The dirham is the standard of currency used in Morocco. Each dirham is worth 100 santimat. This is known as a santim in the singular. The dirham is also the standard of currency used within the Western Sahara.
One interesting aspect of the dirham is that it cannot be exported, or be taken out of the country and to do so it is illegal.
The dirham used to be in circulation prior to 1882. In 1882 the dirham became part of the Moroccan rial. This system was in operation until 1960 when the dirham was introduced again. Until 1974 the franc was used extensively, and 1 dirham was worth 100 francs. Then, in 1974 the franc was replaced with the santim.
The coins in circulation are as follows:
1 santim, 5 santimat, 10 santimat, 20 santimat, ½ dirham, 1 dirham, 2 dirham, 5 dirham and 10 dirhams.
The notes in circulation are: 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirhams.
When in Morocco you may find that there are some words used to describe different amounts of money. These are completely unofficial but used quite frequently.
A rial describes 5 santimat and a franc is 1 santim. If a price is lower than a dirham, then it will usually be described in terms of rials or santims. This is further complicated by the fact that when speaking in Arabic, the term rial will be used and when speaking in French, the word centime will be used. Centime and santim are basically the same.
Given that money cannot be taken out of the country, it is very difficult to get hold of any Moroccan dirhams outside of Morocco.
You can bring into the country Euros, US Dollars or British sterling. This currency can then be exchanged at banks, exchange centres or even some of the bigger post offices.
In tourist areas and some of the more recently developed shopping centres you will be able to find ATM machines. Always check that it is possible to use your card in the machine, by looking to see if the logo is displayed on the ATM machine. If it is, then you can use the ATM machine. If it is not displayed then you will not be able to use it, but do not take the risk of simply chancing it. If you insert your card and it is not accepted, the ATM machine may simply swallow it. This can then lead to all kinds of problems, which can take forever to sort out.
You can take in travellers cheques and cash these at banks, post offices and so on. It is best to take traveller's cheques in the form of US Dollars, Euros or British sterling.
Informally, some locals like to be able to get their hands on foreign currency. This means that they will swap cash for dirhams and they may give you quite a good exchange rate. There again, they may not, so be very clear as to what you are getting for your money, before you enter into any transaction. You should also be aware that if anything goes wrong, you will probably not be able to find this person and have any kind of recourse. So, you need to evaluate the risks quite carefully before entering into any kind of private transaction.
In Morocco you will find that all the exchange rates are exactly the same at banks and anywhere that is an official exchange centre. This is because the government regulates exchange rates and decrees that they all must be the same.
Morocco is quite a safe place to visit and the risk of serious problems is extremely low. However, in common with so many countries, travellers may find that they are at risk from being pickpocketed or having their bag snatched. Consequently it is wise to take some precautions and make sure that your valuables are safe at all times. It is also better to make sure that you are not carrying large amounts of cash or valuables and that you retain some money in the hotel or somewhere secure, so that if you are the victim of a pickpocket, you at least have some money to keep you going.
One of the major pests that you will encounter in Morocco, is the street hustler. Sometimes, it can feel like everywhere you go, there is someone hassling you and asking you to make use of their services, or are trying to sell you something. They can often be quite persistent. It is better to be firm and polite, but make it clear it that you're not interested and then walk briskly on. If the hustlers think that you are a soft touch, then they will be even more persistent. Usually, they will get the message and leave you alone, but sometimes they can follow you for some time and, if they get frustrated, they may resort to name-calling or making derisory comments, but they are seldom violent. Some people are very wary, because they suspect that these hustlers are trying to pickpocket them, or create a diversion so that the person can be pick pocketed. This is rare but it can happen, so it is always worth being vigilant.
Although Morocco is a very liberal country it is still a Muslim country and women should be careful not to cause offence by wearing clothes that are too revealing, when in public. Women who wear very skimpy clothes in public may find themselves subject to men staring at them, hissing at them or making barely audible comments. When this happens it can feel quite intimidating, so it is best just to dress modestly. This is less important in tourist resorts and cities such as Agadir or Marrakesh, since people here are much more used to travellers.
Women travelling alone may find that they are subject to constant male attention. This can feel quite oppressive at times but wearing sunglasses and avoiding eye contact, will usually result in the men growing tired and eventually leaving you alone.
Recently, there seems to have been few incidents where travellers have been drugged and then robbed. Whilst this is quite rare, travellers should be aware of the risk. When in Morocco you will undoubtedly be offered some kind of narcotics, usually very soft drugs, but this may be part of an elaborate scam. Some hustlers will sell you drugs and then report you to the police. You then have to pay a bribe to the police, who then pay a cut to the hustlers.
Communication in Morocco is quite straightforward. Although Arabic is the first language, French is on an equal par with Arabic and most people speak English. Even if you want the chance to practise your French, you may find that you are answered in English, because people want to practise their English. Many people will also be able to speak German, particularly in the tourist resorts.
Morocco offers reasonably good value for money. The tourist resorts and cities such as Marrakesh or Agadir are more expensive, but still much cheaper than mainland Europe. If you venture into the countryside, particularly to the smaller villages then you will find that most things are considerably cheaper, although the choices are more limited. If you are interested in buying leather goods, then they may be considerably cheaper in the non tourist areas and yet the quality will be the same, if not better. If you buy items in the community that they are produced in, you also know that your money is going directly into that community.
Haggling is a way of life in Morocco. Often this can take some time and negotiations can be quite protracted and sometimes feel as if this situation is becoming aggressive. This seems to be more of a cultural issue than real aggression and if you do feel intimidated, then you can always walk away.
There are lots of different places to visit in Morocco, which offer a variety of experiences. Fez, which used to be the capital of Morocco is an amazing city and is actually the oldest medieval city remaining in the world. Its architecture is stunning and in some ways although it is a modern city, it seems to have remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years. It is true that there are cars, modern buildings and facilities, but when you are in the souk it is easy to feel as is you have entered another world, that existed hundreds of years ago.
Agadir is famous for its fantastic beaches, first class tourist facilities and its modern feel. It really is a great place for a beach holiday, but there are a lot of hustlers around, which can sometimes feel like an annoyance.
Marrakech is a real blend of a modern city and an old town. The medina or market in Marrakech is truly amazing and not for the faint-hearted ! You will literally see lots of things for sale here, many of which are alive and some of which are killed right there and then.
The Atlas Mountains provide a really great opportunity for getting out and about in Morocco and some of the scenery here is truly wonderful. You can even go to the famous Berber souk in Amizmiz on Tuesdays, which is a real cultural experience.
Morocco is a really special country. There is something very mystical about Morocco. It is also a fascinating blend of a new world and ancient religious traditions. It is also extremely liberal and it can give travellers an insight into what life is like in a Muslim country and yet travellers can still enjoy a drink and indulge in many Western practices. This culminates in a country that almost seems to have taken the best from the West and East and married them together.
The major downside to Morocco is the fact that so many people seem to have as their life's mission, the desire to get money from you. It can get a little tiring, particularly in the touristy areas, but a trip out into the mountains or the villages can really refresh and invigorate even the most jaded of souls.
http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/morocco