Bargaining is unavoidable in Morocco: if you purchase just about anything in a souk, be prepared to bargain. If you approach it in the right spirit and with the right expectations, it can be a lot of fun. Just remember, it's a game. A dance with words and gestures, accompanied by copious amounts of mint tea.

You do not need immunizations going into Morocco.

Only drink water from unopened bottles. Do not use ice, except in 5 star hotels.

Moroccan pharmacies are great; you can self-diagnose and get whatever pharmaceuticals you need, however it is wise to bring basic medicine with you when you are outside of the major cities - aspirin, antisceptic, immodium, etc.

Borders: Algeria, Mauritania

Time: GMT/UTC

Telephone: Country code 212; international access code 00

Money: Dirham (Dh); US$1 = Dh8.5 (January 2009)

Visas: 90-day visas issued on entry for most nationalities

Seasons: Hot (June to August), cold (November to February)

Area: 446, 550 sq km (710, 000 sq km if you include Western Sahara)

Population: 33.2 million

ATMs: Throughout the country except in small villages

Capital: Rabat

Languages: Arabic, French, Berber and increasingly English