Money and payments in Morocco

The Moroccan dirham is not freely convertible. According to Spain's Foreign Ministry, a traveller may carry a maximum of 2,000 dirhams in local currency, and taking more out of the country is prohibited. Foreign currency can be brought in and taken out without limit, but must be declared above the equivalent of 100,000 dirhams.

In practice: travel with euros, change money on arrival and keep your exchange receipts, as the Foreign Ministry recommends.

The Moroccan tourist office recommends the bureaux de change on each city's main tourist squares; you can also change money at the airport, in banks and in some hotels. You will be asked for your passport.

Cash machines are widespread across the country. Use them in daylight and in busy places: the British government warns that card fraud is common.

Visa and MasterCard are accepted in most hotels and in some restaurants, shops and petrol stations, with a fee that depends on your bank and is usually around 1%. In the souks, taxis, cafés and small stalls, pay in dirhams.

If you hire a car, the company will almost certainly block a deposit on your card, released days or weeks later.

There is no written rule. As a guide, people round up the bill in simple places, leave around 10% in more upmarket restaurants and a few dirhams in cafés. A guide, a porter or someone who helps with your luggage gets a little something for the service. More in customs and tipping.