Tipp: Fähre
Ich hatte irgendwo gelesen, dass es mit Fährtickets, die man im Internet im Vorwege gekauft hat, Probleme gäbe. Da wir nicht in der Hauptsaison reisten und uns daher auch nicht auf eine feste Zeit festlegen wollten, haben wir die Fährtickets vor Ort gekauft. Dazu zur "Estaciòn Maritima" fahren und nicht in irgendwelche Ticketshops auf der Strecke. Es ist leider kaum möglich herauszufinden, welche Fähre als Nächste ablegt und auch die Preise sind wohl kaum zu vergleichen, aber in der Hafenstation sind alle Fährgesellschaften vertreten.
Tipps: Bargeld, Benzin, Hotels
An bzw. vor Wochenenden sollte man sich auf Bargeld- und Benzinengpässe einstellen. Das ist kein Problem in den größeren Städten, aber in abgelegeneren Gebieten kann das schon ein Problem sein. Vorsicht, das Wochenende fängt schon Freitag nachmittags an!
Also am/vor dem Wochenende
- rechtzeitig Bargeld besorgen, sofern man Geld aus dem Automaten ziehen will oder in einer regulären Bank Geld wechseln möchte
- volltanken, wo immer es geht. Ich musste an einem Tag einen Umweg von 33 km einfache Strecke (also insgesamt 66 km) machen, da ich dachte, die letzte Tanke vor der Piste reicht ja noch. Dort gab es kein Benzin mehr (Samstag Mittag). Trotz halb vollem Tank, wollte ich dann kein Risiko eingehen, denn wer weiss schon wann nach der Piste wieder eine Tanke mit Benzin kommt ...
- in touristischeren Gegenden die Wunschunterkunft vorbuchen. In Chefchaouen war unser Wunschhotel Samstags schon ausgebucht und wir haben einige andere abgeklappert, bis wir ein Zimmer nach unseren Wünschen gefunden hatten.
- Banken am Montag morgen vermeiden. Da ist ein ziemlicher Andrang ...
Geld wechseln kann man übrigens teilweise auch an Geldautomaten (gesehen und verwendt direkt vor den Banken). Diese dürften normalerweise erkennbar gekennzeichnet sein. Die nehmen Euro-Scheine und spucken dann Dirham aus. Ist recht praktisch und keine so langwierige Prozedur wie in einer Bank.
Navigation
Untere Garmin GPS / OSM-Karten gibt es einige Hinweise zu OSM-Karten für Marokko.
Wer ein Wandernavi hat, sollte es unbedingt mitnehmen. Auf unser Garmin Oregon 600 habe ich auch die Marokko-OSM-Karte installiert und auch wenn diese nicht immer in den Medinas alle Wege drin hat, findet man damit zumindest den Weg zurück wieder. So kann man den lästigen Wegelagerern entgehen, die versuchen, einem in immer verwinkeltere Gässchen zu schicken (zum großen Platz, da lang!) oder einem weissmachen wollen, dass hier oder da kein Durchkommen sei (c'est ferme / road is closed) und dann zu guter Letzt sich gegen Bezahlung als Führer aus dem Dilemma anbieten.
Ich benutze übrigens die Tracks des Wandernavi dazu, später den Fotos entsprechende Geotags zuordnen zu können.
Some infos in English
[Einige Tipps auf English, die ich für einige englische Motorradfahrer zusammengestellt habe, die ich in Algeciras im Hotel traf.]
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.