DESTINATION INFORMATION FOR SPAIN AND MOROCCO

Transcription

1 DESTINATION INFORMATION FOR SPAIN AND MOROCCO What You Need to Know Before You Go PASSPORT AND VISA INFORMATION In order to enter Spain and Morocco as a citizen of the United States, you will need: A signed, valid passport that will remain valid for at least 6 months beyond the completion of your trip. If your travel itinerary includes Gibraltar you may need a visa if you are not a citizen of the United States. Please consult the nearest British diplomatic or consular office for information regarding entry requirements. Holders of US passports are not required to obtain a tourist visa for entry into Morocco for stays of 90 days or less. On arrival in Morocco, you will be given an Entry Number. Please keep this number easily accessible as you will be asked to provide it at every hotel on your itinerary. Make sure your passport has enough blank visa pages available for entry and exit stamps. Contact our partner, VisaCentral for easy, efficient passport and visa processing. Call and reference A&K s account number #73001 or visit our Travel Store at abercrombiekent.com/travel_store. If you are not a citizen of the United States, your entry requirements may vary. Please consult the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries you will be visiting. CONSULAR INFORMATION The US Department of State provides Country Specific Information Sheets for every country in the world, as well as Travel Advisories. Find this information by calling or or online at travel.state.gov. CURRENCY In Spain the unit of currency is the euro. Morocco s unit of currency is the dirham. Exchange money only at authorized outlets such as currency exchange kiosks, banks and hotels. Only exchange what you feel you will need while visiting. Save all receipts from any currency transaction. You may be asked to produce them when you exit the country, and they are required if you intend to reconvert local currency. In Spain, major credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) are widely accepted; Diner s Club and American Express much less so. ATM outlets are widely available. In Morocco, major credit cards are generally accepted at shops, hotels and restaurants (although they are not generally accepted in street markets or bazaars). We suggest travelling with some U.S. dollars to be exchanged for local currency and at least two major credit cards. Major credit cards are accepted at most larger stores, museums, duty-free shops, hotels and some restaurants. If you have a Chip and PIN card, be careful to shield your number from view while entering it on a keypad; never disclose your PIN verbally. Unattended

2 self-service payment kiosks such as those in parking garages, train stations or gas stations only accept a Chip and PIN card or cash. Notify your credit card company of your travel plans prior to your departure to avoid any fraud concerns. We do not recommend traveller s checks as they are not widely accepted. HEALTH It is important to familiarize yourself with any potential health issues or concerns related to your destination, and so we strongly recommend consulting the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for up-to-date information on required and recommended vaccines and medications. Visit them online at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or call Plan to visit your doctor or local travel clinic at least 4-6 weeks before departure to allow time for any vaccinations to take effect or to fill any prescriptions. Required Vaccination: None Please note that smoking is very common place in Morocco and you should be prepared to encounter smoking, even in public places that would be deemed smoke-free in the United States such as restaurants, shops, museums etc. This also extends into hotels, including hotel rooms categorized as non-smoking. While every effort will be made to secure non-smoking rooms when requested, there is no guarantee that smoking did not take place in that room when occupied by previous guests. WEATHER Spain is a large country and its climate is affected by altitude and the sea. The Cantabrian Mountains act as a dividing line for the rainy north and the hot, dry south. In general, much of Spain has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Central Spain is drier, hotter and windier and winter temperatures can dip to freezing. The south of Spain occasionally experiences the Leveche, a hot wind from North Africa. Northern and northwestern regions of Spain have a maritime climate that is wet and cloudy and summer temperatures are cooler than other parts of the country (but still warm). The distinct areas of Morocco (coastline on the west, Rif Mountains in the north, Atlas Mountains in the interior, Sahara Desert to the south and east) make for differing climates across the country. The north coast (Tangier) and the (Rif Mountains) have a Mediterranean style climate: hot and generally continuous sunshine between May and September, warm and sunny days interspersed with rainy periods for the rest of the year. The Atlantic coast (Casablanca) sees the most rain, with the heaviest falls in winter. Moving further south, the Sahara encroaches closer to the coast, and the climate is drier. The coast is very mild in winter, and avoids the snow that can be seen throughout the year on the peaks of the Atlas Mountains. Use a website such as weather.com to find average temperatures and rainfall during your travel times. ELECTRICAL SERVICE Spain and Morocco- 220/240 volts and 50 hertz Be sure to pack a universal travel adapter. You can purchase one through A&K s Travel Store at usa.thetraveloutfitter.com. WHAT TO PACK Daytime attire: While standards in Spain tend to be more relaxed than those of other European countries, street wear here still tends to be somewhat more formal (especially in larger cities) than is usual in the United States. Cotton and other light fabrics are comfortable choices for

3 summertime in either country. Bring materials that breathe; wear layers that can be taken off during the heat of the day and put back on for cool evenings. Spring and autumn temperatures dictate medium-weight clothing selections. In Morocco, long, loose Bermuda-style shorts are acceptable for both sexes, but women may feel more comfortable in a skirt or long trousers. Evening attire: Smart casual clothing is appropriate for evening dining in city restaurants. Stylish slacks or skirt outfit for women and a shirt with collar and slacks for men are suggested. At better restaurants, for gentlemen, a jacket and tie standard is appropriate, with an equivalent standard of eveningwear for ladies. Formal clothing is not necessary. Cathedrals, churches, mosques and other religious sites require conservative dress. Arms and shoulders should be covered no shorts. This applies to both men and women. Wear or carry a pair of socks, since shoes must be removed when mosques. For women, barebacked, lownecked dresses or tops or short skirts, are not considered appropriate attire. Pack a scarf large enough to cover bare neck and shoulders. Comfortable, walking shoes with low or no heels. Shoes with crepe or rubber soles are best for walking in the desert and temple sites. Sweater or lightweight jacket Lightweight raincoat and/or umbrella (may be used as a sun-shade) Swimming suit Sunglasses, sun block and a sunhat Simple first-aid kit Prescriptions and medications (We recommend you carry these in their original bottles and/or packaging.) Charging cables for electronics Voltage converter and adapter plugs A small flashlight is useful in case of a local power failure, and to view artworks inside dimly lit sights in Morocco. Lightweight binoculars, useful for sightseeing. Note: Laundry service is available at your hotels. In Morocco, dry cleaning is available in larger cities. As a preventative measure, it is recommended that all luggage be secured with a TSA approved lock.

4 What You Need to Know When You Arrive TIME ZONES Spain operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +1 hour. At 9:00 a.m. in Spain, it is: EST CST MST PST 3:00 a.m. the same day 2:00 a.m. the same day 1:00 a.m. the same day 12:00 a.m. the same day Morocco operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). At 9:00 a.m. in Morocco, it is: EST CST MST PST 4:00 a.m. the same day 3:00 a.m. the same day 2:00 a.m. the same day 1:00 a.m. the same day LANGUAGE Spain s official language is Spanish, derived from a dialect of Latin. The language is spoken in several distinct regional variations, including Castilian, Catalan and Galician. Spain is also home to a small number of Basque speakers. Arabic is the national language of Morocco, with French the official language of business. There is also a local dialect called Darijia which is similar to Arabic. Most hotel staff members and many city shopkeepers speak passable English. Please consult with your guide on translations, if needed. AIRPORT INFORMATION At most international airports, passengers cannot be met inside secured areas. This includes Immigration, Customs halls and Baggage Claim. Your A&K representative will greet you as you exit these restricted areas; look for the person holding the distinctive yellow A&K signboard. Before departing, remember to tag your checked luggage with the A&K luggage tags provided. These brightly colored markers help identify you and your luggage quickly. PROTECTIONS AND PRECAUTIONS Use the safes where available in your accommodations to secure your valuables, especially passports, medications, jewelry, money and electronics. If you must carry valuables, keep them on your person at all times. Be mindful of your surroundings and take extra caution in crowds.

5 Photocopy the personal information pages of your passport; leave one copy with a family member or friend and pack another separately from the passport itself. You may want to scan and a copy to yourself for easy, online access. This will help speed up the replacement process. As a preventative measure, it is recommended that all luggage be secured with a TSA approved lock. ETIQUETTE AND PHOTOGRAPHY Unless you are shooting a crowded public scene, it is considered courteous to ask permission before taking pictures of local people, especially small children. Please be respectful of local people who do not wish to be photographed. Photography is not permitted at some locations, which may include government buildings, museums, art galleries, private houses, etc. These areas are usually clearly marked. If in doubt, please ask. Flash photography is prohibited in some situations. Be sure to pack ample amounts of batteries and memory cards or film for your camera and video equipment, along with the appropriate charging cables. A dustproof case or sealable plastic bags and lens brush are also recommended. FOOD AND DRINK Tap water in Spain is considered safe to drink. In Morocco, do not use tap water for drinking or brushing teeth. Even purified water in open containers should be avoided. It is always preferable and safer to use only bottled water. Regardless of precautions, changes in water and diet can result in mild abdominal upsets and nausea. To prevent serious illness, avoid suspect foods such as uncooked vegetables, peeled fruit, un-pasteurized milk and milk products. Beware of any food or drink sold by street vendors. SHOPPING Many A&K guests enjoy the chance to purchase items that reflect their destination, and so as a courtesy, your guide may recommend a particular shop or arrange a shopping visit. Please note, however, that these recommendations should not be taken as A&K s endorsement of the shop, merchandise and/or pricing. You assume all responsibility for any transactions that take place, including shipping arrangements that are made. The decision to shop while travelling is a personal choice and shopping is never compulsory. If at any point during your journey you feel pressured to shop or make purchases, please immediately discuss the matter with your Abercrombie & Kent representative. To avoid disappointment, we suggest the following guidelines: Compute the exchange rate and thoroughly review credit card receipts before signing. Take your purchases home with you whenever possible. Airfreight can take many months and actual shipping charges can be quite excessive. Customs delays, fees and regulations can further complicate the issue. If you choose to ship purchases, we suggest taking a picture of the item(s) and/or marking them in some way to ensure you receive what was purchased. For example, you could write your name on the backside of a rug. Determine if your shipment will be delivered door-to-door or to the nearest customs facility, as is often the case. Most goods shipped from other countries to the United States are subject to Customs duty.

6 Duty taxes, if applicable, are paid as you re-enter the United States. Regardless of assurances by merchants, these cannot be prepaid on your behalf. Currently, each person is entitled to an $800 duty-free exemption, however, may only bring one liter of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars. Keep all sales receipts for items purchased throughout your trip and try to pack all items that you will need to declare together. This will ease the Customs process upon re-entry into the U.S. Consult the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for more details. COMMUNICATIONS Contact your cellular telephone provider to determine if your phone operates on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and what, if any, activation may be required. If your phone is not GSM-enabled, you may find that renting a phone specifically designed for use overseas is the most practical option. TIPPING GUIDELINES Signature or Tailor Made Journeys If you are travelling on a Signature or Tailor Made Journey, or you have arranged extra services in addition to your Small Group Journey, we suggest the following gratuities (noted in U.S. dollars): In Morocco only: Private Guide (driving own vehicle) Local Guides Drivers Airport Transfer Drivers Hotel Porters Housekeepers Room Service Restaurants $40 per person, per day (full day) $25 per person, per day (full day) $15 per person, per day (full day) $5 per person, per transfer $2 per bag $2 per person, per night 10-15% unless already added 10-15% unless already added Please Note: In Morocco it is extremely common to encounter restroom attendants in airports, bazaars, and other sites frequented by tourists. While not compulsory, it is customary to tip these individuals an amount equal to approximately.25 to.50 cents. Abercrombie & Kent USA, LLC, 2016