with Sarah Tours?
Thanks,
Kathy
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1601 posts
I don't have any experience with Sarah Tours but traveled to Fez 4 or 5 years ago as a family including the kids. We are independent travelers and didn't have any issues making our way around. I don't think there is any restrictions on dress and we had no security concerns.
I loved the medina of Fez - truly a mind-boggling combination of streets and alleyways to explore. With a guide you won't have any problems - if not, go prepared expecting to get lost in the medina and then just enjoy the experience.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco, CA, USA
24 posts
When you got lost in the Medina, how did you find your way back out?
Thank you for your advice!
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
517 posts
I second the advice to get a guide to take you through the medina. It's a 1,000 year old maze of narrow unmarked streets mostly lined with blank walls with doors. You will get lost! (Quote: "A traveler is aperson who enjoys the scenery even when he gets lost".) Dress: Conservative! But you will see the gamot from traditional arab dress to Paris fashion in the trendier parts of town. Can't speak about what it would be like as a woman, but as a man, one of my cultural highlights was going to a "Turkish bath" (We were the only foreigners there) and watching my football-linebacker friend gat twisted into a pretzel by a guy even bigger than him was an unexpected sight. Also: There is a lost Roman City maybe an hour outside of Fez. Well, worth a visit as you really feel like you have discovered a lost city. Anyway, have a pleasant trip!
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1601 posts
Even when you get lost in the Medina, one just has to follow the crowds - there are more people on the main arteries that run thru' the medina. A map helps in that you will know where the main paths go.
In extreme cases, you can just ask someone for direction.
When we did this, we traveled on our own and didn't use a guide. Getting lost doesn't bother us and actually adds to the experience - having a guide would have been too safe.
Posted by
Columbus, Ohio, USA
258 posts
I haven't visited Fez, but I did visit Marrakech. As a woman I would recommend dressing conservatively. A shirt with sleeves (short or long, but avoid tank tops), pants, capris, or long shorts (no daisy dukes). Of course you could wear a tank top and short shorts if you like, but you will get a LOT of attention and comments by the locals. We saw one girl dressed like this and people left and right were saying things.
A medina is fun to get lost in! I loved to just wander around the medina. It was so fun to see the different culture and haggle with the merchants. I also bought plenty of souveniers in the medina and it was a great experience. Plus if you ever get too lost there is usually someone around that will help you out - for a small fee of course ;)
The food in Marrakech was fabulous and I would imagine Fez would be similar. Definately try the tagine there - the chicken one is especially good. I would make sure to order/buy drinks in bottles just to be safe. Coke and bottled water was fairly inexpensive.
Oh, and if you find a true Moroccan bathroom you will get the full Morocco experience!
Have fun!
Posted by
Monein, Pyrenees, France
425 posts
Fez is a great place. "Guides" can cost you a lot of money -- dining and shopping at relative's establishments, for example. Get to the hotel and ask them to fix up a guide, if it would help you feel safer. Try and do the Medina in the daytime (not on a holy day) -- the leather district has to be seen "in action".
Roger Bruton