Mary

My husband and I will be spending 10-12 days in Morocco in early November. Does anyone have any experience with a car or are trains a better choice. Also, any additional information you can provide would be appreciated. Thanks.

elvira

Three women spent 2 weeks travelling around Morocco; we used the trains. They are clean, efficient and in good mechanical condition (they are old trains from France, so they're not real plush). In the cities, cars are a negative (negotiating around taxis anywhere is tough...imagine if they're donkey-drawn!). Roads are in pretty good shape, but some are VERY winding, and the locals zip around those curves at the speed of light, scaring the stuffing out of anybody who's not used to them (we hired a driver to take us to Volubilis...ey yi yi!). Don't even THINK about driving in the mountains: imagine driving around the edge of the Grand Canyon on a road 3/4 the width of a car. You can hire locals (who have Landrovers) to drive you into the mountains. If you'd like more details, email me. We LOVED Morocco!

Jeff Spirer

We just returned from two weeks in Morocco. Trains are fine, although I wouldn't consider them well-suited for trips longer than 6 to 8 hours. I would not rent a car - you can negotiate for a driver with a Mercedes for about the same as a rental car (once you factor in gas etc.) Also, we were stopped by the police/army repeatedly on one route for "tips" and the driver was able to convince them, which we could not have done, that there was no money in the car. Driving yourself, you would probably have to pay. Although the driving is completely wild by US standards, the hired drivers are extremely careful because they can lose their livelihood for a speeding ticket.

karen

How do you decide when to take a train and when to hire a taxi? My husband and I will be spending 10 days in Morocco next month, traveling from Casa to Essouria to Marrakesh to Fez to Al Hoceima and back. <BR>Any suggestions for travel from place to place? <BR>Any suggestions about this itinerary? <BR>What about a desert treck?

eduardofau

From my own experience I'm sure that car renting is the best alternative when it comes to long-distance transportation.It is cheap, easy, reliable,and offers you increased comfort. You save money and energy you will need later.During my summer vacation in Morocco, I personally rented A 5 seat car with AC from "Tonus-car.com". Every think went well. Happy vacation in Morocco.

qwovadis

www.seat61.com/Morocco

Trains work best cheapest for me usually.

Driver/guides with local knowhow from $50/da

if no train route lots better less risk than car rental.

especially these days in those areas.

travel.state.gov for a heads up.

insuremytrip.com always wise...

Happy Journey,

Man_in_seat_61

It's very simple.

A car would be for exploration, NOT transportation.

If you simply want transport between the cities of Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fez, Tangier, take the train. A car would be inconvenient in cities, a total liability.

On the other hand, if you want to explore the countryside, perhaps drive over the spectacular Tizi n Tichka Pass south of Marrakech to visit Ouarzazate, the Todra Gorge, Ait Ben Haddou, etc, then renting a car is a good idea.