Planning a vacation can go from exciting to daunting very quickly. Once you start researching and realize there are so many options out there, you quickly get decision fatigue. Before choosing the details of your trip like hotels and tours, deciding how to book your vacation will be your most important decision. 

Whether it’s a fun impromptu vacation or an important life event like a honeymoon or a big birthday, how and who you book with has a great impact on the quality of experience you have. You want this decision to reflect your travel style, experience, budget, and most importantly memories that you can’t place value on. 

Before I moved to Portugal, I was visiting the country for work. I was traveling all around, inspecting hotels, vineyards and restaurants. One of these visit impacted me in a way that ultimately  solidified  my decision to move here.  

One afternoon, after an already full morning, I drove out to a family-owned vineyard. Feeling hot and tired, I was instantly mesmerized by the landscape. It felt like I jumped through a portal and found myself in Tuscany with its rolling hills speckled with olive trees and white houses. 

When I travel, I love thinking about the little streets and cafes I’ll encounter while exploring historical cities. Winding through the twisting, dusty streets of Marrakech as donkey carts and a whole family on a motorcycling pass me by. 

I love thinking about the sun on my shoulders as I hike through the High Atlas Mountains before reaching a Berber family’s home for lunch. 

With that, I also love thinking about getting pampered. And if you’re visiting Morocco, there’s definitely one experience I don’t want you to miss: the Moroccan hammam. 

I spent 5 years as a teenager living in Saudi Arabia. I was no stranger when, as a 22 year old, I arrived in Jordan towards the end of June. I was completing my management training internship at the Kempinski Dead Sea. The day I arrived was 42 degrees (108 Fahrenheit) and also happened to be the first day of Ramadan. 

Moroccan cuisine is a vibrant and flavorful blend of North African, Mediterranean, and Arab influences. It is known for its rich and aromatic spices, such as cumin, coriander, and cinnamon, as well as its use of fresh herbs, such as parsley, cilantro, and mint. 

Moroccan food features a diverse array of dishes, including stews, soups, tagines, couscous, and salads, many of which are made with meat, fish, or vegetables. The cuisine is often characterized by its sweet and savory combinations, such as the use of fruits like dates and apricots in savory dishes, and its inclusion of preserved lemons and olives in many recipes. 

Your trip to Morocco is fast approaching. You have the perfect itinerary that includes alluring riads, the bustling souks of Marrakech, scenic vistas in the High Atlas Mountains, and the ancient medinas of Fez. Flights are booked, your passport is ready and it’s time to pack! 

The only thing you’re asking yourself now is, what do I wear as a woman traveling to Morocco? 

Morocco draws many travelers for its deserts, colorful mosaics and tasty tagines. While wandering through the maze-like streets of Marrakech and Fez, it can feel like you’re stepping back in time.

And yet, one of the main questions I get from travelers is: Is Morocco safe?

I think the reason why this question comes up so often is because Morocco can feel like such a different environment from what many travelers are used to. The winding streets, the carpet vendors actively pursuing you in the streets, it can all feel different and uncomfortable. Your environment can look much more threatening when you’re uncomfortable. 

Marrakesh can feel like a maze of never ending streets filled with the hustle and bustle of souk merchants, men on motorcycles and children with footballs.

It can be a wonderful, dazzling and mystifying place to explore. Especially on your own. I always recommend to book some guided experiences while in Morocco, whether it’s through a website or through a travel professional.

If, however, you find an afternoon or a day free to explore Marrakesh, here are some of my top recommendations of what to do in the city.

Do you ever find yourself going down a rabbit hole when it comes to choosing a hotel for your vacation?

Booking.com and Expedia offer thousands of hotels and it can be hard to know where to start. When planning a trip to Morocco, you’ll soon find you can choose from not only standard hotels like the Fairmont, but also kasbahs, ksars, and riads. These authentic accommodations offer a unique opportunity to experience this culturally rich country. 

It’s important that any traveler to Morocco understands what a riad is. 

When I’m looking to travel somewhere, I do a lot of preparation. I read books, watch movies, look up recommendations. I want to understand the people, background and history of the destination I’m traveling to.

Morocco is such a diverse country in both, its history and landscapes. From the Phoenicians to the French, from sprawling deserts to snow covered mountains, there’s so much to explore and learn.

If you’re wondering where to start, here are the three books I recommend to read before you travel to Morocco.