5. TECHNOLOGY including CELL PHONES, CAMERAS and COMPUTERS
1. GETTING TO MOROCCO
Q. What’s the best way to fly to/from Morocco?
A. Our tours start in Casablanca and end in Essaouira (Marrakech is the closest international airport). You’ll definitely want to fly into Casablanca but it’s up to you whether you return from Casablanca or Marrakech. Flights can be comparably priced whether you fly round trip Casablanca or into one city (Casa) and out of another (Marrakech).
Q. Can I arrive early into Casablanca?
A. Definitely. And we’d be happy to book additional nights for you at the hotel where the group is staying for the start of the tour. Please check with our Client Liaison for pricing and availability.
Q. Do I need a visa to enter Morocco?
A. For citizens of many countries, you do not need a visa to enter Morocco. You will receive an entry stamp in your passport upon arrival. You can find additional information about visas for Morocco here.
Q. What is the best way to get back to my departure airport after the tour?
A. Our tours start in Casablanca and end in Essaouira (Marrakech is the closest international airport). You have a couple of options for catching your flight home (or for onward travels). These are outlined below.
1) If you fly into Casablanca and out of Marrakech:
Our bus will leave for Marrakech with most of the group at checkout time (usually 11 a.m.) and is included in the tour cost. If your flight departure time requires you to depart Essaouira earlier than checkout, there will be an additional cost to have a car and driver take you to the Marrakech airport. Ultimately, the cost will depend on the number of travelers leaving at this time as the cost will be divided amongst the group.
It is recommended that you schedule your flight out of Marrakech for later in the day or overnight in Marrakech and fly out early the following day. That way, you don’t have to leave Essaouira too early in the morning after the late-night dinner the previous evening. As an example, a 7 a.m. flight out of Marrakech would require that you leave Essaouira before 3 a.m. to get to Marrakech and be checked in for your flight.
NOTE: Although you can fly from Essaouira to Marrakech, flights are limited in terms of days of the week, and it will take longer to check-in, fly and get luggage than it would to drive (it’s a 2.5 hour drive).
2) If you wish to fly roundtrip from Casablanca:
Note that flights into Casablanca and out of Marrakech are often the same price as a roundtrip ticket to Casablanca. Unless you wish to spend more time in Casablanca, we recommend you fly out of Marrakech.
If you wish to return to Casablanca, we can arrange private transportation (car/shuttle) for you from Essaouira. The cost is divided by the number of people traveling in the vehicle. It’s a 5.5 hour drive so, for this option, you must book your flights out of Casablanca to depart after 12 p.m.
NOTE: You can also fly from Essaouira to Casablanca. At this time, flights are limited and we don’t know the days of the week flights may be available at the time of our tour. There is no charge for ground transportation to the Essaouira airport.
2. WHILE VISITING MOROCCO
Q. Will bottled water be available on the tour?
A. Yes it will, but we strongly urge our tour participants to carry their own reusable water bottle and bring a water purifier, such as a SteriPen, so as to cut down on the number of plastic water bottles that get thrown out daily in Morocco.
Some hotels have large jugs of purified water in the lobby from which you can fill up your own reusable water bottle.
Q. What kind of food should I expect on the tour?
A. First and foremost, expect bread at every meal. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bread. Delicious bread! All the time! Many meals start with a wide range of “salads” which could mean anything from a plate of olives to a mixed salad with rice. But not just one salad, all of them, all at once.
Tajine and couscous are often served as main meals and will include meat (beef, chicken or lamb) with vegetables OR just vegetables if you’ve requested vegetarian meals for the trip.
If you are gluten-free, it will be difficult (but not always impossible) to find gluten-free bread. It’s possible to eat well as a vegetarian / vegan but the food may get a little monotonous (usually veg tajine) so plan on supplementing with snacks / nuts / fruit.
If you prefer decaf coffee or tea, consider bringing your own because it’s rarely served in Morocco. The mint tea, ubiquitous here, is full-on caffeinated.
Q. When are meals typically served?
A. Typically, meals are served later than they are in North America. But we will do our best to eat at times that are more typical for North Americans (closer to 7pm and not 10pm, for example).
Q. Since this is a Muslim country, is alcohol available?
A. Alcohol is definitely less common in Morocco than in many other countries, but it will be available at most of the hotels and at some restaurants. It’s also possible to purchase wine for your private consumption.
Q. Do you recommend any special vaccinations for this trip?
A. There’s nothing you need specifically for Morocco. However, you’ll want to consult with a travel doctor for medical advice.
Q. Do I need to be concerned about mosquitoes / malaria?
A. Malaria is not an issue in Morocco with the exception of some very rural areas (and our tours don’t go there). It’s unlikely that you’ll encounter mosquitoes but bringing a small amount of bug repellent might ensure you don’t see any 🙂
Q. What sort of toilets should I expect?
A. While most toilets will be western-style, there may be some restrooms where squat toilets are found. It’s a good idea to bring your own toilet paper or tissues with you as restrooms often run out. And carry small change (one or two dirhams) as there is sometimes a restroom attendant who asks a small fee for cleaning the restrooms and, sometimes, offering toilet paper.
Q. How much walking is involved on your Morocco tours?
A. All activities are listed on the itinerary page which will give you a good idea of how much walking is required. But, in general, expect that the bus won’t be able to park next to the entrance of some of the ancient sights we visit. In these cases, you’ll need to walk to them. This could be anywhere from a block to five blocks.
In addition, there are many cobblestone streets, uneven sidewalks and lots of steps (sometimes slippery) in Chefchaouen. We also take a one mile hike up a hill to visit a mosque at sunset in Chefchaouen.
If you’re unsteady on your feet, you might consider bringing a walking stick or pole and shoes with ankle support.
Q. Will it be cold when we are walking to the village near Imil?
A. The elevation in that area is 6,000+, so there is the potential for it to be cool enough that you’ll want to be wearing pants (rather than shorts) and shoes with socks. You will also want a light jacket.
Q. Is the hike in Imlil difficult?
A. The hike isn’t necessarily “difficult,” but it is up a hill/small mountain to get to a Berber village where lunch is served. It can take anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes (depending on the group).
You have the option to take a pony up or be taken up in a jeep.
Q. I get motion sickness. Will I be able to sit in the front of the van/bus on the tour
A. We do try to make our tour participants as comfortable as possible, so please tell your tour guide if motion sickness is an issue for you. We can’t guarantee the front seat of the van or bus every time as it really depends on how many people in the group get motion sick or have other medical issues where they may need a different seat.
We suggest that you bring ginger, wrist bands (like this ReliefBand) or ask your doctor about a prescription.
Q. What should I expect in terms of the weather?
A. Expect a diverse range of weather in Morocco. We offer our tours in the spring and fall so as to avoid the summer heat. Having said that, temps could be as high as in the 80s in some parts (like Essaouira) or as low as in the 40s in others (such as at night in the Sahara).
Q. Should I learn any Arabic before traveling to Morocco?
A. While it’s always great to learn a few phrases of the local language, you’ll find that most people we encounter will speak English as well as French, and usually a hybrid of all three languages. Our guide will teach us some basics at the beginning of the trip!
4. HOTEL INFORMATION
Q. What hotel is the tour starting from in Casablanca?
A. Hotel information is listed on the tour itinerary, and this is confirmed about a month before the tour. A complete hotel list will be provided a couple of weeks in advance of the tour start date. We encourage you to leave this with family and/or friends in case of an emergency. We can also book you a room in the same hotel where the tour starts if you wish to arrive early and explore the city on your own or rest from your travels.
Q. Will you be sending a list of hotels?
A. All of our hotels are listed on our itinerary and you will receive a list of hotel contact information about two weeks before departure (note: it is subject to last-minute changes).
Q. Will hotels have fitness centers and/or safe walking routes? Is there time in the itinerary to get some exercise?
A. Some hotels do have fitness centers, but it’s best to check the hotel websites on the Morocco itinerary for specific amenities. You will also have several opportunities during the tour to explore on your own. In general Morocco is a safe country, but it is quite conservative, especially when it comes to women. Check with your guide for the safest places to walk, always dress conservatively and consider wandering with someone else.
Q. Do hotels provide shampoo and conditioner?
A. Most hotels will have shampoo and conditioner in the showers. If you like, you can always purchase shampoo and conditioner once you arrive if you don’t want to travel with it or if you run out along the way.
Q. Are there hair dryers at the hotels?
A. Hair dryers should be available at all of the accommodations with the exception of the tented camp in the Sahara.
Q. Are my items safe in my hotel room?
A. Your items *should* be safe, but we recommend that you carry small luggage locks to secure the zippers together so that no one is tempted to peek in your bag.
When something goes missing, it’s usually later found in the bottom of one’s luggage. In the meantime, hotel staff are the first to be blamed. It’s best to keep your items (especially valuables) locked up so that this is not even a question.
Q. Can I make an appointment for a spa treatment in advance?
A. Yes, you can make appointments directly with the hotel. The tour itinerary has links to all of the hotels so you can see which spa you’d like to visit. By going through the itinerary, you can also see where you’ll have the most free time. Fes is one good location.
Q. Will we have power in the tents at the Luxury Camp in the Sahara?
A. Yes, there’s definitely power in the tents (note: probably not enough to power a hair dryer!).
Q. Will there be heat in the tents at the Luxury Camp in the Sahara?
A. Yes, there is heat in the tents but, for safety reasons, the proprietors prefer that these gas-powered heaters remain on only while you’re in the tent and only during waking hours. There will be plenty of blankets to keep you warm.
Q. Do the tents at the Luxury Camp in the Sahara have door locks?
A. Yes, there are locks on both the interior and the exterior of the tent doors.
5. PACKING INFORMATION
Q. Is it OK to bring a large piece of luggage that I have to check?
A. While you will be more comfortable moving around with fewer (and smaller) bags, it’s fine if you need to check a bag. There will be porters and hotel staff to help with luggage at each hotel.
Note that not all hotels have elevators, so the fewer bags you have, the better.
Q. How should I dress/pack for this trip?
A. You’ll receive a full packing list for the tour that will help guide you. Because this is a Muslim country, you’ll want to dress a bit more conservatively than you might otherwise dress in a Euro-Mediterranean country, but basically you want to make sure that your shoulders and knees are covered.
Lightweight travel pants, capris, leggings, dresses and/or skirts (below the knee) will be most comfortable. Short-sleeved shirts, tank tops with a scarf to cover your shoulders or a long dress are all fine.
It will be cooler in the bus and in restaurants so have a light jacket or wrap that you can wear. And it’ll be cool in the Sahara at night as well. In general, you’ll want to be prepared to dress in layers as the temperature can swing wide from mid-day to evening.
Q. Will I be responsible for carrying my own luggage?
A. You’ll have very little interaction with your luggage as the guides and hotel staff help with moving bags from the bus to the rooms and then back to the bus. We do encourage you to pack light so a small roller bag that is carry-on size (under 22″) would be ideal.
Q.What type of shoes should I bring?
A. Our rule of thumb is not to bring more than two pairs of shoes – one pair for walking and perhaps a pair of sandals, tennis shoes or small boots (depending on the weather forecast).
Because of the heat, you might find yourself wanting to wear sandals (ie. Tevas) even into the evening. But there will be a fair amount of walking around as we’re touring, so make sure your shoes are comfortable. And there will be an optional walk/hike in the Atlas Mountains that if you choose to do it (it is about an hour to 90 minutes), you’ll definitely want sneakers or light hiking shoes.
Q. Can I wear Tevas or other sandals the entire tour?
A. If you’re comfortable wearing sandals like Tevas for walking all day, that’s fine. But you may want to bring a pair of socks for the cooler evenings or consider bringing another pair of shoes for evening.
Q. Will we have our luggage in the Sahara?
A. You will leave your large luggage secured at a hotel before you set off for the desert via camel (or jeep, if you prefer). Bring a small duffel to use as an overnight bag for your night in the tented camp. This bag will be taken by jeep, along with anyone who doesn’t want to travel via camel.
Q. What type of day bag do you recommend for touring around?
A. Morocco is a relatively safe country but you’ll want to take extra precaution in the cities, particularly Marrakech. We recommend a shoulder bag or backpack that has safety features, such as one from PacSafe. Most of their bags have slash proof panels and handles so that an opportunistic thief can’t just grab your bag and run.
Q. Should I bring a swimsuit?
A. There are swimming pools at several of the hotels on the tour and you will have some free time to use them. There is also a lovely hot tub at the hotel in Fes. A swimsuit is not required but you might regret not having it with you.
6. TECHNOLOGY including CELL PHONES, CAMERAS and COMPUTERS
Q. Will WiFi be available at the hotels?
A. Yes, free WiFi is available at all of the hotels. It is available only in the dining tent at the Luxury Camp.
Q. What sort of power adaptor do I need?
A. Morocco uses type C and type E power plugs. Your adaptor should look like this>>>
Q. Will I need a converter for my electrical devices?
A. You will need a converter for any devices needing 110/220 conversion (things like a hair dryer, curling iron, etc.). Most electronics these days (such as a laptop and iPad) have a built-in converter that protects the device from power surges.
Q. Can I use my cell phone in Morocco?
A. There are a few ways you can use your cell phone in Morocco. The most reliable and easiest way to do this is to buy an international data plan from your provider. Most providers offer an international data plan (or your current plan may already include it) where you pay $10 – $12/day. This tends to be pretty seamless.
A much more cost effective option is to download an eSIM like Airalo (for $3 off, use code ELIZAB3290). This allows you to connect to the local network to use data. It can be a little tricky getting this set up and using it with your own number, but we can help you once in-country. You will need a phone that is “unlocked” in order to use an eSIM. This usually requires that you own your phone and that you are not on a payment plan with your cell phone provider.
Lastly, you can simply turn your data off and only use your phone when there’s WiFi.
Q. Will I need to protect my gear from sand?
A. Yes, in the Sahara you’ll want to wrap your camera or other electronics in plastic bags to keep the sand from getting into them.
7. MONEY, GIFTS, TIPS
Q. What’s the currency used in Morocco?
A. The Dirham (MAD) is the currency of Morocco. Consider downloading an app such as Converter so that you have quick access to the exchange rate.
Q. Are ATMs available?
A. There will be ATMs available throughout the trip. You’ll want to let your bank know in advance that you are traveling so they don’t deny usage of your card thinking it’s a fraudulent charge. You’ll also want to find out what, if anything, your bank changes for international ATM withdrawals. If it’s based on each transaction, you’ll want to take larger amounts of money out rather than making numerous small withdrawals so as to limit the charges.
In addition, there may be a fee charged by the local bank to use the ATM.
Q. How do I exchange money in Morocco?
A. If you have US dollars, Euros or British Pounds, you can exchange money at an exchange bureau upon arrival at the airport or at your hotel, but the rate won’t be quite as good as exchange bureaus you’ll find elsewhere. Our guide can help find the best place to exchange your cash for local currency.
There is often a problem making change in Morocco, and it can be difficult to pay with large banknotes, so be sure to get smaller denomination bank notes (10s and 20s) as this will make your life easier when paying for inexpensive items such as drinks and souvenirs.
Q. How much money should I bring with me?
A. We get this question a lot, and it really does depend on your spending habits. You can make larger purchases using a MasterCard or Visa (American Express and Discover are not always accepted), but small purchases will likely be made with cash. You might consider bringing $100-200 in case you have trouble finding an ATM that will accept your card when you first arrive. Also, having small bills (in your own currency) to tip a taxi driver or bellman upon your arrival might be helpful.
Q. How should I best carry my money?
A. You might consider carrying your passport, credit/debit cards and cash in something like a neck pouch or a large wallet like this one from Baggallini. You could then put that in a larger cross-body bag.
Q. Do we tip our guide(s) and driver?
A. Tips for the guide(s) and driver for the tour itself are included in the cost of your tour. But if you’d like to give something extra at the end of the trip, it would be greatly appreciated by both the guide(s) and driver. A suggested amount is $10 – $20 per day. U.S. dollars or Moroccan dirhams are both fine.
We suggest leaving a tip for the cleaning staff at the hotels as you would do at a hotel elsewhere. $2 – $5 a night is appropriate. We also suggest tipping for any services when you’re not with the group (a private airport pickup or drop-off, for example).
Q. Do you suggest we bring gifts for the locals?
A. It’s certainly a nice gesture (but not necessary) if you have small gifts to leave with friends you make along the way. Things that might be appropriate include souvenirs from your home town including items with logos (Seattle mugs or baseball caps, for example), chocolate or coffee. Check with our Client Liaison to see if our guide will be male or female so you can choose appropriately.
8. WANDERTOURS TRAVEL DETAILS
Q. Do I need insurance for this tour?
A. We do suggest that all tour participants acquire travel insurance, but it is 
not required.
We partner with Travel Insured International so that you have ability to purchase “cancel for any reason” insurance. We HIGHLY recommend travel insurance (no matter who your provider is) to protect your travel investment from any possible issues. Although we are technically not requiring it, you will be asked to sign additional paperwork acknowledging the risk of traveling without insurance.
Here’s some info on insurance that includes an explanation of Cancel for Any Reason insurance.
Q. Is there a schedule for installment payments?
A. We don’t have anything formal set up, but you can definitely send in payments on your own schedule. Some people send in monthly payments while other people send in payments when it’s convenient.
It is common for someone to set up regularly scheduled checks to be sent from their bank until the tour is paid in full by the final payment due date.
Q. Will I receive a refund if I have to cancel my participation in this tour?
A. Once you have paid a deposit, there is a cancellation fee if you cannot join us. The cancellation fee depends on the tour and how far in advance of the tour you cancel. Our refund policy is covered in our Booking Terms and Conditions and is also outlined on the Registration Form that you’ll receive within 24 hours of registering with a deposit.
Any refunds will be sent by check within two weeks of our receiving written notification of your cancellation (email notification is fine). We will respond via email and ask for confirmation of your mailing address for any refunds.
Address must be confirmed within six months, otherwise expect forfeiture of refund as we close out our books at that time.
Q. Will you be sending an updated itinerary with our overnight accommodations so we can leave it with folks at home?
A. Yes, you’ll receive the hotel information as well as emergency contact information one or two weeks before departure (note: it is subject to last-minute changes).
Q. What’s the emergency contact info that I can give my family?
A. About two weeks before your departure, you will be given a cell phone number for your tour escort and someone in-country employed by our local tour operator.