To add to the last post, this trip the same watchy-man who last year was asking 10 Dh for overnight parking in Taroudant was now asking 25 - and was very upset when he didn't get it! Some serious inflation going on - wonder what he will want next year??
Like a Moroccan in Laayoune put it - "they are getting crazy up north"

10DH for overnight parking :( ...and I thought I was a tight Jock git. :biggrin3:

Maybe if there are a few 4x4s/bikes and everyone was contributing, 10DHs would be ok.

But that's not much for someone giving a solo vehicle/bike his undivided attention for probrably 12hrs.

I value my wheels and gear a lot more than that.

It reminds me of the guy who parked his car in Liverpool and the local kids asked "do you want us to look after your car mister?", "No, its ok I will leave my Rottweiler in it, it will be safe"

To which the Scouse kids enquired "so the dog can put out fires can he?"



The guides parking 'fees' are cheaper than London parking, and safer!

Strange. Is this a new thing? I was in Morocco in 2006 (which is a obviously a few years ago now) for about three weeks, toured all round but wasn't once asked for money to 'watch my bike'. A 2003 trip in a car (OK a battered old citroen) - same thing. Parked anywhere I liked, no problem.

I wasn't really in cities much - just in smaller towns, is it prevelant everywhere?

Its a shame - I never felt like my bike was at risk. This either signifies a change in the risk of theft or is just a new scam to relieve tourists of their money. Either way, not good. :(

Matt

I was first in Maroc on a bike in the early 80's and it was the norm, returned again in '06 and still the same for parking, but was pleasantly suprised that there were less hawkers and hasslers in and around Tangiers and other large cities nowadays, and was told there had been an official clampdown on them.
I found that the parking attendants were doing a pretty good job, so have no complaints about them.

I've had mixed experiences of parking guardians in Morocco. In places like the middle of Marrakesh they've done what they're supposed to do, in the sense that the bike + baggage was still there when I came back but my worst ever traveling theft was at a hotel where we arrived very late and because there was an all night parking watchman (that we paid) we weren't as careful with unloading as we should have been. Next morning the bike was still there but just about all the luggage was gone. The attendant said he'd seen nothing and the hotel said "tough".

Caveat Emptor as they used to say when I last toured the Roman Empire.

Just read this thread with a not inconsiderable degree of amusement, esp the story about the scouse kinds and the rottweiler!

I encountered this sort of thing in Morocco myself. It's irritating and a bit of a culture shock, although I am aware that the people with the badges are entitled to charge you, so that isn't that much different to a parking meter. Also difficult to argue with a language barrier.

Maybe what's needed is to learn the French phrases for "I am not paying until I come back and I will only pay if the car isn't damaged" or (for the story about the man whose car was washed) "I am not paying for something I haven't asked for" or "I am not paying unless you show me an official badge"

My experience was that it was good value for the money, we got into the "spirit of the occasion" and enjoyed good service. The funniest was when we parked the landcruiser in Marakesh and an old guy approached us (older than me!!) and held out his hand for his money, all official like, uniform, badge and walking stick, then i noticed the uniform..... General Post Office, it fitted him like a coalsack, but I bet he felt important!! The idea of "minding" the vehicles is worldwide and i still pay "minding" money in the London wholesale markets, a good job for older or retired porters, and a good service for not a lot of money. Have fun, Best regards, Bill Westley

the guard Abdul
 

We had to park a few times in front of the Mauretanian Embassy in Rabat. When leaving we payed the guard by giving him a cigarette for his splif. He was very happy with this and the third time we came he offered us a meal! We ate couscous with him...