Visa
and Passport | Health | Packing
| Money
Electrical Appliances | Insurance
Visa
and Passport:
Travelers
to Morocco must possess a passport valid for six months from
the date of entry into the country. Visas are not required for
American tourists traveling in Morocco for less than 90 days.
For longer
stays, Americans are required to obtain a residence permit and
a special visa. For additional information, travelers may contact
Embassy
of Morocco
1601 21st St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 462-7979
It's a good
idea to make a photocopy of your passport, carried separately,
in case of any emergency.
For more
info about Visa to Morocco, please visit:
http://wafin.com/consulate/consulate.phtml?action=detail&cid=13
top
Health
Preparations:
Morocco is
quite safe from a health point of view; however, some precautions
will ensure a healthy, enjoyable trip. No immunizations are
required to enter Morocco, but it is recommended that visitors
see their physician to make sure their inoculations are up-to-date.
top
Packing:
In general,
less is more. And for the shopping-minded, the less you bring,
the more you can bring home!
Moroccans
are very accustomed to Western travelers in their midst, particularly
in the larger cities. Yet Morocco remains a fairly conservative
society in terms of dress. Moroccans do not wear t-shirts or
shorts except for sport or at the beach. Light, cotton or linen
pants, skirts, and long sleeve shirts will help ensure you have
a pleasant travel experience.
It's also
a good idea to pack such items as a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen,
backup medical prescriptions, a Swiss Army knife, earplugs,
and a good book (English-language books can be difficult to
find in Morocco.)
Depending
on where you're traveling in the country, and when, you can
encounter some cool or downright chilly conditions. Please see
the climate section, and plan accordingly.
Many travelers
bring a few colored pens, or hard candies, to give to children
who may lead you through a village or otherwise approach you.
top
Money:
The Moroccan
unit of currency is the dirham, pronounced "deer
ram" and abbreviated "dh". At the time of this
writing there were about 11 dirham to the U.S. Dollar. You can
check the
latest rates on the Internet.
While there
are extraordinary palatial hotels and restaurants rivaling any
found in the West, in general, most travelers will find Morocco
a very reasonable country, cost-wise. Many amenities, such as
newspapers, cost roughly what they would at home, while there
are many delightfully inexpensive surprises. (One can hardly
surpass a 2.5 dh glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in Marrakesh's
Djemma-el-Fna square.)
Most finer
hotels, higher-end restaurants, and even many stalls in the
souks of Marrakesh and Fez take credit cards. The most popular
are Visa and Mastercard.
Automatic
Teller Machines (ATMs) are widely available throughout Morocco,
although many charge high fees for international with drawls.
Also be aware that in the outlying areas, ATMs that accept international
cards can be difficult to find.
The most popular
and safe money option is usually travelers cheques, which are
accepted widely throughout the country. A couple of suggestions
are in order however: first, bring fewer, higher-denomination
checques, as many Bureaus des Change and banks charge
a flat, per-checque fee for cashing. Also, many merchants will
accept cheques, but be sure to agree on an exchange rate first.
There's a big difference paying with a travelers checque valued
at 11 dh/dollar and one valued at 10.
When cashing
traveler's checque, be sure to keep your receipt! You are only
allowed by law to change back 50% of your dirhams back into
another currency, and in order to do so, you must present the
exchange slip. It is illegal to export dirhams from Morocco.
top
Electric
Appliances:
Morocco uses
French-style 110/220 volt electrical plugs. If you want to bring
a laptop, electric shaver, or other appliances, you will need
a plug adapter. The adapter you're looking for looks something
like this:
top
Travel
Insurance:
