Destination: Morocco

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION

Money & Costs

Morocco is probably more expensive than you thought. Once you take into account a few small tips, taxi fares, cheap hotels without respite and entry charges to museums, those carefully counting their dirhams could get by on Dh350 (US$40). At the other end of the scale, if you intend to travel in style in cities like Marrakesh, expect your daily budget to increase dramatically – quality accommodation starts at Dh600, hovers around Dh1300 and then passes Dh3000 and keeps on going. Staying in an average-priced riad and enjoying quality restaurants will require a budget of at least Dh1000 a day per person. Outside the major cities most of the better accommodation tends to hover around Dh600.

A meal in a cheap restaurant costs as little as Dh30. In a midrange restaurant you’d pay up to Dh200 and in a more upmarket place it will cost around Dh300, including wine; in cities like Marrakesh you can pay up to Dh700 per person.

If you want to explore the country in your own car, average hire charges for a small car (Renault Clio) are Dh500 per day, with an additional Dh420 to fill up the tank with petrol (gas). Diesel is significantly cheaper (around Dh7 per litre) so it’s best to hire a diesel car. For a 4WD you are looking at about Dh1430 per day, with driver.

There’s not much difference in price between trains and buses – a bus ticket between Casablanca and Marrakesh costs Dh70, compared to Dh75.50 for a second-class train ticket. As a general rule, a 100km bus or train journey costs about Dh25.

HOW MUCH?

Pot of mint tea: Dh5
Foreign newspaper: Dh 30-35; weekend papers Dh70-80
Hammam: Dh7-10
Petit-taxi ride: Dh5-10
City bus ride: Dh2-3

Travelling to Morocco?
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance