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Welcome!
Arrival
Get in, from airoport
Change
Get around, Taxi
Souvenirs
Tourism
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Welcome to Marrakech, the most known cultural, historic and economic center of Morocco with well-organized tourist infrastructure! IMMEA will take place just after the end of the summer tourist season. The beautiful weather and friendly service with moderate prices are expected.
As Morocco is a tourist country, there are a lot of competing economic companies that serve the International airport of Marrakech, Menara (RAK). You may arrive also to another International airports of the country: Mohammed-V-(Casablanca) (CMN), that have convenient train connection with Marrakech, or Al Massira (Agadir) (AGA), situated in the famous touristic resort at Atlanic beach. Regular Companies that have the most frequent flights to Morocco from Europe are Royal Air Maroc (more economic) and Air France. Practically all North-Africa companies are also connected with Morocco. Depending on the day of flight, they can propose the very attractive tariffs, if book in advance. Low-Cost companies (EasyJet, Jet4you, Ryanair, TUIfly... ) that serve airport of Marrakech are numerous, economic and quite reasonable, but sometimes don’t appear in Internet. Since the conference will take place at the end of the hot tourist season, we strongly advise you to reserve your tickets as soon as possible to achieve the best result.
The airport of Marrakech is about a 15-20 min from the city by taxi. Change the money at the terminal and take the “petit taxi" (small yellow car) at the parking square. If there is no meter, AGREE ON THE PRICE BEFORE sit into the care and lock your luggage. The price is negotiable but it should not exceed Dh 100 (Dh 150 at night) per car (not per passenger) to get the downtown. Take another cab with no discussion in case of disagreement. The price on the way back can be 15-20% lower.
The rate in airport, banks, large hotels etc is almost the same: 1 EURO = 11 Dh. ATM can charge 5% for your card
It is very common to use the small yellow “petit taxi” to move in Marrakech. They are quite cheap, Dh 10-20 inside the
downtown and of 50% higher at night. In
most cases you can simply flag the taxi in the street, but take a time in
important cases when you should go to the conference session or to the Airport, especially the early
morning. As far as we know there is no central reservation of the taxi, but ask
also your hotel reception. In most cases there is no problem to use the taxi but several “rules”
should be respected to avoid surprises. The
meter in taxi is obligatory but sometimes it is absent. In this case, AGREE
ON THE PRICE BEFORE sit into the care and lock your luggage. Be sure that you
understand the driver correctly. It is the best to write the price on the paper and
show it to the driver. Don’t negotiate too much. Just take another taxi. Keep
the coins; driver never has the change. You don't need to pay for extras (luggage,
etc). The price is negotiated per car (not per passenger), but it is difficult
to avoid the “extra” passengers at the route. Prefer the older driver at the new car. Don’t tell
to the driver that you are the first time in Morocco. In case of the strong disagreement, remember that
this is just the part of the performance, put the money at the seat and/or
tell that you will call a police. But if the driver is really sympathetic, give him Dh 2-3 more...
Surely you will buy the souvenirs... The heart of the medieval town, the ancient market (souk) at place Djemaa El-Fna is the most appropriate place for this. You can negotiate and decrease the price on 30%, 50%, 70% ... but finally you will find the same thing in the supermarket even more cheaper. This is not surprising. The market Djemaa El-Fna is like luxury boutique, you pay for the pleasure of negotiation. The best practice would be to visit the souvenir shop with regular prices beforehand. Here are several addresses: bd. 27 and bd. 221 Av. Mohammed V, (not far from IMMEA), bd. 169 -171 rue Mohammed lbakkal (behind Av. Mohammed VI) etc. However we don't advice to enter in dialog if you are not really motivated to buy something. Oriental culture has the thousand year culture of negotiation and convictions...
© Pictures by I. Lukyanchuk
Morocco is the safe country. Here are several advises for those who decided to know this wonderful land before of after the end of the meeting.
A lot of options are proposed for tourists by the large hotels in Marrakech and by travel agencies.
Self-organized circuit in Morocco, e.g. Marrakech-Rabat/Casablanca - Historical towns Fes/Mekness: by autoroute, back through Atlas Months. (or vs versa). As a variant: deviation to Oarzazat - Rachidia to semi-desert. International agencies to rent a car + look for the hotel at place. Should be no problem.
Travel to desert. Most adventures if organized individually. Trajectory is negotiable. Rent a minivan-4x4 with driver. Marrakech-Atlas off-road Ouarzazat- region of Zagora - Desert (off road). Best 3 days (2 nights). Nights in desert inns (Ryads) for tourists but sometimes well organized, with camels excursions...
Seaside. You can spend several days in the international resort hotels of Agadir at Atlantic beach, or simply take the half-day tour to Essaouira, the old picturesque Portugues fortified port, just 1.5h from Marrakesh
Local organizers will be happy to give the advises concerning your stay in Morocco.
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