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What is their currency called?
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What is the exchange rate for the American dollar? Once in the country, where can I get the best rate? The Moroccan monetary unit is called the Dirham. At the present time, the American dollar buys approximately 9.00 Dirham's. Rates vary little between banks, but some banks charge a fee for currency exchanges which can add up to a considerable sum with the smaller denominations. Look for banks which don't charge a fee or bring the money you are sure to spend in large denominations.
Major credit cards are accepted in the larger hotels and almost all shops. ATM cards can be used in many cities even in the south. Travelers Cheques are not widely accepted in Morocco and they can be difficult to cash or exchange. In Marrakech, for example, there are only one or two banks in the entire city where tourists can cash or exchange travelers cheques. Businesses such as Western Union or Exchange Offices MAY exchange travelers cheques, but only for a very limited amount. Use a money belt for all your valuable papers, checks, passport and credit cards.
For an up to date currency conversion see the website
www.xe.com |
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What type of clothing/footwear should I bring?
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The type of footwear recommended for you to bring is a good pair or two of athletic shoes or hiking boots. The terrain you will be walking over will be mostly sand but you will also find the desert very "stony." You will find stones there the size of "cobblestones" and smaller so a good, comfortable pair of athletic shoes or hiking boots will be welcome.
The type of clothing you should bring is LOOSE fitting clothing; shirts, pants, etc. made of a light, breathable material such as cotton or linen.
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What is the food like?
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In a word: "delectable". Salads are wonderful; fresh, succulent vegetables served with light vinaigrette on the side. Harira is the Moroccan word for a thick vegetable soup and a particularly delicious one contains a bread dumpling. Main courses are usually one of the following: grilled meat on skewers often served with French fries; couscous, vegetarian or meat with vegetables; and Tajine, the Moroccan stew, usually meat (beef, chicken, or lamb), tomatoes, potatoes, onions and spices. Moroccan cooks use an assortment of spices such as cumin, turmeric, paprika, saffron and pepper to subtly enhance the flavour of their cuisine.
Every seaport has freshly caught fish prepared by the fishermen on or near the docks, so don't miss this treat as well! Fresh fruit is usually served; pomegranates, melons, bananas, apples, oranges and dates are grown in Morocco thusly all are bursting with flavour. Pastries both French and Moroccan are available in the many bakeries.
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What language is spoken?
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The official language is Moroccan Arabic which is different from the Arabic that is spoken in the Middle East. French in the south and Spanish in the north are the second languages of the country. Berber is the "indigenous" language and is spoken by the Berber peoples of the Rif and Atlas Mountain regions and the desert nomads in the south. The Moroccans seem to have a finely tuned ear and can mimic the speech of almost anyone. Those who come into contact with tourists have taught themselves to converse in all the major languages. You will be amazed and humbled by their abilities especially if you have taken a language course and still can not carry on a conversation in anything other than your native tongue.
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Will I need to worry about mosquitoes or other types of insects?
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You will not need insect repellent.
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Will I need a A5 – Visa to enter Morocco?
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| If you are a citizen of the United States or Canada, the answer is "no." All other clients should consult the Moroccan Embassy or Consulate in their home country.
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Will I need inoculations for my trip to Morocco?
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For those clients coming from the United States or Canada you will not need inoculations. For all other areas of the world, please check with the Moroccan Embassy or Consulate in your home country. However, if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are travelling with young children, it is best to check your physician prior to travelling.
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What is the weather like in general in Morocco?
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The climate in Morocco is as diverse as is the countryside. Three types of climate hold sway in three distinct regions: coastal regions have warm dry summers, and are wet for the rest of the year and mild in winter: the coast is drier south of Agadir, where it is free of Atlantic depressions in winter. Agadir has a well-protected climate, with a narrow range of temperatures: but in common with the rest of the Atlantic coast, cold offshore water can cause cloud and fog.
The mountains get hot, dry summers and very harsh winters; parts of the High Atlas Mountains are under snow well into the summer. The remainder of the country has a continental climate, getting hotter and drier in summer to the south, but moderated by the sea to the west.
In the inland Sahara very dry, hot (Ouarzazate averages 102°F. - 104°F. (39°C - 40°C) in July and August) summers give way to warm sunny days and cold (sometimes frosty) nights in winter. (The temperature has been recorded in the past near Zagora in July and August as reaching as high as 145°F (62°C), although, this is relatively rare.)
At the end of October the weather will begin to cool off and through the month of May the temperatures will average as low as 62°F (17°C.) to as high as 86° - 95°F (30° - 35°C.) around Ouarzazate.
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Would it be wise to bring some sort of "remedy" for stomach discomfort?
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| Yes. While the food in general and municipal water supplies in Morocco are perfectly safe, one never knows how your body's "system" will react to new and unusual foods or different water supplies. Therefore, it is always wise to keep with you some sort of "stomach remedy" such as Pepto-Bismol, Imodium-AD, etc. at all times.
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IS IT SAFE?
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What about women traveling alone in Morocco? The Hollywood fantasies of the guttural whisper of "Come wiz me to ze Kasbah" are just that -- fantasies. A woman traveling alone will not receive any more harassment than she would in her home country and probably a great deal less. Just as in the west, a person's bearing conveys a message; purposeful, confident behaviour does tend to discourage unwanted attention.
A young woman who was traveling alone, riding the bus and having a budget of only a few dollars per day for A1- Accommodation s, said that the harassment consisted of wanting to chat with her, remarking on her beauty, or giving her compliments such as telling her how many camels she is worth !!!
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