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Favorite thing: As a Muslim country, Morocco has some restrictions concerning alcohol. As a touristy country, Morocco was forced to adapted to visitors' tastes and needs, sometimes with... imagination.

No!

I will not confess that the tea pot had a very good and cool white wine. How could you imagine such a thing?

It was a delicious Iced Grape Tea, that's what it was!

Favorite thing: Moroccan Dirham is not an internationaly traded currency and not much sought after in other countries. I believe you can buy Dirhams at Gatwick airport. If you are bringing more than £1000 in cash into Morocco you must disclose it to an official at the airport on arrival. You will be given a declaration paper. When changing hard currency in a bank you may be asked for proof that this money was brought into the country legally, you will then have to show your documents.
The regulation is to discourage money laundering.
ATM's are everywhere but in Essaouira can run out of cash by Sunday afternoon, so plan for every eventuality !
Have fun

Favorite thing: Take some Euro's with you as back up but the ATMs are reliable in Morocco and their are plenty around so you shouldn't have any problems taking money out. Never had any use for US dollars.

Done 4 trips so far to various parts of Morocco and never had any problems so far.

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Favorite thing: The official currency of Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham, denoted as MAD or Dh. The Moroccan Dirham is composed of 100 centimes; notes are available in denominations of (Dh) 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 and coins are available in denominations of (Dh) 10, 5, 2 and 1, or 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes. Travellers should be aware that there are 2 types of 5 Dirham coin in circulation; one is large and silver and the other is small and gold and silver.
The Dirham is officially designated as a closed currency meaning it can only be traded within Morocco, however, there are reports of the Dirham being sold and bought in travel agencies in several countries. The import and export of the currency is tolerated up to a limit of 1000DH. Currency purchased during a visit to Morocco must be converted back before departing the country, with the exception of the 1000Dh level. Travellers should be advised to keep the receipts of currency exchange, as these will be required for the conversion of Dirham back to foreign currency prior to departure.

Most of the main foreign currencies may be exchanged at a Bureau de Change in the airport or port upon arrival, at a bank and in most hotels although smaller hotels in more remote areas may not be able to exchange large amounts at one time without prior notice.
Most hotels will exchange at the same rate as banks and without charging commission. Exchanging money in the street is illegal, so travellers should look for an official Bureaux de Change which is identifiable by a golden sign.

When bringing paper currency into Morocco (U.S. Dollars, British Pounds, Euros etc.), these must be in near perfect condition - no tears or ink marks. Do not bring Scottish or Irish Sterling notes as they are impossible to cash as are Australian and Canadian Dollars.

Some shops and especially restaurants quote prices in Euros and Dirhams; in the days where there were 10 dirhams to the euro it made conversion easy, now 1€ (Euro) is approx. equivalent to 11Dh but some traders still prefer to use the rate of ten to one which means you are slightly overcharged. Current exchange rates can be checked at http://www.xe.com/ucc
Please remember that the rates provided by xe.com are for wholesale transfers but are generally close to the exact rates of exchange found in Morocco.

Credit Cards

Most credit cards are accepted (especially Visa, MasterCard), although surcharges will likely apply as the cost of redit card processing in Morocco is fairly expensive for businesses. Do be aware that only a relatively small amount of businesses in Morocco have the ability to accept credit cards, although the number is growing slowly.

Advise your bank or card issuer that you intend to travel abroad so that no block will be put on the usage of your credit or ATM cards. Notify the issuer and give them a 'phone number where you can be contacted abroad.

Before travelling, ensure you make a note of all credit card numbers and associated contact numbers for card issuers in case of difficulty. The numbers are usually free to call as you can reverse the charges, make it clear to the operator at your hotel, riad etc that you wish the call charge to be reversed. Preferably get a pre-paid card, with good exchange rates and low withdrawal fees eg fairFX.

ATMs

ATMs can now be found in abundannce in most towns and accept Visa, Maestro, Cirrus etc and these will usually incur charges of around 5%. You should check with your bank as charges for using ATMs abroad may make exchanging cash a better option.

Popular destinations such as Tangier, Marrakech, Agadir etc have ATM's in large tourist international hotels as well as on all main roads. The medina of Marrakech has in excess of 20 ATM's.

Using a credit card (VISA etc) to obtain money from ATM's is also possible but one must remember that interest is charged from the moment money is dispensed. The normal practice of an interest-free period which applies to purchases, typically over 50 days, made on the card does NOT apply to cash withdrawals. Banks will allow cheques to be cashed but must be supported by a guarantee card.

ATM's generally dispense only 100 and 200 dirham notes so getting change for small everyday purchases like water, taxis etc can be a challenge. At weekends you may have difficulty acquiring cash as machines are not generally restocked until the following Monday. Sometimes your card may work in some machines and not others, or may support smaller withdrawals rather than larger ones, and may work at some times and not others. You should ensure you have a backup means of funding your visit. Some cash changing ATM's will not always accept the new UK £20 note.
Be prepared for a complete meltdown of ALL the ATM's in Essaouira which are working fine the following day.

Travellers are advised not to take travellers cheques as it is very difficult to find a bank that will cash them and although some hotels may still cash these, the commission rates are high. If you do take them, take larger value denominations to reduce the commission as this is charged per cheque.
TC's are becoming less popular in North Africa and Middle Eastern countries such as Tunisia and Egypt.
When making payments with a credit card, for example at a hotel for services, it is vital to memorise the PIN as signatures in many instances are no longer accepted, however certain establishments such as restaurants may still use the old method of signing.

Fondest memory: Tagines, beaches, hot sunshine and feeding stray cats for now.

Favorite thing: We all have what I call “Our own scale”. I mean that we get acquainted to the usual distances, time scheduling, and rhythm of life, that, all together, compose that scale. That’s what makes our life predictable and controllable, easing decisions and the life itself. When we move to another country or society, sometimes things are different, forcing to an adapting time, until getting “fixed” in the new scale.

A tourist, usually, doesn't have that time, so, travelling demands a special attention the “the scale”. In a global world under the American culture, the differences are fading, turning the adaptation quick and easy. But, sometimes, surprises do happen. Then, you better be attempt to that notion of scale. If you do, you get a new point of observation of the visited place, and will be able to enrich your knowledge understanding the differences. But if you don’t then you will probably feel rather uncomfortable, and, if you need to go on planning next step of your trip, you risk to make serious mistakes, spoiling the trip.
In my trips, I really felt out of scale twice: the first in 1982, in my first visit to Fes, in Morocco; the second one in Florida, in 1992 in my first visit to the USA. I was prepared, and really enjoyed the feeling. To know the details just follow the links.

Favorite thing: The area that would one day become Rabat was first settled in the third century B.C. by Berbers. The settlement, located at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River, was called Chella. In 40 A.D., Chella was conquered by the Romans, who changed its name to Sala Colonia. The Romans remained until 250 A.D., at which time they abandoned their colonies in North Africa.

Sala Colonia was ruled by local rulers until 1146, when the Almohad sultan, Abd al-Mouman used the town's ribat, or fortress, as a base from which to attack Spain. The fortress was called Ribat el-Fath, or "Fort of Victory", which was eventually shortened to Rabat, the name of today's city. It was during this period that Yacoub al-Mansour moved his capital to Rabat. He built the Kasbah of the Oudayas, and started construction on what would have been the world's largest mosque. However, that project was abandoned upon his death.

After the death of Yacoub al-Mansour, Rabat's importance declined significantly. Political and economic power shifted to Fez, and the town lost most of its population. In 1515, it was reported that there were only 100 inhabited houses left in Rabat.

In 1627, Rabat and the neighboring town of Salé united to form the Republic of Bou Regreg, which was run by Barbary pirates. They used the port as a base for launching attacks on shipping. Although the republic collapsed in 1818, Rabat remained under the control of pirates. The city was shelled by the Austrians in 1829 after one of their ships had been attacked by pirates.

In 1907, the French established a protectorate over Morocco. The French administrator, general Hubert Lyautey, made Rabat the capital in 1912 because of instability in Fez, which was the capital at the time. During French rule, the Nouvelle Ville, the modern section of the city, was established as an administrative sector. After Morocco gained its independence in 1956, King Mohammed V decided to keep his capital at Rabat.

Nowadays, Rabat is a city with about 2,000,000 inhabitants. Although residents of Casablanca consider it to be a provincial city, there are many interesting attractions that date from Roman times up to the present.

Favorite thing: With over 5,500,000 inhabitants, Casablanca is Morocco's largest city, as well as its chief port (which is also one of the largest ports in Africa) and commercial center.

The area that would one day become Casablanca was first settled by Berbers in the seventh century B.C. They called their town Anfa. The strategic importance of the port attracted the Phoenicians and then the Romans, who each controlled the port and countryside for some time. By the fifteenth century, however, Anfa had become an independent state under the Merinids. During Merinid rule, Anfa was a safe harbor for pirates and privateers. In order to protect their ships from raids by these pirates, the Portuguese attacked and destroyed Anfa in 1468. They built a fortress on the site, and a settlement began to grow up around the fort. The Portuguese called the settlement Casa Branca, or "White House." Between 1580 and 1640, Casa Branca changed hands between the Portuguese and Spanish, who called the town Casa Blanca, Spanish for "White House."

In 1755, a major earthquake leveled Casablanca, and the Europeans abandoned the city. The city was rebuilt under the orders of Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah. Under Arab rule, the city was called ad-Dar al-Bayda, which also means "White House." (Nowadays, many inhabitants simply call their city "Kaza").

In the nineteenth century, Casablanca was a major exporter of wool, most of which was sent to the United Kingdom which was undergoing a textile boom at the time. The city's economic importance increased during this period, as well as its population as people moved from the countryside looking for jobs.

In 1907, the French invaded Morocco and established a protectorate. However, they did not gain full control over Casablanca until 1910. During French rule, Casablanca was heavily influenced by the French culture. Although Morocco gained its independence in 1956, the French influence can be seen in the architecture and the lifestyle of many of the inhabitants. Much of the architecture is European rather than Moroccan, and many of the people, especially the elite, have adapted a western lifestyle.

Despite a strong European influence, the Arab influence is visible as well. The Old Medina with its maze of narrow streets, neighborhood mosques, and whitewashed walls is clearly Arabic, as is the huge Hassan II Mosque on the sea coast. And although many women are attired in the latest European fashions, many choose to wear the traditional l'tam, or face veil, and the robe-like djellabah.

Favorite thing: Perhaps the most exotic city in Morocco is Marrakech. Nicknamed the "Red City" because of the red stone used in the construction of its historic buildings, it is the most visited city in Morocco. Travelers are drawn to Marrakech by the Djemmaa el Fna, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Menara Gardens, the souq (which is the largest in Morocco), and the fascinating mix of Berber and Arabic cultures. Most travelers I met considered a visit to this city a highlight of their trips.

Marrakech was founded in 1060 by the Almoravids, fanatic religious nomads from what is now Western Sahara. Its founder was the Almoravid sultan Abu-Bakr ibn Umar, who wanted to move his capital from the nearby city of Aghmat. He chose the site, a plain near the Tensift River, because it was a neutral area between the territories of two tribes vying for the honor of hosting the new capital. Marrakech was the first capital of a united Morocco in the eleventh century.

Marrakech's name probably derives from either mur-n-akush, which is Amazigh for "land of god" or marra kouch, or "land of the Kouch", a nomadic warrior tribe from Mauretania.

The golden age of Marrakech occurred under the rule of Yacoub al-Mansour, a period when the city had become the economic, political, intellectual, and military center of Morocco. It was during this time that the Koutoubia Mosque and Menara Gardens were built, poets and scholars moved into the city and brought about an intellectual renaissance, and the economy flourished from trade. Marrakech was one of the most important destinations for traders arriving from Timbuktu across the Sahara Desert with gold, salt (worth as much as gold at the time), and slaves.

Marrakech remained the capital of Morocco until 1258, when the capital was moved to Fez. This was because the caravan routes had shifted, and Marrakech had gone into a steady economic decline. The city had also lost a large portion of its population as well. But in 1554, Marrakech again became the capital of the country under the Saadian Dynasty.

Nowadays, although no longer the national capital, Marrakech is the largest city in southern Morocco, with about 1,700,000 inhabitants. It is also the most economically and politically important city in the region.