Most people agree that the best time to come to Morocco is in the spring or in the fall, when the weather isn’t as extreme. March and April are beautiful times to come, and so is the end of September and October. If you are looking at these times, please be sure to book well in advance as both accommodations and our private drivers can fill up. We usually close down tours for these peak travel months. The rainy season tends to be during the winter months, sometimes during November. In the summer, the weather is very hot, especially in the south of Morocco and in the desert. There is air-conditioning in the hotels and even in some Sahara camps, but please be sure you have the right expectations if you are looking at coming to Morocco in July or August (the hottest months).
Note: You will have a different experience in Morocco if you come during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims. During this month, Muslims fast from sun-up to sun-down. It will affect your tour in the following ways: there will be fewer options for restaurants during the day time, alcohol will not be available in your hotel or in restaurants, and the mornings will be much quieter as the community wakes up later. In 2020, it will go from the end of April to the end of May.
We suggest that you bring clothes that are comfortable for walking around and riding in the car. However, especially at the 5-star level, you will want to bring a few nicer outfits so that you can dress up for dinners. In the summer, you will want light clothes, sandals, and sunglasses. Women will want to avoid sleeveless tops and shorts above the knees to be respectful of the culture. In the winter, bring a good coat (Morocco is colder than you expect!) and clothes that layer well as the temperature can change drastically from the morning to the middle of the day in the sun. We advise bringing shoes that are good for walking.
Yes, almost all 4 and 5-star riads do have Wifi. If they do not have WiFi in the rooms, they will have WiFi in the lobby. If it is important for you to be online when you are out and about, you may want to purchase a local SIM card. It is then cheap and easy to buy 3G data that you can use whenever you have cell service.
Most riads do offer laundry services. We suggest doing laundry at a riad where you will be staying for multiple nights in a row, perhaps in the major cities. The cost varies by riad, so be sure to check the place where you are staying.
Morocco mainly operates as a cash society, but credit cards are accepted at hotels, large businesses and more formal restaurants. We would suggest expecting to pay for most things in cash, except for bigger purchases such as carpets or more expensive souvenirs. You can withdraw cash as you need it, to avoid carrying large amounts with you. ATM’s are readily available in most major cities so you can withdraw dirhams using your bank card. Your driver will be happy to help you find one that is conveniently located for you!
The difference between pricing levels is found in the level of accommodations. Classic Comfort is our 4 star level. Affordable Luxury uses 4 star accommodations in some cities and 5 star accommodations in other cities. Deluxe Luxury uses 5 star (or best available) in all locations. Since most of our tours are half-board, the quality of dinner corresponds with the level of accommodations booked. So, you will have a little more variety at breakfast and dinner with a 5 star tour compared to a 4 star tour.
Indeed. Morocco is a very safe country to travel. And, it’s regarded as one of the most stable countries in North Africa and the Middle East. We explain a lot about this and various safety issues in our Morocco travel blog, which we think you’ll find though. You can also learn more about Morocco safety for US travelers, Canadian, Australian, and the UK from official governmental sites.
Well, it depends. Most foreign nationals entering Morocco do not need a visa. If you are an American, Canadian, Australian/New Zealand, or European passport holder, you will not need a visa. Malaysians, Singaporeans, and some passport holders from Hong Kong do not either. If you are from another country, you may very well need a visa, but please check your local consulate for more information.
