The weather
The daily amount of sunshine in Agadir, Fes, Marrakesh and Ouarzazate is often more than eight hours, with an average temperature of 21 degrees Celsius.
However, just covering a few kilometres can get you from the Sahara desert to the high mountains of the Atlas if you’re feeling too hot!
Currency
The currency in Morocco is the dirham (DH), which is divided into 100 centimes. There are bank notes of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 DH, and coins of 1, 5, 10 DH and 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes.
You will only be able to obtain dirhams in Morocco, as they cannot be imported or exported. You shouldn’t convert your money in the streets, as it is illegal. You can easily change it in banks, airports or even hotels (the exchange rate is the same in all banks and they do not charge commission). Don’t forget to keep the receipt they give you, this will enable you to change your dirhams back into your own currency. Be careful though as Irish, Scottish, Australian and New Zealand currencies will not be accepted. Some larger cities have ATM machines that accept international cards, such as BMCE, BMCI, Société générale marocaine de banque and Banque commerciale du Maroc. Credit cards generally work in hotels, shops and restaurants, but can sometimes be used in some souks!
HOW TO GET THERE
By plane
There are twelve international airports in Morocco: Agadir, Al Hocelma, Casablanca, Dakhla, Fes, Laayoune, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale, Tangier and Tetouan. The service between Morocco and Europe is made by Royal Air Maroc and other international companies.
Flights are direct from London Gatwick and Heathrow or you can fly with Air France with a possible stop in Paris or sometimes in Marseille.
With the opening of the new terminal at the Marrakech Menara airport, start looking out for low fare airlines on the internet.
www.royalairmaroc.com www.airfrance.fr
www.iberia.com
www.easyjet.co.uk flies to Marrakesh from London Gatwick.
www.ryanair.co.uk flies to Marrakesh from Stansted or London Luton.
Also have a look at low-cost website www.atlas-blue.com, with flights from London Gatwick, Brussels, France and Spain or
http://www.eurociel.net which goes directly form Nimes. Flights from Marseille to Marrakech also available.
http://www.cheapoair.com. A company that provides cheap airplane tickets to all the tourism destinations of the world.
By car, by train and by boat
If you are thinking of driving down to Morocco or taking the train, you must go to Algeciras in the South of Spain. From there, you can get the ferry across the Detroit of Gibraltar to either Ceuta or Tangier. Depending on the type of ferry you are on, the trip can last 35 minutes if you are going to Ceuta, and 2 hours if you are going to Tangier. With “Trasmediterranea”, ferries cross over every three hours. If you are near the South East of France, you could also consider getting the ferry from Sète to Tangier (36 hours trip).
www.trasmediterranea.es
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Local customs
Going by the local customs when arriving to Morocco is a form of respect, particularly in such a welcoming country. Here are a few tips if you want to avoid embarrassing situations:
Only a few mosques in Morocco allow non Muslims to enter; although you might be disappointed, go visit the following places instead of desperately trying to take a picture: -
Mausoleum Mohamed V in Rabat
Mausoleum Moulay Ismaïl in Meknes
Mausoleum Moulay Ali Cherif in Rissani
Mosque Hassan II in Casablanca
If you are invited into someone’s house, it is best to accept. Some people will even invite you to eat with them, although you haven’t known them for long! The meal starts after the “head of the house” has pronounced the “bismallah”.
When the “Ramadan” has started, try to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public.
Useful Telephone numbers in Marrakesh
To call a number in Morocco from abroad, dial 00212 then the number, omitting the first 0 (which should give an 8-digit number).
TOURIST OFFICE: Place Abdelmoumen Ben Ali
Telephone – (00212) 44 43 61 31
Fax – (00212) 44 43 60 57
DAR SI SAID MUSEUM: Telephone – (00212) 44 44 24 64
BUS STATION: Bab Doukkala
Telephone – (00212) 44 43 39 33
TRAIN STATION: Avenue Hassan II
Telephone – (00212) 44 44 77 68
ROYAL AIR MAROC: 197, avenue Mohamed V
Telephone - (00212) 44 43 62 05
Fax – (00212) 44 44 60 02
MENARA AIRPORT: Telephone – (00212) 44 44 78 62
Health
Although Morocco is a perfectly healthy country, there are a few precautions you should take, especially if travelling in the South.
Avoid buying water from a hawker. There are some excellent bottled mineral waters (Sidi Ali, Imouzzer and Sidi Harazem) and fizzy ones (Oulmes).
If you occasionally suffer from digestive problems, ask your doctor to prescribe you some medicine just in case. Always carry with you some soothing cream for insect bites and beware of sunburn! If needed, tourism offices and hotels can offer to put you in contact with English speaking doctors.
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