Public phone boxes, which are relatively rare, are usually located outside post offices, markets and bus stations. Coin-operated telephones are still relatively common, and they take coins up to a denomination of 5 dirhams. Because of the number of coins needed, it is not practical to make international calls from a coin-operated telephone. Such calls are best made from a card-operated telephone. Phonecards are available at post offices and in tobacconists, which are indicated by a blue and white sign with three interlinked rings.

With some telephones, an illegal card rental system applies. The cardholder inserts the phonecard for you, noting the number of existing units on the card. You make the call, and then pay the cost (based on the difference between the number of units on the card before and after your call). Calls made by this method are more expensive but obviate the need to buy a whole card.

The number of small public telephone centres, known as téléboutiques , has mushroomed in Morocco. These centres are run either by private operators or by one of the three national operators. They house plastic phone boxes or kiosks (which are usually a sandy colour) with card-operated, coin-operated or metered telephones. The cards that are sold here often only work in telephones in the centre from which the card was bought or in telephones owned by the relevant operator. Faxes can also usually be sent and received in these public telephone centres.

Almost everyone, it seems, has a mobile phone in Morocco. The three competing network operators – Méditel, Maroc Télécom and Wana – are locked in a fierce price war. The network is excellent and mobile phones can be used in even the most remote regions of the country.

Most European network operators have arrangements with one or other of the two Moroccan network operators, so that visitors can use their mobile phones in Morocco (but bear in mind that calls will be expensive).

Mobile-phone users may also buy a prepaid SIM card from either of the Moroccan network operators. For a modest charge (no more than about 200 dirhams), you are provided with a Moroccan number through which national and international calls can be made at a more favourable rates.

In large towns, it is increasingly common to find Internet cafés. Here, you can pick up and send e-mail and surf the Internet. Charges vary widely between different cybercafés, and are calculated according to the time spent on line.

Morocco’s postal service has a reputation for being very slow. This is often borne out by reality, especially in the case of international mail.

There are post offices in all sizeable towns. Here, you can buy stamps, send letters and parcels and cash, or send postal orders. Stamps are also available in tobacconists and at the reception desk of large hotels. Central post offices are open from 8.30am to 4pm. Sub-post offices close at lunchtime; precise times vary according to location.

Post offices also provide an express mail delivery service. However, if you have something urgent to send, it is better to use a private company such as DHL Worldwide Express  or Globex (Federal Express) . It is also best to post letters at a central post office rather than use one of the yellow street postboxes as collections can be unreliable.

Most post offices provide a poste restante service, and this system works well in Morocco. Mail should bear the first name and surname of the recipient, as well as the name of the town. You will need some form of identification when collecting mail from a poste restante. The service is free of charge.

Morocco has many daily newspapers in Arabic and in French. The major leading newspapers in French are Le Matin du Sahara, L’Opinion, Libération  and El-Bayane . Several weekly magazines, such as Le Journal, Tel Quel  and Demain , or the quarterly publications such as Medina, Femmes du Maroc  and Citadine  were launched in recent years. They have given a new voice to the Moroccan press, which is usually quite conservative.

French newspapers like Le Monde  and Le Figaro  are printed in Casablanca at the same time as in France. English-language newspapers are available in Tangier, Agadir, Casablanca and Marrakech. Outside large towns you often find outdated daily newspapers on sale.

Morocco has two television channels: Radio Télévision Marocaine (RTM), the public national channel that broadcasts in Arabic and in French, and 2M, a privately run channel that also broadcasts in both languages, although programmes in French predominate.

Both the Moroccan television channels are, however, severely rivalled by the spread of satellite dishes, which provide access to a huge number of international channels. Most households, as well as upmarket hotels, have satellite dishes.

Broadcasts in English are obtainable only via satellite (mostly CNN and BBC). Around Tangier, it is also possible to tune in to broadcasts in English from Gibraltar.

Moroccan radio is dominated by the omnipresent RTM, which broadcasts in French and Arabic, and Médi 1, which broadcasts mostly in French. It is also possible to tune into some European stations, including BBC World Service (on MHz 15,070) and Voice of America.