As you well know, I like to keep my members informed and often include useful tips for travelers. Here’s a little run down on how to get a taxi in Marrakech. You just never know when this is going to come in useful, so you might want to print it out and tuck it into your passport.
Haggling is the norm in Morocco. I like to point out that the object of haggling is to come to a fair and equitable price, not to rob the taxi driver blind. It’s always a good idea to ask someone familiar with the area what prices are normal for taxi rides, and settle on a price before getting into the vehicle.
When ordering a taxi to go to the medical clinic.
Traveler: How much does it cost to go to the medical clinic? I need to take my wife to the clinic. If she dies who will look after my chicken.
Taxi driver: I too have a chicken! 50 Wackybangbangs.
Traveler: 50 Wackybangbangs? You can’t be serious. This taxi smells like you’ve had a dead goat in here… or was it your mother?
Taxi driver: OK. OK. 45 Wackybangbangs, but you’re killing me.
Traveler: I can give you 20 Wackybangbangs, not a shekel more.
Taxi driver: That’s a fair price, but I have to get my stinking taxi cleaned. Give me 25.
Traveler: OK. 25 Wackybangbangs.
Taxi driver: You are from Canada?
Traveler: Yes, Vancouver.
Taxi driver: Ah yes, beautiful. You want to buy a goat?
From this exchange, you might already have deduced that all did not go well in Marrakech. There will be more to follow shortly.
Fiona.