Morocco’s full of colour, culture and tradition, and is a real feast for the senses. It’s a place filled with dazzling diversity and warm welcomes, and with more awareness and understanding of this magical country, you can really get the most out of your trip...

Arriving in Morocco

Upon arrival, make sure you have your hotel name and address handy for immigration! If you’re on a Jet2holiday, you’ll find this info on your hotel voucher. Why not print it, screenshot it or save it in the Jet2 app before you arrive? You’ll need to go through passport control first, where your passport will be stamped before being checked by national police.

Afterwards, you’ll enter the baggage hall. When all bags, including hand luggage, have been collected, they’ll be scanned by customs before you leave the airport. This might mean it takes a bit longer than usual to get on your way, but don’t worry, our friendly Red Team will be on hand to help.

You may see porters at the airport who’ll offer to carry your bags for you. If you want assistance, it’s customary to tip them with a few pound coins (or about 20 Dirhams), if not, politely say no.

Leaving Morocco and additional security checks

When you leave Morocco, your airport experience will be a little different to other destinations. When you arrive at the airport terminal, you’ll have your first security check before heading to the check-in desks – even if you’ve already checked-in online and don’t have any bags to check in. You’ll need a physical boarding pass when you leave Morocco, so our friendly Jet2 team will be there to help you check-in and print them off.

Check-in will close an hour before your scheduled departure time, so please leave enough time to get through the airport. Once you’ve checked in, you’ll need to make your way to your second security check before going through border control. Before boarding, there’s one final security check. Keep checking the information screens, as boarding may start earlier than usual because of this.

Currency

Morocco has a closed currency system, which means the Moroccan Dirham can’t be taken in or out of the country. You can withdraw Dirhams from cash machines or exchange your local currency at a currency exchange counter in the airport, within the city or in your resort. In larger towns and cities, cards are widely accepted, although cash is preferred within the souks and smaller restaurants.

Data roaming

Roaming charges may be higher in Morocco than our other destinations. We recommend connecting to your hotel Wi-Fi, and to avoid any extra data roaming charges, it’s a good idea to put your phone on flight mode if you leave your hotel Wi-Fi connection. Please contact your network provider before travelling for more information about data roaming and your options when in Morocco.

Taxis

Getting a taxi in Morocco may be a little different to what you're used to. There are two types of taxi, a ‘petit’ or ‘grand’ taxi. Petit taxis are usually used for short trips and don’t normally leave the city limits. Grand taxis are usually used for longer trips. You may find them stopping to pick others up along the way if the taxi is not full. And remember to always negotiate the price before getting in the taxi!

Practise haggling

Haggling is all part of the shopping experience here in Morocco, with the ultimate aim being that both shopper and seller agree on a price they’re happy with. Many of the stalls in the souks sell similar items, so shop around first and get a feel for the quality and price point.

Dress code

The dress code in Morocco differs depending on where you are and what you’re doing. If you’re visiting religious sites, all visitors must cover their knees and shoulders. Although it’s not mandatory, it’s good to dress modestly within the cities and in less touristy areas. Down by the beach, the usual holiday attire is fine, but it’s always a good idea to keep a scarf handy to throw over your shoulders.

Taking photos

Asking to take someone’s photo is always the polite thing to do, but you might also see signs within the souks asking you not to take pictures of the seller’s handicrafts or stalls. Remember not to take photos of military or government buildings either!

Learn the lingo

Morocco's two official languages are Arabic and Amazigh, but nearly all Moroccans speak and understand French. Why not learn some of the local language? It’s always appreciated and is a great way to connect with people! Use "as-salaam alaykum" to greet new friends and "shukran" to say thank you. You may also find that things are labelled differently. Toilet doors might have an ‘H’ for homme or an ‘F’ for femme, AKA 'man' and 'woman' in English. The same goes for taps – these might be labelled ‘C’ for chaud and ‘F’ for froid, AKA 'hot' and 'cold' in English.

Morocco is a very popular holiday destination for French holidaymakers, so some things like hotel entertainment might be delivered in French first, followed by English.

All about alcohol

According to Islamic law, alcohol is forbidden but it’s still available in licensed shops, bars and restaurants, although not every restaurant will sell it.

Cultural traditions

Traditionally, Moroccans eat with their right hand, especially with dishes such as tagines and couscous. This is because the left hand is considered unclean because it’s typically the hand used when going to the toilet. Make sure you listen out for the beautiful call to prayer, known as the Adan. It's played from the mosques five times per day.

Tipping culture

Morocco has a big tipping culture, but of course, it’s customary not mandatory! If you’d like to show your appreciation for the service, it’s always welcomed. For example, if you order a coffee, 5 to 10 Dirhams is an ideal tip. For an evening meal, most people leave a 10% tip, and some larger hotels and restaurants have started to add it to the customers’ bills. Nearly all hotels and riads in Morocco have porters to assist you with your luggage. Although it’s a free service, a tip is always appreciated. Around 10 to 20 Dirhams is appropriate.

Embrace the local cuisine

Moroccan cuisine is full of flavour, with influence from Berber, Jewish, Arab and French cultures. You’ll find dishes like tagine, couscous, pastilla and msemen on many Moroccon menus, so make sure you give them a try.

Most places in Morocco don’t serve Pork as it’s forbidden in Islam – the main religion here in Morocco. Although you’ll find bacon and sausages in some of the larger chain hotels, don’t expect to find your regular breakfast fry-up here.

If you order tea in Morocco, expect to receive Moroccan mint tea. If you’re looking for a cup of English tea, then most places serve Liptons, or sometimes Twinings. Remember to ask for cold milk to go with it as it’s not served with milk as standard here. Coffee is great in Morocco – locals tend to drink espressos or noss-noss which translates as half-half. That’s half coffee, half milk and is the closest thing to a flat white in the UK.

And don’t worry, if you’re left craving a ‘proper’ British brew – remember that we serve Starbucks Coffee and Yorkshire Tea on all Jet2 flights, so you can look forward to that on your way home!