Those Hot Red Taxis and other Morocco Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: The petit taxis are cheap and plentiful - you even get a bit of insight into the culture and people from each one; how they decorate their rear view, sometimes sharing the ride with someone else they picked up or pick up along your route.

I have moved heavy tvs, bicycles and film equipment on the tops of these things...

Just know where you are going to avoid being taken to the wrong place or the place the poor driver thought you said in your butchered french or arabic.

Make sure he runs the meter. If he doesn't, someone will. Walk a bit, baby, it won't hurt ya.

A little warning - I will generally avoid a taxi driver who approaches you somewhere and offers his service. I personally always pick the one at his stand, patiently waiting in a queue. Or flag one moving in the streets.

The petite taxis are only allowed to get three people into these - it's the law, don't expect any leeway here. You may have to split up into two groups.

Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco
Morocco
Learn Arabic
Bargaining pt 1

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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Other Contact: Use your hands here!

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: travel disruptions

I have been traveling non-stop during the time of Ramadan or the Eid. What do I notice - the early bird catches the worm.
For the grand taxis, get up early. It's the holidays and you want a ride at the same time everyone else wants the ride? Now, you may be screwed for time.

For petite taxis, they are everywhere. Rush hour is tough, so if the taxi is your number one transport travel during non-rush hour time - you may need to walk. I pass on the taxi stands at this time and just flag one

It's the holidays and you want a ride at the same time everyone else wants the ride? Now, you may be screwed for time.

Suggestions for holiday travel in Morocco? - Same anywhere in the world. Think ahead.

Train: Book early - and you can buy your train tickets in advance (go first class) - and you have just exponentially reduced your chances of having your travel plans disrupted.

Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco
Morocco
Learn Arabic
Bargaining pt 1

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: It's just too simple and too sweet. The trains are generally clean, comfy, and if you go first class (which is practically no different in price) you are guaranteed the seat for the trip. (2nd means you could stand) It is safer than the buses (which have had a series of publicized accidents recently) and you get bathrooms, a little table to eat food on, the snack and sandwhich man..etc.

I would be taking trains everywhere in the States if they were this cheap, this lovely and this efficent.

Use the triotours site below as it is simply the most reliable helpful site imaginable for Moroccan travel, amongst other things.

http://www.triotours.com/faq/ma/train-timetable-download.htm

Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco
Morocco
Learn Arabic
Bargaining pt 1

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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Website: http://www.triotours.com/faq/ma/train-timetable-download.htm

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: You have rented a car and left it parked for minutes or hours on the street. A man runs up to your window in a blue jacket or a glo-green one - that's the parking guard, so tip him 3 to 5 dirhams. If the car has been there all night or all day - 10 DH...and, of course, if both all night and all day... 20 DH.
Don't pay more than this - or less.
Another thing - These guys are up all night in the lot with your cars, sometimes burning fires in trash cans to stay warm...when you leave, be polite and respectful after your cozy sleep at the hotel. And don't you dare drive off without paying him something, you cheeky bugger.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: This is a tip strictly for the City Bus, (NOT the hated and feared TransGhazalla style buses**)

Example of a CITY BUS price from the Ville Nouvelle to the Medina - 3 DH...
Do I need to spell out the attractiveness there?
It can be a crowded adventure ahead - be tough, try not to get knocked over...

** TransGhazalla style buses disclaimer: I hate and fear them. I won't speak for an entire country or all the dead tourist's families who have lost loved ones in the damn things.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: This is a tip in progress....

I always book online now through expedia or travelocity. You can get real savings by booking on-line (and better savings if you rent from Marrakesh). And you are comfortably insured, you have big name accountability, and no stupid cash advances like the small car rental places.

And the Hertz agency in particular lets me drop my car off whereever I want.

I've driven the High Atlas area in a "simple" rental car and had no problem.

Sample car costs in Pounds

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: You can't get a car into many of Morocco's old medinas... Be prepared to walk the whole thing... Bring comfortable shoes and clothes - dress nice (as you like) but make sure you've got loose enough clothes for the challenge of medina walking

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Like couscous in a Moroccan home on Friday, questions about renting a 4wd are luxuriant.

The prices listed in the picture (click to enlarge) change - costs are in POUNDS

Otherwise go here

Moroccan Travel

There, baby. Now, come up with some better questions.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Question of whether First Class Train is Worth the Money?

Totally. One thing that should come with a definition of first class is that you actually have a seat. You go with your number - sit down in your big ol' seat. For me here in Morocco, that's luxury, baby.

Second class means you've paid to get on a train, and if there's no seats - well...Safar Saida, boo-boo! Hope ya like crowded stank! Actually, if you ever enjoyed Das Boot and thought it would be cool to get in touch with your inner claustrophobe, second class maybe the way to go. At least on the unpleasantly craptastic common buses you have a seat.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Check out Ryanair flights and jet2.com - damn, they are cheap. Royal Air Maroc can have deals on a rare occasion.

Ryanair will land you in Fes or Marrakesh - which means bypassing the useless experience of Casablanca.

Go to the sites and tinker with the days until you find the cheapest flights to Morocco and back.

Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco
Morocco
Learn Arabic
Bargaining pt 1

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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Website: www.ryanair.com