Mar 04 2009
Morocco: If You Go
My trip to Morocco was a fun excursion into a new world of friendly faces, fragrant spices, and terrain that runs from beach to dessert to mountains. To plan your own trip to Morocco, think of the following:
Arrival: Morocco has several major airports including Fez, Agadir, and Marrakesh. The country can also be reached by ferry from the Southern coast of Spain.
Transportation within Morocco: If you choose not to rent a car (which obviously comes with the advantage of freedom, but the disadvantage of having to drive in Morocco), you can also choose to take a grand taxi between towns. These white taxis usually travel with six passengers, but you can pay more to have a whole taxi to yourself. Negotiate with the drivers for the price, but talk to some locals or hotel workers for average prices. Buses through the main companies Supratours and CTM are extremely inexpensive, fairly comfortable, and mostly reliable. You may want to reserve tickets ahead of time if traveling on major routes or during busy times. Just stop by the station.
Accommodations: Morocco accommodations range from luxurious five-star resorts like the Sheraton Casablanca Hotel and Towers to Berber tents out in the Sahara desert (book excursions like that here). Be sure to spend at least one night in a riad, a traditional house with a garden or fountain in an interior courtyard. This inward focus gave family’s privacy and protection from the weather—and now make elegant places to stay.
Water: There are mixed reviews on drinking the water, so I would recommend drinking bottled water (widely available very cheap) just in case. We were warned against the ice cream by an expat local, but cannot vouch for that from personal experience!
Currency: Moroccans use dirhams. Exchange bureaus and ATM’s are available, but not quite as widely as in some Western countries.
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