Morocco

No. US passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date. You'll get a stamp on entry and should keep the small paper declaration card safe — it's checked on exit.

A first trip covering Marrakech, Fes, the Sahara (overnight camp), and Chefchaouen needs 10–12 days. Add 3–4 for the coast (Essaouira or Agadir). The classic Marrakech-to-Sahara loop is a 3-night road trip. Fly into Marrakech, fly out of Casablanca (or vice versa) for the most efficient itinerary.

Morocco is generally safe — violent crime against tourists is rare. Pickpocketing and medina hustlers are the main concerns. Solo female travellers should expect verbal harassment in medinas, especially after dark. Hire official guides through your riad or via registered agencies; avoid freelance 'guides' who approach you on the street.

Excellent value — mid-range daily budget runs $55–95 per person, including a riad stay, three meals, transit. Shoestring: $25–40 with dorm-style riads. Luxury riads in Marrakech or the Atlas can exceed $400/nt. Haggling is standard in souks; expect to pay 30–50% of the first asking price.

A riad — a traditional Moroccan house built around an interior courtyard — is the defining accommodation experience. Riads are mostly in the medinas, so you walk to the main sights. Book a riad for Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira, and Chefchaouen; hotels are fine in Casablanca where there's less medina to explore.

Yes — alcohol is legal and widely available at hotels, licensed restaurants, and most riads. It's less visible in traditional cafés and medina food stalls. Mogador-brand beer and Moroccan wines (Volubilia, Les Celliers de Meknès) are decent. During Ramadan, non-Muslims can still buy alcohol at hotels but public drinking is discouraged.