Hello, I’m Hassan and I’m from Marrakech. 

From personal experience, I know firsthand how tourists tend to have a Moroccan hamam upon arrival or before flying out at any SPA they can find, even if it’s not the best for them.

It is your responsibility, as a visitor, to ensure that you and your companions are heading to the right place. because if you don’t, your trip will turn into a nightmare.

Here are some common problems you will be facing if you didn’t pick the right place.

• The masseuses who performed the hamam would be more interested in their mobile phones, giggling and chattering rather than carrying out their work and taking care of you and your people.
• the smell of smoke and phones beeping inside that prevent you from the relaxation you desire.
• the hammam process wouldn’t be explained to you, so after each stage, you will be left to ‘relax’ but you wouldn’t know how long for or why.
• cold water and steam room temperature.
• low-quality cosmetic products that would cause skin allergies and problems.
• offensive stuff that could tease and laugh at you naked because of your body shape.
• the spa would not provide any disposable underwear, sleepers, or flip-flops. nor towel to dry yourself after the hammam.
• The message Area and the hamam are far from each other. you have just done a hamam you won’t have enough energy to walk a long distance.
• only big sized robes and sliders available.
• give you less time than what you paid for. very common.
• unprofessional-high pressure scrubbing and massage.
• one person treating more than 2 individuals.

Ect…

to avoid all those Hustles there are a few recommendations you should follow and tips you should do, that I will be revealing to you in just a moment.

First, you should have a clue about the Moroccan hammam and have an idea of how it works and the steps you will go through before doing it.

Just like the Moroccan hammam at home, outdoor hammam is also a process that involves rinsing, soaping, wrapping, and relaxing.

And it works this way : 

You are first rinsed with warm/hot water from the room’s center basin while lying down with a bucket or small bucket used to scoop the clean water. After that, the technician will rinse your skin with a softly scented soap called Savon Beldi aka black soap. You will be touched all over, including your breasts/chest and buttocks, every inch of your body should have it on. However, if you have any concerns, please convey them to the personnel before beginning your treatment.

The gummy will next exfoliate your skin using a Kessa (exfoliating glove), olive oil, and black olive pulp soap.

The majority of decent SPAs in Marrakech utilize natural and locally produced materials that smell fantastic.

You’ll then lay with the paste on your skin as the dry heat helps detoxify and cleanse.

After another rinse, your skin will be covered with a gray clay called ghassoul, extracted from the Middle Atlas Mountains Full of minerals and vitamins that will regenerate and nourish your skin.

Ten minutes of dry heat with the wrap followed by another rinse, and you are ready for a wash and shampoo – the shampoo is optional, but highly recommended and pretty suggested.

Keep in mind that there will be some flipping over, standing, sitting, and so on during the entire process; the therapist will guide you on what to do next.

After a gentle dry, you can put your robe back on and head to a relaxation area, where you can unwind on a lounge chair covered by a blanket while enjoying aromatic tea and snacking on sweet cookies.

Ching-chang! Your hammam is done.

The second tip is, that you should have an understanding of Moroccan culture and what to expect.

and that’s the reason behind the site, is to help you unveil morocco from all sides. 

like most Arab Muslim countries, there is a separation by gender in some locations. There aren’t so many here in Morocco, but the Hamam and the mosque are the most obvious.

Therefore, do not expect to have the experience as a couple in the same room although they call it a Romance package, love package, intimate package …whatever… however If you are a married couple you could, just show the person in charge a piece of paper that approves your statement.

the bottom line, they call it that way for no reason.

Side notes:

• bring your shampoo and other personal amenities if you want them to use it while washing you.
• take the courage to stop the masseuses if they are chattering and laughing. or speak to the person in charge. I’m sure he will take action. Some SPAs employ non-educated professionals.
• desire a nice relaxing massage? make sure you get separate rooms. If there are two therapists in the same room it would have the best environment to start chattering and giggling.
• If you are a group of two people, it means no offense if you have 1 attendant implementing the hamam. in some cases, the SPA may have a big waitlist of bookings who deadly need the hamam to relax and rest after or before the Trip. so, to make that happen and to make others benefit, one gummy will switch between two. It’s not bad because You normally will be left to relax multiple times during the hamam process for 5 to 10 min max anyways alone or with somebody. yet, while you are doing so the gummy could switch to your partner. And vice versa 
• If your skin is allergic to Argan oil, any other oils or honey tell the team to not put it on your skin.  Most Moroccan SPAs utilize cosmetic products that are based on Argan and Honey, tell them or your face will turn swollen and red like a strawberry the day after if you don’t.
• Lady, try to remove your makeup before doing a hamam, the rooms are steam saunas, better go with a bare face and give space to the pores to do the work.
• Bring cash. you will need it to pay. A wide number of local establishments here in Morocco accept cash only. unfortunately. and to tip, if you were happy with the experience.
• You do pay before you have any services, so don’t be put off. It’s just a Moroccan thing.
• if you are a married couple wanting to do the hamam and massage together in the same rooms. go early in the morning so not so many people are waiting.
• read other trip advisor reviews to have a global overview of what to expect.

…which brings us to our last tip of the day.

When you are choosing your spa try to pay attention to thriving reviews on Trip Advisor or other sites.

It doesn’t always mean professional. Some SPAs have fake reviews, others force the client to type 5 star review in front of them in the SPA although they are not happy with it.

That’s why I’m below setting up 5 budget-friendly SPAs in Marrakesh you could go to if you want a nice calming Hamam without all the hustles I mentioned so far.