In Need Of Modernisation (Marrakech-Menara Airport (RAK))

Member Name: topsyturvy

Product:	Marrakech-Menara Airport (RAK)
Date:	11/10/09 (61 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: staff speak english, organised queues

Disadvantages: notice boards, shops

When arriving in a new country, the first thing that you will come across is the airport. In Marrakech the airport was not too far from the city itself so you could see the orange architecture upon arrival. It is just a wide open space the airport with not a lot of other aircraft as cities like this are obviously not quite like Heathrow. Once arriving you could see the other passengers waiting to get on as we got off. The airport was nice and cool, very air conditioned which was good but before doing anything the first thing we had to do was sign an immigration form and wait in a very lengthy queue for our passports to be stamped which is the last thing you need after a long flight. I found this system could have been sped up a lot more.

Once passports had been checked the luggage then came out onto the conveyor belts which was all very easy to do. There are not a lot of toilets around here in terms of facilities and they are not the best, very basic. The first thing you have to do before getting into a taxi here is to get your currency changed into Moroccan Dirham's because their currency cannot be taken out of the country. This I found very unusual so basically you can exchange Pounds, Euro's or Dollars and that is it.

Once this is done then it is a case of getting into the taxi and going to the hotel to relax. One downside of being new to the country is not knowing roughly what is a good price for a fare to your hotel as a lot of the driver's try to rip you off here with it being more of a haggling system. I tried to follow what my guide book said but in the end settled on a fare of 140 Dirham's which is roughly £12, I now know I was very ripped off but at the time was unaware as the drivers were all arguing over getting my business.

On the way back home the journey cost only 80 Dirham's which is quite a difference but the departures area was easy to find. The boards displaying all of the information on flights don't update regularly and announcements are mainly in French so it does become quite difficult. It is a case of just watching the screens looking for your airline and then getting to the desk as soon as. The staff here is not the friendliest but they do all speak English so it isn't hard to find out information if you are a bit confused. Getting through the desk and getting luggage on was easy enough and all queue's seemed to go quickly; the desks were well staffed so that there was not a long waiting time which I found to be very organised.

Security was the next thing, going through this again wasn't too long a waiting process, they are not as strict as other countries as here you can keep shoes, belts on whereas other places they ask you to remove them. Once through here you then get into the departures lounge. Here there is not one screen in sight it is a matter of looking out the window to spot your aircraft and waiting to hear your flight being announced. It is a small airport; there are a few duty free's to choose from where you can save quite a lot especially on tax free alcohol. The shops sell a range of Moroccan souvenirs and leathers which are of good quality but probably a lot pricier than in the Souks.

I didn't find myself looking around shops long and the waiting lounge is not the comfiest I just wanted to go home by the end as a lot of the flights were delayed. I would say this airport is ok but it is very basic but in Marrakech I didn't expect it to be luxurious. It has a few cafe's to eat at and one or two restaurants and it is clean enough its just very dull overall and not the most exciting place to wait and there are a lot of annoying flies here as well.

This airport works with a few airlines such as easy Jet, Ryanair, Royal Air Moroc and flies to many destinations such as Spain, Switzerland, France, the UK and internally to Agadir and so on. It still needs to expand a lot and develop but it is quite modern in some ways and I can't fault their organisation. The main improvements needed are the display boards and updates to keep passengers more informed.

The Menara is located 4 miles south west of the city centre and has one car park with 363 spaces. They also have car hire companies such as Avis, Hertz etc. They have bus services to the Jemma El-Fna (the main city square) every 20-30 minutes. They also have ATM's inside if you are stuck for money but beware that once withdrawing Dirham's you will not get rid of the full amount on the way back unless they are in 100's as they cannot change lower back depending on what currency you need. I was almost left with 80 Dirham's so my friend and I put our leftovers together.

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