TRAVEL
Before planning your vacation in Morocco, you want to know what is the best time to visit this country. The good news is that Morocco often has a very pleasant climate.
Morocco is a large country with amazing diversity, with treasures hidden everywhere. Travelers find magic in its historic cities, high mountains, golden beaches and limitless deserts.
Here is a list of the best medinas in the country
In addition to the natural attractions and activities nearby, such as hiking in the mountains and visiting the Akchour waterfalls, one of the main things to do in Chefchaouen is to stroll through the city's medina and admire the picturesque scenes around every corner and up every staircase. Less hectic than in other Moroccan cities such as Marrakech and Fez, visitors can discover a multitude of traditional Moroccan products. The blue and white paintings on canvases of various sizes depicting scenes of the city and local life are particularly nice souvenirs.
Inside the old kasbah itself, with its shades of brown, beige, muted red and ochre, tourists will find the small ethnographic museum, sometimes called the Kasbah Museum. It houses exhibits and displays on the history, culture and development of the region.
Founded in the XI century by the Almohads, Marrakech was once known as the garden city. Still today, Marrakech manages to surprise its visitors with large orchards and fragrant flowers.
One of the peculiarities that make the city so mystical is certainly its architecture, one of its jewels, the souks and the beautiful gardens at the foot of the Moroccan High Atlas.
However, this beautiful city also hides a surprisingly glam-chic side, far from mainstream tourism.
Marrakech, also called the Red City because of the typical color of its traditional buildings, is one of the most mysterious pearls between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Founded in the XI century by the Almohads, Marrakech was once known as the garden city. Still today, Marrakech manages to surprise its visitors with large orchards and fragrant flowers.
One of the peculiarities that make the city so mystical is certainly its architecture, one of its jewels, the souks and the beautiful gardens at the foot of the Moroccan High Atlas. However, this beautiful city also hides a surprisingly glam-chic side, far from mainstream tourism.
In Marrakech, it is possible to live the experience of a real culinary tour that, between intense flavors and oriental spices, will leave visitors with memorable memories. You can start by having lunch in the Guéliz district, the New Town, then go through one of the doors and return for an aperitif in the Old Town, between the Medina and the Jemaa el-Fna square.
One of these sites is the free-to-visit ksar of Aït Benhaddou. Aït Benhaddou is a walled sand city southeast of Marrakech. The ksar is built in a traditional form with rammed earth, bricks, wood and clay. Because of its striking design, it has been featured in Hollywood blockbusters such as Jesus of Nazareth (1977) and Gladiator (2000).
Located in the foothills on the southern slopes of the High Atlas in Ouarzazate province, the site of Ait-Ben-Haddou is the most famous ksar in the Ounila Valley. The ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou is a striking example of southern Moroccan architecture.
The ksar is a mainly collective grouping of dwellings. Within its defensive walls, reinforced by corner towers and pierced by a bulkhead gate, houses - some modest, others resembling small city castles with their tall corner towers and upper parts decorated with motifs in brick - crowd in, but there are also buildings and community spaces. It is an extraordinary ensemble of buildings that offers a complete panorama of pre-Saharan earthen building techniques.
Value for
money and peaceful life in the gorgeous Morocco
It is becoming
more and more popular to acquire property in Morocco. Morocco has a lot to
offer in terms of property sale, including Mediterranean Saidia, Asilah,
Tangiers, Marrakech, Tetouan, and Agadir.
However, because
property for sale in Morocco is so desirable, an investor should not be
discouraged from securing their ideal piece of real estate simply because it
can take many months and a lot of paperwork, because there are many agencies
that can help you do everything while you sit back and relax.
The key to a
successful real estate acquisition in Morocco is to work with a recommended
real estate agent or simsaar. These individuals have a local working knowledge
of the property market in the specific region of Morocco in which they work,
and they are frequently able to protect the buyer from paying more than the
market price by understanding the true value of homes for sale.
As with many
rising markets, property investors who advertise that they are looking for real
estate will frequently find that the properties they are offered for sale
suddenly increase in price. With the assistance of a professional
simsaar, the foreign buyer will pay the same as a local buyer in Morocco.
A simsaar typically charges two and a half percent of the
property's purchase price in fees, with some charging a daily rate that can be
subtracted from this fee. The amount of time and money they can save an
investor proves that their commission is well justified.
However, because these agents frequently speak little
English or French, a translator is usually required, and caution should be
exercised when searching for a translator, real estate agent, or solicitor in
Morocco.
The Moroccan people are eager to attract foreign investment,
and the majority of experts an investor will interact with will be pleased to
really assist, but as the saying goes, buyer beware when hiring anyone to
assist with the buying process in any nation in the world!
It is quite likely that an investor will have a wide range
of options in Morocco, particularly if they are looking for older houses that
require refurbishment. It's a good idea to have a camera and a notepad when
looking at homes because it's easy to forget which pieces of real estate had
what attributes after a few days!
Once an excellent property has been identified, it is
customary to submit an offer to purchase and negotiate the asking price. Once
an offer is accepted, a deposit of about 10% Can be paid. The deposit or arbon
should secure the property and take it off the market.
Unfortunately, it is best to conclude the sale at the
agreed-upon price; otherwise, if the vendor is offered more money before the
sale is closed, they may accept it and return the investor's deposit to them.
There is one
little issue with this approach: by officially finalizing the sale, the taxes
should be due within 30 days. However, if you pay the taxes, the sale is
officially closed, and the buyer may refuse to move out, resulting in a
five-year legal struggle to evict them.
So, most buyers
avoid paying taxes, incurring a modest charge in exchange for avoiding the
hassle of having deeds changed into their name and the risk of sitting renters!
This could seem
confusing, but with the assistance of a competent lawyer, all of this is clear
to the home buyer. Those who purchase brand new or off-plan property in Morocco
escape all of these concerns.
An investor
interested in Morocco Property should budget an additional 7 or 8% of the
buying price for fees and taxes. As previously stated, the real estate
agent will charge approximately 2.5%, the notaire or public notary will charge
1% to sort out title deeds on older properties.
A process that
can take up to two years after the sale has completed, but will result in the
property being worth more in the long run as all subsequent buyers will avoid
having to repeat the process.
And finally,
There is also a little tax on the purchase price of Investment Property in
Morocco, which compensates for itself when you consider the benefits of living
in a picturesque and culturally rich country with a lot to offer in terms of
value for money and a quiet existence.
Taxis
There are two
types of taxis in Morocco. The first corresponds to the taxis Europeans
are familiar with: the red petite taxis pick up single passengers from
designated stations or off the side of the main roads. Unlike buses and trams,
they operate 24 hours a day, so they are the best (and usually the only) option
for coming back from a night out.
Be aware that you will pay 50% more for all rides after 8
PM. However, the rates still remain quite low compared to European and American
standards.
Make sure to agree on a price beforehand, as the fares
aren’t set the way they would be in a taxi app like Lyft or Uber. The drivers
are known to overcharge foreigners and tourists, so some negotiation before the
ride is necessary.
The second type of taxis is more akin to minibuses. They offer group rides for up to 6
passengers and split the price between them, making them the cheaper
alternative.
Driving
Many Europeans
need some time to get used to the local driving customs. It is often described
as chaotic or hectic, especially during rush hours. But, to be honest, the same
can be said about every big city, regardless of its location.
Renting a car -
or buying one, if you intend to stay for longer - is a good option if you’d
like to explore the surrounding areas of Casablanca and Morocco in general. While
trains connect the major cities and are quite comfortable, some people prefer
the freedom of driving on their own, or wish to visit places not covered by the
train line.
You need to be at least 21 to rent a car in Morocco, and
will be required to pay a surcharge if you are under 25. Some well-known
international renting companies such as Hertz, Avis, or Europecar are available
at the airports.
Flat hunt
Housing in
Morocco is cheaper than in most of Europe and America. However, it is worth it
to keep in mind that the standards may also be different than what Europeans
and Americans are used to.
The price and
standards often depend on the location of the property. Most Moroccan cities
are divided between the old Medina, with narrow, winding streets and
traditional architecture, and the more modern part, constructed during the
period of the French protectorate.
Expats often prefer the second location, due to the French
influence on the architecture. The
houses there are also more modern and closer to the standards newcomers are
used to.
Most buildings in
Morocco don’t have heating - and beware, despite what it seems, there is snow
in parts of Morocco. However, heaters are available for reasonable
prices, and your landlord may provide one if you ask.
Make sure to check if utilities are included in the monthly
rent before signing a tenancy agreement. The Finance Law regulates the prices
per square metre. The Moroccan government also simplified the property
purchasing process in order to encourage foreigners to invest in real estate.
Living like a local
People
Morocco is a very diverse country. Its local population can
be divided into two basic groups: the Arabs and the Berbers. The latter split
out into 4 further groups - and many more sub-groups, each with its own
culture, traditions, and language.
The diversity is visible in the everyday life of the
Moroccans - they have coexisted for centuries, and welcome new cultures and
expats. At the same time, they have a strong sense of identity and appreciation
for their own traditions and history. The country’s reputation is important to
many of its citizens, and they constantly work on improving it.
Moroccans are
also known for their hospitality. This quality is deeply ingrained in the
culture, and passed down from generation to generation. Like some other
Arabic countries, Morocco cultivates a relationship-based culture. The people are easy-going and it’s not
unlikely for them to approach you.
Still, expats
need to keep in mind that Morocco is a Muslim country, and the religious values
are deeply ingrained in its culture and people. They are sometimes very
different from what people coming from other parts of the world are accustomed
to, so it is crucial to do your research beforehand and decide if you accept
this way of living and will be tolerant of it as a guest in a foreign country.
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