Today we'd like to share some practical tips for planning a trip to Morocco: from purchasing flights to organizing transportation on site, including payments and tips for a stress-free vacation.
Traveling to Morocco: How to Book Your Flight
There are numerous airlines flying to Morocco: below we list the main ones and some tips for finding the best deal possible.
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The national airlines Royal Air Maroc and Air Arabia have fairly stable costs over time and publish their flight schedules well in advance, allowing you to plan your trip ahead of time, without major cost surprises.
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Tui Fly operates in a “hybrid” manner, in the sense that it is a scheduled airline but frequently offers promotions, so we recommend subscribing to their newsletter to stay up-to-date on any discounts (which can be as much as 10-20%).
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There are also numerous low-cost airlines that fly to Morocco: the main ones are Ryanair, Easyjet, and Wizzair. Flight prices can fluctuate significantly over time, so it's important to monitor them carefully. The website www.airhint.com is very useful for this purpose.
Finally, here are a couple of tips from flight nerds: use incognito mode on your browser and check websites during the week to find the lowest prices.
How to use your phone in Morocco
Upon arrival at the major airports (Marrakech and Casablanca), you can purchase physical SIM cards at the counters of various national telephone companies. They are generally sold with an internet package or also include calls (national and international).
Operators can help you insert the SIM card: it's important to check in advance that your phone supports dual SIM cards, or it may be helpful to bring a spare phone (if you plan to use it as a hotspot for your entire family or group of friends, ask your operator if the service is supported). Alternatively, you can download apps to activate an e-SIM even before arriving in Morocco (again, you can opt for a data-only or data + voice package).
Cash, credit cards, and tips: how to pay in Morocco
Dirhams are not sold abroad and cannot be exported. Once you arrive in Morocco, you can withdraw money from ATMs. Alternatively, you can exchange euros at banks or at money changers at the airport and other locations. An important tip: keep your withdrawal receipts, because if you need to exchange any remaining money upon exiting, you will be asked for it.
Credit cards are accepted in most businesses (except American Express, which is almost never accepted), but it's always a good idea to have cash on hand to use in markets and businesses not equipped with POS terminals.
In Morocco, it is customary to leave a tip proportional to the cost of the service (approximately 7-10%) and to the customer's satisfaction (so not leaving a tip means you are not satisfied).
Traveling to Morocco: Clothing Tips
Morocco is an open country accustomed to tourism, but the mixed Arab and Berber population is Muslim, so they pay particular attention to how they dress. Dressing in keeping with local customs is certainly a sign of common sense and, above all, facilitates cultural exchange.
This obviously doesn't mean you should wear veils or overly revealing clothing, but it's best to avoid revealing clothing to avoid causing embarrassment or inhibiting open communication with locals. Bikinis are permitted on the beach or at the pool, but awkward situations can arise where local families are present, who therefore have a different attitude to body exposure.
Is Morocco a safe country?
Tourists in Morocco are offered constant assistance and security: police are present in crowded areas, even in plain clothes, to reduce the risk of crime. In rural areas, however, the risks are much lower.
Women can also travel alone, avoiding areas that may seem less safe around the world: dark, less crowded, or near ports or train stations. Our Erika has also traveled extensively across Morocco alone, and we've written about it in this article .
Exploring Morocco by car or public transport?
Renting a car to explore the country independently is simple and affordable (about 20-30 euros per day, with the option of renting child car seats). Fuel prices are also lower than in Europe. Road signs are displayed in three languages (French, Berber, and Arabic), making them easily understandable even for European travelers. Our only advice is to drive mainly during the day, as the risks, such as encountering people or animals on the side of the road, increase in the evening. There are numerous checkpoints along the roads, so it's also advisable to always respect the speed limit.
Internet coverage is fairly widespread throughout the country, and Google Maps works reasonably well (a little less so when walking around the city center). To be safe, however, download the maps so they're accessible even when offline. In the central and southern part of the country, roads are mostly slow-moving, so the travel times indicated by Maps are an underestimate.
Public transportation is available, especially in the north, all the way to Marrakech (both trains and highways). You can use the two most reliable buses, also used by the locals (Supratour and CTM), or take private taxis or shared taxis (which are cheaper and stop frequently, making it a more local experience, but less comfortable). Child car seats can also be rented on private taxis. Of course, there are also several more "spartan" buses that drive around with the doors open, carrying passengers and animals, etc. This, too, is a decidedly local experience, but not for everyone.
Be careful with the water
One last tip for a peaceful vacation... and one that's far from the beach: always drink only bottled water! In more developed cities, the water is purified and treated, but its characteristics are still different from the water we're used to. It's best to avoid raw vegetables or ice in your drinks. Preventive therapy with lactic acid bacteria can also be a good idea. If your stomachs are already accustomed to street food, you'll have plenty to enjoy.
We hope these tips help you plan your Morocco adventure. Have any questions? Send us a message, we'd be happy to help!
