Picking up your car at Marrakech-Menara airport

Picking up your rental car as soon as you land saves you from negotiating a taxi and lets you reach your hotel at your own pace. At Marrakech-Menara airport, the handover takes a few minutes, provided you have prepared two or three details before the flight.

At a glance

• Distance: the airport is about 6 km from the Medina, south-west of the city.
• Journey time: about 15 to 20 min to Guéliz, Hivernage or the Medina.
• Meeting point: in the arrivals hall, after collecting your luggage.
• Recommended car: an automatic compact for the city, a van if you have many suitcases.
• Have ready: licence, passport, flight number and a charged phone.

Before departure: what to tell us

The booking form asks for the car, the handover location, the dates, your name and your phone number. For a handover at Marrakech airport, add your flight number and expected arrival time in the WhatsApp conversation that follows. If you are delayed, the person coming to meet you can then shift their schedule without you having to notify them from the jet bridge.

Check that your number is reachable from Morocco and that WhatsApp works abroad. The conditions (minimum age of 21, licence held for at least 2 years) are on the rental conditions page. If your plans change, cancellation is free up to 24 h before pick-up.

Also think about the amount of luggage. With three suitcases, a compact like the Clio 5 automatique is enough. Beyond that, the Van 7 Places or another model in the vans and minibuses category saves you from piling bags on passengers' laps.

On arrival: the meeting in the hall

After passport control and collecting your luggage, you emerge into the arrivals hall. That is where you meet: the person handling the handover waits for you there or writes to you on WhatsApp to tell you where they are. Do not rush at the counters; the passport queue can be long at busy times.

If you need dirhams or a local SIM card, sort that out at this point, before getting behind the wheel. It will be useful for fuel, car park attendants and the GPS.

Checking the car before you leave

Walk around the vehicle with the person handing it over and note the condition of the bodywork together. Five minutes is enough.

Photos and video

Photograph each side, the wheels, the windscreen and the interior, then film a short video as you walk around. Also photograph the dashboard with the ignition on: it shows the mileage and fuel level at departure. These time-stamped images on your phone avoid any discussion on return.

Things to test

• the air conditioning, precious for much of the year;
• the lights and indicators;
• the spare wheel and the jack;
• the seat and mirror adjustment before leaving the space;
• the baby seat, if you chose it as an option.

Documents

Keep your licence and passport on you. The contract and the vehicle papers are handed to you: put them in the glovebox, as they will be asked for in case of a check. Insurance is included in the rental, and a deposit is required; ask your questions about this at the handover.

First drive: Guéliz, Hivernage or the Medina

Leaving the airport, you quickly reach large avenues. Allow about 15 to 20 min for Guéliz or Hivernage, a little more at rush hour. Enter the hotel address in the GPS before setting off and give yourself time to get used to the roundabouts and scooters: our article on driving in Marrakech prepares you for those first kilometres.

For a riad in the Medina, the car will not take you to the door. Head for the nearest car park, from where your host can often have the luggage carried. The options are detailed in our guide to parking near the Medina. If you do not need the car on the first evening, delivery to the riad the next day is also possible.

Arriving late in the evening

Many flights land in the evening or in the middle of the night. Phone and WhatsApp support works 24 h a day: give your arrival time when booking and the team will confirm how the handover is organised. At night, the drive to the centre is still short, but watch out for poorly lit two-wheelers. After a long flight, you may also prefer a taxi on the first evening and delivery to the hotel the next morning.

Returning the car before your flight

The return is prepared the day before. Agree the time and place of return on WhatsApp: at the airport, or at your hotel if you prefer to finish by taxi. Allow a comfortable margin, because the road is short but the check at the terminal entrance and check-in take time. Empty the cabin, check the glovebox and the boot, then take a few more photos when handing back the keys.

To book, choose the model, enter the airport as the handover location and send the form; the rest is sorted out on WhatsApp. The full process is summarised on the how it works page.