Survival Guide - Morocco - page 966

» Features a 1:1,000,000 enlargement of Morocco.
» Features 1:600,000 enlargements of Marrakesh and the High Atlas, Middle Atlas and Fez areas.
» Shows sites of weekly markets, kasbahs and marabouts (holy mausoleums of local saints).
» Notes particularly scenic roads.
» Available in major Moroccan cities.
The GeoCenter World Map Morocco is preferred by many and has similar, often clearer, detail. Features:
» Shows Morocco at a handy 1:800,000 scale (and the Western Sahara at 1:2,500,000).
» Occasionally available in Morocco.
Additionally, several maps include Morocco as part of northwestern Africa. An overlanding classic, Mich-
elin's No 741 (formerly Nos 953 and 153) map covers all of west Africa and most of the Sahara. It has a
scale of 1:4,000,000.
Soviet survey maps of Morocco, with scales ranging from 1:100,000 to 1:1,000,000, are available online
and at good map shops worldwide. They often have to be ordered and can take up to six weeks to arrive.
Money
» The Moroccan currency is the dirham (Dh), which is divided into 100 centimes.
» You will find notes in denominations of Dh20, Dh50, Dh100 and Dh200.
» Coins come in denominations of Dh1, Dh2, Dh5 and Dh10, as well as, less frequently, 10, 20 and 50
centimes.
» Break big notes whenever possible. Moroccans guard their small change jealously (taxi drivers never
seem to have any), and so should you. The Dh20 note is the most useful note in your wallet.
» The dirham is a restricted currency, meaning that it cannot be taken out of the country and is not available
abroad.
» The dirham is fairly stable, with no major fluctuations in exchange rates.
» Euros, US dollars and British pounds are the most easily exchanged currencies.
ATMs
» ATMs (guichets automatiques) are the easiest way to access your money in Morocco.
» A common sight even in the smallest towns, virtually all accept Visa, MasterCard, Electron, Cirrus, Maes-
tro and InterBank cards. Most banks charge you for withdrawing money from foreign cash machines; check
before travelling.