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Local Information

Currency: The Moroccan currency is the Dirham. It can only be purchased in Morocco and the southern coast of Spain. The rate is approximately MAD 13 to £1 sterling. It can vary depending on the usual currency fluctuations.

Language: Moroccan Arabic is the official language with French as the 2nd language. In the North of Morocco Spanish is also commonplace. However English is also spoken and understood and there is usually no problem in the larger shops, cafes and restaurants.

Telephone: There are widespread teleboutiques and internet cafes where telephone calls, faxes and emails may be accessed. International dialing code: +212

Airport: Tangier International airport (Boukhalef) is situated some 6 miles south of Tangier and about 20 miles north of Asilah.

Getting There: There are several schedule flights each week to Tangier from London Heathrow with Royal Air Maroc. There are also scheduled and charter flights to Malaga from most parts of the UK and a service between Malaga and Tangier by Regional Air has 3 or 4 flights each day. Gibraltar is almost within sight of Tangier and there are flights from London Gatwick, London Luton & Manchester each day. There is an infrequent ferry service from Gibraltar to Tangier but the neighbouring Spanish port of Algeciras has ferries every 2 hours & recently added fast ferries taking 1 hour for the trip.

Travel Documents: A valid passport with at least 3 months to expiry is the only travel document you will need to enter Morocco. Visas are not required for British or Irish citizens. A visitor to Morocco may stay for up to 90 days. If he/she wishes to extend their stay, permission must be obtained from the police within 10 days of arrival. Otherwise it is necessary to leave and re-enter Morocco. Most visitors either go to Spain for the day, or go to Ceuta (Spanish North Africa) which is about a 2 hour drive from Tangier.

Capital: Rabat

Banking Hours:
08:30 - 16:00 Monday to Friday
Bureaux de Change can be found at airports, most hotels and the main thoroughfares of large towns.

Electricity: 220 volts in modern buildings. 2 pin euro plugs.

Time Zone: GMT

Prices: A three course meal with wine for two in one of the local restaurants will cost approximately MAD 300 (approximately £23).
A baguette is MAD 1.5, milk MAD 3 for a pint, tomatoes approximately MAD 4 a kilo according to season.
A shared taxi (up to 5 passengers) from Asilah to Tangier is approximately MAD 50 each.

Places to visit:
Rabat, the capital of Morocco is about a three hour drive from Tangier (2 hours from Asilah).
Chefchaouen, high in the Rif mountains is about a 2 hour drive from both Tangier and Asilah.
There are also the remains of several Roman cities near Asilah including Lixus, about a 25 minute drive south from Asilah, near the town of Larache and Zelis which is situated a few miles inland from Asilah near the village of Had Gharbia.

Tangier: According to Greek mythology Tangier, or Tingi, was founded by the giant Anteus. Tingi is mentioned by Carthaginian traveller's as early as 500B.C. and is known to have been visited by Phoenician sailors earlier than that. Tangier has been called the Gateway to Morocco and has been designated as the countries summer capital by King Hassan II. Overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar with a view of Spain's southern coast, Tangier is set upon a spectacular bay and has been a magnet for traveller's for millennia. Tangier is less than 30 miles from Gibraltar. The town nestles on hillocks stretching down to beaches on to both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In the past it had a reputation for decadence and scandal, and was the happy hunting ground for spies and smugglers, writers and artists. Tangier today retains its cosmopolitan air, providing a perfect opportunity to see the Moroccan way of life in the old town and Kasbah areas, whilst providing many up to date facilities of hotels, bars, restaurants and the recently opened five star casino. The Royal Tangier Golf Club has had a complete renovation & remodelling & is now one of the finest International courses, hosting International tournaments. Finished in 2002, The Tangier Cricket Club is an excellent ground and hosts the 'Tangier Cup' which is competed for by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Africa & other major cricketing nations.

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