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Ceuta or Tangiers - which is the easiest border crossing? Ceuta or Tangiers - which is the easiest border crossing?
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  #1  
Old 8 Jul 2007
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Ceuta or Tangiers - which is the easiest border crossing?
Crossed via Ceuta last year and what a hassle !!!
The "helpers" were a real pain.
Is Tangiers any easier ?
TIA
Ian
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  #2  
Old 8 Jul 2007
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ceuta/tangiers
I've been entering at Ceuta for the last 4 years and the helpers do seem to be getting more pushy. Anybody got any up to date info on Tanger? I read it was getting better and that a lot of the touts had been cleared out, but heard recently that it's as bad as ever.

Jojo
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  #3  
Old 8 Jul 2007
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I haven't used Ceuta in years, Tanger has personally become a lot better, and not only because the motorway starts there.

There are a number of touts who for €1 will write your details in the green slip and then leave you alone. Check to see if what they have written is correct, there is usually some mistake, but after that they will leave you completly alone.

The immigration and customs are also in my experience very above board and correct.
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  #4  
Old 8 Jul 2007
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The advantage of Tanger is that passport control is done on the boat, you arrive directly in Morocco with only the customs bit to do. Plus it has much better road connections than Ceuta.

The disadvantage of Tanger is in holiday periods when all the people visiting their families in the Rabat/Casa area choose Tanger because of the road connections and the system breaks down. On one occasion our ferry arrived in Tanger with many dozen passengers yet to be cleared through passport control on the boat, so we couldn't disembarque our vehicles until they were cleared.

I've been going through Ceuta and Tanger for 30+years and the system is much the same as it always was. It's only in recent years that the touts appeared. An explanation of the forms and what to do with them are in the knowledgebase in my signature link. Using a tout guarantees you a slower progress as the he tries to make the system seem more complex that it actually is.

Generally I prefer Tanger as there are less touts but DON'T USE TANGER DURING MOROCCAN PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

Tim
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Old 8 Jul 2007
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I take the last ferry to Ceuta, park up in the carpark beside the sea,have a rest, then go to the border crossing (24hr) at midnight. No touts,no hassle through in 30 minutes then empty roads driving south.
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Old 9 Jul 2007
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I've been going through Ceuta last october, just one guy tried to hassle me, I explained to him I know well the process and how to do, and he gave up immediately.
It seems that there are less people in Ceuta. 8 years ago it took almost 1 hour, last october 20mn.
Eric

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Old 9 Jul 2007
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I used Ceuta (Sebta). It took 3 hours in the sun.

A Moroccan colleague advised me to use Tangiers as she does. 'Nuff said!
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Old 9 Jul 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neil parsons View Post
I take the last ferry to Ceuta, park up in the carpark beside the sea,have a rest, then go to the border crossing (24hr) at midnight. No touts,no hassle through in 30 minutes then empty roads driving south.
Nice one Neil.
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Old 9 Jul 2007
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Originally Posted by Eric DN View Post
I've been going through Ceuta last october, just one guy tried to hassle me, I explained to him I know well the process and how to do, and he gave up immediately.
It seems that there are less people in Ceuta. 8 years ago it took almost 1 hour, last october 20mn.
Eric

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Nice Website Eric. By the way - being French is great!!!Forget rosboeuf English prejudice!!
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Old 10 Jul 2007
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Originally Posted by Caminando View Post
Nice Website Eric. By the way - being French is great!!!Forget rosboeuf English prejudice!!
Merci beaucoup
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  #11  
Old 11 Jul 2007
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We hit the Ceuta - Morocco border at 9am (after catching a 6.30am ferry and having a leisurely breakfast in Ceuta). We were through in under an hour, including changing currency and purchasing insurance. It was good fun!

We were heading down to Meknes, but if you were heading down the coast, then Tangier has much better access to the Motorway, although its a nice scenic run over the hills from Ceuta if you're not in a hurry.

On the return trip we did the same border in 15 minutes.
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Old 11 Jul 2007
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Question
Not what you're asking, but maybe an new idea: Take the ferry at Almeria or Malaga. They sail to Melillia or Nador and the bordercrossing there is almost hassle free. The ferry is more expensive (as it is a longer route) but also take's you to a very nice and relaxed part of Morocco compared to Cueta and Tangiers. If you want you can get to Fes/Meknes in half a day or go straight to the south (Erg Chebbi) in a day.

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Old 11 Jul 2007
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Hi

Melillia is spanish area ( like ceuta ), Nador is Morocco.
I reed on many forums that the border in Melillia is borring, It seems that arriving at Nador is much better.

Eric
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  #14  
Old 11 Jul 2007
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Spain-Ceuta
Hello,

I will cross over to Moroc via Ceuta this week and was wondering about a couple of things...
-can anyone advise on a good ferry company?
-Hpw much should I expect to reasonably pay for 2 people and a beautiful landy?
-I understood from some posts on this forum that petrol is not much cheaper anymore in Ceuta, but still cheap(er) in Western Sahara....this correct?
-Lonely planet advises to print out a verhicel-import document, so far I just assumed you can also obtain this on the ferry, or am I being to slack on it?

Hope some Morroc Travelers can help me out,
Many thanks a very much looking forward to entering mysterious Maroc-adventurer!!!
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  #15  
Old 11 Jul 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotjamie View Post
I will cross over to Moroc via Ceuta this week
Tthere are many ferry companies plus travel agencies at the terminal at Algeciras. DO NOT BUY your ticket from one of the many booths you will see on the motorway stops. Wait until you get to Algeciras and find out the cost from each of the companies (return tickets are normally less 10%), then go to one of the travel agency booths and ask them to beat the best price.

Petrol is marginally cheaper in Ceuta, though diesel is a worthwhile saving.

The vehicle import document is a NCR (no carbon required) triplicate form which you get from the border. See the link in my signature for instructions as to completion.

Tim
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