Top Tips When Visiting Morocco
Date Posted: 13/12/2023
The stunning landscapes of Morocco have attracted tourists from all around the world for decades. But there are a few things to get clued up on before you set out on your adventure. We caught up with Elloise from our social media team who recently returned from a Moroccan adventure to find out her top tips before travelling…
One–Currency
The main currency used in Morocco is the Moroccan dirham. The dirham is a closed currency meaning it can only be traded in Morocco. A small value of the dirham may be taken in and out of the country however it’s not really worth the hassle as you will have to exchange the majority of it while you are there. But don’t worry as there are plenty of places for you to do this. Within the airport alone you will find a few exchange bureaus which has about as good as an exchange rate that you will find. Most major towns and cities also have banks where you can also exchange money as you go should you need more.
Two – Phone Service
Between our group, we covered a lot of the major UK mobile networks, and I don’t think any of them had a reasonable data roaming charge! The average cost was around £6 per MB which as you can imagine would very quickly rack up a hefty bill. To avoid these costs, you can purchase a Moroccan SIM card to use for the duration of your stay which turns out to be a lot more cost effective. These are very easy to get your hands on with stalls at the airport as you arrive where they will even install it for you. There are a few options of different data allowance but generally the prices were 20 GB for 200DH (£16), 30GB for 300DH (£23), 40GB for 400Dh (£31) and so on. I purchased the 20Gb and it was more than enough for our 5-day trip. Side note, there is also really great reception in Morocco! Even as we crossed the Sahara Desert by camel, I was able to still get signal.
Three - Ask Permission Before Taking Photos
We all love taking photos on holiday but there’s a certain way to go about it in Morocco! When on a tour of Tamegroute town, we were advised to ask permission before taking any photos that included locals. Some people declined which is completely understandable so it’s always best practice to ask the question first to avoid any sticky situations. You may also find in markets or areas where a lot of tourists visit, people will charge you to take photos of their stalls or of them. It will likely not set you back very much costing around 20DH (£1.60) but its good to know what you’re getting yourself in for to avoid any unwanted fees.
Four – Be Prepared for a Language Barrier
Although this wasn’t such an issue for us due to having a Moroccan guide to escort us along the way, you may find the language barrier a bit of a hurdle in some areas. In popular tourist hotspots like Marrakech, you probably get by fine speaking English, but it certainly isn’t as widely spoken as other popular destinations around the world. The two official languages of Morocco are Arabic and Amazigh followed closely by French. We found the majority of restaurant menus were written in French which, even with our limited knowledge of the language, we were able to read pretty easily. If you’re completely unfamiliar with this though, worry not! There are plenty of translator apps, where you are able to take a photo of the menu and translate it straight into English which definitely comes in handy.
Five – Alcohol
Generally speaking, a lot of us enjoy having a drink on holiday, but due to religious reasons, you may find this a bit more of a challenge in Morocco. A lot of locals don’t drink alcohol meaning it isn’t as readily available as you may expect, not every restaurant and corner shop will stock it. Drinking publicly is against the law if you are not in a licenced establishment whether that be a bar or a hotel, so be cautious and know when it is appropriate. You can purchase alcohol from some local stores and supermarkets, but it may be a bit on the pricier side depending on what you get. Alternatively, you are allowed to bring up to 1 litre of alcohol into the country with you so you can always purchase this on your way over to save yourself a few pounds.
Six – Take Money for Tips
Tipping is a part of Moroccan culture so make sure you set aside some extra money to account for this. Overall, it’s quite an inexpensive country so it still serves as a good option for budget travellers. Make sure to keep coins or small notes handy in order to leave your waiters, hotel staff, tour guides and pretty much anyone that assists you along your journey, a little something as a token of appreciation. We found everyone very friendly and more than accommodating so the tips were well deserved!
Seven – Carry Essentials with You at All Times
By essentials, I mean essentials i.e. toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Keep your bag stocked as it is certainly not a given that every toilet will have toilet paper or even a sink to wash your hands. This is probably more so the case in rural destinations opposed to big cities although some places may charge you to use the bathroom, so again keep some change handy so that you aren’t caught off guard!
Eight – haggle, Haggle, Haggle
As a rule of thumb, our tour guide advised us that if something has a price sticker on it, you pay that price. However, if an item isn’t ticketed then make sure to haggle for the best deal! This mostly applies in the Souks where you’ll have to learn how to bargain in order to save yourself a bit of money. Most of the time you will be able to drop the price by at least 25-30% or if you’re really good at negotiating, you might even save yourself up to 50% of the original cost. Don’t be afraid to walk away either if you aren’t getting the price you want, you’ll often find the same products at multiple stalls and may be able to get a better deal elsewhere. Or alternately, they may even call you back and lower the price just to make a sale.
Nine – Dress Appropriately
As Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, the local residents tend to dress conservatively. Although this isn’t a rule, it’s always best practice to respect the culture where possible. Generally, you’ll be fine to wear shorts or t-shirts in touristy areas but make sure you carry something with you to cover up if necessary. A scarf or shawl is small enough to pack in your bag and an easy way to cover your shoulders if you were to need it. Also bear in mind that in certain areas, such as holy sites, you may need to cover your knees so things like linen trousers, flowy skirts or maxi dresses are always a great option to pack as they are cool and comfy too! Although it’s good to consider that the winter months can get a bit chilly, especially on an evening, so pack a few extra layers to keep you warm.
Ten – Drive Carefully
If you are planning on renting a car during your stay in Morocco, there are a few things to keep in mind. First up, no speeding! There are LOTS of police positioned along the roadside and if you do get caught speeding, you’ll be pulled over and fined. Similarly, they have a very strict seatbelt rule in that everyone in the vehicle must be wearing one at all times. During our time in the country, our drivers made sure to check this as police will often pull people over just to check, and again if you are found violating this law, you’ll be fined. They will also pull people over to check things like licenses or insurance so keep any important documents on you just in case. Watch out for other drivers giving signals such as flashing their lights too, to let you know that police checks are up ahead.