Tip: ferry
I read somewhere that there are problems with ferry tickets purchased on the internet in advance. Since we did not travel in the main season and therefore don't have to commit to a fixed time, we bought the ferry tickets locally. Go to the "Estaciòn Maritima" and not into any other ticket shops along the road. Unfortunately, it is hardly possible to find out which ferry leaves next and the prices are hardly comparable, but in the harbor station all ferry companies are represented.
Tips: Cash, gas, hotels
On or before weekends one should be prepared for cash and gasoline bottlenecks. This is not a problem in the larger cities, but in more remote areas. Be aware the weekend starts on Friday afternoon!
So on/before the weekend
- get cash in time, if you want to withdraw money from the machine or change money in a regular bank
- fill up fuel wherever possible. I had to make a detour of 33 km one-way (so a total of 66 km), because I thought the last gas station before turning onto a dirt road would be ok. But there was no gas there at Saturday noon. Despite a half full tank, I didn't want to take the risk ...
- prebook the desired accommodation in more touristy areas. In Chefchaouen our desired hotel was complete on a Saturday and we has to search for another hotel for quite a while.
- Avoid banks on Monday morning. There is quite a rush ...
Incidentally, some cash can also be exchanged at ATMs (seen and used directly in front of the banks). There should be a sign for it. They take Euro bills and then spit out dirhams. Is quite handy and not as tedious procedure as in a bank.
Navigation
See Garmin GPS / OSM-maps about OSM maps for Morocco.
If you have a navsat for hiking, you should definitely bring it with you. On my Garmin Oregon 600 I also installed the Morocco OSM maps and even if it does not always show all the ways in the medinas, at least you can use it to find your way back. This way you escape the annoying guys who try to send you deeper into the medina, so you finally loose orientation and then the same guys offer to guide you out of course for some cash.
Incidentally, I use the tracks of the hiking navsat for assigning geotags to my photos later on.
Some infos in English
Collected some tipps and some accomodations for the four guys from GB I met here in Algeciras in the hotel last night. Peter and Mark, thanks a again for the beer! Feel free to share the informations.
SIM card
Consider to buy a SIM card at Tanger med. After the border crossing there are some shops, one of them is from INWI. I bought a INWI SIM card, which will be not the best choice for internet/data but it's ok. It's not expensive. There was some promotion sale when we arrived there. Because I'm in need of internet for my business all the time I have choosen a 4GB prepaid with one hour phone calls for 100 dirham. But you get much cheaper ones and you usually will have wifi. 3G is only available in bigger cities with the INWI card. Perhaps Maroc telecom is a better choice. It was quite easy to get the SIM card.
About dinner in Riads
Usually you have to book the dinner in Riads in advance. We once had a place (Agdz) where the housemaid cooked only for us. They always have to know it in advance for preparing the meals.
Some accomodations
Accomodation for Chefchaouen:
We didn't stay there because there were booked out but it was our first option.
The (female) receptionist there leaded us on a at least 30 minutes trip through Chefchaouen searching another hotel for us. Was very kind of her!
Parking inside the hotels yard! Good view to the town and everything in walking distance.
For Fes:
Perfect location! Easy to find to and parking is 50m around the corner. Parking is 50 dirham/night.
Book a half day guided tour through the hotel, that's enough for Fes.
You will not regret booking dinner at the Riad! It's worth! And you will get wine (and I guess beer) there!
For Midelt:
We were in the Kasbah Asmaa, which I don't really recommend. Hotel is too big. We didn't feel very comfortable there and it had the worst coffee ever for breakfast. For one night ok, but I would search another one next time.
For Merzouga:
Riad Ali Totmarroc was it for us!
Nice stuff. Nice hotel. Nice pool (you will need it more than us!). You can book a camel tour for the evening there for 35 Euro/Person. That was fun.
We had dinner there also, which was fine too.
In Tinghir:
Kasbah Petit nomade. Nice couple with a 3 room accomodation. Really lovely place. Own parking. We did love this place. But no alcohol available. You have to care about it yourself (if needed :-))
We booked the Kasbah Petit Nomade directly!
In Ouarzazate:
Dar Bladi (Reception is shared with Dar Daif). I liked that place. My wife thinks it was a bit spooky. Parking is in the Dar Daif. From there you have to walk 200 meters. But in the morning I did get my bike in front of the Dar Bladi. We were the only guests in this 12 room hotel and had the terrace for dinner for ourself (inclusive private servants). This was some kind of colonial style ....
In Taroudant:
Riad Maia is a wonderful accommodation but the parking is about 300 m away. One of the both owners is German, the other one French.
In Agdz:
If you think about staying in Agdz, Dar Jnane should be your choice! A two room accomodation with a really nice and caring host and a joyful housemaid, which was preparing dinner only for us one night. The second night we had to share her with a french family which stayed in the second room.
For Marrakesh:
Please choose "Riad al Nadine". Never had so lovely hosts like there. Nadine and Alain are French and there English is not the best (like mine) but they will do anything for you. The washed some of my clothes without billing it. The both helped us to find their place (which is not so easy if you come from the wrong direction because you didn't read their arrival informations). Alain showed me the parking, which was 30 and then 40 for 2 nights and will be at 50 when you will be there (it's a quite new parking and prices rise every day).
The Riad is well located. We loved it to stay there. Greetings to both of them from Wolle and Brigitte!
For Ouzoud:
The Riad Cascade d'Ouzoud is very nice. The receptionist even speaks German quite fluently. A parking is near to the hotel.
For Meknes:
The Riad Yacout is located perfectly for motorbikers. Guarded parking is on the place nearby the hotel.