» » Ceuta’s creative Parque Marítimo del Mediterráneo, its pools surrounded by restaurants
and cafes.
Fun & Games
» » Jardin Majorelle and Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakesh; on the latter, children enjoy amusements
such as the ‘fishing for a bottle’ game.
» » Atlas Film Corporation Studios, Ouarzazate, featuring sets and props from famous films
made hereabouts.
PLANNING
If you look hard enough, you can buy just about anything you need for young children in Morocco. Before leaving home, think
about what you can take with you to Morocco’s various environments; wet-weather gear is vital in the mountains in case the
weather turns bad.
Lonely Planet’s Travel with Children has more information and tips.
Accommodation
Some hotels are more family-friendly than others, so check your children will be well catered for before booking.
Like the airlines, many hotels will not charge children under two years of age. For those between two and 12 years sharing a
room with their parents, it’s often 50% off the adult rate. If you want reasonable toilet and bathroom facilities, you’ll need to stay
in midrange hotels.
Transport
Northern Morocco has a great rail infrastructure and travel by train may be the easiest, most enjoyable option: children can
stretch their legs and fold-out tables are useful for drawing and games. Travellers and children are eligible for reductions and
discount cards ( Click here ).
Grands taxis and buses can be a real squeeze with young children, who count not as passengers in their own right but as
wriggling luggage, and have to sit on your lap. The safety record of buses and shared taxis is poor, and many roads are
potholed.
Hiring a vehicle – a taxi in Marrakesh or a 4WD to the mountains – is well worth the extra expense. Bring a child seat! They
allow children to see out of the window and hire-car companies normally don’t have them; seats generally cost more in
Morocco than in Europe.
Health & Hygiene
Alcohol gel is essential, as children tend to touch everything. Disposable nappies are a practical solution when travelling
despite the environmental drawbacks; international brands are readily available. All travellers with children should know how to
treat minor ailments and when to seek medical treatment.
Make sure the children are up to date with routine vaccinations, and discuss possible travel vaccines well before departure,
as some are not suitable for children aged under a year.
Upset stomachs are always a risk for children when travelling, so take particular care with diet. If your child is vomiting or
experiencing diarrhoea, lost fluid and salts must be replaced. It may be helpful to take rehydration powders for reconstituting
with sterile water; ask your doctor.
In Morocco’s often-searing heat, sunburn, heat exhaustion and dehydration should all be guarded against, even on cloudy
days. Bring high-factor sunscreen with you, and avoid travelling in the interior during midsummer, when temperatures rise to
40°C plus.
Encourage children to avoid dogs and other mammals because of the risk of rabies and other diseases – although there
isn’t likely to be a risk on camel rides in the desert, or with donkeys and mules working in places like Fez medina.
See Click here for more information on health.