Traveling with Kids in Morocco

Having been inspired by DeliciousBaby, a great blog with tips about traveling with kids, we present to you Morocco with Kids. The information in these guides comes from various ex-pat moms living in each of the different cities. Part One in our series on Traveling with Kids in Morocco focuses on general tips about traveling here with kids.

The other parts in the series are:

1. Tips for Traveling in Marrakesh with Kids
2. Tips for Traveling in Rabat with Kids
3. Tips for Traveling in Meknes with Kids

Here are there results:

1. Snacks: Morocco for all its greatness is not your beacon of variety as far as food options. Most cafes offer more or less the same things: paninis, pizzas, tagines, spaghetti and omlettes. Restaurants will branch out a bit (depending on the restaurant). Several of the moms we talked to recommended by some snack foods at Marjane and keeping those with you as you travel around Morocco.

2. Infant/Toddler Carriers: The streets of the Medina are not stroller friendly. If you are trying to navigate them with a stroller you are in for a headache. Mom’s recommended products like Baby Bjorn or Ergo Baby Carriers as the best way to travel with kids in Morocco. If not, make sure your stroller has big wheels and is made for navigating rough terrain.

3. Kids Cups: Cafes and restaurants in Morocco typically only have glass glasses and cups. If you want to avoid this, bring your own sippy cups for your kids.

4. Diapers/Wipes: Decent quality diapers and wipes are readily available in Morocco. Marjane, grocery stores, and many hanuts have Pampers and wipes on hand.

5. Formula: Most of the formulas available in Morocco are laden with sugar. Similac is available without sugar. You can get it a pharmacy.

6. Baby Food: Same problem as the formula, laden with sugars. If you want to feed your child baby food, bring it from home. Fruits and veggies are abundant in Morocco and cheap, so depending on where you are staying you might give a try at making your own baby food.

7. Medical Care: Check your embassy website, and you may need to call the embassy for info, but most embassies have recommended doctors or doctors they have relationships with.

8. Cribs/Baby Beds: Many hotels and riads will offer baby beds, just ask the property. Quality of those beds vary drastically, so that is an option to think through.

9. Kid-Friendly Culture: Morocco is a super kid friendly culture, and people hear love children. The noise and rambunctiousness of children is considered normal in most Moroccan establishments. In riads, it can sometimes be a different story, as they are trying to cater to many different types of clients in a small space. So it is always good to ask before you come. You can also check out our list of riads that have identified themselves as family friendly riads.One thing that can be a bit strange for Westerners is that Moroccans will often come up and kiss your baby/child on the cheek, or want to hold and play with your baby/child. Our advice is that you do what you feel comfortable with, but just know that it is a part of the culture in Morocco, and is a normal activity.

10. Baby Chairs/Booster Seats: Most restaurants don’t have booster seats or baby chairs. You can have your child sit on your lap, or one product that has been helpful for families with kids is the inflatable booster seat.

11. Strollers- If you want to use a stroller, go with the umbrella kind. They are lightweight and easy to fold up. This is a good solution when you are walking around someplace and you need to carry your stroller.

12. Hats/Cold Gear- As we said before, Moroccan culture is very kid friendly. As a part of this, Moroccans will watch out for your kids needs regarding temperature and sun exposure. If you get advice while out and about concerning the need for a hat for your child in the sun, or more clothes in light of a chill in the air, just know that you are being cared for, even if it is a bit of a cultural difference.

13. Car Seats/Taxis-There is no car seat law in Morocco (at least that we have seen enforced). What this means is that in a taxi, your child will not need a car seat. If you rent a car, be sure to inquire whether a car seat as available. Also, in taxis, the maximum the small taxis can hold is three people besides the driver. Your child, no matter their age is included in this number, so your family may need to travel in separate taxis.

14. Peanut Butter: Is there peanut butter? Yes. Most Marjane’s have it, is is Jessy’s Brand and it is located in the section with Nutella and the like.

15. Hand Sanitizer/TP: Not all bathrooms will have soap or toilet paper. We recommened hand sanitizer and bring your own TP.

16. Don’t Expect Kid Friendly Fixtures in Hotels/Riads: Fixtures in Morocco are not kid friendly. Awkward steps, railings, hard tile floors, are the norm. Many riads don’t offer bathtubs as well. So be prepared to get a little creative in making your room safe for your child.

17. Enjoy Morocco!: In the end, these tips are to help you get the most out of your experience and to have the best time with your family possible. All the parents we interviewed have traveled extensively with their young children in Morocco and have enjoyed their experiences. So have fun!

This is the third part in our series on traveling in Morocco with kids . Today we will feature Meknes. Meknes is a smaller town with comparitively less to do than Marrakesh or Rabat, but it still offers some nice options for kids if you are staying there for a few days.

Great Places for your Kids:

McDonald’s To the Rescue (Again): The McDonalds in the center of town has a play area for kids and a nice outside sitting area. Always a safe bet.

Aladdin Park: Located on the way out of town on Trek Fes, about 15 km from the city center. It can only be accessed with a car, no buses or taxis go there. There is a restaurant, activity/event center and a playground for kids aged 3-10. It also has a pool that is open in the summer and is not very crowded. The drinks in the cafe are a bit pricey but worth it for the atmosphere and access to the playground. During the summers this park is packed with people in the evening after 7 pm.

Jumpy Gym: The moms we interviewed did not know the official name of this play area, only referring to it fondly as “The Jumpy Gym.” It is located 5 minutes behind the small train station in Meknes (over the bridge and down the small hill). Entrance costs a few dirhams and the kids can jump on the inflatable castle there. They also have food and drinks available.

Parks: Meknes has several parks throughout the city for kids to romp around and run in. There are no other playgrounds other than the ones mentioned above. One park, located between the New City and the Medina on the road to the old Medina has a small zoo of mostly birds. It costs 10 dhs to get in. It is somewhat irregular in its hours.

Volubilis: The ancient Roman ruins are a great place for kids to run free and experience the ancient history. One Meknes family we interviewed noted Volubilis as their kids favorite spot in Meknes.

Top Places for Kids in Rabat

1. Hilton Park: There is a great park next to the old Hilton, everyone knows it as Hilton park. It has a running trail, is shaded well, has several fountains, cafes, and area for kids to ride their bikes and run around and play. It is also a great spot for picnics, soccer, or just running around.

2. MegaMall: MegaMall on Rue Mohammed Saadis, has a great play area for kids. They have a little climbing wall there as well. There is a bowling alley there. They also have a food court. As of February, the play area was under construction, but when it is open it is a real hit with the kids.

3. Playground Near Fridays: There is a small playground near Friday’s restaurant in Agdal. There slides there for kids to climb around on. It is open during daylight hours and always has a lot of little kids running around there.

4. The Exotic Gardens: This is on the road to Kenitra, you can see this post we wrote about it, and it is a great place to go and relax and for kids to run around.

5. The Beach: Rabat has a handful of beaches in it, or in Sale, that are great for kids to play on the sand. In warm months there are constantly people at Plage Rabat (just beyond the Oudaya) during the day. There is also a pier there to walk out on. In the summer, they set up games and play areas (carnival like) for people to play. Another fun beach is also on the road to Kenitra just past the Exotic Gardens called Plage de Nationes. There are some small cliffs near it where you can see people doing some sort of hanggliding during the day. Beware though, the current at Nations Beach is really, really strong and the water is cold. The water at Plage Rabat also has a reputation for getting people sick as well.

6. The Fish Market at Skihrat: On Sundays, there is a fish market at Skihrat, near Rabat on the road to Casablanca. The fisherman come in with their little boats from the water and sell their fresh fish straight off the boat. They have all kinds of interesting looking fish there, sure to interest the kids.

7. Tour Hassan: Tour Hassan, demarked by the large pillar you see standing in the downtown skyline, is a great place for your kids to run around. They have guards on horses and older men dressed in traditional Berber attire selling water from a leather canteen. There is a garden on two sides of the monument.

8. McDonalds: There are a handful of MacDonalds in Rabat. One downtown, one in Agdal, one at the Marjane in Hay Riad. There are also a few of Pizza Huts (by Marjane downtown, and by the Label Vie Gallery in Suissi), and a few Dominos (Agdal and Label Vie Gallery).

9. Food Courts: There are food courts with all kinds of food at the Mega Mall and at Label Vie Gallery- pizza, fried chicken, Mexican food, Chinese- pretty much anything you can think of. No, its not culturally Moroccan, but sometimes anything will do to get your kids to eat.

This is the first installment where we will focus on Marrakech. Again, all of our information comes from expats, living and raising kids in Morocco. If you are looking for a riad, be sure to search our family-friendly riads in Marrakech.

Top Spots By City:

Marrakesh:

Oasiria Water Park: It is open all year round now. Prices vary by season and there is a shuttle bus that runs from town or is easily found on the road to Tahanout if you have acar. At the same place is an amusements park, it’s quite small and parents have to pay entry fee but there are bouncy castles and small amusing things to do.

Afriquia Petrol Stations! Surprise, surprise, but the Afriquia Petrol Stations on the road to Casablanca and on the road to Fez have good sized play parks with climbing frames, zip wire, slides etc., and loads of sand. This place is great for kids from about age 2 until 12. There are cafes adjoining that do reasonable priced tagines and salads, they also have nice desserts and ice cream. It is easy to get to these stations in a taxi, but hard to get back from.

Macdonalds: The sure bet for kids, there are 4 now in the city, but only the one on the roundabout at the
intersection of road to Safi and road to Casablanca has a play place in it now.

Kentucky Fried Chicken: There is one in Gueliz and one in the new train station. Honestly the food is only OK and a bit price, but the kids seem to like it.

Kawkab Jeux: This is a cafe with a ton of amusements for kids. Its near the Royal Tennis Club and Harti Gardens in Gueliz. You pay for tickets for younger kids to go into a big padded play house with slides and balls and swings, or a small park with slides, climbing frames, trampolines and a little train. Or there is a more sedate area upstairs for the under 3s. There are age limits on the equipment but they don’t enforce them! I think the feeling is if you think your child can do it then let them go for it. There is a room downstairs with a circuit to ride on electronic cars and then a whole host of pinball machines, video games and pool tables etc. for older kids. These games range from 1 dh to 5 dh a go. The cafe does pizza and crepes and ice creams.

Harti Gardens: opposite the Poste Office in Gueliz. Its a paved garden with shady walkways and a little park in the middle with some concrete dinosaur slides, its a bit worn looking but free. It does shut it gates if there’s a football match on and on some days at lunchtime. Also, you’re not allowed to walk on the grass !

Cyber Gardens: On the main road into the Medina, the same road as the Mosque. Really nice paved gardens. No play park but nice to walk around, just don’t go on the grass!

Menara gardens: You can probably get taxis from there, if not the walk back towards the Medina is very pleasant as long as it’s not 50 degrees C! You can ride bikes round here (if you bring your own), feed bread to the fish that look like something out of Jurassic Park (I swear they have teeth). There’s a cafe as well but its expensive, and loads of olive groves that Marrkashis sit around in. Its a great atmosphere especially on a Sunday afternoon when loads of families go there for picnics and to play the drums. The trees are great for little explorers to climb.

Majorelle Gardens: The gardens are very small but very beautiful. lots of goldfish and terrepins. There are leaflets for kids to fill out as they go round. These are in French although we were talking to the managers a few weeks ago and they say they’ll print an English version soon. There is a charge to get in.

A Caleche ride: You can get horse drawn carriages from almost anywhere touristy in the city. They have a rate printed on a little lable in the carriage that was 80 dhs an hour last time we looked… but you really have to barter hard to get a price anywhere near this! Agree to a price before you get in and agree on a route and time too, otherwise they’ll take you somewhere boring like the Palmerie and it will take you twice as long to get back and thus they’ll charge you twice as much!

Megarama Cinema: On the road to Ourika, Its 25 dhs a ticket but all films are in French. The kids love it though.

Jmaal Fna: Monkeys and snakes… Need I say more.

Royal Equestrian Centre: Opposite Oasiria, they have pony rides and horse riding lessons, last time we went we just turned up.

Things to do outside the city…

Setti Fatma and the Ourika Valley: As you go out along the Ourika Valley beyond Tnine Ourika you can stop at any of the little tagine places and let the kids mess around on the rocks near the river.
It’s not generally a deep or fast flowing river, and if it is looking dangerous the people living there will be sure to tell you. Setti fatima is a great place for older kids. you can climb up to the waterfalls which is
a bit scary at times but the mom who supplied this information, said that she managed (she is a mother of three) so she said that it can’t be that hard.

Amizmiz: has a weekly market which often has tourists there and is a great place to take kids, see the donkey park, beautiful mountain scenery…

Kasbah at Imlil: You can get a taxi into the town and then it’s a half hour climb up the hill through the trees, over some boulders up to the Kasbah, on foot or on donkey. Lunch is very expensive there but you can sit up there, admire the views, and have cup of tea and some snacks for next to nothing.