Morocco

Most visitors arrive in Morocco at the international airport in Casablanca — an undistinguished city alluring only in the minds of Bogie and Bergman fans —where internal flights connect to Marrakech (45 minutes) and Fes (40 minutes). You might consider hiring an English-speaking chauffeur for the three-hour drive to Fes. However, the trip from Fes to Marrakech takes eight hours through unremarkable countryside, so the journey is better undertaken by air. From Marrakech, there is an astonishing drive over the Atlas Mountains, via the dizzying Tizi n’Test Pass, to the old walled market town of Taroudant at the edge of the Sahara.

Note: Fes is an ancient Islamic religious center, and in these troubled times, American travelers should exercise caution.

CLIMATE: Spring (March/April) and fall (October/November) are the ideal seasons for a visit. Winter (December-February) can bring cold nights, and during the summer (May-September), daytime temperatures routinely climb to over 100 F. Marrakech is typical of the central inland region. Places such as Taroudant that lie to the south of the Atlas Mountains are appreciably warmer in winter.

TIME: Five hours ahead of New York (EST).

CURRENCY: Moroccan dirham (MAD). Fluctuating rate valued at MAD8 = US$1.00 as of January 2012. Note: Some of our suggested hotels quote rates in euros (€); €1.00 = US$1.30 as of January 2012.

U.S. EMBASSY: Rabat, Tel. 537-762-265. Casablanca consulate, Tel. 522-264-550.

DIRECT DIAL CODES: To phone hotels in Morocco, dial 011 (international access) + 212 (Morocco code) + city code and local numbers in listings.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport. Visit travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, cdc.gov.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Visit visitmorocco.com before your trip.