I would book your hotel or riad in advance in both Fez and Marrakesh.From there you can take day trips organized by your hotel or riad and travel under the umbrella of their protection.Or they can suggest which tour company you take and show you where it is.

It is safe to take the evening train,when you arrive at your destination you can either pre arrange for your hotel/riad to pick you up or get a taxi on your own making sure the driver knows the whereabouts of hotel/riad.Moroccans in general are helpful and friendly.

Hello - Do not worry - the atmosphere in Morocco is generally frieendly and relaxed.

I am a woman and have been travelling a lot on my own in the country, and this has given me many great experiences. Sometimes it gives me a lot of attention - but never serious problems.

Just smile and say no thank you (- sometimes you have to repeat it) - and as I have seen it the attention is almost always friendly, often comes out of true interest in who you nare and where you come from.

I always travel by the CTM-busses - they are never overbooked, and air-conditioned.

Have a nice time, enjoy!!

Hanne

Hi

safety issues shouldn't make you doupt a lot about ' morocco safety..' i went for 3weeks last april alone ( also spent 3days near the morocan-algerian red linge....(border) .

i am not brave enough but i am used to travel to morocco since 1984 ...

if you'll take buses ( CTM or MARMARA or SUPRATOUR) are recommended pblic trasport is not recommended ...you won't get any trouble if you'll travel by buses cos the driver or the owner of the bus won't let anything happen to you cos you're a client..

it's easy to book a day tour in the both cities you mentioned ; cos lot of agencies are open along the streets -medina-the new building...

also try to contact the (deligation de tourisme) 'tourisme office'

fes is lit bit unsafe but it's safe durring the day ..

have nice trip and let us know about it.

C.C

My Friend and I (both women)resently returned from a week in Marrakech and did not have any issues. The people are very friendly.

If you are arrving late arrange transportation with your Riad, especially if you are staying in the medina as it is a maze of tiny streets.

If you use the same common sense you do at home you should not have any issues

Enjoy your trip

Dear all,

Your generous comments are soo extremely valued.

Just one more doubt. How do you manage to go for dinner as it is already dark and it seems easy to lose your way.

Is it OK to go on your own or some sort of escort is needed?

Fond regards,

Maria

We went out every night, never needed and escort. Even took a few cabs. What ever they quote you pay half. We were usually out unitl midnight alittle later a few times as we ventured into New Town to try out a few local bars

If you stay in the medina there are a ton or resturants most down little streets but it is so busy with people that we had no concerns.

Use the day to wander, we tried to get lost in the streets but always popped out in a place we reconized.

I can really say that I felt safer in Marrakech than I did in most North American cities.

Keep your head up and be firm but polite and you will have no issues

I just got back from 7 days in Morocco and we were 2 young women traveling solo. I don't mean to disagree with everyone posting here, but we were not thrilled with coming home to our riad in Marrakesh in the evenings (midnight-ish, give or take). I am from New York city and have a tough skin, but there were few women out that late in the medina and there were groups of men everywhere, many speeding around the tiny streets on mopeds. We had to aggressively tell men to leave us alone (both during the day and at night). I think we would have asked our riad to escort us home had we been there more than 2 nights. In contrast, in Fes, there were women out later so we didn't feel unsafe at all. We found the people in Fes to be much kinder, gentler and welcoming than in Marrakesh. People were very aggressive to us as tourists in Marrakesh (which probably contributed to our feeling less safe).

However, I don't think the country is unsafe and do not cancel your trip due to safety concerns! Even though I wasn't thrilled with walking back to our riad in Marrakesh at night, I would not have done it any other way.

Also, we organized a guide for a full day in Fes...I'd highly recommend it! Otherwise it was very easy for us to get around.

Thank you soo much for your kind advice! I tend to believe I will be asking for a guide/escort to be able to relax. I have travelled widely on my own and have no problem with it. But given my daughter will be also with me I think I will feel easier this way.

Once again thanks an awful lot for taking the time to give me your generous support.

Fond regards,

maria

Hi, Maria. I'm also a New Yorker and I had the same experiences as the other lady who posted here--and I was with my husband! Marakech is awful at night, and the New Town of Fez, too. Guys on mopeds tracking tourists. I would not venture out alone. Having said that, we did walk around at night in the medina in Fez (the Old Town) with no problem. We're independent travelers like you, and we found the big cities in Morocco less appealing than small towns. With the exception of the souk in Marakech, I didn't think it was that impressive. Fez is more interesting. Do go to the Roman ruin north of Fez called Volubilis. It's a great excursion, a dozen intact mosaics. Amazing! BTW, Fez is the culinary capital of Morocco so EAT!