moroc-co

Morocco: Tipping & Etiquette

Tipping in Morocco
There is no "rule of thumb" per se regarding tipping in Morocco.  Moroccans themselves might only leave a few dirhams on a 150 dirhams dinner bill.  For tourists and visitors, 10% is often already included in the bill.  In taxis, just round up to the nearest 5 dirhams, e.g. if the taxi meter says 17, pay 20.  For someone who carries your bags to your room or from your hotel to a taxi, 10 dirhams would be appropriate, unless your bags are extremely cumbersome, or the distance is longer than a couple minutes walk.

The real question for many visitors is "what do I tip someone who has guided me to a place in the medina?".  This happens all the time as the medinas can be confusing and the minute you stop to consult a map or look vaguely lost, someone will appear at your elbow to offer to help you fnd the way.  First, take all reasonable precautions to avoid this situation.  If you are unsure about venturing on your own in the Medina, it is almost always better (and cheaper) to hire a professional guide.  Second, take a good look at the person offering assistance.  Most often, the "guide" will simply take you to shops before leaving you stranded (but not after requesting a hefty tip).   If you must accept, 5-10 dirhams is perfectly acceptable if you are lead to your destination. Keep in mind that a long taxi drive would cost 20 dirham on the counter, and an official guide for the medinas would cost 120-150 dirhams for a half-day tour.

Occasionally, an unofficial "guide" will latch onto you even if you know where you are headed and then try to demand payment for his services.  Obviously, you are under no obligation to pay anything.  Sometimes a guide will try to take you to the tanneries or wherever else, and even if you assure them you know where you are going, they will tag along behind you and then demand 20 dirhams for "helping" you arrive at your destination.

And what about beggars?  Zakat, or the giving of alms, is one of the five pillars of Islam and is akin to the tithe system in the Catholic church.  Many Moroccans will give coins to beggars as giving alms brings "baraka" or blessings from God. 1-5 dirhams is a common "donation".  If you are not inclined to give (and that's OK too), you can say "Allah yasahel" (may God improve your situation) - or if that phrase escapes you, a smile will suffice.  Peristent begging is not acceptable, and once you have refused, if the requests continue, it is OK to ignore them and move on.

Etiquette
The most important thing to remember is that Morocco is a Muslim country, so the local norms and customs should be respected.  In practice, this translates into dressing modestly (see the Inside page for Female Travellers), avoiding public dislpays of affection (hand-holding is OK in more touristed places like Marrakech, but kissing - even little pecks - is a no-no), and avoiding public consumption of alcohol and public inebriation.

Taking photos of Moroccans going about their daily business is fine IF you ask for permission first.  How would you feel if a Moroccan tourist to your country wandered into your office building, walked up to your desk, pointed a camera at you and snapped a photo and then walked off without a word?

Learning even a few phrases of Moroccan Arabic will win smiles and praise from you local hosts.

When greeting someone or responding to someone's asking "how are you?", placing your right hand over your heart as you reply is a gesture of sincerity and friendship.