I’m not quite sure what to expect as far as currency needs, especially in small shops and markets. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Debbie

Debbie - I have no answer for you since I've never been to Morocco but I'm bumping your question so that the people that have will hopefully see your question and answer.

Masaki

Debbie, I was curious about your shopping question so I did a little poking around. I found the info about ATM's and the star rating system for restaurants to be fascinating in this article! If anything, it sure sounds exotic!

Another good Morrocan shopping guide is provided here at the Virtual Tourist website, complete with pictures.

Debbie, I cannot remember if we were encouraged to carry local currency or not so I am no help here, but if you are stopping there on a cruise the staff will advise you at the time. I bought some spices in one of the markets and I think I used US dollars but I am fuzzy. I loved Morocco, it's really another world.

Thank you for bumping my post up, Masaki. Karen, your links are full of great information. Shopping in Morocco sounds very interesting and exciting. And MarnaLou, I appreciated your input as well. After reading the warnings against using the ATM’s on the site Karen gave me, I’m hoping euros and dollars will be widely accepted.

Debbie

Hi,

I haven't had a chance to visit LCT in at least a week, but I finally did today, and saw your question. I was in Morocco on my Med cruise in May, so I can tell you what I remember. We didn't even have an opportunity to exchange our currency, and honestly I don't even remember what the currency was, or the exchange rate. But we did go to a Berber market (in Taroudant), and all the vendors accepted US dollars. They more or less figured the exchange themselves, so who knows what kind of formula they were using, but in the end that doesn't matter because it's all about the haggling! You just have to get an initial figure from them and then talk them down as low as you can get them to go.

I actually bought quite a few things -- a silver and copper tray, ceramic candlesticks, a camelbone box, heck I don't even remember what else, but it was enough that I recall having difficulty carrying it all out of the market! LOL! As for how I did price-wise, really who knows? I do know that I never paid more than half what they originally quoted, and I walked away from a number of items when the merchant wouldn't meet my price. The items I bought I first walked away from after extensive haggling, but then the vendor eventually met my price. So I'm deluding myself into believing I did good! ;)

I agree, Morocco really was an exotic, alien world, and I too loved it!

LeeAnne,

I appreciate your reply. I remembered you'd been to Morocco from reading your wonderful journals. Now I have this mental picture of you (and soon to be me) struggling with arms laden to capacity trekking back to the ship with all those wonderful finds. Can’t wait!

Thanks again,
Debbie

You shouldn't have any trouble with US dollars.

Debbie, the only thing I'll caution you on is they are very aggressive sellers...the best in the world. I made the mistake in the "Casbah" of being too polite, looking them in the eye and saying something like "No Thank You". Well to them this just meant, maybe I didn't want the item in pink so the next thing I had a yellow, a blue a whatever, shoved in my face. Be careful not to make eye contact....that is a real buying sign to them! Just keep walking and looking straight ahead and you won't be swarmed like I was.

It is an amazing place that everyone should visit at least once!

Oh Marcie, I can see I will be in trouble in the "Casbah". Those vendors will sense my "niceness" a mile away. Glad Alan will be along as my bodyguard. He's a great haggler.

Thanks all, for the information. Should be helpful next week.

Marcie and Donna,

I too suffer from this "niceness" problem. Thank you for the warning, Marcie. I'll try to keep my head down and my mouth closed.

See you soon, Donna.

Debbie

Perhaps I just put off an aura of unapproachability, because I didn't have too bad of a problem with it. I had in my mind a number of items I wanted to buy, and I set out pretty single-mindedly to find them. I looked at a lot of stuff, and when sellers tried to talk to me I said no thanks, but Marcie's right -- I didn't look them in the eye, I just said it and kept on doing whatever I was doing. I wouldn't say I was rude to the merchants, but I guess I just made it pretty obvious that I was shopping, and I meant business! Once I found something I was interested in, then I would ask the seller the price. The most important thing to remember is to NOT accept their first, or even second, price. Be firm -- just say no I'll give you this much for it (start looooow). Have a price in mind, and if they won't match it, walk away. If they come after you, stick to your price, and if they still won't meet it, walk away again. I did end up walking away from a few things I really wanted, but I had to stick to a budget so I just had to accept that I couldn't afford some things! Oh well!

The only one I really regret was this beautiful silk hallway rug, which would have looked splendid in my house. Every time I walk down that hallway I can still see it...