Getting There
The Oasis website has loads of travel tips and info, starting with the list of countries from which entry requires only a passport, not a visa. Use the Marrakech Menara International Airport. You will use the currency exchange there upon arrival; you can’t exchange or spend Morocco’s Dirham currency outside the country, so don’t get too much. ATMs reportedly have the best exchange rate, but can run out of cash on weekends. Also keep in mind that the festival itself is cashless.
Getting around
Under “essential info” on the Oasis site, you’ll find invaluable advice about getting from place to place, how much to pay, how much to tip (and whom to tip) and other knowledge you’ll need. Negotiate prices in advance before stepping into cabs or other forms of transportation; use guides posted on the Oasis or tourism websites for appropriate prices.
Decorum
As a guest in a foreign country, it’s always wise to respect local customs and mores. Morocco is Muslim, and while there’s no dress code at the festival, revealing clothing is not advisable elsewhere. Men should opt for t-shirts instead of tank tops, and women should cover their shoulders and wear knee-length skirts or pants. Drinking is allowed in bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels, but not in the streets or other public areas.
Discoveries
If you can add time to your trip or pull yourself away from the festival, Marrakech’s mosques, palaces, gardens, tombs, museums and other attractions are the stuff of permanent travel memories. And the Djemaa el Fna, the market square in the middle of the walled medina, provides a multi-sensory experience unlike any other.