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Morocco
Getting Started & Practical Information
When to Visit
When to visit Morocco is primarily based on where you
want to go and what you want to see. For example, summers are great along the coasts
and mountains, but brutally hot in the desert, while the mountains offer great skiing
in the winter while the desert is more approachable.
During the summer, the coasts are hot, but generally Mediterranean and Atlantic
breezes cool the coasts. The mountains are great for hiking during this time, but
the deserts are unbearable and typically go over 110°F (40°C) for daily highs. In
winters the coasts are again comfortable, but at this time due to the cooler air
temperature and the occasional rain. The Atlas Mountains generally get snow and
provide skiing, but the still improving infrastructure means only a limited number
of ranges are accessible. The deserts can also get cool as nightly temperatures
drop to the 40s°F (4-10°C). The spring and fall (autumn) tend to provide the best
weather for visiting as the deserts are hot, but approachable as the coasts are
comfortable and relatively dry. During the spring the mountains may still contain
snow and the waters off the coast may be a little cool, while in the fall the snow
is gone and the waters warm, although temperatures are more unpredictable.
In general, the summers are the busiest time for tourists as the Europeans come
down on holiday and even the locals take this time to travel, meaning busier sights
and higher prices. Fortunately, this tourism is primarily focused on the coasts,
although sights everywhere will be more crowded compared to travel to Morocco during
any other time of year.
A final point to consider before planning your travel is local holidays. Holidays
can make travel either more attractive, such as for large festivals, or less attractive
due to tourist site closings and more expensive transportation options, so make
sure you look into this before booking your trip. In general, most festivals in
Morocco take place in the summer months. One holiday to be aware of is Ramadan (ninth
month of the Islamic calendar, which rotates every year compared to the Gregorian
calendar) as this month tends to close shops, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Weather
Although weather can be generalized based upon years past, for more up to date weather
patterns and predicted future weather patterns, visit weather websites like weather.com; many local news sources also have information
for international weather forecasts.
Tours & Cruises
If you're looking for a pre-arranged trip, that involves little effort on your
part, then you should consider going on an organized tour or cruise. Organized tours
and cruises vary from all expenses included to only daily tours and perhaps hotels
included in the price, but all the options below will help you arrange all the details
so you don't have to worry about finding the best deal or right hotel.
Costa Cruises: Costa makes an effort to cater to all styles
of cruisers, so you should be able to find a cruise that fits your interests.
Experience It Tours: A tour company focusing on North Africa, Experience
It Tours rarely gets a poor review from travelers.
Gecko's Adventures: Active in "responsible"
tourism, Gecko's Adventures provides local transportation, housing, and food
in small group settings.
Holland America Cruises: Cruises for all ages and families.
Intrepid Travel: Boasts
more "off the beaten track" destinations; do your research though since
some tours are very adventurous and involves camping and local hotels.
Journey
Beyond Travel: A US-based tour company with Moroccan roots only offering
tours to Morocco.
Kensington Tours: Only offers personal tours for you and your family/friends,
which allows greater flexibility, but also means slightly higher prices.
Road Scholar: For older adults, Road Scholar offers tours
with an educational emphasis; formerly known as Elder Hostel.
Guidebooks
If you are just traveling on business and have little free time or are already familiar
with Morocco, you may not need anything more than SafariTheGlobe.com's
Mini Guide to Morocco! However, if you
need more detailed and up to date information, there are a number of great country-wide,
region-wide, and city-wide guidebooks available for travel in Morocco.
Eyewitness Guides: Incredible pictures and detailed maps
of popular tourist sites including museums. Those living abroad can't put these
books down.
Frommer's:
Incredible number of lists, which divide travel into various categories based upon
your interests. Travelers looking to spend most of their time in a single location
or on organized tours enjoy these books.
Lonely Planet: Great maps and updated often with comprehensive housing information,
restaurants, & transportation options. Backpackers and adventurers love these
guidebooks.
National Geographic Traveler: Almost more of an information
book about Germany, than a guidebook; offers great pictures, maps, history, and
culture. Popular with armchair travelers and history buffs on organized tours.
Visas
Many foreign nationals need a visa to enter Morocco,
however the requirements for citizens of different nationalities varies. To learn
more about who need visas, what type of visa is needed, what requirements are needed
to obtain a visa, and visa costs, please visit the Official Website of Morocco's Department of Foreign Affairs
& Cooperation (French and Arabic only) or contact your nearest Moroccan
Embassy.
Health & Insurance
Every part of the world has different health concerns and diseases, including Morocco. Before traveling, consult with a physician
to learn more about your destination and what steps you can take to prevent illness.
At the time of writing, Morocco didn't have any health immunizations that are
required prior to arrival, although a number of immunizations are strongly recommended.
Many health insurance providers don't cover health care that is provided outside
your home country. Before going abroad check with your health insurance to see if
they cover international care. If not, consider purchasing an international medical
insurance option, preferably from a company that specializes in international medical
insurance.
Transportation
Unless you're on an organized tour or working with a travel agent, you will
have to arrange some transportation. The below links can greatly help you start
your planning, first by finding a flight to Morocco,
then with domestic airlines and car rental agencies. If you don't know where
to begin, try the "Flight & Rental Car Search Sites" to learn competitor's
prices during your trip.
Largest International Airlines: Air France, American
Airlines; British Airways;
Cathay Pacific; China Southern Airlines;
Delta; Emirates;
KLM; LAN; Lufthansa;
Qantas; Singapore Airlines;
United Airlines.
Largest Rental Car Agencies in Morocco: Alamo; Avis;
Budget; Europcar;
National; Sixt; &
Thrifty.
Flight & Rental Car Search Sites: Expedia.com;
Farecast.com; Kayak.com;
Orbitz.com; & Travelocity.com.
Housing
Housing options are numerous in most tourist destinations, but every individual
seeks out something different when it comes to housing. The below links should help
you get started, with low- to high-end hotels, hostels, and camping options.
Popular International Hotel Conglomerates: Accor Group (various price ranges); Choice Hotels (low- to mid-price range); Hilton (various price ranges); Hyatt (high-end to resorts); InterContinental Group (mid- to high-price
range); Marriott Family (various
price ranges); Starwood Hotels
(high-end); Wyndham Hotels
(low- to mid-price range).
Hotel Search Sites:
Expedia.com; Kayak.com;
Orbitz.com; & Travelocity.com.
Hostels: Although there are many hostel websites, some of the most
popular and reputable include hostels.com,
hostelworld.com, &
hostelbookers.com.
Camping: Camping is still a foreign concept in Morocco, plus camping
is not safe in most locations. The desert is unforgiving and there are some extremists
outside the major cities so setting up a tent is not a good idea.
Opening Hours, Expenses, & Tipping
Opening hours in Morocco at local shops, restaurants,
and stores vary. Some open earlier or later than 9:00 am, while they are just as
varied for closing times. Most do tend to take a long lunch break, closing shops
down at about 11:30 am and opening back up at about 1:00-2:00 pm; dinner begins
after work. Restaurants don't begin to fill up in the evening until 8:00 pm
or later, although in tourist locations, restaurants and shops tend to be open all
day to cater to the foreigners. Morocco typically follows a Saturday-Sunday weekend.
The one time of the year that shops and restaurants are closed more often than not
is during Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which rotates every year
compared to the Gregorian calendar), when fasting is required from sunrise to sunset.
Due to this Islamic requirement, most shops close down and it can be difficult to
find an open restaurant anywhere outside major hotels catering to tourists.
Most of Morocco's tourist attractions aren't
overly expensive and most of the sites are a good value for the cost. Hotels prices
can range from 125 dirham ($15) for a private room or hostel bed to well over 1,500
dirham ($200) in business hotels or hotels catered to tourists. Food prices also
vary greatly; street food can cost as little as 15-25 dirham ($2-3), but eating
in a nice hotel restaurant can cost up to 400 dirham ($50). Transportation in Tunisia
is also fairly reasonable, particularly if you travel by bus; most flights are roughly
equivalent to costs associated with a flight in Europe
or North America at a similar distance.
Tipping is common in Morocco as it is more and more a
part of Moroccan culture and a means to supplement a meager income. Many Moroccans
are willing to help foreigners in their country, but many times this assistance
comes with an expected tip of 5-10 dirham (about $1). In restaurants, 10-15% is
a standard tip depending on service, while hotel porters should get about 5-10 dirham
($1) per bag. Taxi drivers don't expect tips, but rounding up is appreciated.
If you hire a tour guide, tips are also expected, however the amount is at your
discretion.
Crime & Safety
Morocco is a relatively safe country, however is more
susceptible to violent outbreaks than much of Europe. Most religious and political
extremists have little voice in Morocco and there are few violent attacks by these
groups, but they do exist and going to the wrong town can be dangerous, especially
to desert towns. Always check with your country's foreign (State) department
for any travel warnings to Tunisia.
Pick pocketing is not extremely common except on crowded public transportation and
is growing in tourist centers, so use street smarts wherever you are in
Morocco. Often times fellow travelers, particularly in youth hostels pose
a bigger threat than the locals.
Another annoyance to most tourists in Morocco is from
tourist touts and scams, so be careful whom you trust when it involves parting with
your money. If anyone who gave you assistance asks for a tip, tip at your discretion;
if they provided a service to you, it is expected you tip them, although this amount
does not have to be large.
This page was last updated: November, 2011