Travel and Tourism Information
1) Flights: Please note, you are responsible for your airline and lodging reservations. Participants should
fly into the Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), Marrakech, Morocco. Book early for a shorter duration
and lower prices.
2) Transportation from the airport to your hotel: We encourage you to pre-arrange your airport shuttle
with your hotel before leaving your departure town. The Mogador Palace Agdal will have airport
shuttles available for its guests for approximately US $10 each way. Guests must provide the hotel with
flight details in order to arrange a pick up.
Taxis are available at the airport. If you choose to take a taxi from the airport, it is recommended to use
a metered taxi. Metered taxis are located across a small airport roadway immediately after exiting the
airport. The taxis closest to the airport exit are unpredictable to negotiate with.
The cost of a taxi between the airport and hotel should be less than 100 Moroccan Dirham or US $10.
3) Pre-Departure: Even if you have a pre-printed boarding pass, your departure airport will likely require
you to check in with the ticket agent or at the gate prior to boarding, in order to verify your visa
information. Please allow plenty of time for long lines.
4) Arriving in Marrakech: When you arrive in Marrakech you will need to complete an embarkation
card before arriving at the front of the queue for passport control. Embarkation cards are found near
the entrance door and may be passed out on your flight.
When you arrive in the terminal, follow the signs to “Passport Control”. Have your completed
embarkation card, boarding pass, and passport (and visa if necessary) when you reach the Passport
Control window. After the passport control process, exit left to Baggage Claim. Across from the
baggage carousels are money exchange, ATM, and rest rooms. Beyond these areas you will exit with
your bags to the main terminal. Hotel shuttles often greet you in the main terminal. Outside the main
terminal will be some hotel shuttles and ground transportation (buses, taxis). See “Transportation from
the airport to your hotel” section for recommendations.
5) Currency and money exchange: The Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency, meaning that by law
they cannot be imported or exported. Moroccan Dirhams cannot be exchanged before leaving your
country and travelers cannot take more than 1000 Dirhams into or out of Morocco.
Foreign currency may be exchanged at the Bureau de Change at the airport, at a bank or a small amount
at your hotel. There are many ATM machines at the airports, large hotels, and throughout the city for
cash withdrawal. A rule of thumb is not to exchange too much money at one time so as not to be left
with too much currency when leaving the country. Foreign bank notes should be in good condition
without any pen marks.
Most hotels exchange money at the same rate as banks and do not charge a commission. The Mogador
Palace Agdar has a money exchange at the reception desk and two ATMs in the hotel.
While in Morocco you may pay for everything in Dirhams. While some shops may accept other
currencies, usually they do not offer a good rate of exchange.
Travelers should be advised to keep the receipts of currency exchange, as these may be required for the
conversion of Dirham back to foreign currency prior to departure and before you go through passport
control.
Most major world currencies are accepted and Euros, Sterling and US Dollars are most widely used. Do
not bring Scottish, Gibraltar or Northern Irish Sterling notes as they cannot be cashed, as are Australian
and New Zealand notes and Singapore Dollars.
It is advisable not to take travelers checks 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 and are charged per check.
6): Credit and debit cards: Most hotels, restaurants, and reputable shops accept Visa. American
Express and MasterCard can be used but are not as widely accepted.
Upmarket restaurants, shops and hotels or riads in Morocco usually accept debit cards. Those that do
are most likely to accept Visa or MasterCard however may apply a surcharge to cover the cost of
processing your transaction. Again, American Express is not as widely accepted.
Advise your ATM or credit card issuer that you intend to travel abroad so that no block will be put on the
usage of your cards. It is recommended to give the issuer a phone number where you can be contacted
abroad.
7) Immunizations: It is recommended that you consult with your General Practitioner or Travel
Medicine Clinic by March 2016. They will assess your immunization needs and health before
recommending immunizations. Common immunizations that are recommended for Marrakech include,
but are not limited to: Hepatitis A and Typhoid. It is recommended that travelers are up to date on
routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination.
8) Language: Arabic and French are widely spoken. English is spoken to a lesser degree.
9) Climate: June becomes very hot in Marrakech and the average temperature hovers around 24
degrees Celsius. You may want to pack sunscreen with a high SPF and stay out of the sun during the
early afternoon when the sun and the heat will be strongest.
10) Tourism: A list of tourism highlights in and around Marrakech is provided below. We recommend
contacting your hotel to make tour arrangements and visit tripadvisor.com for reviews on the many
exciting and trustworthy tour options.
The Mogador Palace Agdar is offering our meeting participants a Marrakech city visit with a guide for
175.00 Dirhams (17.09 USD) per person (price per person for a minimum of six people).
Sightseeing highlights include half or full day guided tours of Marrakech Medina, which may include the
souks (a seemingly endless maze of colorful and fragrant markets); Jemaa el Fna (the grand square of
entertainment), Ben Youssef Madrasa (once the largest Quranic learning center in North Africa, and
remains among the most splendid), Jardin Majorelle (a psychedelic desert mirage of 300 plant species
from five continents), the Bahia Palace (19th century Palace in the Mellah Jewish Quartier); Museum Dar
Si Said (the Museum of Moroccan Arts); the Museum of Marrakech (exhibits of both modern and
traditional Moroccan art & culture); a full day tour of the Berber Trail and the Atlas Mountains; Hot air
balloon rides; and many more options unique to Morocco.