THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO MOROCCO

We have selected the following general information worth reviewing before your  visit to Morocco. 

Local Culture and Religion 

Moroccans have a very warm and welcoming culture. Most locals are happy to  help out anyone in need, and may even befriend travelers and invite them to enjoy  a cup of tea. Tea is often offered in shops, or even market stalls, to customers. If a  Moroccan really wants to welcome you, they will also offer you cookies with your  tea, or perhaps even dates and milk as the highest form of welcome. While there is  little physical contact between men and women in public, people of the same  gender will often greet one another with an embrace and a kiss (or five!) on the  cheek. Romantic public displays of affection should be avoided. 

Morocco is also a conservative country when it comes to dress. While many  women in Morocco choose to wear traditional djellabas and hijabs, there are also  many women who wear contemporary clothing, with or without hijab. Visitors  should keep their shoulders covered, skirts should be kept around knee length or  longer, and overall, clothing should not be excessively tight or low-cut. This is especially true as you go further south and into smaller cities, where none of the  women wear Western clothing outside the home. However, if you are in one of the  large cities and heading to a nightclub or disco, high heels and revealing dress are  commonly seen. You will also see clothing a bit shorter and tighter in these large  cities, as well. 

While Morocco is a Muslim country, the religion is not mandatory. However, it is  still good to consider which religious holidays may be happening during your  travel time. The holy month of Ramadan and subsequent festival of Eid changes  dates every year. During this month, most Moroccans will be fasting and  abstaining from water from sunup to sundown, as well as praying several times a  day. This can lead to some locations being closed during the day. It is also polite to  avoid eating, drinking water, or smoking outside during this month. 

Language

Arabic is the official language of Morocco, though it is a different dialect than the  Modern Standard Arabic. French is also widely spoken, and many signs and menus  can be found in both French and Arabic. As you go further south, there will be  more Berber tribal dialects, and you may even see signs in Arabic and Berber.  However, many in the south are exposed to several different languages through tourism, so most hotels and restaurants will have staff that can speak and  understand at least enough English to conduct business. The guides often speak  five or six languages! 

Money and Tipping 

The Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency, meaning you can only obtain it once in  Morocco, and will have to change any remaining currency back before leaving the  country. There are many places in every city where you can change money,  including large hotels and ATMs. However, do not try to withdraw large sums of  cash at once from an ATM (we suggest keeping it under $700USD), as it can cause  a potential fraud trigger and the machine may not return your card. While credit  cards can be used in hotels, only large restaurants and shops (including the rug and leather shops) are able to take them. Most shopping is done with cash. While the  exchange rate fluctuates, it is generally in the range of 9dh to $1USD. You should  try to ensure you always have some coins, as they come in handy for tipping. 

Tipping is very common in Morocco, and is expected for practically any service.  Whether it is someone serving you in a restaurant, someone carrying your bags in a hotel, or the guide showing you around the city, tipping is expected. For smaller  services, anywhere from 10-50dh is appropriate. Many restrooms have attendants  who should be tipped 1-5dh, and in some places, it is required for using the facilities. For guides and drivers, 50-100dh per day per person is recommended.  For performers, anywhere from 10-200dh is appropriate, depending on whether it  is a street performance you want to just get a picture of, or Gnawa musicians hired  for a private party. 

Cuisine 

Morocco has some of the most delicious cuisine in the world. It’s wonderfully  fresh, deliciously spiced, and nearly always accompanied by a glass of Moroccan  mint tea and followed with fresh fruit. However, for those with dietary restrictions,  you may find your options limited. Breakfast is traditionally a variety of breads,  from layered msemmen to traditional baguettes, served with cream cheese, honey, olive or argan oil, with hard boiled eggs and yogurt completing the meal. Lunch  and dinner are generally a traditional tagine or couscous, or perhaps barbecued  skewers of lamb, beef, or chicken. There are also a multitude of cooked and raw  salads that will precede the main course, and Moroccans usually eat with their  hands, using bread to scoop up the food. There are also many sweets served all throughout the day, from the honey drenched cookies, to dates, to French pastries.  Almonds are also in abundance, as well as peanuts. Allergies are not very prevalent  in Morocco, nor are special diets such as, gluten free or vegan, so if you have any  allergies or special dietary needs, you should be very clear with your guide to  ensure there are no misunderstandings. 

Other Important Information 

Do not forget to bring outlet adapters and power converters. Moroccan outlets are  the same as European, and deliver about twice the voltage as American. For most  devices, this isn’t a problem, but if you have anything with a heating element (hair  dryer, curling iron, straightener, etc.), you should be sure to get a power converter as well, to prevent sparks. Due to the higher voltage, some items such as laptops  and phones, may get extremely warm if left attached to a charger long after they  are charged, so we recommend not leaving such items plugged in for extended  periods of time, or while you are not in the room.

COVID-19 Information 

Travelers from the United States are permitted to enter Morocco with proof of  COVID-19 vaccination OR a negative result of a PCR test administered within 48  hours of the date entering Morocco. 

PCR tests are available in Morocco for US citizens. The cost is typically around  700 Dirhams / $190 USD. Test results are usually available within 72 hours.

Proof of vaccination is required to enter most private and public establishments,  including hotels, restaurants, cafes, gyms, hammams, grocery stores and public  mode of transportation. Wearing a mask is mandatory in all public spaces. 

The risk of COVID-19 public health policy and travel advice or restriction may  change quickly. Therefore travelers should ensure they have access to up to date  information on COVID-19 and be prepared for rapid changes to guidance both  before and during travel. 

Contact for More Information: Consulate General of Morocco – 10E 40th St, New  York, NY 10016 / Tel: 212-758-2625