Planning a trip to Morocco and looking for inspiration or useful tips? You’re in the right place. This article focuses on useful tips you’ll use throughout your journey around Morocco. You’ll find inspiration for interesting and magical places here. Are you the adventurous type? Then you have to try sleeping in the desert. Let’s get to it, make yourself comfortable – Morocco: tips on how to be ready for the trip are here.
Learn some basic Arabic phrases
As in any country where English isn’t widely spoken, it’s worth learning a few basic phrases. This isn’t about being a linguist, but it’s fundamentally good to be able to say thank you, please and hello.
Don’t drink tap water
A rule that applies pretty much everywhere outside Europe and a few select countries. Buy bottled water and use it for drinking and even for brushing your teeth. That way you’ll avoid the first few days of your holiday being hell.
Haggle as much as you can
You’re going to an Arab country; haggling is expected. Don’t be afraid to fire off a nonsensical price that might offend the seller. You’ll always reach some compromise. There are debates about whether haggling is appropriate in these countries. I think it is. For these people making a sale matters, and if haggling helps make it happen, it’s a win for both sides.
Visiting mosques
This applies mainly to women. The basic rules for entering a mosque are:
- Shoulders covered
- Knees covered
- Hair covered (this isn’t required as strictly)
- Men should wear long trousers
Everyone must take their shoes off.
Accommodation
You’ll most often find accommodation through Booking and Airbnb. For more demanding travellers there’s also the option of turning up blind.
Paying in Morocco
Both are possible. In the big cities you can pay by card in the better places. Where you see locals sitting around, expect cash. You can either withdraw cash from ATMs (which charge roughly 30 dirhams per withdrawal) or exchange it at bureaux de change.
Alcohol
Morocco was my first visit to an Arab country. If it’s the same for you, know that alcohol isn’t on every corner and in every shop. In larger cities you’ll find it in designated liquor stores; in smaller ones you have to come across a trader or a home distiller. You’ll see. Well, after drinking home-distilled spirits it’s a gamble.
Public buildings
Every Moroccan railway station is incredibly nice and modern. Every station has plenty of shops and cafés.
Prohibited substances
One local told a friend of ours that the best material comes from the mountains above the town of Chefchaouen. Our friend sampled that material in Taghazout and it was apparently a very pleasant experience. A small tip – if you’re in southern Morocco and aren’t interested in buying souvenirs or a taxi, the last thing you’ll be offered is hashish.
Public transport
Public transport is very reliable. Trains run almost to the minute, but you do have to reserve a seat on long-distance services. If it happens that someone is sitting in your seat, show them your reservation and stand your ground. Your opponent won’t give in either, and even when it’s perfectly obvious they’re in your seat, they’ll stubbornly insist they aren’t. The conductor will sort it out, or you’re out of luck.
Local food
But everything has its limits. Above all, don’t overdo it, or you’ll spend the whole time eating spaghetti bolognese and pizza like Karel.
Prayers
The call to prayer in Morocco follows a schedule. The first prayers are in the early morning. That call may wake some people; on me it worked like a lullaby. Every time the loudspeaker sounded, I slept like the dead.
Teaching Moroccan children
How about teaching some little African children something during a stop in the desert? Karel took that on with grace.
Partying and fun
Really letting loose – that’s what it’s about. Except not at all. Muslims shouldn’t strictly drink alcohol. So a classic Moroccan celebration goes a bit differently from what we’re used to. Energetic, with tea and conversation.
You’ll of course also find several restaurants and bars that will pour you alcohol. Moroccans go to bars with covered windows where it’s completely dark inside. Why? So God can’t see them drinking. What God doesn’t see didn’t happen.
City accommodation tax
On entering Morocco you’ll have to go through border control. They’ll issue you an official visa and let you into the country for 30 days. At the same time the administrative officer will write a number in your passport beneath the visa. This number denotes your identity converted into a “Moroccan passport”, meaning that if you lose or forget your passport and have to identify yourself, you need to remember that number under the Moroccan visa.
Airport security checks
Whether you book accommodation through Booking or Airbnb, you’ll be charged a city tax that each town sets for itself. That tax is then used to repair and build community facilities in that town. So you’re directly contributing to creating better living conditions.
