What You Need to Know Before Traveling to
Morocco
So you're planning your Morocco travel! As they say in Arabic,
Mabruk! (Congratulations). Now what? Well, before you get on the plane,
there are some things you probably want to know.
Morocco, Morrocco, Morroco? Which is correct?
In
English, we spell the word: Morocco. But in Arabic, there are no
vowels, so it's really anybody's guess. If you can pronounce it, that's
more important than if you can spell it correctly.
Do I need any vaccinations before I go?
While
this is always a personal choice, the answer about mandatory vaccines
in Morocco is NO. For many people, they prefer to err on the side of
safety (and the CDC recommendations), and get inoculated against such
fun things as rabies and hepatitis (A & B both!), but we've had
folks in-country before and no one has had trouble with health issues.
What's the local currency? Do they take credit cards?
The Moroccan Dirham (DEE-rahm). It's been worth between 11¢ and 13¢ since about 2010, so it's a good bet's about 12¢ per Dirham.
Relatively
speaking, the rate of the Dirham is good, and it's steady, so there
shouldn't be a lot of surprises. Granted you can pay western prices if
you go looking for them, but for the most part, Morocco is a great
travel bargain.
Remember that you will get money out of an ATM in
dirham, and that you will often be charged a foreign transaction fee of
about 3 percent by your bank, whether you get cash out or use a credit
card. This dirty little secret can add up, so make sure you budget for
it. Note that some credit cards have no foreign transaction fees. Also,
if you want your debit/credit cards to work in Morocco, or any foreign
country, call your bank before you leave! Many times, we have had guests
calling back to their home country because their transactions were
declined. It's a fraud concern for the banks, so they are all pretty
careful. Most larger places will take credit cards; the souks (open-air
markets) and smaller shops will probably still want cash, and especially
if you want to bargain for something, cash is still king!
What language do they speak?
The
Moroccans speak a fascinating mixture of Arabic, Berber, English and
French - a patois for which we have perhaps only Creole in the US as a
comparison. In a single sentence, you are likely to hear several
languages, as in, "Mabruk! Welcome, haltu redu café e thé?"
While
English will likely be understood by many in the larger cities, you may
have language trouble in smaller or rural areas. In this case, Arabic
and French are probably equal fallbacks for the intrepid traveler. Of
course, if your Arabic was learned somewhere else (like Egypt) prepare
for some polite snickers!
What customs could get me in trouble if I don't follow them?
There
are probably two big things you should be concerned about here. One is
the idea of using your left hand to do anything socially important, like
eat or shake hands. Muslims, Moroccans among them, feel that it's
unclean. Especially in public, be aware of this important cultural
distinction.
The other thing is that women often dress modestly in
Moroccan culture, and the Western tendency to want to run around in
tank tops and short when it's hot (it's usually hot!) is outside their
custom. While you can do it, I always like to err on the side of
consideration of local tastes, even when it's inconvenient. So airy,
flowy things that don't constrict but still cover the female form would
be appropriate, as well as one-piece bathing suits. It also depends on
where you are, with smaller places in the countryside being more
conservative than big cities where they're more used to seeing a variety
of people in variety of clothes. You can always buy clothing locally,
which will also give you some fun souvenirs!
Do they drink/do drugs/party?
Moroccans,
though most are devout Muslims, seem to do all of the above. Hashish is
quite common in Morocco, and it's easy to get alcohol at many bars
despite the Muslim stricture against it. In bigger cities, like
Casablanca or Marrakech, you can find bars and nightclubs where they
like to party until the wee hours.
There is also a sacred musical
form of party called an Aissawa, which is basically a Sufi rave. Sufism,
an ancient mystical branch of Islam focused on elevating the spirit, is
still practiced throughout the world. The famous poet Rumi was a Sufi,
and many Westerners have come to know Sufism through Rumi's writing.
Spinning and dancing is one of the most common practices at the Aissawa,
with the desired effect to create an altered state of the mind. It's a
great opportunity to get out of your comfort zone if you get the chance
to participate.
Should I buy travel insurance?
These
days, with things going haywire with world weather, it's probably a
good idea. But remember you probably don't need a million dollar
evacuation clause; you can probably see a local doctor in Morocco for
whatever ails you locally, at a fraction of the cost of what it would be
in the States. Almost all hotels these days have a doctor on call; just
remember that the in-room visit may be a little pricy. But think of the
travel story you will have! Medical insurance will often reimburse you,
but note that if you are really concerned, get a policy that covers
medical issues fully so that they will send a nurse. Note that the
travel insurance you buy for a few dollars with your plane ticket may
not cover you fully for your trip, especially if you're not on a tour.
So read the fine print -- you have a short cancellation period once you
purchase the insurance.
Do I need a visa to get in?
Almost
all English-speaking countries (with the exception of South Africa)
require no visa to enter the country, and visitors can stay up to 90
days, which is quite generous. Please note that your passport expiration
date MUST be after the date of your intended return if you are a US
Citizen, and if you are coming from England, it must be valid for 6
months after the intended date of departure. So check with the Moroccan
embassy online in your own country just to be sure. Many countries are
moving over to this second, stricter requirement, so it's best to always
ensure your passport is up-to-date.
You'll need one blank page in your passport for the entry stamp which they will add at customs.
What kind of power converter do I need?
If
you're coming from Europe, it's usually the same. If you're coming from
England or the US, it's the kind they use in Europe, so yes, you will
need a power converter. Note that it gets pretty complicated from here
on out, as there are both 4mm and 5mm plugs, and some of the newer
sockets use a grounding (third) pin. Many cafes will allow you to charge
your device as well as having the correct converter to do so, all for
less than USD $1, so if you are in a pinch, consider asking the locals.
Will my cell phone work there (and cost more than I earn in a month to use?)
Like
many countries in the Middle East, it will be far cheaper for you to
buy or bring a small cell phone with no bells and whistles and get a
local number, than it will be for you to use your own cell phone, which
will likely cost hundreds of dollars in extra roaming charges and fees
before you are done. To give you an example, for around USD $20, you can
get a phone, a local SIM card, and about an hour of talk time. Trust
me, it's cheaper. Ask at your hotel, ask your tour guide, etc. It won't
be the first time they've gotten the request. And, bonus! Your excursion
to get a local cell phone is another great travel story in the making!
What food will they have there, and can I eat fresh fruits & veggies and drink the water?
Unlike the US and UK, which are moving rapidly to packaged foods, even
for staples such as fruits and veggies, Morocco will have almost
exclusively local produce. As a result, the selection will be smaller
than perhaps you are used to, but most of it will have been grown,
harvested, and brought to your table the way it would have been in the
old days - fast and without any real processing. If you're worried about
nasties in fresh stuff, do what the locals would do: squeeze a good
quantity of lemon or lime juice on it. I guarantee there will be fewer
chemicals on your salad than at McDonalds at home, and the food will
taste fresh and delicious. Be smart -- if you're eating from a street
vendor, you're taking your chances (that said, I've had amazing meals
from a cart pulled by a donkey) and they have no regulations or even
refrigeration sometimes. If you have a funny tummy at home, pack
charcoal tablets and plan on eating yoghurt in Morocco to get some
probiotics. Enjoy the local cuisine - that's one of the main reasons you
went! As in most foreign countries, you should probably stick to
bottled water just to be safe - we are often not used to the critters in
someone else's water supply.
Watch The Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEjAP5UNOtg&feature=youtu.be 
