Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Morocco
Arriving in Morocco - Buying insurance and stocking up Arriving in Morocco - Buying insurance and stocking up
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Morocco Topics specific to Morocco, including Western Sahara west of the berm
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Like Tree4Likes

Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 9 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 280
Arriving in Morocco - Buying insurance and stocking up
Hello from a very wet and windy Southern Spain. We are hoping to get the ferry tomorrow.

As I understand it we can buy insurance at the port at Tangier Med but not at Ceuta. Where do we head for if we go to Ceuta and are we likely to have a problem if stopped by the police en route.

As it's Sunday my options for stocking up before the ferry are limited. What will I be able to pick up in a Marjane? I'm hoping to get some meat (for the braai) dairy (milk/cheese), cereal, maybe some dried goods.

Thanks a lot.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 9 Feb 2014
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,124
Ceuta is still Spain, the first insurance in Morocco is in Fnediq which is the border town. Sorry, not sure where as this keeps changing. Police don't seem to bothered about checking insurance so long as you've not hit someone.

Marjane is like Carrefour, you can get most things, even bacon in some!
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 9 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dorset, UK
Posts: 339
IMO

Unless you want to give yourself a hard time, use Tanger Med, insurance and bureau de change within the port area, easy to travel through, no touts.

Only down side is slower ferries, but I think you will make up for this in ease of everything else.

If you like a etc. Morocco is relatively expensive, so stock up before leaving Spain.

Have fun tomorrow
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 9 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southampton UK
Posts: 195
Hi,

If you're getting a ticket from carlos, there's a carrefour/lidls very near by.

I believe there is an insurance booth now just after the the border crossing from Ceuta, otherwise like Tim said you have to go the Fnideq about 5/10mins drive down the coast. There's also a currency exchange along the coast road as well.

Safe travels.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 9 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 280
Brilliant. Thanks all.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 9 Feb 2014
Contributing Vendor
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 558
From another post:- "There's a Marjane just off the motorway north of the Tetouan. 35° 36.168', -5° 20.095'

Marjane sell wine//spirits; you may need to use a separate checkout. Moroccan wine is generally good. look out for Celliers de Meknes. Flag is light lager and best very cold.

I've heard that there's now a bank and insurance office at the Ceuta frontier. Will be heading that way next month and will report back. Anyone been through recently who can confirm?

The supermarkets near Carlos' office are closed on Sunday.

Happy trails,

Peter
__________________
Atlas Overland - Specialist adventure tour company providing off-road holidays for 4x4 enthusiasts in Europe and North Africa.
Tours to Morocco, Iceland, Arctic Circle, Portugal, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Corsica, and UK weekend tours.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 9 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 280
Thanks Peter. I had clocked your other thread and am planning a stop at the Marjane. Hopefully will sort out SIMs/dongles there too.

We will probably go to Tangier Med but if we end up at Ceuta will report back on insurance/money situation.

Thanks again.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 280
We had to wait a day to cross in the end as the winds were too high and Algeciras port was closed. As a result the ferry experience was quite chaotic. The next day we got to the port at 1pm. The 2pm sailing didn't happen and we eventually got onto the 5pm sailing which left at 7pm. Lots of pushing, shoving and fisticuffs going on and a few fender benders. Arrived at Tangier Med around 10pm. Couldn't get insurance at this time so drove to the Ibis at Fnideq (25 euro if you book online which they let us do in the hotel lobby). Next day we planned to drive to the Ceuta border for insurance but the road to the border was gridlocked (presumably as a result of there having been no sailings) so we left the car and walked. Found the insurance place (first of three white cabins on the right as you exit the border) and all was good.

Now in Chefchaouen and loving it! Wasn't overly impressed with Camping Azilane so have decamped into town. Staying in a lovely old Dar in the medina and car is in the Parador Hotel car park for 20 Dh a day.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southampton UK
Posts: 195
Great news! Thx for confirming insurance booth near Ceuta's border and the info on hotels.

Cheers Mark
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12 Feb 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 280
If you get your ferry ticket from Carlos you can also get some dirhams at the same time. 10.5 to the euro. There is an ATM 50m away.

At the Ceuta/Fnideq border at least one of the other white cabins alongside the insurance place was a bank/bureau de changes and it had what looked like a sign for an ATM too.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12 Feb 2014
Contributing Vendor
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 558
Thanks for the update on bank and insurance at Ceuta!

Happy trails,

Peter
__________________
Atlas Overland - Specialist adventure tour company providing off-road holidays for 4x4 enthusiasts in Europe and North Africa.
Tours to Morocco, Iceland, Arctic Circle, Portugal, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Corsica, and UK weekend tours.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10 Mar 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 101
What sort of timescale is usual for clearing customs / immigration / buying insurance for the motorbike at Tangier Med for someone who hasn't been to Morocco before, so doesn't have the passport stamp? Looking at the 08:00 sailing from Algeciras if that makes any difference.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11 Mar 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Southampton UK
Posts: 195
Hi John A,

" What sort of timescale is usual for clearing customs / immigration / buying insurance for the motorbike at Tangier Med for someone who hasn't been to Morocco before,"

*** It can happen in less than an hour, but could be three hrs, DON'T get impatient and you'll be fine.

"doesn't have the passport stamp?"

*** This is sometimes done on the ferry crossing or when you've arrive. If you're in the main seating area on the ferry you'll see people putting passports on a table and a some sort of queue forming, join it, hopefully the police will turn up and start stamping. Don't forget to fill out an "entry form" beforehand, should of got one and an exit form when you get your ticket.

"Looking at the 08:00 sailing from Algeciras if that makes any difference."

*** Pot luck. And sailing times are'nt departures times, they're a guide.

Cheers Mark
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11 Mar 2014
-
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,344
Quote:
Originally Posted by itchyfeet38 View Post
Carlos you can also get some dirhams at the same time. 10.5 to the euro. There is an AT.
Ouch! That's over 10% commission. Check what your atm charges would be.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 11 Mar 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 101
Thanks for that info Mark / Uknomad

The sailing times being a guide, I guess they're never early from the sound of things. And, with route planning in mind, use the three hours as the basis to escape onto the open road so there's less reason to get stressed out if there's a delay and accept it as part of the adventure. If it takes an hour then we'll get a earlier.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 16:41.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top