Deal alert: Fly to Europe with a stopover in Casablanca from the mid-$500s
Our latest deal involves sale fares to Europe on Royal Air Maroc. The sale fares are attractive enough, but the availability also offers the added bonus of providing chances for a fun stopover in Casablanca. Morocco's flagship airline has lowered prices on economy flights to some of the most appealing destinations in Europe, such as Amsterdam; Cairo; Madrid; Valencia, Spain; and Venice, Italy.
There's also the fact that Royal Air Maroc gives passengers two free checked bags, so you can save as much as $150 per person round-trip by not having to pay to check luggage.
Stopovers can be a fabulous travel bonus. As TPG has mentioned before, airline stopover programs can help you squeeze an extra destination into your itinerary and expand your vacation, at very little extra cost.
The best availability for this sale is for travel between September 2022 and May 2023. Unlike most deals we find, this one even includes the Thanksgiving holiday.
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Thanks to Scott’s Cheap Flights for first spotting this deal. Its Premium membership is available for $49 per year, while the Elite tier option is available for $199 per year. The latter offers access to deals on premium economy, business- and first-class tickets.
As always, be as flexible with your travel plans as possible, as it'll typically help you find better prices.
Deal basics
Airline: Royal Air Maroc.
Routes: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and other cities to Amsterdam, Cairo, Madrid, Rome and others.
How to book: Search Google Flights and book directly with the airline.
Travel dates: Best availability from September 2022 through May 2023; the Thanksgiving holiday is included.
Related: The ultimate guide to airline stopover programs
Sample flights
Let's start by showing some of the stopover options we discovered. I first searched for options for flights from Miami to Madrid. Google Flights makes this rather easy. The first step when you get to the site is to go to the drop-down menu in the top left, click the tab and select "Multi-city."
From there, choose the destination and dates you want. I first searched for flights from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca, which is Royal Air Maroc's base. I searched for a 24-hour stopover, which provides enough time to get a tantalizing glimpse of Morocco's biggest city. I also searched for a flight from Casablanca to Madrid, followed by my return flight to Miami.
I found a nice itinerary in October that costs $545 round-trip, a solid discount on what that route typically costs.
Another interesting stopover possibility we found involved an itinerary from New York City to Rome. You can fly from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) in November with a 27-hour stopover in Casablanca each way. That gives you two days to enjoy the city. The total cost is $599 round-trip.
As for the other sale fares in this deal, there are good prices to be had from Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington, D.C., to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) in Barcelona. This route is available in February for $520 round-trip.
Fly from JFK to Bordeaux–Merignac Airport (BOD) in France in March for only $569 round-trip. You have a 15-hour layover in Morocco on your return so you also get time to explore Casablanca with this itinerary.
There are also good prices on flights from New York City to Cairo International Airport (CAI) in this deal. This January ticket is just $592 round-trip. The layover in Morocco is also long enough to allow for some exploration time.
Maximize your purchase
Pay with: The Platinum Card® from American Express for 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), the Citi Prestige® Card for 5 points per dollar on airfare, the Chase Sapphire Reserve for 3 points per dollar on air travel, the American Express® Gold Card for 3 points per dollar on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2 points per dollar on travel.
The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: 8 tips for strategically booking your first stopover
Bottom line
These are good prices for travel to Europe at a time when prices remain high. The stopovers make it an even better deal, especially in a city like Casablanca.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
Intro Offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.60,000 bonus pointsAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees