Morocco 2016

[buttons]

You will need a green card from your insurance provider which will give you up to 3 months legal entry into Maroc. (Third party cover only, but check with your provider as it may not even cover that ? It's just a legal document that is required by some countries outside Europe). Home insurance ! Talk to them and see what cover you have and then extend cover for duration of trip. (I'm with Aviva, I get 60 days cover free then 10% of total policy price for every additional month after that. Policy holder must return to house before the period starts again and I must have someone (neighbour) clearing mail doing visual check weekly).
Travel insurance, we use EHC for Europe but take out medical cover for Moroc. (This means in effect taking out travel insurance for whole trip. We tend to get a reasonable one then strip everything out except the medical cover. Make sure they have a manned 24hr telephone service. (Which will cost you an arm and a leg if calling from Maroc, so plenty of credit on the phone.)
I factored in all these costs, including ferry and additional fuel, campsite costs etc and still made quite a saving compared to Spain alone over 3 months. The longer the stay the bigger the saving.

Thanks PhilandMena sounds straight forward if not a tad cavalier...

 

[TerryL]

Actually I think you'll find the Green Card is simply the document that tells "interested parties" that you do have a minimum of third party insurance cover for your vehicle. You'll need to check that your insurance company will cover you out of Europe, though that's not usually a problem. You CAN get insurance as you cross into Morocco but it is third party only and probably not worth the paper it's printed on.

Just a point - your breakdown insurance will probably not cover you in Morocco unless you're with ADAC. The usual response is "get your vehicle back to mainland Europe and we'll reimburse the cost".

@buttons read through the Morocco 2014 and 2015 threads, it's all there. Also look at my contribution in the "Resources" section which contains probably all you'll need to know.

 

[PhilandMena]

Looking to spend 2-3 nights in Essaouira on way down south in 2016. I do recall some Funsters saying there is guardian parking nearer the center as opposed to the camp sites on the edge of the town. Does anyone have co-ordinates for the guardian parking.

 

[vwalan]

used to be some on the main drag into the port end . or the north side of the medina ,
heres a pic and a reminder it can rain in maroc .this overlooks the beach where all the kite surfers hang out .

 

[TerryL]

There apparently used to be some motorhome parking right up against the city walls but when we were there in March this had all been closed off and was an open pedestrianised square. We parked at the guardian parking at the south end of the beach and walked in - about half a mile. Some people took a taxi.........

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[hilldweller]

Does anyone have co-ordinates for the guardian parking.

Slap bang in the middle at the port when we were there. It was grim. All the beggars AND the stall holders trying to get our business for food.

Moved to the beach opposite the "proper" campsite, cycled in.

 

[vwalan]

brian , that got stopped a few years ago. but was handy.
nice for visiting the port and watching them work.
what they can do with very little is great.
but just a short walk back from the port is carparks on the left.
almost opposite the old campground that used to be there .
mind i go back to far ,ha ha .

 

[hilldweller]

brian , that got stopped a few years ago. but was handy..

Here are two pics from 2014 which I described as "port" and one where we moved to out of town.

 

[Mr Ed]

The one in your second photo is the one we stayed at in 2015,a little walk into town but not to bad.

 

[vwalan]

we used to park right outside the port entrance just across from one of the entrances . was 2dh at the time .
but yes i know where you are a bit further round close to the side entrance .
all good fun though.
a few more to inspire you travelers .

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[hilldweller]

a few more to inspire you travelers .

It really is a fantastic seaside town. Loads and loads of eateries and shops but all in the open rather than a dark souk.

Three places are essential in my book. Essaouira. Meknes. Tafraoute. All shades of Morocco there.

 

[vwalan]

mind you can spend days just wondering around inside the medina .
lots narrow passages . factories making rugs, clothes all usually let you have a look. . some of the weavers are very friendly.
even more so if you dress like a local.
had my brown djalabah for years , walk around with it on ,hood up carrying an old fashioned strped shopping bag and mumble some berber never get hassle .
my djalabah was made in essaouira.
i will get back there one year.

 

[PhilandMena]

The one in your second photo is the one we stayed at in 2015,a little walk into town but not to bad.

Is that left at the roundabout directly in front of the beach as you come in on the R207 ?

 

[makems]

It really is a fantastic seaside town. Loads and loads of eateries and shops but all in the open rather than a dark souk.

Three places are essential in my book. Essaouira. Meknes. Tafraoute. All shades of Morocco there.

Totally agree Brian. I would just add Merzouga down by the desert to the list.

 

[hilldweller]

I would just add Merzouga down by the desert to the list.

We didn't get that far.

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[Dazzlin]

Is that left at the roundabout directly in front of the beach as you come in on the R207 ?

Yes. Opposite end to the harbour.

 

[vwalan]

Totally agree Brian. I would just add Merzouga down by the desert to the list.

i always liked it around midelt .
but all the places are nice ,
i also used to spend a bit of time around erfoud .

 

[horshamjack]

Looking to spend 2-3 nights in Essaouira on way down south in 2016. I do recall some Funsters saying there is guardian parking nearer the center as opposed to the camp sites on the edge of the town. Does anyone have co-ordinates for the guardian parking.

31.494528, -9.764389

 

[scotjimland]

Essaouira has an interesting history and in the late 60s early 70s was a popular hippy destination, visited by Jimmy Hendrix and Cat Stevens..

When we visited in 2007 we went for a cycle ride south alone the an old road (just outside the camp site Sidi Magdoul) over a river, to a place called Diabat .. and found a cafe' called Jimmy Hendrix.. probably still there.. the road looks like it has been upgraded with a new bridge.. Google map


http://www.essaouira.nu/culture_hippie.htm

Broken Link Removed

 

[vwalan]

thats right sj. you could years ago park in the garden there. mind its changing fast .
if you go abit further to sidi kaouki we knew as helicopter beach. ,its where the stars used to fly into.
there is an film set of a fort to the right hand side of the beach . if its still there . many were living in it for years after the film.
mind now there is a small airport close by.
but another great beach. shame its been took over a bit by french campsites these days . used to be a real hippy beach.
like i always say just keep going hugging the coast. you will have to go inland for awhile to but turn back as soon as possible,,cap tafelney then coastal tracks to pt. imsouane etc all interesting.

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[horshamjack]

but another great beach. shame its been took over a bit by french campsites these days . used to be a real hippy beach.
like i always say just keep going hugging the coast. you will have to go inland for awhile to but turn back as soon as possible,,cap tafelney then coastal tracks to pt. imsouane etc all interesting.

Was at Cap Tafelney and Sidi Kouki this year, both fab places, Cap Tafeleney is a smashing little fishing village although the road in can raise a few hairs on your knuckles

 

[jongood]

Just to pick up on the insurance. We were assured by comfort that our insurance was comp for our trips.

One of our freinds on the first trip had occasion to claim after a dutch motorcyclist spectacularly crashed into them in the dessert. It was a lot of hassle but they did eventually get most of it paid for. Last I heard they were struggling with non vehicle stuff - the electric bikes etc.

 

[vwalan]

Was at Cap Tafelney and Sidi Kouki this year, both fab places, Cap Tafeleney is a smashing little fishing village although the road in can raise a few hairs on your knuckles

did you still have to drive through the river?
we were there the year the bridge got washed away. but i love that coastal route . a real adventure .
i hope you did go on the coast road along the coast.

 

[vwalan]

heres the beach there, the broken bridge,the road through the river,and a view looking back from the cliff road.

 

[dabhand]

The one in your second photo is the one we stayed at in 2015,a little walk into town but not to bad.

I should add its a lovely walk down the beach to town, great for dogs and there are 3 bar/ restaurants on the beach just to the right of this photo, loved Essaouria

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[dabhand]

Is that left at the roundabout directly in front of the beach as you come in on the R207 ?

Yes

 

[PhilandMena]

Just to pick up on the insurance. We were assured by comfort that our insurance was comp for our trips.
.

I will be surprised if that includes Morocco, advise you check as fairly certain it does not.

 

[TerryL]

I will be surprised if that includes Morocco, advise you check as fairly certain it does not.

Think jonegood is right Phil - I asked Comfort the same question. Will ask again though when I sort out the Green Card.

 

[PhilandMena]

I stand corrected ! Will have a close look at them next time I renew my insurance.

 

[PhilandMena]

Think jonegood is right Phil - I asked Comfort the same question. Will ask again though when I sort out the Green Card.

Confirmed! Just come off the phone with comfort who confirmed green card gives fully comprehensive cover in Maroc ! Nice !

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