Ferry to Morocco

[travelHK]

We will be going to Morocco early Sept , do you guys recommend to book earlier or just show up . any recommendation to stay on the cheap side for the crossing( anywhere in Spain is OK for us )
Thanks

[Tim Cullis]

A few km to the north east of Algeciras at km 116 of the A7 autovia is the Casa Bernado Macias service area which includes a hotel/restaurant. Rooms are about €28 for a single, they also have twenty or so bungalow cabins which sleep two people for the same price.

In the satellite view at http://tinyurl.com/ybd4kbs8 the bungalows are the dark green building to the left with parking immediately outside. I prefer the ones to the rear so there's less noise.

In the restaurant the sopa de mariscos (shell fish soup) with pernod is to die for.

As far as the ferries are concerned, check out the rates at http://www.aferry.to

Stick in Algeciras to Tanger Med as a starting point and it will give you all the ferries and all the crossing alternatives. If you want an open ticket you may need to go onto the individual ferry operator's website (or wait until you get to the port).

The alternative is a ticket agent called Carlos, see http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...fa-ceuta-33321

[travelHK]

Thanks Tim

[NB64]

I went recently and took the Ferry from Almeria to Nador.
I wanted to visit the East of the country so it took me closer quicker. On the way back I slept on the Ferry as it set off about midnight.

[Chris Scott]

Fyi: last time I looked I noticed ferries from Almeria > Melilla (ie: Spain to Spain) where much cheaper than Almeria > Nador.
You just got to put up with the border.
Was a scrum years ago - dont know about now.
Nador is always dead easy.

[Tim Cullis]

The 'ports' of Melilla and Nador are actually right next door to each other at Beni Ansar, separated by a fence. Land one side you are in Spain (Melilla), land the other side and you are in Morocco (Nador).

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/...4!4d-2.9344493

Ferries to Melilla are cheaper as the fares are subsidised by the Spanish government, but the border post highlighted on the map above is absolutely horrible and after three entries that way, on my last trip I decided to pay more and enter via Nador which as Chris writes is easy.

As an aside, I normally travel on my KTM 690 R which is equipped with mousses rather than inner tubes. On the last crossing the sea was a bit rough and the bike tied down so tightly it must have deformed the mousses. So for the first 10km it was like riding a rocking horse.

[Chris Scott]

Good to have it confirmed.
Love to save a penny, but chickening out for Nador seems worth it then.
Only a day from the desert too; the only hassle I find it arrives at 5pm-ish, so hard to sort out insurance without spending a night.

[sam surplus]

Originally Posted by Tim Cullis

As far as the ferries are concerned, check out the rates at http://www.aferry.to

I am planning my trip to Morocco and this is the first time someone has recommended booking online! Everyone seems to say go to a ticket office, we have been told the one by the Carrefour in Algeciras. Have you booked online and did it all go smoothly?

[gsadvman]

I always use aferry.com. Simple and reasonable....saves all the messing in Spain.

[Tim Cullis]

Originally Posted by sam surplus

I am planning my trip to Morocco and this is the first time someone has recommended booking online! Everyone seems to say go to a ticket office, we have been told the one by the Carrefour in Algeciras. Have you booked online and did it all go smoothly?

I didn't say to book online, I said check out the rates online. Aferry.to gives you an idea of rates but sometimes doesn't include offers on discounted returns etc, so I look at aferry.to, then look on the individual operator's website. I then aim to get to the port to catch a particular ferry, but only buy the tickets when I know the ferry is on time.

(Although for Almeria to Melilla I do book online if I want an overnight cabin).

[travelHK]

As a quick follow up we took the ferry Thursday from Algeciras to Tanger Med, cost us 76 Euro/bike and passenger. Easy immigration on board and then 10 mn for the tip as explain by others. The insurance for 30 days was 92 euro per bike.we stayed the previous two night at Bernado service hotel and had great food there ( tabut and sopa de marisco).we stayed last night at camp Azilane in chafchaouen , great city to visit but camp is bit run down.
Thanks to all .

[Peter Girling]

Not many (any?) good campsites in the north. Azilan is in a great location but the facilities need updating. Al Boustane in Martil is similarly bad as is Camping Achakar at Cap Spartel. A shame as there are some fantastic ones across the rest of the country.

Happy trails,

Peter

[TheWarden]

Only thing half way decent I've found is Camping International at Moulay in the north.

[HowardB]

Out of Interest , what was the cost of the ferry at the Port. I'm heading off that way in 10 days.
Cheers

[travelHK]

We paid 76 euro per bike including one rider