Budget Travel Tips: Morocco

Photo: Marrakech’s Bab Agnaou (Holiday Hypermarket)

As a study abroad student in Morocco, I learned several tips to make my travel budget last longer. If you’re planning a trip to Morocco, here are some ways to make the most of your money.

Transport

The cheapest way to get from city to city in Morocco is to take local buses. Local buses aren’t always air-conditioned, may make unscheduled stops, and may not run on schedule. The bus conductor may also sell more tickets than there are seats, which means you may have people sitting on the floor or standing in the aisles. For slightly more money you can take CTM buses that often have their own stations away from the busy main bus stops. CTM buses tend to run on time and are air-conditioned.

If local buses don’t run the route or you’d like to be able to stop when you please, go for a shared ‘grand taxi.’ If you’re traveling alone, you’ll either have to pay for all six seats (four in the back and two in the front) or wait for other passengers to fill up the taxi. A good way to save on travel costs is to team up with other travelers so you can split the fare.

The standard class of train travel can be quite comfortable. There are cushioned seats, however more tickets may be sold than there are seats available, so during busy times you may have to stand. For a long journey during national holidays, it’s best to book a higher class if you want a guaranteed seat.

Agadir - Photo: Holiday Hypermarket

Accommodation

If you travel where it’s warm, the cheapest beds can be found on hotel rooftops. Consult the latest Lonely Planet or Rough Guide for budget hotel recommendations. You can often get a room or rooftop mattress on arrival, so it’s worth looking around and checking out a few hotels before making your pick. Some budget hotels double as brothels, so check out the vibe and clientele of the hotel before booking a bed.

In mountain areas, local families often offer rooms and home-cooked meals for trekkers passing through. These are called “gîtes d’etape” (pronounced jeet de tap). If you show up in a village, just ask for “gite” and somebody should be able to point you in the right direction.

Shopping

It’s best to buy handicrafts as close from the source as possible. Large showrooms in popular tourist cities are usually not the best deals. Local weekly souks, open-air markets, can be great places to find textiles, silver tea sets, and carpets. Anything that Moroccans would also buy can usually be bought for less where local people buy it rather than in tourist shops.

However, if you don’t have time to stop at several different places (henna market, silver market, textile market, etc), you’ll need to try your hand at bargaining at a tourist shop. It’s best to go off the main road into smaller alleyways to get better deals in the less-frequented shops.

Moroccan food. Photo: Holiday Hypermarket

Package Tours

If you’re looking for upper-budget range, mid-range or higher-end accommodation, you can often save by booking tours, especially last minute tours. Holiday packages to Morocco will cost more than your rock-bottom budget travel options (sleeping on roofs and taking only local buses), but it cuts down on hassle and the need for bargaining. This can be especially helpful if you want to do activities like desert camel treks or attend a Berber musical show.

This Expat Heather article is thanks to Holiday Hypermarket, a UK-based travel company that offers holiday packages to Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and many other destinations in and around Europe.