Reddit mentions: The best france travel guides

I didn't see your r/travel post, so I can't interact with anything that was said there.

English is less widespread in Morocco than Europe or even other Arab countries. Moroccans generally interact with tourists in French. That said, you will find English in all expensive hotels an most inexpensive ones. Most "tourist" places will speak English at varying levels, and tourist shops will speak English, especially in the big cities. However, I highly recommend getting a French phrase book. It will open a lot more doors. If you don't like learning language, or it makes you feel stupid, get the Rick Steves' French Phrasebook:

http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-French-Phrase-Dictionary/dp/1598801864/

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If you like learning languages, get something more comprehensive like Lonely Planet:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1864501529/

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If you are kind of a bad-ass, get the Moroccan Arabic phrasebook:

http://www.amazon.com/Moroccan-Arabic-Lonely-Planet-Phrasebook/dp/1740591879/

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That's actually a great phrasebook, and will let you have a rudimentary conversation with ANYONE in Morocco. Using a phrasebook is a little bit of effort, but will greatly improve your trip. Moroccans love it when you use a little bit of Arabic, especially their dialect of Arabic, so try it!

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All point-to-point taxis (Petite Taxis) have meters. You will save money by having the driver use the meter, rather than a preset price. They have to use the meter if you ask. They do have the right to charge a little extra for a bag on the roof.
The larger Mercedes taxis have set rates to travel between cities or for long travel within cities.

They cram 7 people into the "Grand Taxi", but between towns you can buy two seats if you like to make it more comfortable for you.

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Taxicabs_of_Morocco

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Ramadan will be a problem. I am sorry, but it will change Morocco a lot and it will affect your trip. There will be a lot of stuff that is closed during the day, or open only at irregular hours. Moroccans will be tired and irritable, especially if they are normally smokers.

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The website for train times:

http://www.oncf.ma/

It is often down, and the English site doesn't work (although it used to work). Use the French.

Second class is fine to use. I use second class for short trips, but first class for long trips. If you buy second class and don't find a seat or change your mind, you can walk up into first class and find a seat, then buy the upgrade from the ticket checker. He will give you a receipt. In fact, you can just board the train without a ticket and buy one from the ticket checker. Have your change ready.

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Climbing Toubkal was a lot of fun. You can do it on your own, but I would at least find a guide in Imlil (where the road ends). From there you hike to the refuge on the first day, then hike up the mountain and back to Imlil on day two. If you are in really great shape, you could do it all in one day, maybe, but check the distances. This is a fairly inexpensive. I think I paid 70 dh for a night at the refuge, although they will ask for 300 or more. You have to negotiate beforehand. I paid my guide 200 dh I think for all five of us, and he was awesome so we tipped him another 100 dh or so. You can just walk in to Imlil and find a guide; they will swarm you even in Ramadan.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Jebel_Toubkal

I don't see any good prices online to give you.

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Tip: few places will want to give you change. You will get large bills out of an ATM, then need to break them in convience stores (called a "Ha-noot") or other places that might have change. Keep some small change ready for taxis and tips.

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There are camel excursions closer to Marrakesh, so you probably won't have time to go all the way to Merzouga, but that desert is pretty awesome. An overnight excusion into the desert is fun:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Merzouga

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A lot of the ferry traffic in Tangier goes through the new port, which is harder to get to than the old port using public transportation. Know which company you bought a ticket from, and which port you need to go to.

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Lonely Planet forums are hit and miss, but worth a visit:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/forum

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Let me know what else you need.

so you missed his talk? that's too bad, it was pretty awesome. if you had gone you'd now know what legalization of marijuana has to do with travel. Congressman Earl Blumenauer did the introduction. it was enlightening and a good time was had by all. i even won his book in the trivia contest. yes, the book by "Rick Steves", Travel as a Political Act. http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Political-Act-Rick-Steves/dp/1568584350#

Here are some French learning items that I recommend:

• CliffsNotes French 1 and French 2, which are available online for free or as a book.
  
  
• Berlitz Self-Teacher: French
  
  
• Learn French in Your Car Complete (You can download it, if you want)
  
  
• Speak in a Week French Flash Cards
  
  
• OR Speak in a Week French: See, Hear, Say & Learn
  
  
• Any French Phrase Book & Dictionary, I have Frommer's (They all seem the same to me)
  
  
• Rosetta Stone (Which can also be downloaded)
  
  
• Michel Thomas Method French For Beginners
  
  
• Capritz Method on YouTube... All the videos were recently removed! But you might be able to find them.
  
  
• French Radio
  
  Do all of those, thoroughly, and you'll do pretty well for yourself.
  

Rick Steves' Best of Europe 2012

That's the best decision you will ever make.

I cannot recommend Rick Steves' Guidebook enough.

I just picked up this book "Gluten Free Guide to France" for my upcoming trip to paris. It's got lists of restaurants in paris and all of france that can accommodate GF requests. It also has a section with detailed translations of how to ask about GF options.

The Paris section is really quite large, and it was updated in 2013.

I was recently in Paris and did see gluten-free products. "Sans gluten."

This place is gluten-free.

This book might be helpful.

Buy a guidebook such as Rick Steves. Rick will tell you everything you need to know. Really.