WHEN travelling abroad it’s important to know what currency you need.
Morocco is home to the Dirham, but how can you get your hands on some?
1
What is a closed currency?
A closed currency is a type of money that you can’t get outside of the country.
This means that you can’t get it from your local currency exchange, but have to wait until you’re at your desination.
You also might face restrictions on how much you can exchange at a time.
Multiple countries around the world have closed currencies.
Can I get Moroccan Dirham in the UK and is it a closed currency?
You cannot buy Moroccan Dirhams in the UK due to it being a closed currency.
This also means you cannot get Dirhams anywhere outside of Morocco.
Most travellers will take cash or a bank card with them and wait until they’re on holiday to get the right money.
Should I exchange money before I travel to Morocco?
You are not able to change your money into Dirhams before heading to Morocco.
However, you could get pounds sterling out in cash to them change once you are there.
If you have some Dirhams left from a previous trip, you are allowed to bring in or take out 2000Dh at one time.
Is it better to take cash or card to Marrakech?
Some places in Marrakesh will not take cards so it is important to have some cash on you.
However, some shops and restaurant will accept card.
Make sure you have a card that can be used abroad and you won’t be left with large exchange costs.
How much money should I take to Morocco for a week?
How much money you should take to Morocco for a week all depends on what you plan on doing.
If you are staying in an all inclusive hotel and don’t plan on going on any trips then you will need minimal spending money.
However, if you are going self catering and want to travel around a lot then you need to make sure you have some spare cash.
It is recommended that you should probably aim to take around £40-£50 per person per day (£280-£300 per week) when visiting Morocco.
Options for holiday spending if you don’t want to exchange currency
THERE are several specialist cards that can give you a great exchange rate.
These cards include travel credit cards and pre-paid cards which can let you pay abroad without fees or at a set exchange rate.
Travel credit cards: Travel credit cards allow you to spend money abroad without being hit by any fees or hidden charges.
But, they may still charge you for taking cash out.
We recommend the Halifax’s Clarity Card as it won’t charge you for using it abroad, nor are there any fees for withdrawing cash.
But you will be charged interest if you don’t repay your balance in full at a rate of 19.9 per cent.
And you will be charged interest on cash withdrawals until your balance is paid off too, at a rate of between 19.9 and 27.95 per cent depending on your credit score.
In other words, just because you are using plastic abroad doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay these credit cards off like you normally would.
Always pay off your balance before the end of the month with these cards to make sure that any money you saved isn’t wiped away by paying interest.
For more on travel credit cards you can read our guide here.
Pre-paid cards: An alternative to carrying cash around is to get a pre-paid card.
These cards allow you to put a set amount of cash on the card at a fixed exchange rate.
So if the rate is good at the moment, you can put money on your card and it will stay that rate when you are on holiday.
Just keep in mind that these cards can sometimes have hidden costs and charges so be sure to read the small print.
