FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

BOOKING REQUIREMENTS TO SECURE A SPACE ON A TRIP:

Completed registration form.
Deposit $1,000.00 per person OR, if you prefer, full payment can be submitted at the time of registraion.

WHERE TO SEND PAYMENTS:

Make check payable to Moroccan Caravan, LLC and mail to the address below:
Moroccan Caravan, LLC, 53 Perkins Avenue, Malden, MA 02148 USA

PAYMENT DEADLINES

Deposit: Due upon tour registration, with completed registration form submitted online. You are welcome to make full payment at this time, too.

Tour Fee Balance Due: no later than 120 days prior to a tour departure date.

Within 120 days prior to a tour departure: If space is available, participants may be able to join a tour. Please send an email to check with us for availability and, if there is space available to join, full payment must be made along with a registration form submitted online.

Note: Your reservation is subject to cancellation by Moroccan Caravan, LLC if payment is not received on time, unless stated otherwise. Notification of participant cancellation must be made to Moroccan Caravan, LLC in writing. Please see our cancellation policy on FAQ page for more information.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:

At the time we receive your written notification of cancellation, the following per person charges apply:

If the participant cancelled:

More than 120 days before the tour departure date: 100% of the total tour cost paid will be refunded.
90 to 120 days before the tour departure date: 100% of the total tour cost paid, minus deposit, will be refunded.
61 to 89 days before the tour departure date: 50% of the total tour cost paid will be refunded only and it will be done after the trip is over. If by this time, only deposit was paid, Moroccan Caravan LLC retains the full deposit amount.
Within 60 days of tour departure date, or no show: Full payment will be retained and is not refundable.

Note: Refunds for services that are voluntarily not used by you cannot be made.

VISA REQUIREMENTS:

All participants must check if they need a visa to travel to Morocco or not.
USA Citizens do not need a visa to enter Morocco.
To find out if you need a visa, check this link: http://www.moroccanconsulate.com/visa.cfm

FITNESS AND HEALTH:

Most of our journeys to Morocco are not physically strenuous but participants should be in reasonably good health to participate. Please be aware that in some remote areas emergency medical care, physicians, and medication may not be readily available. Please bring all necessary medications with you. Each participant must be covered by medical insurance that is valid overseas. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (Travel Insurance) is a requirement of this tour and each participant is responsible for purchasing for themselves.

INSURANCE:

You must be fully covered by medical insurance that is valid overseas. You, the participant, are responsible for obtaining travel insurance, including coverage for trip interruptions or cancellation, loss or theft of baggage, and emergency evacuation. Moroccan Caravan, LLC cannot be responsible for any of these expenses. Moroccan Caravan, LLC is not responsible for any travel interruptions.

Luggage:

Plan to check in one light suitcase or bag that must weigh NO MORE than 50 pounds. Each participant is allowed one hand bag as a carry on of NO MORE than 22 pounds. You can easily get one good cheap duffel bag while in Morocco for about $20, so that at the end of the tour you can use it for your extra souvenirs you may end up buying. Bringing a small soft foldable bag that can be used as an overnight bag during the trip, is a good idea.

out-of-pocket expenses and Tipping:

There are pre-determined out-of-pocket expenses paid by tour leaders along our journey for tipping of servers, porters, local tour guides, service people, etc. This money is to be paid by each participant at the onset of the tour, preferably in US $$ or Moroccan Dirhams.

Tipping for meals not included in the itinerary, 10% is considered reasonable.

Tips for drivers or tour leaders are not included in the cost of the tour or out-of-pocket expenses, and are greatly appreciated.

Voltage:

The voltage used in Morocco is 220 volts, 50 Hz. Two-pin round plugs. (The U.S. and Canada use 110/120 volts). You can purchase a converter at most hardware stores in the US and Canada for appliances that do not switch to 220V. Also don’t forget adaptors that you can use to transform the flat prongs/pins on your plugs to round prongs/pins that you will need in Morocco.

Health:

NOTES ABOUT COVID/PANDEMIC/OTHER HEALTH WARNINGS

No special inoculations are required to travel to Morocco from the USA. We recommend that you consult with your health care provider before traveling. To prevent traveler's diarrhea, avoid drinking tap water and eating raw fruits and or vegetables. We recommend that travelers buy the safe inexpensive bottled water commonly available in Morocco (a one liter bottle costs approximately 50 cents). Since your stomach may still become upset due to the change in diet, please bring anti-diarrhea medicine and electrolytes just in case. If you experience motion sickness make sure you get the right medicine for that before traveling. Please check with your Doctor or Pharmacist.

Communication:

It is not possible to make collect calls from Morocco to the US. Internet service is common and it is very easy to send and check your emails from Morocco. Most of our hotels will have free WIFI service. If you will be using a smart phone, make sure you and your family download the free App called “WhatsApp” and whenever/wherever you connect to any WIFI service you will be able to talk and send messages for free. Of course, you can also call home using your own cell phone plan, but please check with your phone company before traveling so you can join their international plan.

Climate / Clothing:

Morocco's climate is Mediterranean in the north and sub-tropical in the south. Dress is casual, even in the major cities. We recommend that expensive jewelry be left at home. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Sturdy comfortable sandals would be adequate for the whole trip. The sun is beautiful in Morocco and sunglasses are a must. Some religious sites do not allow shorts or sleeveless shirts.

Try not to overpack and bring too many clothes. It is best to bring clothing that is easy to wash and dry. Hotels have laundry service where your clothing can be washed and pressed for a modest fee. Laundromats are available outside of the hotels and they are affordable.

Year-round Temperatures in Morocco… the Sahara may be little warmer in the spring, summer, and fall, and cooler in the winter:

11 C/ 50F in January, 13 C/ 55F in February, 22 C/ 71F in March, 27 C/ 80F in April, 29C/ 84F in May, 33C/ 91F in June, 38 C/ 100F in July, 46 C/ 115F in August, 25 C/ 77F in September, 24 C/ 75F in October, 20 C/ 68F in November, 12 C/ 54F in December

Rainfall amounts in Morocco around the year:

30 mm in January, 30 mm in February, 30 mm in March, 30 mm in April, 17 mm in May, 7 mm in June, 2 mm in July, 3 mm in August, 10 mm in September, 20 mm in October, 20 mm in November, 15 mm in December.

The month of October usually has nice weather with a good average temperatures

Shopping:

Shopping is wonderful in Morocco. Morocco is renowned for its Amazigh (Berber) jewelry, handwoven carpets, leather goods, fine metalwork, decorative pottery and more. Prices are rarely fixed so be prepared to have fun bargaining for the best price. You may wish to avoid the street vendors, some of whom can be very aggressive or dishonest.

Language:

Arabic and Tamazight (Tama-zirt) (also called Berber) are the two official languages of Morocco. Tamazight (Tama-zirt) is the native language. French is widely spoken. English and Spanish are less common but it is not unusual to find people who speak these languages.

Traveler's Checklist:

1. Pre-departure planning & Essentials:

Plan for one piece of baggage not to exceed 50 pounds, weight limit allowed. Most airlines currently charge an extra fee for bags exceeding 50 pounds or extra bags. Light luggage is encouraged for touring.
Personal Identification is needed
Passport
Visa to get into the country if needed. US nationals don’t need a visa to Morocco. Some other national don’t need a visa but make sure to check if you need it or not.
Transportation Tickets: paper or E-tickets.
If you will be connecting, make sure you print your connecting flights information because the connecting airline will ask you for it if you plan to check in you your luggage all the way to your final destination.
Credit Cards and ATM Cards (ATM machines are readily available in Morocco)
Currency in US dollars or Euros or other major currencies (Bring some cash in case your cards get blocked.)
Insurance (Travel insurance that can cover you overseas is a must)
Health Documentation
Emergency Information
Photocopies of Documentation: (passport and tickets)
Suggestion: Scan or take digital picture of your passport and email it yourself. In case you loose your passport you can always go back to your email and print a copy.
Leave copies of your documents and your cards with your family and or friends

2. Medicines

Take medicine with you for pre-existing ailments
Antibiotic for traveler's diarrhea
Motion sickness medicine
Bring a bag or two of Crystallized Ginger. Ginger is a good as a remedy for nausea and motion sickness
Cold medicine: Decongestant, antihistamine, cough syrup
Tylenol or other Pain relievers. Check with your Doctor about what’s good for you.
Insect repellent with DEET 30% if traveling during Summer.
Antibiotic cream & disinfectant for scrapes and cuts
Band aids
Sunscreen, both UVA and UVB protection; use highest possible protection
Sunglasses
Extra glasses, extra contact lenses and eyeglass prescription.
Feminine hygiene products
Hand sanitizer
Disposable antibacterial wipes or cleanser (washing hands frequently and before eating greatly helps reducing transmission of germs that can cause illness)
List of medicines, purpose, and dosage

3. Basics

Travel clothing : Light easy wash and wear clothes. Make sure you have one longue sleeve top to wear with pants or skirt or longue dress to enter the mosque on the first day in Casablanca. The rest of the trip is moderate you can even wear short clothes if you like too
Bring a collapsible umbrella
Bring swimsuits
Travel Footwear (comfortable sandals, shoes)
Brimmed Hat, Visor, Hat
Camera & extra memory cards (extra large memory cards are best) and or film
Video Camera & Tapes
Extra Camera Batteries
Battery charger
Electrical plug adapter and or converter
Radiation shield for film if you will be using film
Travel ID tags. Also put a paper with your name and contact info inside your hand bag and checked-in bag
Travel lock approved by TSA ONLY to be used to lock your checked in bag before you check in. Maybe an extra lock for your carry on too maybe a good idea to use to lock your items in hotels.
Travel Alarm
Flashlight / extra bulbs
Travel Journal
Address book
Money /Credit Cards/ ATM Card/Passport Carrier
Leave copies of all your documents at home with family or friends

Enjoy your trip!

Oh... one last detail... don't forget to bring your smile and your sense of humor.