We spent five days in Marrakech, and honestly, from the taxi ride at the airport, I knew this wasn’t going to be a ‘normal’ trip. The driving alone is an experience. You sit there thinking, how is this even allowed? But then you realise — they’re not driving with fear. We are. That contrast hit me straight away.

We stayed in a small riad called Cristina. Simple, beautiful, calm. And so affordable compared to Europe. Morocco in general is accessible — yes, you can spend money if you want luxury, but you don’t have to. What made it special wasn’t the price, it was the people. The hospitality is unreal. Everywhere you go, they sit you down, explain things properly, welcome you with mint green tea like it’s sacred. And it kind of is.

The Medina is chaos, but beautiful chaos. Motorbikes, bicycles, cars, and yes — at one point a donkey right behind me. You cannot switch off. But that’s the beauty of it. It forces you to be present.

And negotiating? It’s part of the culture. Also, they absolutely change prices depending on where you say you’re from. Spain? Higher. Romania? Lower. My partner figured that one out quickly (very smart). There are even code words between sellers if you’re American. It’s all a game and once you understand that, it becomes fun.

We did a guided tour to really understand the history before anything else, and I’m glad we did. It gave context to everything we were seeing. Then a street food tour with an incredible Canadian group we’d never met before. No luxury, just connection. That was the theme of the trip.

At night, especially in the main square, the vibe shifts slightly. Not dangerous, just different energy. Louder, more intense. We preferred heading back to the riad after sunset. And honestly? Those quiet moments back at the riad, after a full chaotic day, were some of my favourites.