Marrakesh Menara Airport — Local services in Marrakesh Prefecture

If we review from an architectural point of view the building is great, but if we have to review for its service, security, experience and other factors it stands out for how random and terrible it is. It is a luna park of security checks, despite the fact you have to get 3 hours before your flight, even after doing an online check-in, to print your tickets. Yes, no big deal, let me, who has a flight at 6 am, casually arrive at an airport where there are minimum to almost no charging stations and power outlets actually working to spend my wonderful morning. Regarding the design, it is breathtaking, you can’t deny, but why when arriving to the airport you get to the “arrivals” first and then “depart” as the big sign on top of the entry suggests. As this may not seem such a big deal, the lack of signs of what is where, not mentioning how careless the google maps pins have been placed as well as the lack of them and mention some timetables of stores that declare to be 24/7, and guess what, they aren’t. Moving on, we have the popular topic of security checks you have to go through on the airport. Firstly upon your arrival and a enjoyable flight, excited seeking new adventures and memories from a beautiful country, no person stands in front of you to guide you to the entry of the airport, you could casually run anywhere I guess. Then after managing to go through a door, police officers sitting behind their funny plexi glass look at your with their dead-serious faces asking you where are you staying in Morocco, not even questioning when do you leave, only to stamp your passport and after a short walk another mighty officer awaits to check if maybe somehow you managed to get into their highly-secure facility and steal the moon. Afterwards, guess what, luggage control where they scan your luggage, seems logical you might think, not really if only 4 machines and 16 people of staff stand around them to check for any drones in hundreds or maybe thousands of people’s luggage. Great waste of time is an understatement. Regarding your boarding procedure, be prepared to not find any duty free stores, you might think why would I need that. Surprise surprise, when printing your ticket you have a luggage control, just like right before hopping into an airplane on Ryanair and wizzair, where wonderful people, with cherishing character and heartwarming customer-service skills check if the bags fit. I hope that they don’t get asked much what do they do for living. After getting hold of your tickets, you get to the security check, at first casual, a polite man says that it is even okay to “through” in your half full bottle of water with your other staff only for an even more polite lady look at you with disappointment at you and throw your water, without asking, to the bin. When you were ready to grab your staff and move on the security man starts asking questions why do you have a keychain of an empty bullet shell with your name on it, while asking what do you do for living meanwhile removing your keychain. Feeling more alive that ever ready to be taken into custody or an interrogation, the hard working security guard, or hardly, lets you off with a notice it is not a good idea to have such a keychain. After thinking the experience can’t be more delightful, you get to the passport control, when you get funny looks, and get taken photo of you just in case your glow up was too good for the police officer to be able to recognize you through the plexi glass. Only for another hard working officer check if got a stamp. Breathtaking experience, hope I won’t have to...

‼️ Important read‼️ Arrive 3 hours before flight. On departure you must check in with your airline desk at the latest 1 hour before your flight. Do not leave it late. You will not make your flight. Whatever airline even Ryanair you must get your boarding pass stamped or printed at the desk. Ryanair still charge if they have to print it so print your own and get it stamped at the relevent check in desk (don't go straight to departures as you would anywhere else) you can't use an electronic boarding pass in Morocco.

Marrakech airport has become an embarrassment to the nation. What was once an efficient crown in the jewel has descended into chaos and inefficiency. RAM airlines are a disaster. You need to arrive 3 hours before your flight. Expect frustrating long queues, first at compulsory check-in desk, second (small) queue to have your stamped boarding pass checked and get you into the bag scanning/customs queue. Then the worst is the passport control queue which can take up to an hour on busy periods but these days no less than 30 minutes.

Architecturally it is a beautiful small airport with helpful staff. If you arrive last minute prepare to get stressed. It is slow moving at times through security. Otherwise give yourself some time and enjoy a coffee and snack at "Paul" or other cafe. There are plenty of clean toilet facilities here and is generally a well maimtained airport if poorly managed at check-in and security. Arriving:- Menara Airport is about a 20-30 minute taxi ride from Marrakesh city centre (Guilez / Medina). On arrival from abroad the passport control can be a little slow at busy times but honestly if you compare this to most international airports it's nothing and only a small walk through the airport.

After passport control/ baggage collection and drone scanning collect a free Sim card from the kiosks on the left hand side before you exit the building.

There are a number of ATMs in the arrival hall. If busy walk down the corridor to the departures hall, these ATMs are usually free.

Taxis are near the exit. There is now an official taxi payment stand. Make sure to use this. If you try to go directly to the taxi they will try to charge double that but haggle or walk away. The official price is about 120 - 150 dirhams /€12-€15.

At busy times usually 6-8am and 3-5pm the security can be busy and slow. There is a duty free inside, 2 small and pointless business lounges and the usual poor quality overpriced airport food you find in most small airports. Small massage place is a nice way to relax for half hour.

So sneaking in an airline review, all European airlines are great, Ryanair is No. 1 for amazingness, best on time and best service on board from and to Marrakesh. TAP, Iberia, Turkish, BA all rate high. Avoid Air Arabia- if the flight is cancelled you are stranded with no Hotel or food as they are not under EU law. TUI rate second worst.

On arrival at busy times expect a 1 hour queue through security.. there are plenty of toilets. Get a free SIM card on the left before you exit the main building arrival gate. There are several ATM machines in the...

The aesthetics, design and architecture of this airport are truly impressive.  The cleanliness is ok but the organization is not so good.  A very contradictory place.  Modern and contemporary design, but outdated use of technology.  Whether you are coming or leaving, expect to spend more time than usual since you go through passport control (it is more short viewing) several times - which makes long lines. The strangest experience is that you have to have the boarding pass on paper (printed) when leaving, they don't accept digital through the application.  You have to confirm that same boarding pass at the counter of the company you are flying with and only then you can go to the security check, where the staff tears the ticket a little on each side. They also thoroughly check the size and weight of your luggage. So plan your time well because several times you will stand in the row.

!!!Important information for drone lovers: you have to declare your dron to custom service!!!

Upon arrival, at passport desks they'll ask you several questions (where are you staying, what is your reason for visit and your job title). After that you will have again passport and language control on scener.

You can buy a SIM card for internet use at the very exit from the airport, where they will activate it for you.  You have several companies, I chose Orange (it turned out to be a good choice because I had internet even in the heart of the desert and dunes).  Also, once you leave the airport, through the same door you cannot enter back, you have to make a long circle to the entrance. So, do everything you need before going outside.

I do not recommend changing money at the airport.  Change only as much as you need, because the exchange rate is more than 100 MAD worse than in the city exchange offices (which is more than 10€ on 100€). You can go from the airport to Marrakesh in several ways.  Usually hotels or Riads offer a transfer that is €25 and more. Another option is a taxi, which, depending on the distance, can cost from €7 - €10 or more. The taxi stands at the very exit right in front of the door.  The third option is local buses that stop about 50 meters from the exit and the price of a return ticket is 30 MAD (approx. 3€). The fourth option is city transport (buses). The ticket price is 4 MAD (approx. 40 cents).  You buy a ticket from the driver every time you get on the bus.  The first station is located about 300 m from the airport at the roundabout.  Just follow the road and walk the sidewalk along the wall to it. The fifth option is to rent a car.  Do not agree to those who ask you for a deposit.  Prices for cars without deposit with full insurance start from €25/day!

I tried everything except hotel transfer.

And be sure that no matter how careful you are, someone will trick you, deceive you, and you will agree to it completely legally and naively.  Don't take it too personally but as a school of life which is really impressive here.

Welcome to Morocco! ...