Morocco Shopping Tips by JamalMorelli Top 5 Page for this destination

Your Pocket: Rial, Francs, Dirhams

Here's the skinny on the confusing rial, franc, dirham issue:

When converting ryals to dirhams, divide by 20.
e.g. 100 ryals: 100 ÷ 20 = 5 DH.

From franks to ryals, divide by 5. For example, 200 franks ÷ 5 = 40 ryals.
From franks to dirhams, divide by 100. For example, 200 franks ÷ 100 = 2 DH.
From ryals to dirhams, divide by 20. For example, 40 ryals ÷ 20 = 2 DH.
From ryals to franks, multiply by 5. For example, 40 ryals × 5 = 200 franks.
From dirhams to ryals, multiply by 20. For example, 2 DH × 20 = 40 ryals.
From dirhams to franks, multiply by 100. For example, 2 DH × 100 = 200 franks.

What to buy: Shop with confidence, boo.

Theme: Other

The Najjarine: Shop for your Moroccan Wedding...Fes

Really, the giant wedding chairs and carriages will make a New Orleanian feel at home - it's like the floats at Mardi Gras. The efforts to honor the bride and groom are so filled with love. art, and knowledge of tradition that you will giddy just hanging here. Follow your ears to this place in Najjarine - saws and hammering give it away....But if you got the money, what a lovely investment in your cultural life...

These are usually rented and not bought...

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

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

What to buy: The giant chairs, doors, traditional round tables... have fun getting these home, cheese.

What to pay: About 5000 DH for one of those chairs - and then the shipping....

Address: Najjaine Sooq

Theme: Local Craft

Sooq, city centers, upscale Marjane: Men: The Jellaba or Fooqia

These stores will sell both men's and women's jellabas which are those long regal nightie looking things...this is called traditional Moroccan wear but it is also contemporary and post-modern and whatever else you want to call it. Men of any age and background wear them - buy one, feel weird for a bit, get into it... chill...

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

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

What to pay: On balance, you should pay anywhere from 70 dh to 300 dh depending on the quality - and the price does go up from there....

Theme: Men's Clothes

The Apple Store - Univers Digital: A Scrap of Heaven for MacAddicts

WARNING: This tip will only make sense to those of us for whom owning a Mac is a way of life. If you don't get moist at the thought of owning the newest powerbook or the latest G5 - skip this tip.

What makes it so special? Count the Mac stores on a hand in this country and ask me again. (Nearly none - this is the only one I know)

I thought I had to buy everything Mac related outside the country until I found these Mac-Cats.

For Mac owners living in Morocco - you will need this place.

What to buy: Mac products.

There are alot of useless classic books and older equipment - the place is probably staying afloat by it's iPod sales.

Pick up a nano for a gift for your Moroccan friends. Spread the Mac faith, my child.

What to pay: Typically expensive Mac prices that we users have come to grudgingly accept over time.

Address: 246 Bd Zerktouni Casablanca

Directions: City Center between the UPS and FED EX stores

The other name on the sign is Univers Digital

Phone: 212022473977

Theme: Computers and Electronics

Website: http://www.universdigital.com

Bank: Buying Dirhams - Selling Dirhams

When you get off the plane - you have your first official opportunity to buy dirhams.

Do this at the bank. If you are driving take into consideration you will need to fuel your car up at around 400 DH. I would change at least 1500 DH until you get to your next destination.

Do all of your money changing with a known bank such as BMCE, Banque Populaire, etc. Don't change with no-name places that you find in offices throughout the big cities.

ATMs:
You can easily plan your trip to have no money left by the end of it - continue to get your money during your trip through ATMs. Get reciepts for everything so as to be able to change your excess money at the end of your trip through the bank you withdrew from. Most people can sneak their money out but that's illegal - so, while I might do it, I won't recommend you do. There are Thomas Cook types of establishments throughout the world that will change your dirhams - but I don't know the frequency of this.

What to buy: Never - forget your receipts from the bank.
Never - use the black market or the change stalls.

Use - the ATMs and the known banks

What to pay: Right now the dirham to the dollar

1 USD = 8.71815 MAD

Check this site for up to the minute changes
http://www.xe.com/ucc/

Theme: Other

Casette stores on the street: Nas El Ghawine - Moroccan Icons

You will see the casette stores on the street - the patron will be playing a boom box of his selections - I won't cost more than 10-15 DH for the music.
Buy Nas El Ghawine's music. Learn some tunes. Hum them. Ask your Moroccan friends to sit and listen with you and watch what happens. Give the tape as a housewarming gift.

Nas El Ghawine is loved. Moroccans who can find themselves culturally at odds with each other can usually find Nas El Ghawine as a spiritual hub.

Absolutely political, driving, loaded with multiple meanings... these are beyond the Beatles in terms of what they are to the souls of many Moroccans and also easily as loved...

What to buy: Look for the casette called "Batma" - don't sweat it if you don't get it.... Just listen to what you like and buy...

What to pay: A buck, buck fifity...

Address: Again, the STREETS

Theme: Music

Any Hanoot: Pick a hanoot - your corner market

These places have it all: bottled water, processed cheese and meat, bread, sodas, paper towels, tampons, razors, toys...

If you are hungry and the cafes and restaurants are closed, get all the fixings for your sandwich here - pick up a Coke or Sidi Ali - respite accomplished.

What to pay: 5 dh for the Sidi Ali, 1 and half dirhams for the baguette and rounds, 3 DH for milk, 10 dh for 2 liters of Coca cola, 8 dh for the Laughing Cow cheese round, coffee....

Theme: Other

Any shop, anywhere: Got your price? - stick to it

You are anywhere in the Sooq - "what you want to pay IS the price" (A SOOQ GAME)

You want to pay one buck for an antique? Stick to it. You will never get it, but you will have the fun of watching the actual price of your item go lower the longer you stick to it. Break a little. Two bucks. No one will accept the measly offering of yours. But a new price will now appear... much lower. Play this game until you arrive at a new price you are happy with. Go home with nothing? Maybe. But it was fun, wasn't it?

What to buy: Come on, baby..it's Fes! What shouldn't you buy? E-mail me if there is something you CAN'T find in Fes!

What to pay: Seasonally you will pay less for hot items in the summer...(a hint)
You can get great deals on leather...

Address: From Ta'laa to Rasif

Theme: Other