Tanger Med
 

I recently took the ferry to/ from Algeciras to Tanger Med.
I payed 82 € for an open retour ticket directly at the counter of Acciona at the Algeciras port.

Arriving and returning at Tanger Med is realy easy, no problems. No hustlers.:thumbup1:
Immigration is done at the ferry before arrival in Tanger Med.
Customs is in the port itself.
There is an ATM and currency exchange in the building. There is also free wifi
If the bank is not open, the ticket offices will exchange EURO's too.
Insurance is available there.
Taking the tollroad to Tanger city costs 21 MAD, about 2€
A good hotel near the airport of Tanger is
Hotel in TANGER - ibis budget Tanger
It has a free guarded parking
Using this hotel you do not have to drive into Tanger city.

For those of you who arrive in Ceuta and drive from there to the toll road: The stretch between the Ceuta border and the beginning of the toll road is in a very bad condition with big potholes. Do not drive this in the dark as you might kill yourself in the potholes.

Unleaded fuel kost around 1.1 € a liter now in Morocco

Private Message sent

I will be going to Morocco in aa couple of weeks and still hadn't decided which route to take. From your experience I think that will be the way to go. Sounds to easy that way to say no to. It will be my first time so anything to make it easier!

Sounds perfect. However, looking on aferry.co.uk website there are several ferry operators on this route, ie
Acconia
FRS
Nautus
do you remember which ferry operator let you do the immigration paperwork on the ferry (or do all Tanger-med ferry companies do it?).

On my trips using various ferry companies, I have always done the immigration paperwork on the ferry to Tanger Med.

If you go via Ceuta you do it at the border.

Latest from Tanger Med
 

Hi all,

It was all going so terribly well...

The new customs area at Tanger Med has only been open a few years and now they've decided to rip it all down and start again so it's looking pretty convenient for the foreseeable future. New visitors now have to walk from the customs area to the Gare MaritIme to have their passports composted.

I hear that a new bank and insurance office have been built just outside the port area at Ceuta so this could be the preferred port of entry for a while.

Other news - The fairly decrepit sanitary block at Diamanté Vert campsite in Fes has been demolished and replaced with one of the best in Morocco. For now.

Happy trails,

Peter

Hi Peter,

Was planning on going through Tanger Med in a couple of weeks (and never been there before) - sounds like a change of plan may be in order. Few questions leading on from your post if I may...

How far away from the port is the station where you need to stamp passports?

Is the insurance bureau still there at the port or has this been taken away as well?

Is it just passports which they can no longer deal with - i.e. is the temporary import paperwork etc still dealt with in the port?

Thanks

Hi,

The Gare MaritIme is only about 500m from the customs area, but not much fun if it's 30 degrees, pouring rain, gale force winds or any of the above.

The vehicle importation process still happens at the customs area.

The booths used for exiting the country have been demolished and the exit procedure takes place further down the hill. I'll keep you posted when I creature in a few weeks.

Happy trails,

Peter

Hello,

Plan to enter Morocco on the 9th, is Tangier-Med still less hassle than Ceuta? I'll update wherever I enter, cheers Mark

Hi Mark,

There's no hassle at Tanger Med. No touts to speak of. I just get annoyed that they built a modern facility with the capacity to deal with large numbers of folks entering the country and then couldn't be bothered to use it properly.

Rant over,

Peter

very typically Moroccan though :)

hopefuly the newer improved layout will be in place when I venture through in October

When I went through tan med about a week ago I was directed to stop and a copper came and took my papers, took a while for him to come back. But I never got off my bike. Did seem a bit chaotic though

Many thx for all the replies.

I'll update on entry procedures when I can, cheers and safe travel, Mark

Hi
Is the Insurance office and the main building that has the ATM and currency exchange still there ?

Cheers

Yes. Portakabins in banks and insurance office still there. Main building too.

Peter

Exiting Tanger Med
 

Came through yesterday. Exiting process is now all on the bottom level. Leave main road at roundabout clearly signed "Embarkation de Voitures". Follow road to portakabins. Park outside ferry company offices to buy ticket or get your boarding card. Drive through checkpoint, park up and walk to passport cabin. Drive forward 500m, park up and visit vehicle cabin. Drive on and park up at X-ray and vehicle examination. Drive on and park up at ferry quay.

Straightforward for us but there weren't many vehicles exiting.

New customs booths are being built. You'd have thought that they'd have been finished before the old ones were demolished...

Happy trails,

Peter

Exited Sunday, got to port at 09:15, on ferry at 09:50, can't complain at that.

Cheers and safe travels. Mark

I'm looking to book the Ferry in advance (I'd rather sort it out before I go) between Algeciras and Tangier med. Does any one have any preference between Balearia and Acciona companies? It's my first time in Morocco. I appreciate any replies, but I really DO want to book before I leave.

Balaeria vs Acciona
 

There's not much difference. The boats are fast ferry types. Crossing times are the same - around 90-120 mins.

There's really no need to book before; just turn up at the Gare Maritime and buy a ticket for the next sailing for either of the companies. Buy your ticket from one of the independent travel agencies for a better deal. Or if you want to play it super-safe from the Acciona or Balaeria desks.

Happy trails,

Peter

Thanks, Peter. I basically want to use my credit card before I go, as opposed to take more cash and pay there.

You can use your credit card to pay for the ticket. No problem.
The advantage of buying the ticket in the harbor is that you can take the next ferry.

Happy travels!

Sounds like a plan; I'll do that, then! :D

I've noticed that through aferry.com with Acciona you can buy a double open ended ticket (going to and return) Algeciras - Tanger Med for 1 passenger plus motorcycle for about £100.

Seems like a deal to me, or is it still better to buy on arrival?