Morocco: the Ultimate Cheap Luxury Holiday Destination?

Dreaming about a cheap luxury holiday? Have you considered Morocco?

Morocco is bursting with beauty and culture, from the mountains to the Medinas and the Souks to the Sahara Desert. Here is Hasina Morocco Tours guide to visiting this North African gem.

Although Morocco might not be at the top of everyone’s travel lists, but it really should be. It is located in the North West corner of Africa and is bordered by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Morocco is home to the Atlas Mountains, the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the beautiful blue city of Chefchaouen, the golden-orange sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in the eastern Sahara and not forgetting the infamous Marrakech Medina (a UNESCO world heritage site).

A brief history of Morocco

Morocco is a fascinating country, with a long history of culture, that begins with the Berbers around 2000 years before the first piece of recorded history.

Morocco has been invaded countless times since then, starting with the Phoenicians in 12BC and then the Byzantines in 6 AD. By the 8^th Century, Morocco had been occupied by the Moors with the Berbers living united in Arabic language and the Islamic faith.

However, this wasn’t to last as France and Spain were given permission to police Moroccon ports and collect custom fees in 1906 with Morocco then becoming a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, with Spain continuing to collect its coastal fees until 1975. Morocco is now independent, and has been ruled by King Mohammed VI since 1999, when his father King Hassan II died.

There are two official languages spoken in Morocco – Arabic and Berber. French is also widely spoken across the country, mainly as a second language. Spanish is also common in the North. English is understood by many locals as well.

Learning a few of the basic greetings in Arabic is always a good idea, as it can go a long way with locals. Remember the word “Shukran” – it means thank you and will put a smile on lots of people’s faces.

Getting to Morocco

Morocco is a very accessible country, you can get there by boat, bus or plane.

There are four ferry ports in Morocco, which link the country to France, Italy and Spain. Morocco is also home to twenty-five airports which makes arriving by air the best option usually.

Currency

The currency in Morocco is the Dirham (Dh) which is a closed currency. This means it is really difficult to convert currency outside of Morocco and you cannot take more than 1000 Dh out of Morocco when you leave. You will be asked to declare any Dirhams when you enter and leave the country, so always make sure you have exchanged any Dirhams you have left before you leave.

When is the best time to travel to Morocco?

The best time for you to travel to Morocco really depends on the purpose of your trip – as the climate can vary wildly from region and between seasons. The climate does tend to be more tropical than dry; it can vary significantly depending on where you are located.

If you want to avoid the scorching sun, then don’t travel in April, May, September, October or November. If you want to surf and ski, then travel in the winter months.

The sun in Morocco can be highly uncomfortable if you are someone who is not used to extreme heat, as it can get up to forty degrees Celsius in Fez, Marrakech and the Sahara Desert. The further south you go, the closer to the desert you will be, and the hotter the temperature will get. If you don’t want to visit Morrocco during the summer months, then you may want to opt for one of the Coastal regions such as Essaouira or Rabat instead.

Winter in Morocco tends to run from December to January, with heavy snowfall seen on the Atlas Mountains and lots of rain in the coastal regions and the North. The south of the country and the Inlands tend to stay drier although temperatures will drop dramatically at night.

If you are intending to visit Morocco in the summer months, it is important to keep the dates of Ramadan in mind as well. During this holy Islamic festival, Muslims will fast from sunrise to sunset, meaning no food or water passes their lips during this time. This also means that a lot of cafes and restaurants will close during the day, so finding food and drink can be more difficult. If you do visit during Ramadan, please be respectful of those who are fasting.

The ultimate Morocco travel guide

Morocco is an extremely warm and hospitable country – but you should try and behave in a certain way when you are there. Learning the local etiquette, and respecting it, is very important – no matter what country you are travelling to.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Women should try and dress modestly. In many parts of Morocco, especially the mountain villages, it is seen as offensive for women to have their shoulders and legs on display. You will still be allowed in the more modern and touristy areas in shorts and a t-shirt, but respecting the culture and dressing more modestly can help you to avoid any unwanted attention
• Try and avoid eye contact in the Souks if you do not want to be pressured into buying something. If you are an assertive person who knows how to bargain without being mean, then this is all part of the fun of Souk shopping, as well as the hustle and bustle of it all – but it isn’t for everyone.
• Unfortunately, as with most tourist areas, pickpockets are rife in certain areas. Keep your handbag shut and close at hand, or wear a money belt instead
• You are expected to tip workers in Morocco, as with anywhere else in the world. Upper class restaurants will add a service charge to the bill, whereas in a café you would be expected to leave around 5% of the total bill.
• Learn to bargain. If you don’t want to bargain then don’t head to the Souks, the stall holders there expect you to bargain and will always start off by telling you a price that is far more than an item is actually worth. Make sure to keep in mind how low the currency conversion is, if you are putting down 10dh as a tip it may seem a lot, for example, but it actually works out at around £1.
• Knowing a few local phrases is always a good idea, whatever country you are travelling in. “As-salamu’alaykum” (pronounced ah-salaam-a-lay-kum) translates to “peace be with you” and is the basic greeting in the Arabic language. If someone says this to you and you wish to respond you should say “wa’alaykamu s-salam” (pronounced wa-a-lay-kum-salam) which means “peace be upon you too”. Also, always shake hands with your right hand – the left hand is considered to be unclean as it is the hand traditionally used for the toilet.

Where should you visit in Morocco?

• A fascinating city with many Medinas and neighbourhoods to explore, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will truly feel you are going back in time when you visit the Djemaa el-Fna – one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Morocco.
• A stone’s throw away from Marrakech is Gueliz, the new town built by the French in the early 1900s. Packed full of beautiful parks, modern shops and wide streets it is a very different experience from historical Marrakech.
• Established by the Portuguese in the 16^th century, this coastal town has remained unchanged for many years. Visiting the port and sampling the fresh fish is a must for seafood lovers, and it is also a popular surf spot as well.

If you really want to explore what Morocco has to offer, then a Hasina Morrocco Tour could be just what you need. We offer a wide variety of tours, from our Fez and Sahara tour to our special yoga and dance retreats. Begin your Moroccon adventure today by getting in touch.