Barcelona to Casablanca ?
 

Any recommendations on getting to Casablanca, Morocco from Barcelona, Spain? I will be in Barcelona in September 2008 and thought that a few days in Casablanca would be really incredible. Any suggestions on getting there without it costing too much?

Thanks in advance!
George

Have you checked on the cost of airfare?

Air fare on major airlines seems outragouse - from $1400 RT - with 1 stop each way. I would suggest looking at the bargain airlines (and you may have to fly through London or something to do it). Casablanca doesn;t seem to be a major hot spot for air bargains.

Iberia offers a one-stop from BNC to CMN beginning at $194 (€140) fare, via Madrid. Flight is operated by Royal Air Maroc. Royal Air Maroc's own flights begin at $1010 R/T.

No great advice on transportation, but might I suggest a visit to nearly any other Moroccan city other than Casablanca, unless you have a specific reason to go there?

It's about the most *un* Moroccan city there is. Big, modern, sprawling with slums and not the least bit exotic in feel, in my opinion.

Might I suggest looking into the city of Fez (Fes)? Now there's an interesting place. 350,000 people living in an ancient walled city (medina) with narrow alleyways for streets, donkey carts the only transport inside. Casablanca is a relatively recently built city and not what you might think from the movie (the sets for which were, incidently, really modeled after Tangier). Distant second city choice after Fez would be Marrakech. Both Marrakech and Fez have budget airlines that fly there, but not from Spain. Casablanca has none from anywhere.

You could either do a long train ride to Fez (or your chosen city), via Algeciras and the ferry to Tangier - or you could combine a lot airfare from Barcelona to somewhere that's either easier to catch a train from or connect to another budget flight onward to Fez or Marrakech.

See www.whichbudget.com for budget airlines serving Barcelona and Morocco (individually) and look for common airports on their lists.