Morocco Info
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 14
Home Country: morocco
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 Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:13 am Post subject: SHOPPING IN MOROCCO / MOROCCO SHOPPING GUIDE |
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SHOPPING IN MOROCCO
The co-operative shops of Moroccan craftspeople, coopartim, operate under state control selling local handicrafts at fixed prices and issue an authenticity receipt or a certificate of origin for customs when exporting. Souks are also worthwhile places to visit for local products. Special buys are leather, tanned and dyed in Fès; copperware; silver; silk or cotton garments; and wool rugs, carpets and blankets. Bargaining is essential, and good buys generally work out at around a third of the asking price. In the south, there are Berber carpet auctions, especially in Marrakech, Taroudannt and Tiznit. Visitors will need a guide to make the best of these occasions.
Shopping hours
Mon-Thurs 0830-1200 and 1430-1830, and Fri 0830-1100 and 1500-1830; large stores are open Mon-Sat 0900-1300 and 1500-1900; souks (traditional markets) are open Mon-Sun 0830-1300 and 1430-1800.
Banking hours
Mon-Thur 0815-1215 and 1415-1715; Fri 0815-1115 and 1430-1730; Sat 0900-1300.
Currency
Moroccan Dirham (MAD) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of MAD200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of MAD10, 5 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.
Currency exchange
Moroccan Dirhams can only be obtained in Morocco. National currencies should be exchanged at official bureaux de change only (identified by a golden sign); changing money in the street is illegal. There is no commission charge and visitors will be issued with a receipt which they must keep in order to exchange Moroccan currency back into the original national currency upon departure. Money can be withdrawn in banks with a credit card and a cheque book or directly from an ATM in some larger towns.
Credit & debit cards
Some credit cards are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Traveller's cheques
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
Currency restrictions
The import and export of local currency is prohibited; all local currency must be reconverted prior to departure. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited but must be declared if in excess of the equivalent of MAD15,000. Upon production of bank vouchers, half the Moroccan currency purchased during a visitor’s stay may be re-exchanged for foreign currency (subject to some limitations) and all of it if the stay is less than 48 hours. |
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