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Touring in Morocco - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly?


Guest John Anderson

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Guest John Anderson
We are thinking of going to Morocco in June for the first time and would welcome all information about sites, security, weather and any other advice people think relevant. Thanks in advance for your help.
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Guest Clive
A SEARCH for MOROCCO will reveal lots of posts. Here is just one of them. Good luck Morocco(2) — Don Madge — 09/08/2004 17:07:45 Hi Colin, I hope you find this usefull. MOROCCO Ferry tickets are best bought from the port complex at Algeciras. They will also give you the necessary visa forms for the entry in Morocco (ask for an extra set for your return as this makes life easier then). We stayed overnight in Ceuta and crossed into Morocco first thing in the morning. It took about forty-five minutes to complete the formalities at the border. If you would like to book before you leave the UK the agents are SOUTHERN FERRIES Address: 30 Churton Street, Victoria LONDON SW1V - 2LP Telephone: (0044) 087004991305 Fax: (0044) 08704991304 On arrival at the border you will be directed to a parking area. 1 Take visa forms and passports to “ENQUIRIES OFFICE” on the left hand side of compound. Write Vehicle Registration Number on reverse of drivers form. You will get an entry visa for three months. This can be extended at a later date by proof of means i.e. “PLASTIC” or opening a local bank account in Morocco. 2 Take Vehicle Registration Document and GREEN CARD to the customs office (signed Registration of Vehicles). There you will complete a green form they keep the original you keep the duplicate. (Don’t loose this as it’s needed to get out of the country). Return to the vehicle with the form and wait for the inspection by the customs official. After inspection a temporary tax disc is issued (ours was glued to the inside of the windscreen). Currency exchange can be completed while waiting for the customs inspection. Jan 2001 rate was 15DH=£1. We found it was not necessary to bribe officials or pay “helpers” to complete the border formalities. A working knowledge of French is very useful. Generally if the ladies sort out the paperwork at the border they are treated with more respect. On the road from Sebta (Cueta) to Tetouan you go through the outskirts of a couple of small towns/villages where there is a 30 or 40 KM per hour speed limit. Just lately the Gendarme Royal (very smart usually speak English. Locals are terrified of them) have caught a few Motor homes speeding. If you get caught speeding they usually read the riot act to you and tell you the fine is DH 400. In the end they usually take DH 100. Don't ask for a receipt or you will have to pay the other DH 300 as well. We got caught a couple of years ago crossing a double white line (passing a truck doing 15MPH). They demanded DH 400 which I handed over. After a lecture they returned DH 300. They stated the DH 100 was for the coffee. A stunt the Local Police (scruffy bunch) pull is to stop you and ask either for "a present" or "cigarettes". We carry some old biros that have run out and dish them out as required. It doesn't happen a lot but it's nice to know what goes on. The cost of living is very cheap compared with Europe. Site fees averaged at approx. £3-£5 per night. Electricity where available was not reliable. Gas bottles can be refilled at gas plants in Agadir and Marrakech. Currency is available from hole in the wall cash dispencers in all large towns. International Visa was not available, were we saw the visa sign and tried too use our visa it was Moroccan Visa only. French is widely spoken English in the large cities and tourist areas. The locals are keen to buy electrical goods, children’s clothes and men’s clothes to a degree. We were asked many times whilst at garages refuelling if we had any thing to sell. I have heard that some visitors cover their ferry crossing and living expenses whilst in Morocco by the goods they have sold during their stay. During our three months stay we had no problems. We travelled 3000 miles and had a wonderful time. Remember to respect the local traditions and you will find the locals very friendly. If you can get by in French you have a head start. Try to avoid the month of Ramadan. In 2004 the first day of Ramadan is about the 15th October it moves forward about seven days each year. Camp Sites in Morocco ASILAH: Two small sites, facilities reasonable. Could be problems in the wet. RABAT/SALE: The site in Sale is small and level usable cold showers and toilets. Electricity was OK until the French used their microwaves to cook there evening meal. Hot showers available at extra cost. CASABLANCA: Small site, many trees, toilets very poor. EL JADIDA: Medium site, toilets usable, within walking distance of town. SAFI: Small site, toilets usable, Electricity was dangerous in the wet MARAKECH: Large site 10 kms out of town on the Casablanca road. Very good facilities. It is possible to stay overnight in the guarded lorry park (get there early it fills up quickly sometimes) in the city centre next to the Koutoubia Mosque. It's a five-minute walk to the Place Djemaa el-Fna. ESSAOUIRA: No site in the town. Over night parking in guarded lorry park near port entrance. There's reasonable site out along the coast road towards Agadir. TAGHAZOUTE: Large site, facilities poor, very crowded, small supermarkets close to the site also a couple of restaurants. Gas bottles can be taken to the local supermarkets for refilling in Agadir. AGADIR: Medium site facilities reasonable, very crowded/full in winter season. TIZNIT: Small site in walled city, facilities usable. SIDI IFNI: Two small sites one with marked pitches, which are small. FORT BOU-JERIF: Large site set in desert last 8 kms over rough track. Water not suitable for drinking or tea but OK for cooking etc. Facilities good. TAFROAUTE: Small site wonderful mountain setting. TAROUDANT: No site in town, free parking allowed next to police station. TALIOUINE: Small site in Auberge Souktana car park. QUARZAZAT: Medium site, toilets usable. On outskirts of town next to noisy nightclub. ZAGORA: Camping Sindibad. Toilets and showers usable. ERFOUD: Medium site, facilities usable TODRA GORGE: Camping Soleil. Facilities very good. DADES GORGE: Small site next to hotel along side river. (Will allow use of hotel toilet). CASCADE D'OUZZOUD: Sites around cascade area. MEKNES: Large site set in walled city, facilities good. FEZ: Camping International very expensive (a rip off) If you want any more info get back to me. Safe travelling Don Morocco(3) — Don Madge — 09/08/2004 17:26:37 Hi again Colin. Now the down side. We spent two glorious winters in Morocco and enjoyed it very much. Then like Spain and Portugal the masses moved in. On our third visit one had to go so far south (Laayoune-Plage) to find some breathing space. One has to go south of the Atlas mountains for the best weather and at one time the area just north of Agadir was very pleasant. The site at Taghazoute was very cheap even if the electricity was unreliable. It was also possible to free camp at Anchor Point with the windsurfers, the weather was usually very good in Dec - Mar. In the late nineties the French/German/Dutch started doing escorted holidays to Morocco with up to thirty units (motorhomes/Caravans) at a time. Mostly travelling in convoy and overwhelming the popular sites. It got so bad a many of the regulars just stopped going there. For the last couple of winters there has been approx 400+ motorhomes parked on a one mile stretch of beach between Banana village and Taghazoute. I hate to think where they emptied their loo's. Many just let their waste water run away anywhere. The last time we looked at the area it was very windy, the sand was blowing about and it looked like a scene from a third world disaster area. We spent many wonderful days in the imperial cities of Rabat, Fez, Meknes and Marrakech. We never felt threatened even walking in the souke at night and to spend an evening in the Jemaa El Fna square in Marrakech is breathtaking. We would be back there like a shot if it was not so hot in April, May and June. Safe travelling Don Morocco(4) — Alan — 09/08/2004 21:13:07 Does anyone know the the restrictions on taking a dog to Morocco from Spain please? Morocco(5) — colin Hamilton — 10/08/2004 10:10:40 Don, That is fantastic information, thank you for your prompt response, I will now digest and maybe if there is anything else I could take the liberty of posting again. thanks again, Colin
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Guest roy isaacs
Hi Colin, I have just returned after 3 months in morocco and i find Dons reply very comprehensive, but iwould like to make a couple of points. Firstly the cheapest ferry tickets can be booked at STA Travel in Algecirus, to find it exit N340 at Junction 112 it is situated behind Carrefour, this years price was 220Euros 30%cheaper than other companies. There is now a motorhome site in central Agadir also a new site about 30k north of Agadir. Roy
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