Morocco is a country in the north of Africa made famous by the film Casablanca. The main sights in the country are the UNESCO world heritage sites, including the Fez Medina traditional cultural and spiritual capital.http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/170 Fez has a population just over 1 million and is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat, the country's capital. It is an impressive maze of narrow, interconnected streets that are reserved for foot traffic only. A shopper's paradise with leather tanners, markets, shops and residences intermingled. A great place to wander, but a guide is recommended if you are worried about getting lost.

Most [pPassport]] holders do not need a visa for a visit under 90 days.http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_975.html The languages spoken are Arabic and French, and while some people in the tourist trade speak at least a little English a phrasebook is quite useful for travelers to Morocco. In terms of safety, there were terrorist bombings in Casablanca in 2007, but there have been no incidents since. Check for updates on the state department's website for Morocco. Buses are not as safe to travel on as trains or taxis.http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_975.html Traffic accidents are common, be careful when walking around on the streets. US citizens are encouraged to register their information online if planning to live in or visit Morocco.https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

Marrakesh is located near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and is referred to as the red city. It has the largest traditional Souk Marketplace in all of Morocco, where you can see snake charmers, dancers and many tradesmen selling their entertainment and wares. At night, the open square fills with food stalls creating a busy, open-air eatery.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrakech It is a very pleasant city to visit and the locals seem more relaxed with foreign tourists here than other cities.

The seaside, port town of Essaouira is also high on the list of places to visit in Morocco, the contrast of the coastal culture with the strong religious traditions and buildings are interesting. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/the-atlantic-coast/essaouira Although a coastal town, there is no beach bathing culture here.

The city of Casablanca was made famous by the movie by that name with Humphrey Bogart. According to Travel66, it is a city where one can enjoy the "Arabic architecture, religious sights and shop in the square."

As with many tourist locations in Morocco, there are certain tourist frauds to watch out for, and it is best to book your accommodations with reputable travel agencies or websites before traveling to the bigger cities. Once in the country, the hotel staff can help you book for the next stop on your journey, but the chance of being involved in fraud increases if you arrive somewhere without a planned place to stay. If you are traveling on a budget, make sure to use a Lonely Planet or Time Out guide book for specific safety guidelines and tips for each area as well as safe, suggested places to stay and eat.

There are certain difficult parts of traveling in Morocco that you should prepare yourself for. Whenever you are walking around a city or arrive somewhere, you should expect a certain amount of harassment from people trying to sell you things or take you to their shop or hotel. This can be tiring to deal with all of the time, this is why it is usually safer to be taken around the city with a guide or get particular advice from the hotel staff where you are staying. Getting advice from a local should limit the amount of fraud or theft you would encounter. Many locals you meet seem very friendly, but after a while ask you to visit a "cousin" or "brother" who runs a shop of some kind (usually carpets) where you can get a good price. These visits are usually harmless, but if you decide not to buy something, the relationship can turn into quite a hard sell and make it quite uncomfortable.http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/morocco-country-profile.html

Women are treated very differently in Morocco, even other women will not communicate with you if there is a man with you. Be prepared to be ignored or insulted, try not to take it personally. Western women traveling in their country break codes of normal conduct for females of Morocco that are very complex and we can never be expected to understand in a short time. To limit the amount of trouble, make sure to cover from your neck to your ankles with loose clothing and do not wear heavy lipstick or make-up. Be especially wary of people who approach you if you are a woman traveling alone.http://www.marga.org/fun/travel/morocco.html