Morocco is one of those places where points and miles can handle the flight, but your on-the-ground plan decides whether the trip feels magical or exhausting. In a recent episode of Revolutionizing Your Journey: Travel With Points, host DeAndre Coke sat down with Azdean (founder of Destinations Morocco and host of the Destinations Morocco podcast) to talk about what first-timers get wrong, what “authentic” actually looks like, and how to feel comfortable, especially if you’re a woman traveler.

Azdean grew up in Marrakesh (with family roots near Ouarzazate) and now lives in Houston. He built Destinations Morocco to help travelers move past the stress of logistics and get closer to the people, food, and daily life that make Morocco unforgettable.

What most first-time Morocco travelers get wrong

A lot of Morocco anxiety starts with misconceptions. Azdean says the biggest gap is perception vs. reality, and that perception often changes fast once travelers arrive.

Some of the common myths he hears:

• Morocco is “all desert,” with camels everywhere.
• Places don’t have air conditioning (or basic comforts).
• Morocco must be unsafe, especially for women, because it’s a majority Islamic country.

On that last point, the nuance matters. Morocco is a country where tourism is a major part of life, and the culture is shaped by many influences (including Europe, Africa, and the Middle East). Azdean also shared how large tourism has become: Morocco hosted 17.44 million visitors in 2024 and 19.8 million visitors in 2025, ranking number one in Africa after Egypt.

That doesn’t mean every moment feels calm and quiet, especially in busy medinas. It does mean Morocco is used to visitors, and it has adapted in real ways. For example, Azdean noted that these days, accommodations commonly offer air conditioning and heat, including in hot areas like the desert and during colder winter nights.

Clothing is another area where travelers worry too much. Morocco is not Qatar, and it’s not a place where you need to overhaul your wardrobe. Azdean’s advice is simple: wear what makes you comfortable. You’ll see everything from traditional local dress to tourists in everyday outfits.

If you want one fast way to feel more at ease, plan for Morocco as its own kind of trip, not as “Europe with better weather.”

What “authentic Morocco” looks like in real life

Many itineraries hit Marrakesh, snap a few photos, then sprint onward. That can be fun, but it often misses the best part of Morocco: time with locals.

Azdean said one of the most popular shifts he’s seeing, especially looking into 2025 travel trends, is travelers who want more human moments, such as:

Lunch in a local home. An afternoon with a family. A tea ceremony with a Berber family in the mountains, in either the north or south. Visits with nomads. Even meeting families who still live in caves in northern Morocco.

These experiences are hard to “book from a search result,” because they depend on relationships and local access. Azdean put it bluntly with a line that sticks:

“AI cannot help you with it. Google cannot help you with it.”

That’s also where planning support changes the entire feel of the trip. Destinations Morocco works with a network across the country and an on-the-ground presence in Marrakesh, which makes it easier to connect travelers to places and people they would not confidently find on their own.

Authenticity also shows up in where you stay. Instead of defaulting to big hotels, Azdean typically puts travelers in riads, traditional Moroccan homes (often from the 19th century) converted into intimate stays. Think interior courtyards, fountains, and a tree in the center. Each riad feels different, and that uniqueness is part of the point.

He called out that Fes has some of the best riads in Morocco, with Marrakesh and Chefchaouen also offering memorable options (Chefchaouen’s tend to be smaller).

Safety, comfort, and why the right guide changes everything

DeAndre shared why he and his wife hesitated on Morocco in the past: women-only travel groups often mention constant unwanted attention, including catcalling, even when traveling with a partner. That kind of feedback doesn’t always show up in glossy guides, but it shapes how a destination feels in the moment.

Azdean didn’t dismiss the concern. Instead, he explained how things often play out in the medina: if you walk alone, some vendors will push hard because tourists represent income. In crowded lanes, that pressure can feel personal, even when it’s mostly transactional.

His clearest solution was also his simplest: hire a local guide, especially for a first trip. When vendors see an official guide badge, many stop engaging entirely. The guide becomes a buffer, and in practice, that can mean fewer hassles and fewer scam attempts.

Small groups can help too. Azdean recommended keeping group tours intimate, ideally 12 people or fewer, since it still feels personal while adding comfort and structure.

The three guide roles Azdean described

This quick table summarizes how Azdean breaks down guide support in Morocco.

His larger point: Morocco gets much easier when someone else handles the logistics, timing, and local norms, so you can focus on the experience.

Planning Morocco without headaches: transportation, cash, and taxis

Morocco rewards curiosity, but it also punishes “winging it” in a few predictable ways. Azdean highlighted three planning pitfalls that cause the most stress.

First, driving yourself. Between rental car upsells, unfamiliar roads, and the risk of dealing with an accident in a foreign country, self-driving can add friction fast.

Second, overrelying on public transportation. Morocco does have trains, including a fast train system, and they can work well for certain city-to-city routes. The issue is what happens next. A train won’t take you into the desert, and buses can burn time when your trip is already short.

Third, cash mistakes. Azdean recommended not carrying too much cash at once. Use ATMs instead, and keep bills in different pockets. He also suggested using ATMs during business hours in major cities, especially on weekdays. Avoid gas station ATMs on remote routes (like on the way to the desert), because if an ATM holds your card, getting it back can become a trip problem.

How much to exchange, and where to do it

Moroccan currency is not always easy to get before you arrive. At the airport, Azdean suggested exchanging only about $50 if you need it for day-one basics.

He also shared a practical tip for Marrakesh: some hotels and riads can offer better exchange rates than banks. One example he mentioned was Hotel Ali near the main square, as a place known for a good exchange rate.

Credit cards and debit cards are more widely accepted now, including at many restaurants, hotels, and shops, so you might not need as much cash as you expect.

How to avoid airport taxi scams

Taxis still tend to be cash-based, but Azdean said Morocco has improved the airport taxi process. At many airports, you’ll see a kiosk when you exit. You tell them your area (for example, “downtown”), pay a fixed rate, get a voucher, then hand that voucher to the first taxi in line.

Azdean described this as a major win for tourists, especially compared to the older system where some travelers got pressured into wildly inflated fares.

One thing you shouldn’t DIY: the desert

Even if you’ve been to Morocco before, Azdean had one firm line: don’t plan the desert on your own. Getting there, choosing the right route, and coordinating the experience is not the place to experiment with rentals or pieced-together transport.

Using points and miles to get to Morocco (and where points help on the ground)

Morocco fits nicely into a points-first trip plan, especially for flights and chain hotels.

Azdean noted multiple direct flight options from the US into Morocco, including routes into Marrakesh and Casablanca (with airlines like United and Delta mentioned). DeAndre also pointed out that Royal Air Maroc is part of oneworld, which creates options for travelers holding American Airlines miles.

If you can’t find the perfect US-to-Morocco award seat, a common workaround is to fly to a major European city on points, then buy a short positioning flight down to Morocco.

On the hotel side, Azdean said Morocco has 200+ international hotel brands, including major programs such as Marriott and Hilton. That means hotel points can work well in cities. He also added an interesting detail: some big hotel brands operate riads, so you can sometimes get a riad-style stay while still earning or redeeming points.

One caution he mentioned is worth remembering: some properties may not offer their best rooms on points compared to cash bookings. It’s not always a deal-breaker, but it’s good to set expectations before you arrive.

For more on Azdean’s work, trips, and tour options, visit Destinations Morocco.

Is Morocco right for you, and how far ahead to plan?

Morocco can work for many travel styles. Azdean has done it as a teenager sleeping in tents with friends, and he also described the version many travelers want later in life: guides, reservations, dinner with a show, and a smoother pace.

He also explained how Destinations Morocco builds trips differently for different groups:

• Families and multi-gen travelers often need kid-friendly days that don’t overdo museums and history.
• Couples might want a mix of riads plus experiences like hammams, hot air balloons, camel rides, cooking classes, and food tours.
• Budget flexibility often comes down to accommodations, with options across luxury, premium, and standard tiers.

That said, Morocco isn’t equally easy for everyone. Mobility can be a real concern. Major cities are more manageable, but once you head into mountains or farther south, accessibility can be challenging compared to the US.

How far in advance to plan

Azdean’s planning advice depended on season:

• For December travel, especially the last two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s, he recommended planning 9 months ahead.
• For most trips, 4 to 5 months is a solid target.
• Spring travel often needs around 6 months.

He also noted a practical constraint: some properties require minimum stays during busy periods, and many tour operators want final payment 60 to 90 days before the trip.

Azdean also mentioned an upcoming small group tour running November 8 to 15, capped at 12 travelers, designed to feel intimate while keeping the comfort of a guided itinerary.

Conclusion: the simple plan for a better first Morocco trip

Morocco doesn’t need to feel intimidating. When you plan for how it actually works on the ground, it becomes the kind of trip you’ll talk about for years.

1. Use local guides in major medinas to reduce hassles and improve comfort.
2. Stay in riads when you can, they’re part of the Morocco experience.
3. Plan early for peak seasons, especially December and spring.
4. Use the airport taxi kiosk voucher system when available.
5. Keep cash light and spread out, then rely on ATMs and cards in cities.

If Morocco’s been on your list but you’ve hesitated, the best next step is choosing a trip style that makes you feel comfortable from day one.

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