CHAPTER 7: PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL
Buses and taxis
Both are efficient ways to get from point A to point B. Taxis tend to be a little safer, not much more expensive, and certainly more comfortable. Only private buses (red+white) do not permit standing. Otherwise public transportation can be very crowded.
There are two types of taxis. The red "petits taxis" are for short journeys in town and carry a maximum of three people. When flagging one down indicate the direction you are going. Often they will pick up other passengers who are going your direction, but are required to drop off the first passenger first. A trip within the downtown area should cost about 10 DH and from the center to the suburbs, about 15 DH. It’s advisable not to get into a taxi that doesn’t have a meter or whose driver says it’s not working. There is a minimum fare of 5 DH in a "petit taxi." Taxis increase their fares to time and a half after 9:00 p.m.
The "grand taxis", usually Mercedes Benz, journey between towns or to the airport (about 200 DH). These taxis will go anywhere if you are prepared to pay the price they want. They carry 2 passengers in the front and four in the rear. You will need to pay for the extra places if you prefer to keep the taxi to yourself. To arrange a grand taxi call Allo Taxi: 89.24.89. Service is available within and outside of Casablanca.
Trains
Trains are a comfortable and delightful way to travel, especially the overnight trains. First class is inexpensive and is recommended if only to guarantee a seat. "Train Rapide" makes the journey between Casablanca (Casa Port) and Rabat in under one hour.
Tickets can be bought at the train stations, in advance from O.N.C.F. offices or on board, for a few Dirhams more, if you arrive late. Call any O.N.C.F. office for train schedules. O.N.C.F., 98 Bd. Mohammed V 22.05.77
Car Ferries
If you drive to Europe you have a choice of ferry routes. It’s best to avoid peak travel periods such as late August/early September for northbound, and late July/early August for southbound.
Tangier – Algeciras : 2 ˝ hour crossing
Ceuta – Algeciras : 1 ˝ hour crossing; more frequent sailings and 35 minutes for the "rapide"
Tangier – Sète : about 36 hours
Nador – Port Vendres : about 36 hours (June 1 to Sept. 30)
Tangier – Gibraltar : 2 ˝ hour crossing
For Reservations & Tickets call, Comanav Voyages 31.20.50
Airport
The Mohammed V Airport is about 30 minutes from Casablanca or 20 minutes by train from the Oasis Station. The cost from Oasis is 25 DH with trains leaving hourly. The train goes right into the airport, so no hassle with bags. Grand taxis cost 200 DH, slightly more at night.
Internal flights in Morocco are relatively cheap and can be a very efficient way to travel if on business or short holiday. The following are phone numbers for offices at Mohammed V Airport.
|
Airport Office |
33.91.40 |
|
Departures |
49.95.65 |
|
Arrivals |
49.94.78 |
|
RAM Reservations confirmed |
31.41.41 49.95.61 |
|
Tourist Services |
33.90.40 |
|
RAM (Royal Air Maroc) administration |
53.90.00 |
|
RAM info and reservations |
51.91.00 |
|
Air France |
53.91.10 |
|
Alitalia |
33.92.80 |
|
British Airways |
53.95.24 |
|
Iberia |
35.96.32 |
|
KLM |
53.97.05 |
|
Kuwait Airways |
33.99.65 |
|
Lufthansa |
53.96.88 |
|
RAM client relations |
49.95.05 |
|
Sabena |
53.97.15 |
|
Swissair |
53.90.47 |
Airline Companies (Transports Aériens) in town:
|
Aeroflot |
47 Bd. Anfa, angle Moulay Youssef |
47.62.49 |
20.64.10 |
|
Air Afrique |
50 Av. de l’Armée Royale, Tour Habous 10th floor |
31.30.54 |
31.83.79 |
|
Air France |
11 Ave. des FAR |
27.79.02 |
29.30.30 |
|
Air Sud |
Anfa Airport Private planes for hire |
90.45.28 |
90.30.36 90.55.30 |
|
Alitalia |
50 Av. de l’Armée Royale, Tour Habous 17th floor |
31.44.62 |
31.41.81 |
|
British Airways |
Rue Allal Ben Abdallah |
22.97.11 |
22.94.64 |
|
Iberia |
17 Ave de l’Armée Royale |
29.68.03 |
27.96.00 |
|
KLM |
6 Bd. Félix Houphouet Boigny |
26.46.16 |
20.32.22 27.83.64 |
|
Lufthansa |
50 Av. de l’Armée Royale, Tour Habous |
30.45.86 |
31.28.20 |
|
Royal Air Maroc |
44 Ave. des FAR |
44.10.19 |
31.41.41 |
|
Sabena |
41 Ave. des FAR |
31.64.48 |
31.41.25 31.39.93 |
|
Swiss Air |
50 Av. de l’Armée Royale, Tour Habous 3rd floor and 8th floor |
31.11.06 |
31.37.20 31.32.80 |
Principal Moroccan Airports
|
Name |
Fax |
Phone |
Distance from town |
|
Casablanca – Mohammed V |
02.53.99.01 02.53.90.51 |
02.53.90.40 02.53.91.40 |
30 Km |
|
Agadir - Al Massira |
08.83.91.49 |
08.83.91.12/22 |
22 Km |
|
Marrakech – Menara |
04.44.92.19 |
04.78.65 |
3.5 Km |
|
Rabat/Salé |
07.80.80.94 |
07.81.02.21/29 |
7 Km |
|
Fès – Saiss |
05.65.26.64 |
05.62.48.00 |
7 Km |
|
Ouarzazate |
04.88.21.12 |
04.88.22.97 |
2 Km |
|
Tangier – Ibn Batouta |
09.93.26.76 |
09.93.31.12 |
14 Km |
Rental Cars (Location d’automobile) Rental cars tend to be expensive.
From Mohammed V Airport
Avis 23.90.72
Eurocar-InterRent 53.91.61
First Car 53.91.77
Hertz 53.91.81
Janoub Tours 53.91.48
In town
|
Avis |
71 Av. de l’Armée Royale |
45.10.48 |
|
CAR-LOC |
87 Av. Moulay Hassan 1er |
22.04.45 |
|
Euro Rent |
3 Rue Assaâd Ibnou Aarara |
25.40.33 |
|
Eurocar-InterRent |
Tour des Habous, Av. Des FAR |
31.37.37 |
|
First Car |
157 Av. Hassan Seghir |
31.87.88 |
|
Hertz |
25 Rue El Oraibi Jilal |
48.47.10 |
|
Janoub Tours |
132 Av. Hassan II Seghir |
31.87.48 |
|
Miami |
85 Rue Allal Ben Abdellah |
54.07.07 |
|
Presty Rent |
110 Rue Allal Ben Abdellah |
45.11.85 |
Travel Agents & Tourist Information (Agence de Voyage) most will have an English speaker in their office
|
Comanav Voyages |
43 Avenue des FAR |
48.48.41 |
|
Intervoyages |
Ave. des FAR (across from Air France) |
22.22.50 20.31.56 |
|
KTI Voyages (English) |
120 Av. Hassan II |
27.57.52 27.52.30 |
|
National Office of Tourism (ONMT) |
55 Rue Slaoui |
27.11.77 |
|
Olive Branch Tours (English) |
35 Rue de Foucauld |
26.42.03 |
|
Utess Voyages (English) |
97 Bd. Mohammed V |
31.48.91 |