The Moroccan currency is the Dirham. £1 sterling is approximately 12.8 Morrocan Dirhams. One Euro is approximately 11 Moroccan Dirhams

The Dirham is not allowed to be taken out of the country in amounts larger than Dirhams 1,000 consequently it cannot be purchased before travelling. A bureau de change is available at Fez airport and there are ATM machines both at the airport and in the City. Scottish notes are not accepted in banks in Morocco and many banks are uncomfortable accepting travellers cheques.
Suggestion: Ask for some small notes or coins when exchanging money. Tips are customary in Marrakech and many everyday items cost much less than a 100 dirham note.

Good news if you are planning for exotic last minute holidays. Citizens of EU countries, including Britain, do not need a VISA for tourist visits of up to three months. There is however a requirement for passports to be valid for 6 months at the date of entry.

There is an Honorary British Consulate in Marrakesh who will help with a replacement passport or papers to allow British Citizens to return home.
Suggestion: Dar Bensouda have safes in all rooms for the care of your passport and other small valuables.

From June to August temperatures are often in excess of 40 degrees and can reach the high 40’s. December, January and February can see sunbathing weather in the day up to 27 degrees with nights as cool as 8 degrees. Spring and Autumn are the traditional high season times to visit Fez with temperatures in the high 20’s to mid 30’s.
Suggestion: the dipping pools at Dar Benouda are excellent for cooling off during warm weather in morocco!

Morocco has an excellent modern mobile phone infrastructure which also supports 3G and data roaming. However it is advisable to check charges with your mobile provider before using your phone extensively to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Suggestion:  Dar Bensouda have local pay as you go mobiles which can be loaned to guests and are excellent for local calls. Top ups are 50 or 100 Dirhams available from kiosks across the medina or the Riad staff will be happy to help.

Without doubt the best way to explore Fez old town (Medina) is on foot. Many of the streets are teeming with life; pedestrians, cyclists, donkeys and carts, motorbikes with a few cars and delivery vehicles on the larger thoroughfares. In general pedestrians keep to the right.
Suggestion: An accurate map of the Medina is hard to find, one of its charms is the intricate network of interconnecting streets and alleyways. Many first time visitors find a compass helpful.

Morocco is an Islamic country which welcomes tourists who are sensitive to local tradition. Shorts and short sleeve tops are fine as long as they are not too short or revealing. It is not sensible for women to wear clothes that reveal too much cleavage or the waist line. More discretion is required during the holy festival of Ramadan.

The Medina does not have pubs or wine bars, however there are plenty of hotels and restaurants with public bars. Alcohol is not available in the cafes around the place Jema al Fna. In the new town of new city there are several European style bars as well as a vibrant night club scene.
Suggestion: local Moroccan wines can be excellent and are much less expensive than those imported from France.

It is forbidden by law for resident Moroccans to stay over in a licensed Maison d’Hote with a non Moroccan.

The Medina of Fez is probably safer than a European City. There is a specialist Tourist Brigade police force whose duty it is to protect foreign visitors.

The locals regularly drink the tap water but visiting tourists will not have time to get used to it and are probably best to drink bottled water. Mineral water can be purchased from many kiosks and stalls around the Medina and chilled water is available at a small charge from the mini-bars in the rooms at Dar Bensouda.

Traditional Moroccan cuisine uses fragrant spices like cinnamon rather than hot spices. Food stalls, including those in public snacks, often do not have running water or refrigeration so they are not able to properly wash plates and food hygiene can fall well below Western standards. It would therefore never be strictly speaking ‘advisable’ to eat at food stalls when considering where to eat in Fez. However, many visitors have eaten without problems and the atmosphere in the square is an exceptional experience. There is an argument that at least the cooking is visible unlike many inexpensive restaurants. All would agree that it is particularly important to keep to items that have been well cooked when eating meat.

Tipping is a part of every-day life in Morocco as in many developing countries where wages are relatively low. Unlike the USA tipping is not compulsory but it is welcomed for good service. As a guide 2-3 Dirhams would be expected in a coffee shop, 5 to 10 Dirhams for a lunch and 5 to 10% for an evening meal. For a taxi round up to the nearest 5 Dirhams.

There are a number of excellent pharmacies in lFez both in the Medina and in the new town. Common medication and toiletries are readily available including many leading western brands. Moroccan pharmacists can prescribe and immediately supply some medications, for example antibiotics, which would have to be prescribed by doctors in the UK. Where necessary the Riad can provide introductions to private doctors or the medical clinic and excellent dentist used by British expats in Marrakech.

The voltage is 210 as in the UK and they use a standard European two round pin plug. The Ryad staff will be happy to provide adaptors if you need them.

Our boutique hotels in Marrakech, Riads, are essentially luxury family homes built in an intimate courtyard setting. So as not to disturb guests who may be sleeping we prefer new arrivals to check in before 11 pm. You must advise in advance of any late arrival.

Check out time is 12.00 mid day. Arrangements may be made for a later check out if the room has a late arrival, you would need to check with the manager the night before. There is a charge for late check outs. Baggage can be stored until you are ready to leave for the airport.

It's useful to hire a registered guide for half a day or more. Your guesthouse will arrange it for you. However, bear in mind that it might be better to go out by yourself at first and get orientated, and then hire a guide. Make sure your guide doesn't take you into lots of shops where he'll earn commission - make it quite clear beforehand if you don't want to shop.

The railway network is very good. You might like to travel first-class as it's a little more comfortable and not much more expensive. See www.oncf.ma  for schedules, but you can't book online. Be warned, though, about men who board the trains at Meknes, target the tourists, and tell them that their hotel has burned down/closed/is full of thieves. It's a scam. They might also try to hire themselves out at guides - don't fall for this either, as they're not registered.
Local buses are best avoided, but inter-city buses are fine. The best bus company is CTM with good vehicles. It's best to go to the CTM bus station and book at least one day in advance but again, you can't book online. Otherwise, get around by taxi. Petit taxis go as far as the city limits; grand taxis go further (the airport run can only be done by grand taxis). You might like to hire a grand taxi for a day to go to Meknes and Volubilis, which will cost Dh800. Otherwise squeeze in with the locals in a shared grand taxi - it's much cheaper.

Take the shuttle train from the airport; the station is under the airport. You can buy your ticket here straight through to Fez. The shuttle runs on the hour every hour from 06h00 to 22h00 every day, and the journey to Casa Voyageurs station takes 36 minutes. At Casa Voyageurs, change for the train to Fez which takes 4 1/2 hours.
An alternative is to take a grand taxi from the airport and drive up to Fez. This costs Dh1500. Avoid the touts inside the airport who offer to get you a grand taxi; it's not necessary as the taxi rank is right outside the airport.
Also be warned about men who sometimes board the train at Meknes, the last stop before Fez. They seek out the tourists on board and tell them that their hotel is burned down/full of thieves, hoping to lure them to another hotel where they get a commission. They might also offer their services as a guide. Don't be fooled - registered guides don't do this.

The fast moves forward 11 days each calendar year in accordance with the Islamic calendar, which is based on lunar months. Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours. Cafés and restaurants are closed during the day and some close altogether during Ramadan as the staff take their annual holiday. Establishments around Bab Boujloud and some restaurants catering solely for tourists remain open during the day. The others reopen for f'tour, or breakfast, at around 17h30 when people take their first meal of the day. It is impossible to get a taxi between 17h00 and 18h00. It's also best not to be walking in the medina at this time as anyone else around when they should be eating will be up to no good! Evenings are lively with a party atmosphere and there are often funfairs in public places. Moroccans eat dinner at around 22h00 - 23h00 and get up before dawn to eat breakfast before the first call to prayer. You might be lucky enough to hear the singer who wanders the streets to wake people at around 3h00 so that they can finish eating before dawn. Tempers can fray towards the end of the afternoon ...
Alcohol is not available in the supermarkets and off-licences are closed from three days before Ramadan until three days after the Eid (celebrations at the end of Ramadan). It is available to foreigners in licensed restaurants, but sometimes the bar or restaurant might run out of some drinks.
It's good to be aware that this is a holy month and clothing should be more conservative than usual. Do not eat, smoke or drink on the streets during this time.
Business hours also change, with banks, post offices and shops opening later and closing earlier so that staff can get home in time for f'tour. Often the opening hours displayed outside banks and post offices do not relate to Ramadan.