We are back from our 8-day visit to Morocco. This time
around it was just the husband and I creating new memories in this North
African country that’s distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European
cultural influences. We flew from New York into Marrakech where its
walled, maze-like Medina served as our home base while we trekked to various
towns taking in the scenery of the diverse landscapes - from high mountains, palm
tree filled valleys, and the sweeping desert.
Morocco is a beautiful country!
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| Draa Valley - Date Palms |
This trip brought us so many new experiences that I’m
excited to share, which you can see on instagram. First, I’d like to share my personal Morocco Travel Tips that will help you plan for your trip to the magical country
of Morocco, and navigate it while there.
Documents
Passport - You
will need a passport to get into Morocco. Please make sure that your passport
isn’t about to expire within six (6) months of your trip, otherwise you will
get to the airport and be turned right around!
Visas - United
States citizens do not need visas to enter into Morocco as long as you’re
staying no more than 90 days.
Money
I know it is common for people to visit a country, and
exchange their money at an airport currency exchange kiosk. Some people even
order currency through their bank. Moroccan dirham is closed currency, which
means you may not be able to exchange money before leaving the U.S., and you
are not allowed to take more than 1,000 Dirhams (MAD) into or out of the country.
When visiting Morocco, it is best to withdraw money from an
ATM. ATM’s are all over Morocco, especially in the large towns like Marrakech.
By withdrawing from an ATM you ensure you’re getting the best and most current
exchange rate. You’re probably wondering
if it’s safe. I’ve withdrawn money several times throughout our trip without
any issues. Keep in mind that most ATM’s limit you to withdrawing only 2,000 MAD
at time, which was equivalent to around $200 USD.
A member of one of the travel groups that I'm a member of stated that, "If you must exchange money, the best rate is in Marrakech at
Hotel Ali near the main square. They gave $9.79 versus other places that had
rate between $9.43 - $9.63 (airport rate was worst at $9.43)." - Shiddah S.
Most businesses that we visited didn’t take credit cards;
they wanted cash. Even the riads where we stayed - unless booked through
Expedia or through our tour company - wanted cash, too. Make sure you carry
enough cash with you just to be on the safe side, but don’t take out too much
Moroccan dirham because you’re going to lose big time when exchanging it back
into your native currency.
Language/Communicating
Morocco is an Arabic country with a heavy French influence,
which means most Moroccans speak both Arabic and French, and sometimes Berber.
We were lucky that the people we encountered during our travels spoke at least
four to five languages, including English. However, before we visited the
country, my husband did his due diligence and taught himself Arabic. Our tour
guide, Abdou also began teaching us Arabic and some Berber as well.
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| My husband speaking with a local |
We [I] got by
with what we knew. When visiting, I
think the most common phrases or words you will need to know are:
- Shukraan – Thank You
- La – No
- La Shukraan – No Thank You (we used this a lot in the Medina)
- Nem fielaan – Yes
- Sabah alkhyr – Good morning
Worst come to worst, download the Google Translate app. We
used it at a restaurant to translate the menu. It’s pretty amazing.
Getting Around
Taxis are all over Marrakech; however, it is a walkable
town. I mean, if you are someone like me who is used to walking in New York
City, then this wouldn’t bother you. That said, while in Marrakech, we walked
everywhere, from the Medina to the Majorelle Gardens, from our riad to the
Jemaa El Fna Square… everywhere. We got lost while walking through the Medina,
but that’s part of the fun and magic of Marrakech. However, when we visited
other towns, we hired a tour guide through a tour company, Your Morocco Tour.
There’s no way we would have been able to trek to places like Skoura, Atlas
Mountains, Ouarzazate, etc. without a guide, and in the short amount of time we
had because if you didn’t know, Morocco is huge! I mean HUGE! Therefore, the
distances between each place were at minimum four hours.
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| How we got around... LOL |
Driving through Morocco was amazing. Eight days was definitely
not enough time. We are definitely planning a trip to get back to make it to Fez, Chefchaouen, Essaouira, Rabat, and more.
FYI: The maps of the Medina are useless. Trust me, getting lost is your
way to go.
Weather
Morocco in January is supposed to be cool with temperatures
in the mid to low 60’s; however, we were told that the weather was warmer this
year. We got lucky. During the day, even when in the mountains, we experienced
temperatures in the 70’s. At night, it got cold! Cold weather for me is around
40 degrees, and in the desert it seemed to be much colder by nightfall. Make
sure you pack thermals for the evening.
What to wear
For this trip I packed light. I packed modest pieces with
versatility because if you didn’t know Morocco is a Muslim country. To our
surprise, it wasn’t nearly as strict as a previous Muslim country we visited.
I’d say wear clothing you’d normally wear, but just be mindful (and respect)
that you’re in a Muslim country, and your clothing should be a bit more on the
modest side. No booty shorts, mini skirts, cleavage showing etc. It also helps
to pack clothing items that you can layer, especially for the chilly nights. Bring a warm coat/jacket.
I brought sneakers for walking, and a pair of black knee boots
I could wear with pants or even a dress. My boots came in handy when I was
riding the camel in the desert, and for the cold nights.
The Food
There’s amazing food to be eaten in Morocco. All I can say is
you are going to have to prepare yourself to be a “Tagine Machine”. Moroccans
Tagine everything! Beef, chicken, fish, vegetables… everything! Lunch and
dinner was tagine…something.
And if
you’re not into carbs, I feel bad for you son 'cause in Morocco you have 99
problems, but a carb ain’t one!
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| Some of the breakfast we enjoyed at Riad Turquoise |
Every part of breakfast was some sort of
bread. With dinner came bread and more bread. Just be ready! And the amount of
food they give you is just insane. My husband and I never finished a meal. This
trip was the first time I’ve seen my husband “tap out” when it came to food.
We had some great pizza and fried calamari at Central Food
in Gueliz (New Medina), and Stall 14 (at night) Jemaa El Fna Square.
Everything Comes with
a Cost
Do not stop to ask anyone for directions. Do not be brought
into a restaurant by anyone from the street. Those things will cost you. If you
need directions stop in a shop or ask your Riad manager to draw you a map.
No Means Yes
We’ve learned that Moroccans are persistent. They will tell
you, “Please come look at my [insert item]. No obligation to buy. Just look.
Just touch.” And then a few seconds later, “You like? I give you good
price.” Just go with your game face.
Walk out if you have to. Don’t stop. Don’t make eye contact, unless you want to
buy something, and in that instance, bargain your ass off!
Where to Stay
Morocco, so far is one of the countries that epitomizes luxe
travel on a budget. The number of beautiful four and five star riads, kasbahs,
and ksars we stayed during our trip was crazy, and they were affordable.
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| Dar Chamaa in Ouarzazate, Morocco |
I think staying at a Riad, a traditional Moroccan house, is
one of the best things to do because it not only offers you an authentic
experience, but it’s also an affordable option. There are riads that start at
$25 a night and go up to $200 or more - aaand you get breakfast!
Important Items to
Pack
- Extra tissues or Cottonelle Wipes because not all bathrooms have toilet paper.
- Outlet Converter although most riads provide them, most of the time they didn’t work.
- Portable Charger because no one likes to run out of battery in the middle of nowhere. Just imagine trying to take a photo and your battery dies. Not good!
Moroccan Mint Tea
Moroccan Mint tea is probably the best tea I’ve had in life. It's a mix of green tea and fresh mint. Some Moroccans add other herbs like verbena as well. There’s a science to making and pouring the tea to make it taste delicious and to get it frothy. It’s the beverage of choice when
Moroccans have guests, so just be prepared to have tea, just like the tagine,
all of the time.
I hope your find my Morocco Travel Tips useful! I can’t wait to share my entire Moroccan
experience with you.
Be sure to keep up with me on my social networks for the
latest in my travels, and more!