Page 65 iGap Travel Guide 2022
P. 65
iGap Travel Guide | Africa
65
Marrakech conjures up colourful images of
mesmerising mosques, magic carpets, and mazes
of market stalls. Visitors are often enticed by the
shopping on offer–, coming home with bulging
suitcases once walking through the gates of the
Marrakech Menara Airport. However, many visitors
also fall victim to counterfeit goods and poor-quality
products. So, get the most out of your shopping
experience by sticking strictly to the good, and
avoiding the bad and the ugly.
A large part of getting a good deal relies on the
traditional art of good-old Moroccan haggling.
The trick is to find the product you seek and feign
indifference to your heart’s content. As it is socially
acceptable to haggle, more often than not, market
sellers will chase you down the street with a better
offer if you walk away from a questionable bargain. But
first, you must familiarise yourself with typical product
costs at the fixed price stores in Guéliz, Marrakech’s less
characteristic
ville nouvelle
(new town).
Haggling can be hectic, and the madness of
the Medina equally exhausting, so look toward
Marrakech’s up-and-coming boutique scene if
bartering isn’t your forte. Recent years in Marrakech
have seen an influx of European designers flock to
the city, keen to show off their unique designs. As a
result, a range of specialist boutiques have popped
up throughout the Medina.
Place Vendome is widely respected as the go-to place
for high quality leather goods, offering impeccably
crafted leathers, from handbags and jackets to
tailored men’s and women’s wear in supple suede.
Alternatively, the jewellery and textile artisans at
Warda La Mouche put a contemporary spin on
traditional Moroccan craft skills, upholding high
craftsmanship to create delicate embroidery and
jewelled dresses. Prices are steeper than in the souks,
but the city’s boutiques offer a comfortable and
hassle-free shopping experience for all those seeking
authentic local goods.
AS IT IS SOCIALLY
ACCEPTABLE TO HAGGLE,
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT,
MARKET SELLERS WILL
CHASE YOU DOWN THE
STREET WITH A BETTER
OFFER IF YOU WALK AWAY
FROM A QUESTIONABLE
BARGAIN.
65
Marrakech conjures up colourful images of
mesmerising mosques, magic carpets, and mazes
of market stalls. Visitors are often enticed by the
shopping on offer–, coming home with bulging
suitcases once walking through the gates of the
Marrakech Menara Airport. However, many visitors
also fall victim to counterfeit goods and poor-quality
products. So, get the most out of your shopping
experience by sticking strictly to the good, and
avoiding the bad and the ugly.
A large part of getting a good deal relies on the
traditional art of good-old Moroccan haggling.
The trick is to find the product you seek and feign
indifference to your heart’s content. As it is socially
acceptable to haggle, more often than not, market
sellers will chase you down the street with a better
offer if you walk away from a questionable bargain. But
first, you must familiarise yourself with typical product
costs at the fixed price stores in Guéliz, Marrakech’s less
characteristic
ville nouvelle
(new town).
Haggling can be hectic, and the madness of
the Medina equally exhausting, so look toward
Marrakech’s up-and-coming boutique scene if
bartering isn’t your forte. Recent years in Marrakech
have seen an influx of European designers flock to
the city, keen to show off their unique designs. As a
result, a range of specialist boutiques have popped
up throughout the Medina.
Place Vendome is widely respected as the go-to place
for high quality leather goods, offering impeccably
crafted leathers, from handbags and jackets to
tailored men’s and women’s wear in supple suede.
Alternatively, the jewellery and textile artisans at
Warda La Mouche put a contemporary spin on
traditional Moroccan craft skills, upholding high
craftsmanship to create delicate embroidery and
jewelled dresses. Prices are steeper than in the souks,
but the city’s boutiques offer a comfortable and
hassle-free shopping experience for all those seeking
authentic local goods.
AS IT IS SOCIALLY
ACCEPTABLE TO HAGGLE,
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT,
MARKET SELLERS WILL
CHASE YOU DOWN THE
STREET WITH A BETTER
OFFER IF YOU WALK AWAY
FROM A QUESTIONABLE
BARGAIN.
