Check out this post — Expense Report: Pre-Trip Costs — for a better understanding of other costs associated with a RTW trip, as well as a definition of my travel style and how it impacts my budget.

Here’s what I spent in U.S. dollars over 16 nights in Morocco:

• Accommodation = $35.52 … $35.52 for one night
• Food = $157.16 … $9.82 per day
• Groceries = $22.17 … $1.38 per day
• Coffee = $24.25 … $1.51 per day
• Activities = $497.35 … $31.08 per day
• Cell & Wifi = $18.37 … $1.14 per day
• Transportation = $22.66 … $1.41 per day
• Miscellaneous = $101.67 … $6.35 per day

And the grand total for 16 nights in Morocco is…

$879.18 USD, which works out to $54.94 per day.

Here’s how those numbers compare with other countries I’ve traveled to:

• My daily average in Cook Islands: $157.05
• My daily average in New Zealand: $88.56
• My daily average in Australia: $83.37
• My daily average in Singapore: $78.86
• My daily average in Indonesia: $51.34
• My daily average in Malaysia: $117.09
• My daily average in Palau: $160.91
• My daily average in Philippines: $49.21
• My daily average in Japan: $89.55
• My daily average in Nepal: $75.42
• My daily average in Jordan: $68.88
• My daily average in Israel: $70.62
• My daily average in Turkey: $72.42
• My daily average in Egypt: $192.41
• My daily average in Dubai: $218.03
• My daily average in Morocco: $54.94

That daily average is really low for reasons I’ll explain in a moment.

A few notes:

• I used xe.com in early June to calculate the exchange rate and at that point in time, 1 MAD (Moroccan Dirham) = .1225 USD.
• I received two sponsorships in exchange for photography and blog coverage: a generously discounted 15-day Moroccan Encompassed tour (I paid $400; normal price is $1,400) and one night accommodation in a small room at Riad Andalla (price varies from season but it was around 60 Euros / $75 USD during my visit). Total discount = $1,075.
• I did not include my flights into or out of Morocco in this expense report, as those will be accounted for in a separate post documenting my Africa international airfare budget.
• I purchased a SIM card at the Marrakech airport and a data/calling/texting plan for around $18 USD total (50 MAD for the SIM card and 100 MAD for data/calls/texts). Most of the hotels we stayed at had wifi but it was often slow. I can’t overstate the convenience of having a working smartphone during travel. I continue to use the Viber app to communicate for free with my friends and family back home.
• I continue to use my Charles Schwab debit card to avoid international ATM fees.
• Okay, let’s dig into the specifics. These numbers are on the low side because of the photography and blogging discount I received on my tour. If we take away the discount, it presents a more accurate picture as to how much a 15 day tour of Morocco will set you back. So instead of $879, it would be $1,879 — about $117 per day, including an extra night in Marrakech after the tour. Add another $75 USD if you’d like one night in a fancy riad.
• I consider Morocco to be a high value destination, especially if you do a tour like this because it coves a remarkable distance in two weeks. We saw SO MUCH and every day was an efficient use of time. I’d recommend adding a day or two in Marrakech after your trip just to sit in a cafe with a cup of mint tea and take it all in after the hectic pace of the tour. Another reason this is a high value trip: my food budget is low because so many meals are included in the tour price. Almost every day, lunch or dinner was already paid for (often shared family-style so we could try a variety of dishes), and the meals we did purchase typically cost under $7. We stopped every morning around 11am for a nos nos (coffee) or mint tea, either of which typically cost $1. Also, this is a hotel-based tour, so the level of accommodation is fantastic. I was expecting very budget motels but the majority of them are more upscale and have pools.
• Finally, Nomadic Tours takes great care of its guests. The airport pick-up is included, so you’re literally under their care from the moment you step out of customs and see a driver holding a sign with your name on it. Most tours simply start at the hotel so I thought this was a nice bonus. And our guide, Mohamed, took care of everyone right up until departure on the final day — someone in our group couldn’t find her passport, and he was scrambling making calls to arrange a replacement through her country’s embassy (luckily the rogue passport was found in time). Mohamed arranged cabs for everyone going back to the airport. When I needed to book an extra night at the hotel where the tour ends, Mohamed got a great deal on my behalf ($35 USD for a last-minute single room, cheaper than the published price). The guide really takes care of the guests, and there is value in that.
• FYI, laundry is very expensive and charged by piece (we found that this was pretty standard throughout the country). So I washed my things by hand in the hotel room with detergent I’d brought and it worked like a charm. Karen even taught Tally and me a trick to dry items faster by wringing them a certain way with a towel before hanging them to dry.
• Since Morocco is a Muslim country, there’s not many opportunities to purchase alcohol here. Beverages are not included with meals and bottled water is expensive at hotels / restaurants, but Mohamed arranged for us to stop at a convenience-type store daily so we could all buy cheap water (about 60 cents for a 1.5 liter bottle, compared to $2.25 for the same thing at a hotel / restaurant).
• Most of the time I focus on how to save money. But if you’re looking to spend money, there are PLENTY of places to do so in Morocco! And there are good deals to be found if you’re in the market for leather products (Fes) or textiles (Berber rug, anyone?) or any of the thousands of souvenir items at the souks in Marrakech. So come with a larger budget and empty space in your suitcase.
• I bought one souvenir — a scarf in Fes for $12, which is accounted for under the miscellaneous slice of the pie.
• A few other items in the miscellaneous category include… photo tips ($3), bathroom tips ($1), driver tip ($25), guide tip ($35), 10 postcards ($3.50), 10 international postcard stamps ($20.50)

This Morocco trip was a gift from the travel gods — a generous tour sponsorship, a well-thought out itinerary that I didn’t have to plan, tour mates who were utterly delightful, great food and hotels, a mix of relaxation and adventure, and beautiful scenes to photograph. I can’t think of a better way to kick off my Africa trip and I’m so grateful for these two weeks in Morocco.