Travel in Morocco - And The Downsides Of Cash

Remembering what it feels like to use notes and coins again

Disclaimer: views expressed here are my own and do not represent any other organisation

It's rare that I ever use cash these days. In London, there's just no need. Many shops are now cashless. (In fact, the only time I've used cash in the UK in the past year was in Cardiff last August when taking a taxi, which was cash only.)

There is an ongoing discussion in many countries regarding cash - should the use of cash be protected? Should a business be able to say "card only" or "QR code only"? Card only signs can be seen at businesses in many European cities. Some companies in China only support QR code based payments. Partly, this discussion is about social inclusion, individual privacy, and the right to choose. I'm not taking sides in this debate. But it's interesting to look at the experience of travelling in a country where cash is king. How does it impact daily life?

Marrakech

When I travelled to Morocco last month, based on what I'd read, I expected to use a lot more cash than I used t…