Morocco is a beautiful country but very different from Europe, this post is dedicated to planning your trip to Morocco. Here we have a list of tips that are certainly useful. My trip to Morocco started from Tangier to Marrakech, a total of 7 days and 8 nights. I booked a tour with a driver through Feeling Morocco, and I loved it. I had thought about renting a car but for reasons that I will explain later, I decided not to do it. Tour total € 790 per person, breakfast and 4 dinners of 8 included.
HOW TO PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO MOROCCO
- Medicines in Morocco are expensive and not always easy to find
- Leave space in your luggage for some shopping
- Do not change money before leaving, it costs less there
- Sleep a night in the desert, it’s really beautiful
- 2 days in Marrakesh is enough
- Choose a hotel far from the mosque, at 5:00 am the prayer begins
- Book hotels always with breakfast included
- Careful! Airport controls in Morocco it taking so long
- Book a guide in Fez
- Chefchaouen day trip is enough
WHEN WE GO
Visiting Morocco is possible at any time of the year, however, the guides also recommend not in the summer due to the high temperatures. July and August are not recommended months, temperatures can reach 40 degrees. Visiting during the holidays (New Year, Easter) may be more expensive than expected. While May, June, and September is the best moment, seeing that November is the rainy season. February March is not recommended for snow, as it can close roads and hinder your trip.
HOW MANY DAYS
Morocco is a fairly extensive country, it all depends on how many days you have a provision.
1) A weekend: you can visit some cities, like Marrakesh or Fez, even if more than two days I do not recommend it.
2) Five days: the trip can include a city and some others, for example, the north of Morocco included Fez and Chefchaoen. Or Marrakesh and Ouarzazate, Ouarzazate and the Merzouga, Casablanca, and Rabat.
3) A week: my choice, from Tangier to Marrakesh, passing through Fez and the desert (Merzouga).
PERSONAL DRIVER OR CAR RENTAL
Personally, I found that driving in Morocco is very similar to Turkey. The only difference is the city, the chaos that you found in Fez or Marrakesh does exist in Istanbul. The roads are paved but not illuminated, this will allow you to drive safely during the day but not in the evening. You can see the positive and negative points of both options.
- Avoid the cities, park the car outside the Medina (old town).
- Police checkpoints, alert to the signs are slowing others are stopping.
- Always keep documents ready.
- Lights, if someone lights you up it means there’s a police block, or he’s going to overtake you.
- Be careful when someone overtakes you, they are reckless.
- Gasoline costs € 1.20 in the city, € 1.10 in small cities, € 1.40 in isolated places.
Careful with pedestrians, they don’t use sidewalks (which are there) or pedestrian stretches.
CASH OR CARDS?
TIPS TIME !! Do not change money before leaving or at the airport, it is not convenient, better to withdraw money at a local bank (fees are less).
Another important point on your trip to Morocco is the money theme. Inside the city, debit/credit cards are accepted, a part of the shops in the souk (market). There is no fee unless you decide to withdraw cash. The fees to withdraw cash will be from 3 to 10 €, at the time of withdrawal you will know the exact amount of the transaction. I recommend for a week € 250/per person (about 2500dhs).
