What You Need to Know Before Traveling to Morocco.3

#What kind of power converter do I need?

If you’re coming from Europe, it’s usually the same. If you’re coming from England or the US, it’s the kind they use in Europe, so yes, you will need a power converter. Note that it gets pretty complicated from here on out, as there are both 4mm and 5mm plugs, and some of the newer sockets use a grounding (third) pin. Many cafes will allow you to charge your device as well as having the correct converter to do so, all for less than USD $1, so if you are in a pinch, consider asking the locals.

Will my cell phone work there (and cost more than I earn in a month to use?)

Like many countries in the Middle East, it will be far cheaper for you to buy or bring a small cell phone with no bells and whistles and get a local number, than it will be for you to use your own cell phone, which will likely cost hundreds of dollars in extra roaming charges and fees before you are done. To give you an example, for around USD $20, you can get a phone, a local SIM card, and about an hour of talk time. Trust me, it’s cheaper. Ask at your hotel, ask your tour guide, etc. It won’t be the first time they’ve gotten the request. And, bonus! Your excursion to get a local cell phone is another great travel story in the making!

#What food will they have there, and can I eat fresh fruits & veggies and drink the water?

Unlike the US and UK, which are moving rapidly to packaged foods, even for staples such as fruits and veggies, Morocco will have almost exclusively local produce. As a result, the selection will be smaller than perhaps you are used to, but most of it will have been grown, harvested, and brought to your table the way it would have been in the old days - fast and without any real processing. If you’re worried about nasties in fresh stuff, do what the locals would do: squeeze a good quantity of lemon or lime juice on it. I guarantee there will be fewer chemicals on your salad than at McDonalds at home, and the food will taste fresh and delicious. Be smart — if you’re eating from a street vendor, you’re taking your chances (that said, I’ve had amazing meals from a cart pulled by a donkey) and they have no regulations or even refrigeration sometimes. If you have a funny tummy at home, pack charcoal tablets and plan on eating yoghurt in Morocco to get some probiotics. Enjoy the local cuisine - that’s one of the main reasons you went! As in most foreign countries, you should probably stick to bottled water just to be safe - we are often not used to the critters in someone else’s water supply.