MARRAKESH GOOD-TO-KNOW:
Travel:
Travelers from the US are required to have a valid US Passport and it must NOT be due to expire within 6 months of your return flight. Check your passport and renew before travel! Check your home country for visa requirements and meet those well before travel.
Your flight destination will be Marrakech Menara International Airport (RAK). Royal Air Maroc is the only airline that has direct flights from the US to Morocco, from both JFK and Washington Dulles.
You can also book flights traveling through major European airports, as there are many connecting flights to Marrakech through economy airlines such as Ryan Air, Easyjet, Iberia, etc. We’ve found that it is easier to find good connecting flights on the way to Marrakech than on the return. As you plan your trip, you might want to consider taking the opportunity to extend your trip with a stop in Spain, France, Portugal, England....
Immunizations are not required but check here for CDC recommendations.
Money:
The currency in Marrakesh is the Moroccan Dirham. The exchange rate changes and you should check for current rates. You CANNOT exchange for Dirhams outside of Morocco, but there are several currency exchange booths in the airport when you exit Passport Control and also located all around the Medina. Your transfer to the accommodations might require dirhams and tips should be in dirhams. Larger stores and restaurants may take Euros, but it’s really best to have dirhams.
Another good option for obtaining dirhams is to use ATM machines located around the Medina. The exchange rate is a little better, especially if your bank or credit card doesn’t add foreign transaction fees (some homework for you).
If you bring cash bills to exchange, be sure they are newer bills with holograms. Otherwise, money exchangers will slide them back to you with a shake of their head.
Before you travel, notify your bank and credit cards of your foreign travel destination and dates of travel so they don’t flag your card for fraud. We also recommend that you bring a total of 2 or 3 cards in case you get flagged or have any other issues with one card.
General things to know:
Our retreats are open to active, adventurous travelers interested in unique cultural experiences. We invite people of all ethnicities, religions, adult ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, and backgrounds to participate. That said, some retreats are specialized, so please check individual itineraries to determine eligibility.
We journey at a comfortable pace but our retreats are walking-intensive. Some retreats include climbing or hiking. Many retreats are held in locations with cobblestone streets, no sidewalks, or other ancient, uneven, potentially slippery surfaces. You will need to research and pack footwear appropriate for varying surfaces.
Handicapped accessibility is limited as is access to elevators and air conditioning. Most retreats do not have porters to help you with your bags and many accommodations do not have elevators. We highly suggest you pack lightly and that you do not rely on consistently wheeling your suitcase.
Our retreats are conducted in English. Our retreat leaders and guides will use English and they may or may not speak another language. Some locations might speak and rely on languages unfamiliar to you.
Visa and passport requirements vary based on your home country. You should check these requirements and purchase any visas or extend your passport as required. Bring copies of any visas, passports, medical cards, or other identification cards. You should check your home country’s recommendations for forms of identification with which you should travel and plan accordingly.
Vaccination recommendations vary by location. You should check these requirements as well as the recommendations of your home country.
Our retreats might include shared accommodations. Single travelers will share a room with another traveller of the same gender. If you prefer not to share, some single room upgrades might available at an additional charge. See individual itineraries for details. Hotels in locations outside the United States often feature two single beds that can be pushed together to form a larger bed.
If meals are included, they will be meals customary to retreat locations. We might be able to accommodate for some allergy or dietary restrictions, but we cannot guarantee it. You should speak with us directly about your dietary to determine how you can best meet your own food needs.
We travel using private vehicles, public transportation, and/or taxi cabs/ride shares. Comfort/age of all forms of transportation will vary based on location.
Our retreats include time for you to be alone. We do not structure that time for you. You should be comfortable spending some time on your own and generating some of your own entertainment.
What to Wear:
Weather is predictably unpredictable so be sure to check on the estimated conditions the week before you travel. Even though Marrakech can be quite warm by day, it is usually quite cooler at night so pack light clothes that you can layer. We recommend a hat, sunglasses, flowing pants, long skirts, wraps or large scarves over tank and tee shirts, and a sweater or light jacket for chilly nights. Although many streets in the Medina are covered, the sun can be intense and you should bring an ample supply of sunscreen. We cannot guarantee availability of this product!
Your most important fashion asset: comfortable shoes for traversing the Medina on sightseeing and shopping adventures!
Morocco is a Muslim country and women generally dress more modestly than in the US or Europe. Maison 28 is located in a more conservative, residential area in the old Medina. Like elsewhere, dress codes are gradually becoming more lax and there is a lot of tolerance for tourists, but wearing clothing that covers (or has the ability to do so) shows cultural respect and common sense while traveling.
Suggested extra items to pack (add to the list as you see fit)
* European plug adapters/electric converters for hair appliances (cellphones and computers generally have built-in converters)
* Ear plugs - especially if you’re a light sleeper. Our riad is in a quiet neighborhood but there is local “wildlife”, i.e. Medina cats and a neighborhood rooster who sometimes like to make themselves heard. Also, the first call to prayer from the surrounding Mosques occurs about an hour before dawn. * Pharmacies are different in all countries. If you take medications, you should bring an ample supply of medicines, a back-up pair of prescription glasses, and copies of any medicine or eyewear prescriptions.