The Henna Tattoo Warning

This one happened to friends of ours and it is worth knowing about before you visit the souks or the main squares in Marrakesh.

Someone will approach you, often a woman, and offer to do a henna tattoo. It feels friendly and spontaneous. Before you have a chance to think about it they have taken your arm and started drawing.

When they finish they will present you with a price that is wildly higher than anything you would expect. Because they have already done the work and because you are standing in a busy market surrounded by their associates, the pressure to pay feels enormous.

Kristina's tip: If someone reaches for your arm, step back immediately and say no clearly. If you genuinely want a henna tattoo, find a fixed stall with prices displayed and agree on the cost before anything touches your skin. Sorted stalls in the souks are generally legitimate, it is the roaming sellers you need to be cautious about.