Frequently
Asked Questions
Below we have answered the most common questions that we're asked. After booking, we supply our tailor made, unique and comprehensive A-Z previsit information for each place where you will stay, including a guide to the locality and the country in general.
Clothes
The normal dress code on the street in Morocco is to cover legs, chest and arms for both men and women and although this is much more relaxed than it used to be, please don't assume that you won't offend because others dress in a western style. It is fine to wear shorts/swimwear in certain places and staff will advise you of the protocol at each place.
Though the days can be very warm between late October and April, it is usually cold at night, sometimes surprisingly so- one never knows with climate change- so it is essential to take some warm clothing. More about temperatures in the weather section below.
Food
In recent times the excellence of the Moroccan cuisine has become more
widely recognized; it is a healthy and varied diet,
drawing from Arab, Berber, Jewish, African and French traditions.
The best known dishes are tajines (mildly spiced and cooked in a conical
clay dish which had a great effect on the flavour) and wonderful fresh
salads (all food is picked and bought just before preparing meals in
Morocco).
There is an abundance of locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables (including dates, oranges, bananas, figs, melons, avocados etc.) which
are used imaginatively with spices, herbs and oils produced locally
such as argan oil, an exquisite orange nutty flavoured oil. Round Moroccan
flat bread is excellent, its flavour improved by the sourdough starter.
Some tour
operators say that hotels can't cater adequately for vegetarians; we
do! We thoroughly recommend vegetarian dishes (many of
which are also vegan),as well as the meat and fish
dishes - a huge variety of fish is available. We offer cookery lessons in Taroudant too.
Health
There are no compulsory vaccinations, though some may
be recommended by your doctor. Tap water is safe
to drink and good bottled water is available almost everywhere. There are large modern hospitals in Agadir and Marrakech, small hospitals in towns like Taroudant and Essaouira and plenty
of pharmacies.
Care should be taken with food, especially in hot weather. It
is wise to eat only at recommended restaurants. There is no
malaria in the areas where we recommend that you travel.
Language
Staff are often multi-lingual, speaking English,
French and Arabic and maybe Berber too. Most urban Moroccans understand
some English; it can also be useful to know some French, which is widely
spoken in towns and by the younger generation, or to carry a phrase
book. We can offer language lessons in Taroudant where
2 of our staff studied languages at university.
Money
Cash machines are widely available and will take most UK credit and debit cards. This is by far the simplest and fastest way to get cash. Traveller's cheques are useful for emergencies but can be very time consuming to cash. Pounds sterling and Euros are both widely accepted by local traders.
Safety
We think you'll find your hosts in Morocco without exception warm, welcoming
and very helpful. In towns like Taroudant and Essaouira which are small
- very different from cities like Casablanca - our visitors soon comment
how safe they feel once they have become accustomed to the new environment.
The "Real Morocco" option is deliberately designed to offer you a lot of initial support and accompanied visits. Wherever you are you can always ask for someone to accompany you until you feel confident.
Shopping
Most Moroccan produced goods are remarkably cheap but imported items are relatively expensive. You may be tempted by the wonderful range of crafts for sale in the souk (market); these are usually good value if you bargain for them. For example a pair of hand crafted leather sandals for around £5, a small hand-woven carpet for £25 or a traditional brass mirror for about £5. Locally produced foods such as argan oil, dates, walnuts, almonds, saffron etc. are also very good value.
Transport
- Please see our Travelling around Morocco page.
Visas
Holders of British passports endorsed `British Citizen' do not require a visa for stays of up to 3 months.
Currently (March 2006), this also applies to nationals of most European countries and those from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United States. There are some exceptions - please check with the Moroccan Tourist Board (Tel: 020 7437 0073) for latest information.
Weather
Morocco has such a varied climate (snow capped peaks to scorching desert
dunes!) that there is always somewhere to go. Taroudant is the warmest place in Morocco between October and April. Essaouira is the perfect place at any time of year, as the temperature
varies so little. Ouarzazate and the Deep Desert is best in spring and autumn
to avoid extremes. Being further inland Marrakech, Fez and Ouarzazate have a more extreme
climate.
Note that there can be a great contrast between
day and night temperatures. Even in the depths of winter the sun tends
to produce very pleasant warmth during the middle of the day.
In the lowlands rainfall totals are about a third of the driest parts
of the UK!
We can virtually guarantee no rain in May-Sept in the lowlands. When it does rain, people are so overjoyed to see it, that it is quite
a novelty for those of us from wetter climes! Rain tends to be heavy
and shortlasting rather than drizzle.
Weather statistics for:
Agadir Essaouira Marrakech Fez Ouarzazate Rabat Chaouen Zagora
Naturally Morocco Limited - Experience the Real Morocco
Tel: 01239 710 814 UK local rate: 0845 345 7195
