Morocco is known for its majestic mountain ranges in North Africa, contains some of the most well preserved historical and architectural sites, offers its visitors mouth-watering dishes, and after that a relaxing evening at the Atlantic coast. In a nutshell, Morocco has it all. If you are thinking about going on an adventurous trip then morocco is the only place that will fulfill your hunger for wanderlust. Many first-timers are afraid to visit such a country and are fearful about what would happen there and the main question is that this trip gonna drain my budget? Well, I assure you after reading this article you may ease your mind because this contains the best ways to make your trip as efficient and pocket-friendly as possible.
HOW TO DECIDE YOUR ROUTE
It’s important to plan for the future, you need to have a good idea about how you’re going to be there and how you’ll travel from point A to point B. You need to have a good idea about the days you’re going to spend there and the places you wish to see that constrain the amount of time. By doing this first step, you can have a rough idea about how much you are willing to spend on this trip. Make a map of the places you must want to explore so you will have a clear picture of where are you going to stay and for how long.
FLYING TOWARDS MOROCCO
Most of the country’s flights arrive and depart in Casablanca and Marrakech, search for flights on Travel-UK because they may have some of the best packages for you, book for flights at odd hours and on weekdays as they may tend to be cheaper sometimes. Also, try to book as soon as you’re sure about your visit as it can let you decide from a wide range of flights, direct or connecting. And some of them even have special discounts for early booking. Who knows you might strike a great deal.
EXCHANGE RATE
It’s better to pay in local currency than paying in dollars or pounds. So the first thing you need to do is exchange your currency for dirhams. Not only because it is easy but also you’ll be free from the hassle as small shops sometimes won’t accept other than dirham also you don’t want to constantly calculate currency conversion. Look for better exchange rates and opt for the best one.
HOW TO GET AROUND
Well, you can easily explore one city by booking a cab for a day but not everyone can afford that luxury. It leaves us with two choices trains and buses. The train system in Morocco is quite surprising as you may travel between different cities at an affordable cost. Stations, service, and seating are all up to the mark. You can easily book them online or visit the nearest station for advance booking.
Buses on the other hand are better because they may take you anywhere. CTM operates most of the bus system in morocco and you can get reservations from their website or physically buy tickets from the nearest station. Transport service is quite cheap and of great use.
FOOD
Morocco is famous for its traditional food items and those spices intrigue you to try them, but these beauties are pretty expensive at times. You can visit town areas and food streets where you can get a variety of items and can pick whatever you want to eat according to your budget. Some of the dishes are even better than the ones we tried in those fancy restaurants. Morocco has a great history of delicious street foods and these small vendors are more famous than these five stars hotels because of their taste. On average, you have to spend $15 on all three meals per day.
A PLACE TO LAY LOW
After a tiring day, all you need is a relaxing and clean bed. Because Morocco is a popular tourist attraction the price of a single night stay in an ordinary hotel can shake your budget. So to solve this problem most travelers use bunking option. No matter if you’re with a group or traveling solo, you can book a room based on your preferences. These places are totally hygienic. To me, it’s a waste of money to spend too much on these luxurious stays. A rough estimate of $10 per night I’ve spent per night.
BEWARE OF THE SCAMMERS
Morocco is a hospitable country and most tourists get scammed by falling into these traps. Yes the streets are confusing and you might get lost in them and these fake guides could be a huge dent in your wallet. Try using maps or ask your hotel staff for direction or ask for a reasonable professional guide from them. A continuous NO will save you a huge amount of money.
BUDGET PLACES TO VISIT
We have saved quite a few amounts in the above point now to make your trip better you have to pay the price for it. You can still visit few free destinations like hike towards the atlas mountains and wandering in medina on foot. But you have to book guides for Fes, Tangier, and Marrakesh tours, each of them costs approximately $15-$50. It has some beautiful monuments, libraries, mosques and other historical places and most of them have paid entrance of around $10-$30 for one person. You can also get a good deal by booking a tour guide for your entire trip depending on the number of days you’re staying. This is a very good option if you’re in a large group.
SHOP MODERATELY
Some tourists are so fond of shopping that they drain most of their budget buying non-essential items. You are here to explore and not to shop. Spend on them after you’re done with everything. This will help you look for better options and you might not have to compromise on visiting some special place that you could have visited if you haven’t bought such extra items.
