A Step by Step Guide on Road Tripping through Morocco with Kids
Article includes cities, hotels and attractions. (Specific details of roads, safety and the overall experience, read https://www.itsthebalancingact.com/home/2018/3/22/tripping
*Click/Tap to view slideshow
I was a bit apprehensive about doing a road trip to northern Africa with young children. The people do not speak English, and the medias portrayal of Africa has not always been favorable. However it was everything and more that I hoped it would be. It is a country, whose culture and beauty still lingers in my mind. The roads, people and country were magnificent.
We flew to Morocco using Royal Air Maroc, in early August. The airplane was very clean with a lot of leg room. There were tablets on each seat which made the process of flying a lot of fun for my children. The airplane on the way to Morocco was practically empty and the air hostess were very attentive.
Below is the layout of our road trip.
The city of Casablanca- A bustling port city, with beautiful architecture.
Where I stayed: Movenpick Hotel Casablanca, this hotel is close to the Medina and features contemporary designs. The rooms were large for a standard room. It has a large king size bed, living room with furniture. We used this area to keep our luggage. My children also used this area to play with their toys. The room was dark, which made it easier to get sleep with our jetlag. The restaurant is on the top and has glass windows that overlooks the pool. There are cabanas for those who wanted to soak up the sun and swim. The lunch is great at the restaurant, we ordered wraps and burgers with fries. The spa, is incredible.
Things to do: A must-see site, is Hassan II Mosque. It is the largest mosque in Morocco and the 13th in the world. It has the world’s largest minaret. It is not overly crowded and easy to navigate through with a stroller. The doors and court yard are very detailed.
A hammam is a steam room, where the body is exfoliated using gloves and a series of body treatments. It is a VERY intimate process. You are given a towel and an underwear. It is you, a steam room, the woman performing the hammam and the towel is gone in a few minutes. She was scrubbing so hard, I thought my skin would fall off but it was just dead skin. The best part is when she says "See how dirty you were." It was all worth it, after the exfoliation process, my body was so soft and clean. All the dead skin was gone. This is a must, in Morocco.
The city of Marrakesh- Located in western Morocco. Marrakesh is lined with pink homes and buildings. It has maze like alleys which made it hard to find our hotel. I wish I had stayed longer in Marrakesh.
Where I stayed: Les Deux Tours, Marrakech. We stayed in a two-bedroom private suite with a private pool. The room was a work of art, lots of details indicative of Moroccan art. Everything about this place was exceptional. When walking to eat, there are inground tanks with turtles and fish. The lunch/dining area over looks two pools and green pasture. The food is tasty, and the service is even better.
Things to do:
Camel rides
Throughout the streets traditional textiles and pottery are for sale. It is much cheaper than the souqs and malls. It is home to the Berbers, pre- Arab inhabitants, who took us through the desert on camels. My daughter looked up into the sky and said, “It is going to rain.” The Berber tour guide, laughed and said, “It does not rain here.” A few minutes later it started to rain. My husband was dressed in traditional Berber clothing and took pictures. The tour guide was great and took pictures of us on our camels. We were also able to take selfies with our camels. We went towards the end of the day, when the sun was going to go down. We were the only ones on camel ride.
ATV
We rode ATV’s in the desert which is a little tricky initially. Eventually I got the hang of it, after stressing out the tour guide. We drove to a tent in the desert, where we had Moroccan mint tea and Moroccan pancakes, Beghrir. It was a perfect ending to an already beautiful day.
Koutoubia Mosque
Largest mosque in Marrakech, which is decorated with curved windows and decorated arches.
The city of El Jadida- A small port city on the Atlantic coast of Morocco.
Where I stayed: Art Suites El Jadida. The room was large and for a small city, relatively nice. I have allergies and it was a bit dusty for me. The bathroom is also VERY small.
Things to do :
El Jadida Beach- This is more of a local beach. It was a bit dirty because of the amount of people at the beach. I would not recommend stopping here.
The city of Rabat -Morocco’s capital, which rests along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
Where I stayed: Riad El Maati, a small but beautiful riad. It is located within the souq. There very accommodating and will provide breakfast, whenever you wake up. The manager of the souq, Maryam is very helpful and speaks fluent English. She will take you throughout the souq, and help you find the best deals.
Things to do:
Kasbah of the Udayas- It is located at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river opposite Salé. The structure was built in the 12th century during the reign of the Almohad Caliphate. It is quite beautiful, with the water surrounding the edifice.
Chellah- This is a must-see site, Medieval fortified Muslim necropolis. The ruins are a combination of the Muslims and the Phoenicians. The site is not crowded, and you have access to all of it. There is a lot of greenery surrounding the ruins which adds to the beauty of these ancient ruins.
Mausoleum of Mohammed V- A historical building.
The city of Fes- Located in northeastern Morocco. It is known for its vibrant souq and medieval architecture.
Souq- The souq is not very accommodating to strollers or children. The souq is unique and worth exploring if you are able too. It is more like rooms, where people are working on items and you can witness the process of the artisans. Items are the most expensive when compared to the other souqs.
Where I stayed: Palais Amani, a luxurious riad. This riad is located within the souq in Fes. Once the doors are opened this riad is like a whole new world. It has beautiful blue and white tiles and fountains throughout the court yard. The roof top provides an escape and a breath of fresh air to see the stars and overlook Fes.
The city of Meknes: A city in northern Morocco, known for its imperial past.
Archaeological site of Volubilis – This is a little off the beaten path but it is so worth it! Founded in the 3rd century B.C, it was a very important city to the Roman Empire. The site has many extensive remains, that shows how the upper and lower class lived in the Roman Empire. Separate door ways for the upper class and tiled mosaics in the atrium. There are Roman baths and government buildings for important meetings.
The city of Tangier :A Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, it a strategic gateway between Europe and Africa. This city felt modern, compared to the rest of Morocco.
Where I stayed: Mnar Castle Apartments. This hotel is a bit far from the city, but not too far if you have a car. The apartments are clean, spacious and modern. Our room overlooked the pool and the ocean. It has great views of Southern Spain. However, it was windy. It was hard keeping my clothes down and my hijab on. As a result, the pool was really cold, but my son still insisted on going in. This place has a lot of potential, but it needs more staff.
Things to do:
Tangier Beach- This place comes alive during the night. There are wide variety of things to do, henna tatoos, horse rides on the sand and personalized bracelets. On the same strip as the beach are great restaurants without a long wait. The waiters speak, French, Arabic and Spanish.
Tangier souq- Similar to other souqs, a burst of color, textiles and carpets fill the aisles.
Final Destination- Casablanca - USA
