Social ConventionsHandshaking is the customary form of greeting. Many of the manners and social customs emulate French manners, particularly amongst the middle class. The visitor may find, in some social situations, that patience and firmness will pay dividends. Often visitors may find themselves the center of unsolicited attention. In towns, young boys after money will be eager to point out the way, sell goods or simply charge for a photograph, while unofficial guides will always be offering advice or services. The visitor should be courteous but wary of the latter. Normal social courtesies
should be observed in someone’s home. Casual wear is widely acceptable, although swimsuits and shorts should be confined to the beach or poolside. Women traveling alone, and/or wearing clothes regarded as provocative (eg strappy tops, short skirts, etc) may attract unwanted attention. Sexual relations outside marriage, and homosexual conduct, are punishable by law. Smoking is widespread and it is customary to offer cigarettes.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
Royal Air Maroc (AT) (website:
www.royalairmaroc.com).
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsCasablanca (CMN) (Mohammed V) is 30km (19 miles) south of the city (journey time – 35 minutes).
To/from the airport: There are taxi services into Casablanca and train services available to Rabat.
Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, post office, banking and bureau de change, restaurant, bar, tourist help desk and car hire.
Tangier (TNG) (Boukhalef Souahel) is 11km (7 miles) from the city (journey time – 20 minutes).
To/from the airport: Bus and taxi services are available into Tangier.
Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, banking and bureau de change, restaurant, bar, tourist help desk and car hire.
Other international airports include
Fez (FEZ),
Marrakech (RAK) and
Rabat-Salé (RBA).
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Tangier,
Casablanca and
Ceuta. Several lines from Europe serve these ports.
Ferry operators include
FerriMaroc (website:
www.ferrimaroc.com) and
Trasmediterranea (website:
www.trasmediterranea.com). There are cheap and regular car- and passenger-ferry links between southern Spain and Tangier and the Spanish enclaves on the north Moroccan coast. Most links are roll-on, roll-off car ferries except where shown. The routes are from Algeciras to Ceuta (Sebta) (car ferry); Algeciras to Tangier (hydrofoil and car ferry); Tarifa to Tangier (hydrofoil); Gibraltar to Tangier (hydrofoil and car ferry); Almería to Melilla (car ferry); Málaga to Melilla (car ferry); Almería to Nador (car ferry); Gênes (Italy) to Tangier; Alicante to Orán and Almería to Al Hoceima.
There are also car ferries between Sète on the French coast (between Béziers and Montpellier on the Golfe du Lyon) and Tangier run by
Compagnie Marocaine de Navigation.
Getting There by RailRail links between Morocco and Algeria are currently suspended. The main international routes are from Oujda to Algiers or from Oran to Algiers. Trains can be caught from London Victoria to Gare du Nord in Paris, and then Gare d’Austerlitz to Algerciras. From here ferries can be caught to Morocco (see
Getting There by Water, above).
Getting There by RoadThe best road link is from southern Spain or France via passenger/car ferries (see
Getting There by Water, above). The road link on the north Algerian border is currently closed.
Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219, UK only; website:
www.eurolines.com or www.nationalexpress.com), departing from London, serves destinations in Morocco.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Morocco without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400g of tobacco;
1l of spirits and 1l of wine;
5g of perfume.
A special permit is required for sporting guns and ammunition which is obtainable upon arrival from the police authorities if passenger(s) hold a permit from their country of origin.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirRoyal Air Maroc (AT) (website:
www.royalairmaroc.com)
operates regular services from Casablanca airport to Agadir, Dakhla, Fès, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Oujda and Tangier. Contact
Royal Air Maroc for further details.
Regional Airlines (FN) also runs an internal service.
Getting Around by RailThe Moroccan rail system, run by
Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF) (website:
www.oncf.org.ma), provides regular and cheap services with first-class travel available between major centers. Rail fares are amongst the cheapest in the world, although a supplement must be paid for air-conditioned trains. Sleeping cars and restaurant cars are available. The network runs from Oujda in the northeast to Casablanca on the west coast, Tangier on the north coast and Fès and Marrakech in the interior. The most useful route is from Fès to Rabat and Casablanca, with five daily and two overnight trains. There are also two daily trains and one overnight train (without sleepers) which run from Casablanca to Marrakech. Also, from Monday to Friday, a train runs every 30 minutes from Kenitra to Rabat.
NoteCheap faresChildren under four travel free and children from four to 12 may travel for half fare.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the right. The major Moroccan roads, particularly those covering the north and northwest of the country, are all-weather highways. In the interior, south of the High Atlas Mountains, road travel becomes much more difficult, especially across the Atlas Mountains in winter.
Coach: The main centers are connected by a wide variety of coach services, many of which are privately run. The two largest firms are
CTM (covering the whole country) and
SATAS (between Casablanca, Agadir and south of Agadir). Visitors should bear in mind, however, that Morocco has a poor road safety record; the roads from Agadir to Marrakech, via Imi’n Tanoute and Chichaoua, are particularly hazardous.
Bus: Connections between most major towns and villages are regular and frequent, although buses can be very crowded and it may be wise to buy tickets in advance and arrive well before departure to secure a seat. The price of tickets is very low, especially with some of the smaller local bus companies. It is customary to tip the guard for loading luggage. For charter purposes, air-conditioned motor coaches are available from several companies.
Taxi: Those available in major towns, the
petits taxis, are metered (see below under
Urban). Other larger taxis, usually Mercedes cars, are used for travel to areas outside towns. These can be shared, but fares should be agreed before departure.
Car hire: Major hire companies have offices in major towns and cities. Car hire is generally expensive.
Documentation: Foreign driving licenses are accepted, as well as International Driving Permits. Third Party insurance is required. A Green Card is also necessary. Insurance can be arranged locally.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesThere are extensive bus services in Casablanca and other main towns. Pre-purchase tickets are sold. Urban area
petits taxis are plentiful and have metered fares. Taxi drivers expect a 10 per cent tip.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from
Casablanca to other major cities/towns in Morocco.
| Air | Road | Rail |
| Rabat | 0.30 | 1.30 | 1.00 |
| Marrakech | 0.30 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Tangier | 0.50 | 6.00 | 6.00 |
| | | |
| Laayoune | 1.30 | 20.00 | - |
| | | |
Next Page »
