"Casablanca-tips from my "end-of-nission"... " a Morocco Travel Page by carolerica

Telephone code for Kingdom of Morocco : 212
All numbers beginning by "06" are mobile numbers.

CURRENCY:
The Moroccan dirham (internationally known as DAM, locally as DH) is roughly equals to 0.11 USD (as of may 2004. Please go to VT's currency converter for updates!)

VISA:
None if you are a European citizen.

SECURITY :
Safe during week days. I was mugged on a Sunday afternoon (day I arrived!) near the Mosqu?e Hassan II, don?t walk alone at times when there are no one on the streets in Casa!!! I tried to be always accompanied (during WE, I hired guides to visit the town and not to be alone, see at the Office du Tourisme for guides) and always used taxis, even for small distance.

HEALTH :
No specific needs to enter the country. I had no health problems, so can?t give advice..

COMMUNICATIONS :
Get a cell SIM CARD from either Meditel (as I did) or MarocTel. The communications are very expensive, but less then using the hotel phone.

INTERNET:
I used a very big place right by the hotel on Av. Kethouni, called GigaNet . They are quite inexpensive, and the connection is fast. You pay per the hour, and can reuse your prepaid ticket until you?ve used the hour you paid for. I found scanning documents and sending them as attached files much less expensive (10 times less!) then using faxes, to communicate with the office

TRANSPORTATION:
In Casa and Rabat, the ?petit taxis? has counters, and it usually costs between 5 (minimum fare) and 15 DH depending on where you go

ACCOMODATION:
I stayed in Casablanca at the Crown Plaza, which belong to the Holiday Inn Group. The deal I had was the best I could find else where (750 DH/night + local and touristic taxes).
I toured the other hotels, and I found the Royal d'Anfa really nice. The other ones, such as Hyatt, Sheraton and Meridien are located in Casablanca in a really noisy neighborhood which is not that safe! The Crown Plaza has really nice and efficient staff, but the rooms needs a good paint. I was happy there, and felt quite cosy!

RESTAURANT:
I went to a really nice place near the twin towers called Toscana , Italian of course and quite cheap (50DH/dish) ? otherwise, ate at hotel or in small restaurants?

I managed to visit Volubilis, an ancient Roman city, near Meknes, and I loved it.
I also went to ski for half a day near Ifrane! (all on one saturday!). Marrakech is a great city to visit, I made it a day-trip (early rise, late sleep!) , using the train... beautiful!!! To make the most of it, I called the tourist office, and asked them for a private guide. Like this, in one day you can see the most interesting places!
Rabat has a nice old medina and a nice museum of archeology. In Casa, besides the old city with its small shops and the Great Mosq, nothing much to see. Not being a night clubber, I can?t give advices, but I understood that the night life was mostly happening on the ?Cornish?!