Morocco Travel tips and advices

We would like to share with you some essential tips, Morocco’s holiday information and vacation advices. These ideas about comprehensive travel guide and Morocco tourism board info will prepare for exploring the tourist hot spot and Places of Interest. By using our useful infos for planning your Morocco tours, most of our dear clients and guests will be experiencing a lovely tour. Read Top Tips for Single (solo) and Independent Travelers.
Morocco Travel Tips & Vacations Advices

It's a good idea to prepare before you arrive to the desired destination. Here are some tips that will help you plan the perfect holiday. Be smart; know the tips for the perfect trip.
When to go to Morocco: It is advisable to know about the best time to travel to Morocco when you intend to plan your trip. And take in consideration two important factors: climate and the month of Ramadan. Morocco’s climate varies by seasons and offers an opportunity where to stay at any time of year; in winter (December to February) the north and coast can be very rainy and cloudy, the Atlas Mountains can be too cold with snow-covered peaks last till July. In spring (March to May) the rains may continue to fall but the country is lush and green with wild blooming flowers. In summer (June to august) the temperature is extremely hot in the desert. In Autumn (September to November) time when the summer temperature reduces gradually.
Each season is unique in Morocco, so the best time to visit it is in springtime in addition to the months of September and October. The climate allows you to experience the best of Morocco as you head to the Deep South in winter, spring and autumn. If you are visiting morocco in the summer it is recommended to avoid the desert and head to the Atlas Mountains and the coastal cities, however bear in mind to encounter many crowds.
••• Marrakech and Fez can be very hot at summer time
The other factor is Ramadan which is the 9th month of Islamic Lunar Calendar; it is a time for fasting and spiritual purification. This means Moroccan Muslims can’t eat, drink or smoke during daylight and feast at night. You should be respectful and sensitive to the fast and try not to eat and drink publicly especially drinking when Ramadan falls on summer. Note that Business hours are reduced and some shops and restaurants close during the day especially when the weather is hot.
For present weather and climate Please visit these websites:
http://www.holiday-weather.com/country/morocco/
Shopping: There are many things to shop for such us: Argan oil, Silver jewellery in Tiznit, Berber carpets, dates in Erfoud, metal and woodcrafts. you can also shop for leather goods (bags, sandals), pottery (for example: Tagines, plates), or buy pure spices ( including cumin, coriander, cinnamon ,paprika in addition to turmeric or saffron in Taliouine and ginger…), paintings, and traditional clothing (Djellabah), pieces of fossils of erfoud (plate, Ammonite ,candle-holder also trilobite of Alnif region…).
People: characterises of Moroccans are social, friendly, hospitable and generous.
Population: 34.33 million
Passport, Visa and Entry Requirements: To enter morocco a valid passport is required for the check point. Visas are not required by the nationals (British Australian Canadian USA Other EU…) for stays of up to three months. If you are from another country you are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
Language: Moroccan Arabic (Darija), Berber (known as Tamazight), French for commerce andbusiness.To learn Darija (Moroccan Arabic), please visit: http://www.speakmoroccan.com
Currency: Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham (symbol DH or MAD).
There are several banks in each city and ATM cash machines are accessible in all over Morocco. Some credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) are accepted in some hotels, guest houses and restaurants.The Euro and US Dollar are broadly accepted, even preferred.
Time Zone / Difference: The local Time in Morocco is GMT. In the summer time an extra hour is added so during this period Morocco will be one hour ahead of GMT.
Area: Morocco is an African country bordered by the Mediterranean Sea in the north, by Mauritania in the south, by Algeria in the east and by the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
Area: 446,550 sq km / 172,000 sq miles
Telephone Country Code: + 212
Electricity / Voltage:
Electricity in Morocco is 110/220 volts AC, 50Hz. so If you are travelling to Morocco, you will need a voltage converter and plug adapter.
Religion: Morocco is an Islamic country and therefore you should respect the culture and customs and be aware of your actions. It is important to dress conservatively especially during the holy month of Ramadan. Some sacred sites are closed to non-Muslims for example Mosques, tombs….
National Festivals:
New Year's Day -- 1 Jan.
Manifesto of Independence --11 Jan
Labour Day -- 1 May.
Feast of the Throne -- 30 Jul.
Fête Oued Eddahab (Oued Eddahab Allegiance Day) --14 Aug.
Révolution du Roi et du Peuple (Anniversary of the King and the People's Revolution) -- 20 Aug.
King Mohammed's Birthday -- 21 Aug.
Marche Verte (Anniversary of the Green March) -- 6 Nov.
Fête de l'Indépendance (Independence Day) -- 18 Nov.
Islamic Holidays: Please note that numerous Islamic holidays change each year and are timed according to Islamic lunar calendar such as:Ramadan (Month of fasting and purification).Eïd al-Mawlid (Prophet's Birthday).Eïd al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).Eïd al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).Fatih Muharram (Muslim New Year).

Crime and personal safety

Keep your luggage and money secure. Morocco does not have a high crime rate, but it is obviously unwise to carry large sums of cash or valuables on your person – especially in Casablanca and Tangier, and to a lesser extent Fez and Marrakesh. Mugging as such is pretty rare – those who fall victim to theft usually have things taken by stealth, or are subject to some kind of scam (see Guides, hustlers, conmen and kids). Be especially vigilant at transport stations (new arrivals are favourite targets, and just before departure is a favourite time to strike) and in crowd situations where pickpockets may operate. Credit card fraud is also relatively common, so don’t let the plastic out of your sight while using it, and keep an eye out when withdrawing money from ATMs.

Hotels, generally, are secure and useful for depositing money before setting out to explore; larger ones will keep valuables at reception and some will have safes. Campsites are considerably less secure, and many campers advise using a money belt – to be worn even while sleeping. If you do decide on a money belt (and many people spend time quite happily without), leather or cotton materials are preferable to nylon, which can irritate in the heat.

The police

There are two main types of Moroccan police: the Gendarmerie (who wear grey uniforms and man the checkpoints on main roads, at junctions and the entry to towns), and the Police (Sûreté), who wear navy blue uniforms or plain clothes. Either may demand to see your passport (and/or driving papers). It is obligatory to carry official ID (in practice a passport), though you should not have any problems if you leave yours in a hotel safe while wandering around town, especially if you carry a photocopy of the important pages. You are unlikely to have any contact with the green-uniformed Force Auxiliaire, a backup force who wear berets and look more like the army.

The gendarmes have jurisdiction outside built-up areas, the police, within towns. Both are usually polite and helpful to visitors, and there is a Brigade Touristique in cities such as Marrakesh and Fez, specifically set up to protect tourists.

If you do need to report a theft, try to take along a fluent French- or Arabic-speaker if your own French and Arabic are not too hot. You may only be given a scrap of paper with an official stamp to show your insurance company, who then have to apply themselves to a particular police station for a report (in Arabic). If you cannot prove that a theft has taken place, the police may decline to make any report, especially if the theft is of money only. They will always give you a report, however, if you have lost any official document (passport, driving licence, etc).

Kif and hashish

The smoking of kif (marijuana) and hashish (cannabis resin) has long been a regular pastime of Moroccans and tourists alike, but it is nonetheless illegal, and large fines (plus prison sentences for substantial amounts) do get levied for possession. If you are arrested for cannabis, the police may expect to be paid off, and this should be done as quickly as possible while the minimum number of officers are involved (but offer it discreetly, and never refer to it as a bribe or even a cadeau). Consulates are notoriously unsympathetic to drug offenders, but they can help with technical problems and find you legal representation.

Obviously, the best way to avoid trouble is to keep well clear – above all, of the kif-growing region of Ketama in the Rif mountains – and always reply to hustlers by saying you don’t smoke. If you are going to indulge, be very careful who you buy it from (definitely do not buy it from touts or hustlers), and above all do not try to take any out of the country, even to Spain, where attitudes to possession are relaxed but much harsher for importing. Searches at Algeciras and Málaga can be very thorough, with sniffer dogs, which also operate at Moroccan ports and airports, and you’ll get sometimes as many as four checks if travelling through Ceuta or Melilla.

Electricity

The supply is 220v 50Hz. Sockets have two round pins, as in Europe. You should be able to find adaptors in Morocco that will take North American plugs (but North American appliances may need a transformer, unless multi-voltage). Adaptors for British and Australasian plugs will need to be brought from home.

Entry requirements

If you hold a full passport from the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or any EU country, you don’t need a visa to enter Morocco as a tourist for up to ninety days. However, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry, and always double check your visa requirements before departure as the situation can change. South African citizens are among those who need a visa; applications should be made to the Moroccan embassy or consulate in your country of residence (South Africans should be able to get one in London), with three passport photos, and a form that you can download from the websites of some Moroccan consulates (for example, London’s at wmoroccanembassylondon.org.uk/Docs/VisaForm.pdf).

Entry formalities are fairly straightforward, though you will have to fill in a form stating personal details, purpose of visit and your profession. In the past, Moroccan authorities have shown an occasional reluctance to allow in those who categorize themselves as “journalist”; an alternative profession on the form might be wise.

Customs regulations

You can bring in, without charge: one litre of spirits, or two litres of wine; 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 400g of tobacco; 150ml of perfume or 250ml of eau de toilette; jewellery; a camera and a laptop for personal use; gifts worth up to 2000dh (£150/$240). Prohibited goods include arms and ammunition (except for hunting), controlled drugs, and “books, printed matter, audio and video cassettes and any immoral items liable to cause a breach of the peace”.

Items such as electronic equipment and video cameras may occasionally be entered on your passport. If you lose them during your visit, they will be assumed “sold” when you come to leave and (unless you have police documentation of theft) you will have to pay one hundred percent duty. All goods entered on your passport should be “cleared” when leaving to prevent problems on future trips. Vehicles need a Green Card.

Carrying ID

It is in theory obligatory in Morocco to carry official ID at all times. In practice, a photocopy of the important pages of your passport will do, so long as the real thing is in your hotel in the same town. When travelling between towns, you should always have your passport on you.

Visa extensions

To extend your stay in Morocco you should – officially – apply to the Bureau des Étrangers in the nearest main town for a residence permit. This is, however, a very complicated procedure and it is usually possible to get round the bureaucracy by simply leaving the country for a brief time when your three months are up. If you decide to do this – and it is not foolproof – it is best to make a trip of at least a few days outside Morocco. Spain is the obvious choice and some people just go to Ceuta; the more cautious re-enter the country at a different post. If you are unlucky, you may be turned back and asked to get a re-entry visa. These can be obtained from any Moroccan consulate abroad.

Extending a stay officially involves opening a bank account in Morocco (a couple of days’ procedure in itself) and obtaining an Attestation de Résidence from your hotel, campsite or landlord. You will need a minimum of 20,000dh (£1500/$2400) in your account.

You then need to go to the Bureau des Étrangers in the central police station of a large town at least fifteen days before your time is up, equipped with: your passport and a photocopy of its main pages; four passport photos; two copies of the Attestation de Résidence; and two copies of your bank statement (Compte de Banque). If the police are not too busy they’ll give you a form to fill out in duplicate and, some weeks later, you should receive a plastic-coated permit with your photo laminated in.

Foreign embassies and consulates in Morocco

Foreign embassies and consulates in Morocco are detailed in the “Directory” sections for Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakesh and Agadir. Foreign representation in Morocco is detailed on the Moroccan Foreign Ministry’s website at w diplomatie.ma (in “Corps diplomatique et consulaire au Maroc” under “Les Ambassades”).

Ireland has honorary consuls in Casablanca and Agadir, but no embassy (the nearest is in Lisbon, t 00 351 1 396 9440). New Zealanders are covered by their embassy in Madrid (t 00 34 915 230 226), but can use UK consular facilities in Morocco. Australians are covered by their embassy in Paris (t 00 33 1 4059 3300), but can use Canadian consular facilities in Morocco.

Moroccan embassies and consulates abroad

A complete up-to-date list of Moroccan diplomatic missions around the world can be found on the Moroccan Foreign Ministry’s website at w diplomatie.ma (in “Missions diplomatiques et consulaires du Maroc” under “Les Ambassades”). Algeria 12 Rue Branly, al-Mouradia, 12070 Algiers (t 021 697094, e ambmaroc-alg@maec.gov.ma); 26 Av Cheikh Larbi Tebessi, 31000 Oran (t 041 411627, e consulatmaroc.oran@assila.net); 5 Av De l’ANP, Sidi Bel Abbes (t 048/543470, e cgsba@live.fr). Australia 17 Terrigal Crescent, O’Malley, Canberra, ACT 2606 (t 02 6290 0755, e sifmacan@moroccoembassy.org.au). Canada 38 Range Rd, Suite 1510, Ottawa, ON K1N 8J4 (t 1 613 236 7391, e sifamaot@bellnet.ca); 2192, Bd Lévesque Ouest, Montreal, PQ H3H 1R6 (t 1 514 288 8750, w http://www.consulatdumaroc.ca).

Ireland (Chargé d’Affaires) 39 Raglan Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (t 01 660 9449, e sifamdub@indigo.ie). Mauritania Av Général de Gaulle, Tevragh Zeina 634, BP621, Nouakchott (t 525 1411, e sifmanktt@gmail.com); Av Maritime, Nouadhibou BP233 (t 574 5084, e cons.ndb@maec.gov.ma); formalities for entering Morocco (by car, for example) can only be completed in Nouakchott, not Nouadhibou. Spain c/Serrano 179, 28002 Madrid (t 915 631 090, website embajada-marruecos.es); c/Teniente Maroto 2, first floor, 11201 Algeciras (t 956 661 803, e cg.algesiras@hotmail.com); Palmera Bldg, Suite 178, 3rd floor, Av del Mediterraneo (corner Sierra Alhamilla), 04007 Almería (t 95 020 6179, e cgalmeria@hotmail.com); also in Seville, Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Bilbao, Burgos and Las Palmas. South Africa 799 Schoemaan St (corner Farenden), Arcadia, Pretoria 001 (t 012 343 0230, email sifmapre@mwebbiz.co.za). UK Diamond House, 97–99 Praed St, London W2 1NT (t 020 7724 0719, website: http://www.moroccanembassylondon.org.uk). US 1601 21st St NW, Washington DC 20009 (t 1 202 462 7979, email: embassy@moroccous.com); 10 E 40th St, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10016 (t 1 212 758 2625, website: moroccanconsulate.com).

Gay and lesbian travellers

As a result of sexual segregation, male homosexuality is relatively common in Morocco, although attitudes towards it are a little schizophrenic. Few Moroccans will declare themselves gay – which has connotations of femininity and weakness; the idea of being a passive partner is virtually taboo, while a dominant partner may well not consider himself to be indulging in a homosexual act. Private realities, however, are rather different from public show (on which subject, note that Moroccan men of all ages often walk hand in hand in public – a habit that has nothing to do with homosexuality and is simply a sign of friendship).

Gay sex between men is illegal under Moroccan law. Article 489 of the Moroccan penal code prohibits any “shameless or unnatural act” with a person of the same sex and allows for imprisonment of six months to three years, plus a fine. There are also various provisions in the penal code for more serious offences, with correspondingly higher penalties in cases involving, for example, corruption of minors (under-18s). Despite this, a gay rights association called Kif-Kif has now been formed, and there’s even a gay magazine, (w mithly.net, in Arabic only).

A certain amount of information on the male gay scene in Morocco (gay bars, meeting places and cruising spots) can be found in the annual Spartacus Gay Guide (w spartacusworld.com). Tangier’s days as a gay resort are long gone but a tourist-oriented gay scene does seem to be emerging, very discreetly, in Marrakesh, and to a lesser extent Agadir, though pressure from religious fundamentalists makes it difficult for the authorities to ease up, even if they wanted to, and arrests of tourists for having gay sex are not unknown.

There is no public perception of lesbianism in Morocco, and as a Western visitor, your chances of making contact with any Moroccan lesbians are very small indeed. Moroccan women are under extreme pressure to marry and bear children, and anyone resisting such pressure is likely to have a very hard time of it.

Health

For minor health complaints, a visit to a pharmacy is likely to be sufficient. Moroccan pharmacists are well trained and dispense a wide range of drugs, including many available only on prescription in the West. If pharmacists feel you need a full diagnosis, they can recommend a doctor – sometimes working on the premises. Addresses of English- and French-speaking doctors can also be obtained from consulates and large hotels.

If you need hospital treatment, contact your consulate at once and follow its advice. If you are near a major city, reasonable treatment may be available locally. State hospitals are usually OK for minor injuries, but for anything serious, a private clinic is generally preferable. Depending on your condition, repatriation may be the best course of action.

The latest advice on health in Morocco can be found on the US government’s travel health website at w cdc.gov/travel.

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