MOROCCAN HOLIDAY

The following guidelines, tips and suggestions are to help you plan a memorable MOROCCAN HOLIDAY.

WATER
I can not say enough about water consumption.
A minimum of 2 liters per day. Brush your teeth in it. Tea is not water…
neither is beer! We can purchase it easily….locally bottled is less expensive.
Dehydration is not pleasant, I experienced it on my first trip to Egypt.
Not enough water made for a miserable 2 days.
Energade is a sports drink, it can be purchased here in 500 ml. concentrate.
It helps keep your potassium and sodium levels up. A bit can be added to some of the water you consume. Tissue salts help as well.
Packets of Re-Hydrate available at the chemist are life savers. Bring several.

FOOD
I recommend you eat only food that has been cooked and served hot.
Food that sits around is asking for trouble.
Salads, raw tomatoes…avoid them unless you have traveled Asia and the Middle East eating them without problems.

MEALS
All breakfasts are included: Dinner at the hotel in Casablanca, two dinners are included at Casa Hassan in Chefchouen, 2 at the Kasbah and 1 at the Dunes camp. We will stop for lunch each day and it is up to you what you eat and how much. We can purchase nuts, olives, dried fruits and delicate pastries at the souks.

ALCOHOL
is a dehydrator. A cold beer or two on a hot day is great, but beware over doing it. Never put ice in your drinks…it is not made with bottled water.
Bring scotch, brandy, or gin sachets, and buy your mixers there. Bring good wine with you if you enjoy drinking it. High prices are the norm in non -alcohol drinking countries.

SUN
We in South Africa are used to it, but Morocco is a desert. I recommend you take some sort of hat to keep the direct sun off the top of
your head. A sunscreen is advisable, and sunglasses essential.

SHOES
Always keep your feet covered when walking in the streets….socks are advisable as well. Sandals are fine for evenings.

CAMERAS
Bring extra batteries and chargers for your cameras.

FILM
Bring more than you think you’ll need. Morocco is glary so bring fast film.

CELL PHONES
If you plan to bring one on your holiday please keep it turned off whenever we are together as a group. Don’t forget your chargers. Yes you can buy SIM cards there.

FIRST AID KIT
I always travel with one. Echinacea taken daily is a great preventative. Disperine, anti bacterial cream, bandaides, arnica, vitamins, medications you take, and anything else you
might need.

PESTS
Mosquitoes , but no Malaria. I have also found an alternative to insect repellent….almond, or grapeseed oil with citronella, lemongrass, and lavender essential oils mixed in.

TOILETRIES
Don’t forget to bring what you use daily, replacing it can be difficult or impossible. The weather is very dry, so a nice moisturiser, and a gentle soap (theirs is usually very detergent) will make your skin happy.

WHAT CLOTHING TO PACK?
During the day light weight long pants, mid calf, or knee length shorts, T shirts, short sleeved shirts, skirts or dresses.
It is usually too hot for denims. Good walking shoes and socks, and sandals for evening. Clothing for dinner is casual – casual smart.
I recommend natural fiber clothing that breathes like cotton or linen.

JEWELRY
You are safe wearing jewelry, but bring what you can wear. There are not always safety deposit boxes.

EXTRAS to bring
Small flash light, a note pad and pen, small spoon, and a Swiss army knife ( I never leave home without it). Put it in your checked luggage.

WEATHER
It will be late spring, but still quite warm. I’d guess it will be in the 30′s inland and hotter in the Sahara desert.

LAUNDRY
I bring laundry soap and do most of my laundry by hand. It dries quickly.

DRESSING IN Morocco
As many of you already know Morocco is a predominately Muslim country, but the most liberal in the Islamic world. We do see Muslim people in South Africa, and some dress according to the Islamic traditions. In an Arab country it is the norm. So we must dress with respect for the people and country we are guests in.

ON THE STREET
Shorts: must come to the knee.
Sleeves: no visible armpits. NO spaghetti strap tops, tank tops, nothing too low cut. Dresses or skirts, NO minis.

LANGUAGE
Arabic, Berber, French, and Spanish are the spoken languages. Most people speak some English, many speak excellent English.

SAFETY
As women we are safer than at home. You may be pestered just because it is difficult to approach their own women and we are fair game traveling alone. Sometimes it is just conversation with a foreign woman they desire. Rape is seldom heard of. Theft is rare, but keep you handbags zipped up. There are always pick pockets in larger cities and the souks no matter what they may tell you.

MONEY
Use a money belt if it makes you feel more secure. I use a backpack, and never carry all of my money with me. I convert money as I need it, usually never more than $300. There are currency exchanges at the banks. Travelers checks are often difficult to exchange. Drawing money off your credit cards is often difficult if not impossible. Debit cards can be used at banks. Please carry 2 cards so if one fails you have a back up.
Euros and US$ are accepted in many places. Credit cards are taken for almost anything.

VISAS
$10 on entrance for USA and European passport holders. Visas for South African passports must be obtained in advance. I will take care of it and have an agent I use. If you are outside of Cape Town you must obtain it from the Moroccan embassy in Pretoria.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Please take a policy if you feel more comfortable.

INTERNET CAFES
Are in every city.…

FLEXIBILITY
Is a must when traveling. I have found that in most third world countries there can be glitches. So please travel with an open mind and an open heart, and remain flexible while we journey throughout Morocco.

TIME OUT
At any time if you feel like being on your own let me know. This is your holiday.

TIPPING
A bit left behind for housekeeping and as you like when dining out. I always recommend tipping the guide and driver at the end of the time with them. I will recommend an amount.

DOCTORS
If anyone does become uncomfortable let me know immediately. Prolonged diarrhea leads to dehydration, nausea can be an early warning.
There is no need to suffer unnecessarily. I take Reuteri for a few days before leaving and for about 10 days while traveling to get my gut right. I eat yogurt at every chance while traveling. If you are not eating it daily at home do so for 10 days before departure.
There are Doctors who will come to the hotel that specialize in the discomforts of tourists. They can and will nip anything in the bud.

CAR SICK
If you suffer from car sickness please bring something for it. When traveling through the Atlas mountains we hit patches that are very twisty.

MODES OF TRANSPORT WITHIN MOROCCO

AIR
Qatar from Cape Town to Casablanca and home again.

LAND
Small bus to and from the airport and while touring. Camels if you like.