I’ve compiled some advice to help prospective tourists have a good time wherever they go in Morocco.
If you’re only planning to visit Marrakesh and want to do it well, you’ll need around 3 days. Looking for some ideas of where to go? Check out my Marrakesh highlights here.
Planning a week-long holiday? I’d recommend exploring other cities and places further afield to the Atlas Mountains or nearby cities like Agadir, Casablanca, or Fez. There are regular trains at the Marrakesh train station and tickets can be purchased from 100 dirhams.
1. Upon arrival, you’ll get an entry number in your passport
Marrakesh Menara airport is pretty relaxed. Observe that the staff will chat amongst each other – to the point that you find yourself standing idly, waiting for them to finish their conversation and come back to you. That being said, staff at the airport will collect your passenger locator form (a special Covid-19 addition) without any questions.
When you arrive at Customs and Immigration, the officer scrutinising you will take a picture of you and write in your passport. Pay attention to where it’s written because it will be important for checking into your hotel. There will be a field in your check-in form which will ask for an entry number. That’s when this note scribbled on your passport is important! Apparently, your entry number will remain the same and will be reusable for future trips back to Morocco.
2. Get a Moroccan SIM card to save time and money
If you have a smartphone that accepts any brand of SIM card, count yourself lucky. Instead of paying expensive international roaming rates to your provider, get yourself a prepaid SIM card from 20 Dirhams so you can move around freely.
You can get a SIM card at any phone shop. I went with Orange located in Marrakesh train station and got enough data to last for only 25 Dirhams. Google Maps will be a godsend for finding local restaurants and famous historical sites around the city, which means you’ll see and do more without needing to ask for directions or use international roaming.
3. Dirhams are everything – make sure you have enough cash with you.
You’ll need Moroccan dirhams (MAD) to get around Marrakesh. Some tourist places do take card payments but there isn’t always a guarantee.
The best place to get cash upon arrival is at the airport. You have options to withdraw at an ATM (with small service charges on top) or swap money with the currency exchange there. It’s best to get enough cash to last a few days to avoid unexpected charges that can go as high as £20 on top of your withdrawal from a random ATM.
Pro tip: It will help your budgeting to make a note of the exchange difference between Moroccan Dirhams and your local currency. Cash notes are in denominations of 20, 50, 100, and 200 dirhams while you’ll also have change in 5 and 10 centimes, and 1, 2, 5, and 10 dirham coins. Oh, and ALWAYS hide some cash somewhere on you in case you suddenly run out. This will be essential if you get carried haggling left right and centre in the souks!
Getting a taxi from the airport? It should only cost 80 to 150 Dirhams for a 10-minute drive. Be warned of some drivers who will state a much higher price. It’s natural to haggle in Morocco so don’t be afraid to push for a lower fare. I wish I learned this sooner because we paid 400 dirhams for a taxi, which was obviously a total rip-off.
4. Food portions are enormous
There’s so much food to enjoy in Marrakesh, the best-known dishes are the famous tagine, couscous, and a varied selection of mezze sharing dishes. Portion sizes for some dishes are enormous, so you might need to keep this in mind when it’s time for a meal. Ask your waiter how big the dish is and if you’re not a big eater or travelling alone, pick one meal to share instead.
If you’re on a tight budget and prefer to eat somewhere that doesn’t have many tourists, head over to where the cafes are. There are a few located near Jemma el-Fnaa and the remains of El Badii-Ksibat Nhass Palace. They’ll do baguettes and kebab-like dishes for a really cheap price (approx. 30 MAD).
5. Find excursions online to save time and money
There’s a lot of things to do in Marrakesh, but it’s important to remember you don’t have to go for the first excursion you see advertised.
For only £25, I booked a day trip to explore the Atlas Mountains, have lunch, and ride a camel. This was all organised with a local tour guide on Tripadvisor.
So if you’re on a budget, search for the trips you want to do online. I promise it won’t take away the spontaneity. There are so many competitive offers online which have a clear itinerary for a fixed price.
Nadia Cheung 