There are many informative books and websites covering general travel and tourism in Morocco, so we will focus instead on answering some of our clients' most-frequently asked questions. Your hosts at the inn are your very best source of information for the area: they know the best local restaurants, the most interesting attractions and can organize reputable guides and tours. We recommend that you make arrangements with your hotel rather than the many hawkers who will approach you. Two things you should know before arriving: Morocco is mostly Muslim, and female tourists should pack a scarf and a longer skirt for entry into some tourist/holy sites; French is spoken much more than English here.
Where Should I Go (& Itineraries)?
Most of our clients already know the areas they would like to visit and we are pleased to recommend hotels in the area. If you don't yet know where you want to go but have some activities or special interests in mind, send us an email and we will make some recommendations. It's hard to go wrong in Morocco as many of the areas are very interesting and beautiful. In our opinion, Tangier can be skipped in favour of some of the pretty atlantic coastal towns.
How Long Should I Go For?
We favour the longer and slower flavour of travel - it affords you the ability to explore at your own pace. Our recommendation is to plan for about two weeks if you would like to see a good cross-section of Morocco. With less time, we'd concentrate in some of the more famous destinations: Marrakech, Fes, and an atlantic town. Keep in mind that you can arrive and depart from different cities, which can help when planning a route.
When Should I Go?
Morocco can be visited year-round. In general it enjoys a very nice climate - warm and not too humid. Don't expect sun-bathing weather in the winter time, and remember that during Ramadan, shops tend to be closed during the day. You can check current conditions and historical weather information at the
weather channel.
Getting Around
We recommend renting a car through Avis for your travels. They appear to have a decent network throughout the country, and have changed cars for us mid-trip. The cars available in Morocco tend to be the ultra-cheap "no-name" brand--don't expect your standard European or American rental car here. Morocco's road system is basic at best, although there are quite good highways between the major cities. Although we've not had any problems, we do recommend diligent defensive driving, especially if you are heading anywhere near the mountain roads. You need to be especially careful on the mountain roads as the roads tend to be narrow, very winding, and littered with cargo trucks. Additionally, we strongly recommend that you park at the outskirts of the cities and take a taxi to your hotel (if it is in the Medina). The streets here can be narrow and confusing, and sometimes crowded with pedestrians. With all that said, we still feel that renting a car is still the best way to see the country.
Mobile / Cell Phones
As anti-holiday as mobile phones can be, we do recommend taking one. Roaming rates can be expensive, so you may find that renting a phone before you leave or purchasing a SIM chip for your unlocked phone to be more economical. They can be very useful if you happen to be lost or running late!
Travel Insurance
Check to see whether your credit card provides all the travel insurance you might need – it often does and, in our experience, works very well. Be sure to use this card for all your flights and hotel reservations. If you don't have a card that offers this coverage, we recommend purchasing travel insurance from a local company with whom you are familiar. If you are buying travel insurance online, make sure that the company is in your own country. Remember that some insurance companies require insurance to be purchased at the time of making your travel arrangements. Also remember that car rental in Morocco may require special CDW insurance, over and above what is covered by your credit card.
What Else?
Most likely you will find yourself inundated with requests to visit various shops, some of which will do an amazingly good job at selling you something. If you are not confortable with the situation you are in, turn around and walk out. There will be some yelling and gesturing, but that is all part of the hard sell! Have fun!