Credit: James Moore

TripOut Gay Travel:
Marrakech

Gay Friendly Rating:

Tolerant and friendly; but be mindful about PDAs.

The longtime North African hipster magnet beats with an enticing mix of tradition, designer cool and warm, friendly locals.

Marrakech Fast Facts:

You might be surprised to hear that the non-stop flight from New York to Casablanca on Royal Air Maroc (http://www.royalairmaroc.com) is only about 6 hours long. From there, it's a short flight (or two-hour drive) to Marrakech.
Exciting as the city is, it can also be pretty overwhelming. Consider having gay-owned Heritage Tours (http://www.heritagetoursonline.com) plan your itinerary. They'll hook you up with a local gay (or gay-friendly) guide and a real insider look at the city-including which hammam might best suit your, ahem, interests.
Haggling is de rigueur in the medina. So, definitely give it a whirl and see how cheap you can get your tea set for; shopkeepers will act offended if you lowball, but it's all part of the act. However, you should never start negotiations or name your price if you have no intention of buying.
Try to always keep small change handy, particularly while sightseeing in the medina. You'll often be asked for money in exchange for taking someone's picture (and, believe me, you'll find yourself wanting to take lots).

Don't leave town before checking out...

http://www.royalairmaroc.com Royal Air Maroc.
http://www.heritagetoursonline.com Consider having gay-owned Heritage Tours plan your itinerary.