Helpful Notes for Visitors to Morocco

 

Flights

Little Hotels doesn't arrange flights. However it is very easy to book flights on the internet at the same time as you book your hotel. We have a list of flights and airlines (including links to the airlines' websites) on our Flights & Ferries page.

Ferries

Three of the main Spanish ports to offer ferries to Morocco are Algeciras, Tarifa and Almeria. Algeciras to Tangier is a popular route with many boats leaving daily. For public transport, Tangier is much better connected to other parts of Morocco than some other ports, so this is generally the best choice. "Fast ferries" do the trip in about half an hour, and others will complete the journey in well under two hours. We have links to the ferry companies' websites on our Flights & Ferries page.

Car hire

As the majority of hotels and riads are in the centre of cities, and the airports are very close, car hire is really not necessary in most cases. If you are thinking of travelling further afield, you will find that all the major international car hire companies have operations in the Moroccan airports. We don't advise hiring a car though, if you only intend to be staying within a city.

Driving tips

• If you’re coming from driving in Britain or Ireland, you will find that it is perfectly easy to adapt to driving on the right. You should take extra care when you start out in the morning though, or on minor roads where you're not getting a cue from other traffic.
• Remember to take care about driving on the left when you get home. Because it seems more familiar, it might be the time when you are more likely to make a mistake.
• Road signs follow international norms, written in both Arabic and French.
• Petrol stations may often be separated by large distances, and you cannot rely on the presence of one on many journeys, so plan your petrol purchases in advance.
• Away from the most major roads, do beware of wandering vehicles, pedestrians and animals, both in cities and the countryside.
• Some roads in Morocco are poorly maintained, particularly in rural and mountainous areas, rendered a greater hazard by the rainy season of November to February when flash flooding is common to some areas.

Documents

• Visitors from the EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand don't need to obtain a visa in advance. A 3 month visitors visa is automatically issued on arrival in Morocco. Carry your passport with you at all times and guard it carefully.
• You also need your driving licence and car documents whenever you are driving.

Plug adaptors

• Morocco generally operates on 220v 50Hz, just like the rest of Europe, but different from North America. (Just occasionally you will come across a 110v supply in an old building.) If you are coming from a country that uses 110v, check if your appliances are dual voltage before using them. Some have a switch. Others, like battery chargers for camcorders, may be automatic.
• The plugs used in Morocco are the same round two-pin type used in most of mainland Europe. You can buy adaptors at the airport. Usually they are labelled "Southern Europe" or something similar.
• Plugs in bathrooms within Moroccan hotels may look like a British shaver plug but are actually slightly different. Make sure you have an adaptor that will take your shaver plug as well.

Mobile Phones

• Morocco’s two mobile phone networks, Méditel and Maroc Telecom cover the more populated areas of the country, but most of the Atlas mountains and Moroccan Sahara remain coverage-free.
• British mobile phones and those from most other countries will work in Morocco, as long as you have "roaming"activated on your account. Check with your phone service provider before you leave.
• "Roaming" is still relatively expensive, although the cost is coming down. It will probably work out at about 50-80p per minute, and that includes receiving calls as well as making them.

Language

• The day-to-day language spoken in Morocco is Arabic (with two variations of dialect) but just about everyone speaks French as well, as a legacy of colonial times.
• English is generally spoken in hotels and restaurants, though it is my no means guaranteed. A few French phrases will therefore go a long way.

Currency

• The local Moroccan currency is the Dirham, but being a "closed currency", you can only exchange it within Morocco. Buy your dirhams on arrival at the airport; the bureaux de change will offer these transactions with no commission. Remember to keep your receipt so that you can exchange the unused excess when you leave.
• Generally you can get cash from a cash machine with your British or other credit or debit card. Make sure you know what your card company will charge you for using the service. It's very convenient, and it's usually (but not always) quite cheap as long as you take out a reasonable amount in one transaction.
• Of course, you can also use your credit card in hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. The exchange rate is usually as good as you will find anywhere.
• Euros are readily accepted in most places (most of our hotels are priced in euros). That's fine in hotels, major shops and so on, but use dirhams "on the street" as you will find the euro exchange rate gets heavily rounded down.
• If you take travellers cheques in sterling or dollars, cash them at a bank to get the best exchange rate.
• The dirham is divided into 100 centimes.

Social Convention

• Morocco is a muslim country, but there is a great history of religious tolerance that is far removed from the contemporary western image of Islam. The national religion has no real impact on visitors at all.
• Dress codes vary such that it is hard to distinguish much of a pattern. Generally, it is best to be a little conservative in one's clothing (women especially) and avoid shorts, short skirts, sleeveless shirts, or very tight clothing. This "rule" is most appropriate in the areas least exposed to tourism, and can be largely relaxed in beachside locations like Agadir.
• Women may occasionally be the target of comments and even stares, especially when traveling alone. In these situations it is best to remain calm, take it as a compliment and completely ignore the comments. Generally, it is safe to walk around crowded areas, but still best to avoid walking alone in deserted areas or at night.
• The markets of Morocco are famous for their enthusiastic street sellers. If you're not interested, a firm "No" and walking on will usually ensure that you are not pestered.
• Buying from the markets (a great way to get an unusual souvenir or item for your home) requires some bargaining skills. It is best to only enter into negotiation if you are seriously interested in buying, as the seller will assume that once the haggling has started the item is sold and only the price is still in question. Regardless of the first asking price, offer no more than half what you are really prepared to pay. Then ease your offers up gradually until you can arrive at a mutually acceptable figure.
• Moroccans are immensely friendly people who will always greet you warmly in a social situation. Kisses on both cheeks are quite usual, though visitors should be guided by their hosts when greeting a member of the opposite sex, in order to avoid any misunderstanding.
  

Tipping

• There is no definitive “rule of thumb” regarding tipping in Morocco. However, it is widely thought that 10% is an acceptable tip within restaurants. Some small change can also be offered in bars.
• For taxis, it is best to round the amount up to the nearest 5 dirhams (for instance you could pay 20 dirhams for a 17 dirham journey). 10 dirhams is normally appropriate to give a porter for carrying bags, unless they are particularly cumbersome or plentiful, or if the distance is more than a few minutes’ walk.
• It is likely that in busy towns, many people will offer their services as a guide. Sometimes they can be persistent, but upon a polite yet decisive refusal this should not become a hassle. Sometimes, these will be children. If you do accept this help for directions, 5 to 10 dirhams would be perfectly acceptable for them, and an adult ought to receive 10 to 20 dirhams depending on the distance covered. Some people will offer to show you round the sights, for which something like 10 to 20 dirhams might normally be appropriate although, if it takes more than several minutes or you are shown numerous sights, 30 to 50 dirhams would be better. Bear in mind that for many porters and guides, tipping is their only source of income.

Medical Care

• No special vaccinations are required for Morocco and malaria tablets are not necessary.
• Good travel insurance is indispensible as you will surely need it, if you are unlucky enough to have an accident or be taken ill. Keep the documents near to hand, just in case.
• In rural areas it should be borne in mind that an immediate ambulance service cannot be guaranteed.
• The beaches around Casablanca are polluted and viewed as unsuitable for swimming, although other coastal areas are considered safe.

Cuisine

• Moroccan cuisine offers refined preparations of sun-drenched fruit and vegetables, rare and aromatic spices, delicate fish and succulent meats. You are definitely in for a treat!
• The word ‘menu’ can cause a bit of confusion for English speakers. In French, the word for what we mean by ‘menu’ is normally ‘carte’. The French ‘menu’ usually refers to a set menu, often with several choices per course.

Weather

Good weather is the key to a good holiday for most people. The weather along the coasts is very similar to Mediterranean Europe. However as you travel further inland or up into the mountains, the weather becomes more extreme: hotter by day and surprisingly cold at night.

Sun & Water

• The media continually bombard us about the hazards of sunburn so there's nothing more that we can add.
• Dehydration can creep up on you in hot places, so we suggest you always carry a bottle of water with you and take frequent sips.
• Visitors are advised to stick to drinking bottled water. Don't buy from the water sellers in the market.

Travel insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance for your holiday. If you take more than one holiday per year, you'll find that you get much better value from an annual policy, which should also provide some cover for travelling in your home country. Shop around, because prices vary considerably; we think the insurance available from our own website is good value, and it's underwritten by one of the largest insurance companies in the world.