Tangier, the Moroccan city with a European flair

Hey lovelies! how are you doing?. Good good, yeah. I have had a busy week, I resumed at the office and work has been back to back. I was contemplating not sending out any letter this week, but in the spirit of being consistent, I have decided to write to you. I hope to capture this gist as I would normally do because, it’s almost midnight in Nigeria and sleep dey enter my eye.

Please read up on my last post on Morocco here.

Like I wrote last week, we landed at Casablanca International Airport at 10am ( Mohammed V. International Airport). I chose Casablanca Airport because flight at the time was cheaper going through there and I wanted to explore the North of Morocco first before heading to the Center or South. It is also cheaper and more convenient to land in Casablanca if you are looking to explore the North of Morocco. Always check the map of the country you intend to visit as this will help you navigate better.

Payment

All payments were charged in the local currency, but for hotel and some activities you have the option of paying in USD or Euros. It is better to pay in the local currency. It is also advisable not to change money at the airport because the rates are better in the city center. It is 10 MAD/Dirhams to 1USD or 1Euro. The local currency is either MAD or Dirhams, I dont’ know why, they don’t have one name for their currency, you will probably need to ask their Emefiele. For non-Nigerian readers, Emefiele is Nigerian’s Central Bank’s governor.

Arrival at Casablanca and getting around

We arrived Casablanca at 10am and we got an orange SIM Card for data at 200MAD/20USD for 20gb ( The data refused to finish, there is nothing we didn’t download with it, Obinna almost downloaded the Statute of Liberty. MTN, see your mates).

We had to change 20USD at the Bank of Exchange at the airport as they had similar exchange rate with exchanges in the city centre or train stations. Please if you must change some USD at the airport, use the Bank of Exchange ONLY, the rates of the other exchanges are ridiculous. The best places to get good rates are from Fx- exchanges in the city center or train stations.

Why Tangier?

I am certain you saw the subject for today’s newsletter and you are probably wondering why I left the popular cities to go to Tangier first. First off, Tangier was a means to the real discovery, if you follow me on Twitter, you would have seen my pictures and all the questions of “where is this?”. We will get to this discovery in the next newsletter but for now, let’s focus on Tangier.

Tangier is 4hours away from Spain via a ferry which cost about 70USD depending on the time you book. So you can combine Spain and Morocco for a budget-friendly price. Tangier’s proximity to Spain influences most of its culture and overall country aesthetics.

Tangier feels and looks European, Zebra crossing actually works. Nice beaches and restaurants. The Pasta is actually “pastaring”, it is not this one we are eating in Wuse 2. One time, I was running to cross the road and people were looking at me and wondering what is chasing me *inserts that meme* “why are you running!”

Tangier has everything I ever wanted from a city: a sense of exotic mystery, beautiful sights, and unspoiled beaches (not Elegushi beach). On top of that, Tangier is an uncontrolled mix of North Africa, Spain and France. The ideal melting pot between Europe and Africa. It is a good way to experience Europe and Africa at once. You should totally visit.

Old City, Tangier

Train Ride to Tangier

There is a train station at the Casablanca airport going to Tangier, the mistake I made was booking my train to Tangier online while in Nigeria for 45USD for first class. Economy class ticket was 30USD each. Please don’t book online, it is almost double the price and time wasting. Here is why, I booked a 2pm train to Tangier from Rail Ninja ( the online platform) because I wasn’t sure what time we will finish at the immigration and there was no train for 1pm on Rail Ninja. Meanwhile, we could have bought a train ticket at the train station at the airport ( Casa Port) for half the price and leave with the 12noon train since we were done with Immigration by 11am.

Anyways, instead of taking a taxi to Casa Vogageurs, to take the train to Tangier which would have cost us 30USD, we took the train from the Casa Port train station at the airport to Casa Vogageurs train station and paid 5USD each.

We got into Tangier at 4:30pm, we couldn’t spend time at the beach because it was cold as we got there by evening and we were only spending one night in Tangier.

Ps: I didn’t see any difference between first and economy class on the train asides the fact that it had lamps and enough luggage space.

First class coach

Hotels

We stayed in Royal Tulip Hotel in Tangier for 139USD. The hotel is 4mins walk from the Tangier train station and it is also in the city center. It has an amazing pool which comes alive at night. We didn’t spend time at the pool because we were tired and I can’t swim.

The initial price I saw on booking.com for Royal Tulip was 123USD but it was 139USD the day I arrived due to exchange rate fluctuations. The hotel was supposed to be a 5star hotel but it didn’t feel like it. We had to wait till 8:30am for someone to resume work and provide us with laundry services. The breakfast option was also limited. There are cheaper and nicer 4star hotels in the city center and train station, please check them out here.

Hilton is also in the city center, I had initially booked it but cancelled because I wanted a royal experience (Oshey Abule Egba Meghan Markle) but alas! Royal hotel no bring iron on time. One more thing, I only pay for hotel at the property in the event I change my mind, so if you are super sure of travelling and you have a domiliciary card, you can pay at once to avoid paying a couple of bucks extra due to exchange rate.

Royal Tulip Hotel Tangier

Views from our room at Royal Tulip Hotel

Getting around in Tangier

Taxis are quite affordable and the drivers will usually tell you the price without trying to outsmart you unlike in Marrakesh. We stayed in the center of the city and all our taxi ride was between 1-3USD. There is a city mall and Zara store if you are looking to do some light shopping.

How you sit during introduction like you won’t talk back at your husband

Restaurants

The Tangier Marina Bay has that Dubai feel. All the restaurants are by the beach with lovely views. We had dinner at O'Comptoir restaurant the evening we arrived. The staff and food were amazing. We ate and ordered drinks twice and the cost was about 56USD for Obinna and I. Please check them out here.

O'Comptoir Restaurant

Food at O'Comptoir restaurant

We also had the best orange juice at the old medina in Tangier, I can’t remember the name of the cafe but it has a rooftop with nice views. Morocco is known for the best teas and orange juice. Small thing, them don offer you mint tea, lol.

The famous orange juice

Let me stop here for today so I don’t overwhelm you with too much information. Tangier is totally beautiful. The Marina Bay and old city is a must visit.

Before I wrap up, we all remember in September when I started this newsletter and I had written about a giveaway, oh well, that has finally happened and there will be more once we get to 10k subscribers.

Two Travelletters subcribers will be on their way to Ghana in December on an all expense paid trip while another Travelletters susbscriber will be gifted 250USD off her flight and her visa fees to any country of her choice. This giveaway has been sponsored by two amazing Travelletters subscribers. May God replenish and bless them.

It is really amazing the work we are doing and the impact it is generating. I am open to partnerships and sponsorships as well. Let’s make someone’s dream of leaving Nigeria for the first time come alive.

Until next week.

Love you,

Muna