Venue
Flying to Marrakech/Morocco
From the UK and the rest of Europe: Direct flights to Marrakech are operated by Royal Air Maroc (RAM), Air France, British Airways and some other European carriers. The direct scheduled flights from London cost anything from around £250-400). In winter flights are usually scheduled so that it is possible to leave London on a Thursday evening or Friday lunchtime and return on a Sunday or Tuesday afternoon.
Charter flights or package holidays can work out cheaper than buying just a flight.
Except for the London or Paris to Marrakech services, the vast majority of the RAM and other airline services from Europe to Morocco touch down in the country’s economic capital, Casablanca (Aéroport Mohammed V). There are flights from Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Madrid, Málaga, Marseille, Milan, Munich, Nice, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Vienna and Zürich. If you take a direct flight to Casablanca, followed by a RAM connecting internal flight, it is possible you may have a longish wait in Casablanca airport. If this is the case, you may choose to touch down in Casablanca and take the train to Marrakech.
From Canada and the USA: As there are a large number of Moroccan emigrants in Québec, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) runs flights to Casablanca from Montréal and, for the moment, New York. (Flight time New York to Casablanca, 6 hours 40 mins.) Alternatively, travel to Europe with British Airways, Air France, or KLM all of which have flights to Moroccan destinations. The Tunisair flight between Tunis and Montréal also touches down in Casablanca.
From Australia and New Zealand: There are no direct flights to Morocco from either country. Your best bet is a flight to Paris or London with Qantas from where you can pick up a connection.
Local Transportation
Aéroport Casablanca Mohammed V: Casablanca’s main airport, at Nouasseur, 30 km southeast of Casablanca, Tel: (+212)(0)22-339100, has all the features of a big international airport – bar hotels. As you come onto the main concourse after customs, there are cash dispensers and bureaux de change just ahead of you. Onward travel to the centre of Casablanca is by shuttle train or taxi. (The train station Casa-Port is under the main airport concourse.) For train travel to Marrakech, you must go to Casa-Voyageurs station. The CTM bus station for buses to Marrakech is behind the Tour Habous, on Av des FAR. Car hire companies, including Sixt, Budget, and Herz as well as local companies, are on the main concourse to your left as you come out through the frosted glass doors.
Marrakech Menara Airport: Tel: (+212)(0)44- 447862. The airport has been expanded since the late 1990s to cater for the growing number of passengers. In the arrivals hall after customs, there are several cash dispensers. Banks BMCE and Banque Populaire have bureaux de change which stay open until the last flight’s arrivals have gone through. The airport is 6 km southwest of the city center.
Car Hire: Car hire stands are also in the arrivals hall. The following car hire companies are available at the airport: Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz. If you’re driving, drive down Avenue de la Menara and follow the signs.
Car Parking: There is one car park at the airport. Located near the terminal building, it has 363 parking spaces.
Public Transportation
Road: If you’re not driving, taxis may be the only really viable option for getting to town from the airport, as the number 11 bus stops too far (nearly 1 km) from the airport. The airport is at a 20- minute taxi ride from the médina or 15 minutes from Guéliz. There is a taxi rank outside the terminal, with plenty of drivers touting for business (journey time: 15-20 minutes). Agree on a price before setting off (a sign outside the terminal will show how much you should pay, roughly). Taxi drivers may accept foreign currency.
Bus: Bus 11 runs every 20-30 minutes to the Jemaa el-Fna (buses are infrequent on weekends). The stop is located 800m (0.5 miles) from the airport.
Airport Facilities
Information and Help Desk: A tourist information counter is available at the airport.
Money and communications: Both terminals have currency exchange offices, and there is an ATM in the arrival hall in Terminal 2. Post services, telephones and fax machines are available, and also Wi-Fi access is provided.
Eating and drinking: The airport has a restaurant and café as well as several snack bars and bars.
Shopping: There are several shops at the airport, including a florist, a gift shop selling local crafts items, and duty-free shops selling tobacco, spirits, cosmetics, perfume and much more.
Luggage: For queries about lost luggage or property, contact the airline office or the airport information desk.
Other facilities: There is a prayer room at the airport. There is also medical assistance available.
Conference and Business Facilities: There are no conference or business facilities at the airport, but Internet access is available.
Facilities for Disabled Travelers: Facilities are basic. Travelers needing assistance at the airport should contact their airline about this before travel.