Useful Tips for Attending

Travel and local information for attendees visiting Tangier.

Conference Venue

Hilton Tanger Al Houara
Km 17.5, Route de l'Aéroport, Al Houara, Tangier, 90000, Morocco

The venue overlooks the ocean and sits within 60 acres of protected forest near the beach. Tangier's old city, the American Legation Museum, and the Kasbah are within about a 45-minute drive, and the Caves of Hercules are about 18 km away.

Hotel Block Status

The Hilton Tangier Al Houara, the conference headquarters hotel, is currently sold out of the conference room block. Discounted rates are no longer available.

You may still be able to book rooms at regular rates — see hotel reservation information for details.

Hotels and Accommodations

Hilton City Center and Hilton Garden Inn are the only other hotels with conference contracts. Daily round-trip transportation to Al Houara is provided for attendees staying at those properties.

• Hilton City Center: 1780 MAD (~$190.73 USD), including breakfast, VAT, and transportation to Al Houara.
• Hilton Garden Inn: 1380 MAD (~$147.87 USD), including breakfast, VAT, and transportation to Al Houara.

Only attendees staying at Hilton City Center or Hilton Garden Inn may use the conference-provided transportation. Attendees staying elsewhere should plan their own transportation to and from the venue.

Other options include hotels near the airport, such as Hotel Ibn Batouta Tangier and Senator Hotel Tanger, or hotels in the city center. From the city center, the commute to the venue is typically 30–45 minutes by car, depending on traffic.

Getting There

Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG) is the main international airport serving Tangier. Taxi rides to the venue typically take about 20 minutes and cost around 40 MAD (~$4.84 USD). A shuttle from the airport to your hotel can sometimes be arranged directly with the hotel if requested in advance.

A regular airport bus also operates between the airport and the city center. Tickets cost about 40 MAD, and buses generally run about once an hour.

Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) is Morocco's largest airport and can also be a useful arrival point. From there, the direct high-speed Al Boraq train reaches Tangier in about 2 to 2.5 hours. Tickets typically range from 250–450 MAD (~$25–$45 USD), depending on booking time and class.

Gare de Tanger Ville is the city's main train station, with rail connections to major Moroccan cities including Kenitra, Rabat, and Casablanca.

Hotel Transfers

Conference-provided transfers between the city center hotels and Hilton Al Houara are available only for guests of Hilton City Center and Hilton Garden Inn. The shuttle stages in front of the Hilton Garden Inn — guests of both hotels meet there.

• A reader board with the AISTATS logo will be posted in the Hilton lobby starting the day before the conference with transfer timing.
• Boarding is verified by attendee name and badge for guests of the contracted hotels.
• As a fallback, a shared cab between the city center and Al Houara is typically around 80 MAD per ride and can often be split among 3–4 people.
• Transfer schedules remain subject to final arrangement with the hotel.

Getting Around Tangier

• Petit taxis for shorter trips within the city — typically run on a meter.
• Grands taxis for longer trips, shared or private.
• Careem is a convenient ride-hailing option (airport to venue is approximately 80 MAD).
• InDrive is also widely used, with fares negotiated in the app.
• Uber does not operate in Morocco.
• Cash is often needed for taxis, and receipts are uncommon.

For evening trips, ask hotel reception to call a taxi or arrange a Careem/InDrive ride rather than hailing on the street.

Hilton Concierge Transport

The Hilton can arrange transport for hotel guests if requested in advance. Reservations: TNGAH.Concierge@hilton.com or +212 539 409 400.

• Car (max 4 persons): 400 MAD per trip
• Van / Vito (max 6 persons): 650 MAD per trip
• Mini bus (max 15 persons): 1000 MAD per trip
• Bus (max 46 persons): 2000 MAD per trip

Meals

The Hilton offers multiple on-site dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tangier also has many restaurants and cafés — attendees are encouraged to explore the local food scene and Moroccan cuisine throughout the city.

Childcare and Family Services

The venue offers a kids' club with capacity for 20 and a teenagers' club with capacity for 10, each with dedicated programming during the day.

Recommended Sights

• Kasbah Museum
• Medina and Grand Socco
• Tangier Casbah
• Dar el Makhzen (Sultan's Palace)
• Cap Spartel and the Caves of Hercules
• Cap Malabata and the lighthouse
• Corniche Promenade
• Achakkar Beach

For more recommendations from the local chairs, see the Visit Tangier guide.

Practical Info

Health & Safety

Morocco is generally a safe destination, and the conference venue area is secure and well serviced. A few practical notes:

• Keep an eye on your belongings in crowded market areas and transportation hubs.
• Unlicensed guides may approach visitors in the medina — a polite "non merci" or "la shukran" is usually enough.
• Negotiating prices is normal in markets and sometimes with taxi drivers.
• Bottled water is widely available and recommended.
• Travel insurance is recommended.
• Save digital copies of your passport, travel insurance, and hotel confirmations.
• CHU Mohammed VI — Tangier is the closest hospital to the conference venue.

Local emergency numbers

• 15 — Fire, medical, and ambulance
• 19 — Police
• 177 — Gendarmerie Royale

U.S. citizens can enroll in the State Department's free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive embassy alerts during their trip. The U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca can be reached at +212 522 642 000 (after-hours: +212 537 637 200).

Poster Printing

Participants are responsible for printing their own posters.

Poster board specifications

• Dimensions: 2.4 m × 1.2 m
• Material: 100% wood
• Fixing method: pins or command strips

Local printing options

• Webprint Typoedit
• Le Printer
• NPG Print