Should you travel with kids to Morocco?
The Kingdom of Morocco has recently become an increasingly popular holiday destination. Tunisia and Egypt, which have long been chosen by most tourists, have been experienced and now people want something new. Morocco is a country with a rich history. There is something to see and there is where to have fun. But when going to Morocco on vacation with kids you need to be prepared for some of the difficulties that you may encounter.
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Where to stay with kids in Morocco
For most tourists, the issue of housing is not an acute issue. Young people spend all their free time on excursions, beaches, discos, coming after midnight and falling exhausted on the bed to continue the fun tomorrow. Age couples prefer a quiet holiday and many travel from year to year to the same hotel. For families traveling with kids, choosing a hotel in Morocco is a daunting task.
The fact is that despite the large number of rooms, this African country has a certain specificity. The absence of hotels “tailored” for children’s holidays. Even in five-star hotels, there is practically no children’s animation, not to mention the hotels of a lower class. Not many hotels have children’s clubs that help somehow relieve parents on vacation. So before buying a tour, be sure to check this point. You also need to keep in mind the temperature of the water in the Atlantic. Even in the hottest months, rarely rises above 23-24 degrees, add constant waves to this and it turns out that it will not be comfortable for babies to swim in the ocean. This means that the presence of a children’s pool is a necessity. And this, again, is possible only in high-class hotels.
Where to eat
The all inclusive system is not very common in Morocco. This African country has long been very popular with European tourists, and they do not really like all-inclusive, preferring only to have breakfast in hotels, and to dine in numerous cafes and restaurants. As you know, the biggest problem of parents on any vacation is to feed the child.
Children are very often capricious and refuse to eat, especially unusual food. This is why full board hotels are so popular with couples with children. There are few such hotels in Morocco. But even choosing an all-inclusive hotel, prepare for the absence of a children’s menu. In this regard, for babies it is worth taking their usual baby food from home. In some hotels, you can negotiate with the chef. Most likely, they will not refuse you and cook what the child will like. When dining or dining outside the hotel, keep in mind that Moroccan cuisine uses a variety of spices that can have an undesirable effect on the child’s body. So choose your meals carefully and warn the waiter to cook without seasoning for your child.
How to entertain your child
Few hotels can boast of children’s clubs, but all without exception have the opportunity to use babysitting services. Children of all ages, and most adults, love water slides and various water attractions. There are water parks in almost all major cities of Morocco.
In 15 kilometers from Casablanca there is a huge park “Tamaris”. Entrance fee is 12 euros. In addition to a variety of slides, there is a wonderful fairytale city and a large number of cafes where you can eat. Less than 30 kilometers from Agadir there is the Atlantica water park. Entrance – 9 euros.
The pride of the park is a large pool with artificial waves, on which both children and adults love to ride. Water park “Oasiria”, located near Marrakech. The main attraction here is the Kamikaze slide, 17 meters high. There is a free shuttle bus between the city center and the water park, so getting to the Marrakech water center is easy. The zoo located in Agadir, as well as the “Valley of the Birds” park, will appeal to both adults and kids. For older children, excursions to various cities of Morocco will be interesting, but it is still not worth driving long distances. Be aware that most travel agents offer 50% discounts for children under 12.
Is it a good idea to travel with kids to Morocco?
At first glance, a vacation with kids in Morocco does not seem to be a very good idea. Nutritional problems may arise, there is a chance that the baby will be bored without the usual animation. But if you carefully prepare for the trip, choose a good hotel and plan various and interesting recreation programs, your little one will be happy.
When deciding whether to take kids on a joint family trip to Morocco, there are several nuances to consider. And the most important thing to start from is the age of the young tourist. It is one thing to travel in North Africa with a teenager and quite another to travel with a toddler.
Due to his age, a three-year-old toddler cannot yet appreciate the beauty of this country, but he will definitely succeed in making his parents worry about options for feeding, entertainment and movement from one attraction to another.
Features of feeding a little tourist
Morocco is a country of amazing red oranges, aromatic tangerines and unusual cuisine. In general, the food in this kingdom is of high quality and very inexpensive. However, the abundance of spices and the excessive pungency of some dishes make the local cuisine unsuitable for feeding little travelers. And if you can ask not to put a lot of spices in the dishes for an older child in a restaurant or cafe. And perhaps the waiter will understand you and even listen to your wishes, then you should not take such risks with dishes for the little one. It takes a little effort to feed your baby.
First, try to find a restaurant with a children’s menu. And there are definitely such in Morocco: the Juliet confectionery in Marrakesh, the Opera cafe in Casablanca and several other establishments in Agadir and Rabat with a children’s page on the menu. It would be wrong to say that such restaurants and cafes are there in all resorts of Morocco. Family catering in this country is rather an exception to the rule. And yet, if a decision is made to feed the child in a restaurant, then adults should first memorize the phrase in Arabic or French. It will have to express a request to cook a particular dish, seasoning it exclusively with salt.
Secondly, from the traditional local cuisine, chicken dishes, meat stewed in a pot with vegetables. And grilled cutlets with a vegetable or potato side dish are suitable for baby food. As for soups, they will seem spicy to tourists even with a minimum amount of spices, so I would not recommend ordering them for a child.
What to expect when travelling to Morocco with kids
Hotel meals are not particularly suitable for kids in Morocco. At best, it is a buffet, and often hotel guests offer only a free modest breakfast. Tourists with children will be very lucky if they manage to rent a room with a kitchen. Then it will be possible to prepare food for the child independently by purchasing food in the market or in one of the supermarkets of the Moroccan resort. By the way, the juiciest, freshest and tastiest fruits and vegetables are sold exclusively in bazaars, of which there are a lot in the resort cities of the country. And here the positive side of traveling in Morocco with a child will be revealed. During the rest, the young traveler can be fed with a half-year supply of vitamins, which are rich in plant reserves of the kingdom.
Everything that will be served on the child’s table must be prepared and rinsed with bottled water . Since tap water in Morocco is not very clean. And yet, while walking around the city, hands, pulling everything into the baby’s mouth, it is better to wipe with wet wipes, and not wash them in street fountains.
As for breastfeeding tiny babies, tourists should not forget that Morocco is still an Islamic state. This means that feeding the baby on demand will be problematic. A baby room in the shopping areas of Moroccan resorts, most likely, will not work. Therefore, breastfeeding will have to be covered with a handkerchief or diaper. Since it is strictly forbidden in the country to expose this part of the body in public, even for the sake of the heirs.
Specificity of movement in Morocco
The sights of Morocco are located at a significant distance from each other. Acquaintance with them will require travelers to overcome considerable distances, which not all children will like. Some car rides from the beautiful mosque to the centuries-old palace can take more than 2 hours. At the same time, part of the road will pass along winding serpentines, which are not always easily tolerated by children. True, it will be possible to stop on flat sections of the path and give the child a rest.
As for moving by car between the cities of Morocco, if you make it on toll roads. Then the journey will not be tiring at all. On the main highways of the country, within 30-40 kilometers from each other, there are gas stations, toilets and roadside restaurants with playgrounds. This is where babies can stretch their legs, have a snack, and parents can relax.
I would also like to note that traveling inside the resort with a child can also bring surprises . Many notable corners of Marrakech and Agadir are located on the hills. Their inspection will require tourists to overcome a large number of steps and narrow ladders. And this means that the stroller will transform from a convenient vehicle into a burden. You will have to carry a small child in your arms or in a “kangaroo”. And even if the monuments of interest to tourists are located in the flat part of the city, the road to them will not necessarily be suitable for a light stroller. In Moroccan resorts, asphalt with bumps and holes is a common thing. Therefore, tourists should come to terms with the fact that the child will spend most of the rest in their arms or around their neck.
Accommodation in Morocco
Finding a suitable place to stay in one of the resort towns of Morocco will be the most hassle-free point in planning a family trip. You can always stay in one of the multi-star hotels in Morocco. They will have on its territory a swimming pool, a recreation area and provide animation services. The hotel staff will pay special attention to children, while remaining at a respectful distance. Locals do not allow themselves to squeeze other people’s children, as is the case in popular resorts in other countries.
You can also stay overnight with a child in an inexpensive guest house. Luxurious conditions are not guaranteed here, but there will be a playground on the territory and amenities in the room.
In general, it is quite possible to make a trip to Morocco with kids. The main thing is to take into account all the features of a joint vacation in this impressive kingdom and mentally prepare for its unexpected surprises.
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