FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The difference between pricing levels is found in the level of accommodations. Classic Comfort is our 4 star level. Affordable Luxury uses 4 star accommodations in some cities and 5 star accommodations in other cities. Deluxe Luxury uses 5 star (or best available) in all locations. Since most of our tours are half-board, the quality of dinner corresponds with the level of accommodations booked. So, you will have a little more variety at breakfast and dinner with a 5 star tour compared to a 4 star tour.
Moroccotours.org is the luxury branch of Experience It Tours. We focus on catering to the high-end travel experience, especially for honeymoons or special occasions. We pick each of the accommodations that we use with the expectations of the luxury traveler in mind.
MOROCCO TOUR QUESTIONS
Most people agree that the best time to come to Morocco is in the spring or in the fall, when the weather isn’t as extreme. March and April are beautiful times to come, and so is the end of September and October. If you are looking at these times, please be sure to book well in advance as both accommodations and our private drivers can fill up. We usually close down tours for these peak travel months. The rainy season tends to be during the winter months, sometimes during November. In the summer, the weather is very hot, especially in the south of Morocco and in the desert. There is air-conditioning in the hotels and even in some Sahara camps, but please be sure you have the right expectations if you are looking at coming to Morocco in July or August (the hottest months).
Note: You will have a different experience in Morocco if you come during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims. During this month, Muslims fast from sun-up to sun-down. It will affect your tour in the following ways: there will be fewer options for restaurants during the day time, alcohol will not be available in your hotel or in restaurants, and the mornings will be much quieter as the community wakes up later. In 2019, Ramadan will be from the beginning of May to the beginning of June. In 2020, it will go from the end of April to the end of May.
We suggest that you bring clothes that are comfortable for walking around and riding in the car. However, especially at the 5 star level, you will want to bring a few nicer outfits so that you can dress up for dinners. In the summer, you will want light clothes, sandals and sunglasses. Women will want to avoid sleeveless tops and shorts above the knees to be respectful of the culture. In the winter, bring a good coat (Morocco is colder than you expect!) and clothes that layer well as the temperature can change drastically from the morning to the middle of the day in the sun. We advise bringing shoes that are good for walking.
Yes, almost all 4 and 5 star riads do have Wifi. If they do not have WiFi in the rooms, they will have WiFi in the lobby. If it is important for you to be online when you are out and about, you may want to purchase a local SIM card. It is then cheap and easy to buy 3G data that you can use whenever you have cell service.
Most riads do offer laundry services. We suggest doing laundry at a riad where you will be staying for multiple nights in a row, perhaps in the major cities. The cost varies by riad, so be sure to check the place where you are staying.
Portage tips and tips at included meals are covered in your tour price. For example, if you have booked a Half Board tour where dinner is included in your tour price, we will also cover the dinner tip. We ask that you tip your guide and driver personally.
If you like to research restaurants beforehand or consider yourself a “foodie”, then we would suggest booking a breakfast only tour. This will give you complete freedom and flexibility to choose your own restaurants. If you book a half board tour, our drivers will recommend clean, tasty local restaurants (based on level of accommodations) and you may make the choice from those. We do suggest eating in some riads, as they provide some of the best food in Morocco.
Non-alcoholic drinks are covered in included meals. Additionally, bottled water will be provided in your vehicle.
We do ask that you tip your driver for his services. He is an amazing resource for you as you navigate this country. Included in your tour price is the fuel for the car, his lodging and expenses and full transportation services. Ask your salesperson for our tipping document with recommended amounts for each situation.
We only work with drivers that we know and trust. We have chosen drivers who are fluent in English, as well as knowledgeable about Morocco and the sites that you will be encountering on your trip. He will be very happy to introduce you to his country!
Morocco mainly operates as a cash society, but credit cards are accepted at hotels, large businesses and more formal restaurants. We would suggest expecting to pay for most things in cash, except for bigger purchases such as carpets or more expensive souvenirs. You can withdraw cash as you need it, to avoid carrying large amounts with you. ATM’s are readily available in most major cities so you can withdraw dirhams using your bank card. Your driver will be happy to help you find one that is conveniently located for you!
We will send you a document with instructions on how to meet up with your driver. If for some reason you have a problem finding him, please call the emergency number of our American representative in Morocco. They will be sure to help you connect with him.
Each of our travelers will have the phone number of our emergency contact in Morocco. This is our American representative living in Morocco, who assists travelers with on-the-ground problem solving. They will do their best to help you themselves or put you in touch with people who can help you.
Not usually. We do have some drivers that are also licensed as professional tour guides, but generally they are different. Your driver will be your “eyes into Morocco” – he will be glad to offer insight into the traditions of Morocco and the history of places you pass on the road. In the cities, we book additional step-on guides for guided tours of the medina. These guides are professionally licensed for tourism and are able to accompany clients to historical sites. A driver is legally not allowed to go with tourists to certain places.
PAYMENT & POLICIES
NOTE: We do not do tour postponements. A change of dates is considered a cancelation/ rebook and all cancelation fees apply. We recommend getting cancelation insurance. When deciding, please take into consideration whether your schedule is likely to change due to ill health or family member’s ill health (or other factors) and decide accordingly.
REGULAR TOURS: Tours which are booked 60 or more days before the tour start date.
| Days before tour | Refund per person |
|---|---|
| Cancel 0 – 14 days before Tour | No refund is available |
| Cancel 15 – 30 days before Tour | 25% of total Invoice is refundable |
| Cancel 31 – 45 days before Tour | 50% of total Invoice is refundable |
| Cancel 45+ days before Tour | $300 pp deposit is forfeited |
LATE NOTICE TOURS: Tours which are booked 31 to 60 days before the tour start date.
| Days before tour | Refund per person |
|---|---|
| Cancel 0 – 14 days before Tour | No refund is available |
| Cancel 15 – 30 days before Tour | 25% of total Invoice is refundable |
| Cancel 31 – 60 days before Tour | 50% of total Invoice is refundable |
LAST MINUTE TOURS: Tours which are booked less than 30 days before the tour start date.
| Days before tour | Refund per person |
|---|---|
| Cancel 0 – 14 days before Tour | No refund is available |
| Cancel 15 – 30 days before Tour | 25% of total Invoice is refundable |
| Cancel 31 – 45 days before Tour | 50% of total Invoice is refundable |
| Cancel 45+ days before Tour | $300 pp deposit is forfeited |
Reduction in Group size: If some member or members of a private tour party cancel, the increased per person cost to run the tour for the reduced number of members will be calculated by your Experience It Tours, LLC sales agent. The increase in cost per person will need to be covered by the remaining travelers or the cancelling member(s).
Security & Emergency Cancellations: Experience It Tours, LLC reserves the right to cancel any tour at any time if we feel that the safety of the travelers may be compromised. Very rarely, we may be forced by threatened war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside our control, to change or cancel your tour. This is extremely unlikely but if this situation does occur, we will offer a total refund – less non-refundable payments made to the local suppliers.
Further, Experience It Tours, LLC reserves the right to cancel the tour if the client is found to be participating in any illegal activities such as political activism, drugs, or prostitution.
To protect your travel investment, we highly recommend that you obtain CANCELLATION Insurance.
You can send us a CHECK or Bank Draft in US Funds made out to Experience It Tours, LLC mailed to our Finance office at an address we will give you. Bank and E-checks in US$ are accepted.
You can pay by credit card using a secure link that we will send you when you are ready to accept our services. We use the Pay Pal company as our credit card processor. You do NOT need a Pay Pal account to use this service.
In order to begin the reservation process, we require a non-refundable deposit of $300 per person. Once we have received this deposit, we begin the reservations for the hotels and transportation. Once the reservations are complete, you will receive a copy of the hotel information and covered expenses to verify. 45 days prior to arrival, full payment is due. After full payment is received, we send you a packet with travel information and vouchers.
Do you still have a question? Get in touch with a Morocco expert now: