125 Planning a family trip to Morocco

Description

We are back from our spring breaks and this week, Tamara is telling us all about her family trip to Morocco. Tune in for tips on visiting Morocco with kids and what you need to plan your own trip.

ON THE PODCAST

00:30 - Talking with Kim about her ski trip

13:55 - Talking about Tamara's trip to Morocco

14:30 - Weather in Morocco

16:36 - How long to spend

18:28 - Travel to and from Morocco

19:40 - Itinerary

24:40 - Riads

29:39 - Food tour

34:20 - Shops

37:28 - Camping in the Desert

45:30 - Marrakech

51:15 - Cooking class

54:14 - Language

55:04 - Money

59:29 - Final Tips

1:01:55 - Favorite Place for a Family Photo

1:02:45 - What to wear

1:04:47 - Listener's tip

TIPS FOR VISITING MOROCCO

The weather during the spring is very nice, though you have to keep in mind that it changes depending on the area of country you are staying in. So the further north you are, the colder it will be, then it will warm up the further south you go.
When planning your trip to Morocco the best time to go will be in the springtime. The temperatures ranged from 50 to 80 during the day and about 40 to 60 at night. This will also depend on the area of the country you are staying in. November to January is not the best time to go because it tends to get quite rainy. Then in the summertime, the temperatures get very hot, so keep that in mind when planning when to go to Morocco.
You will need at least a week to explore what the country has to offer. Ideally two weeks in Morocco would be best, so that you can really explore. Make sure that you travel around to different areas rather than just picking on area and staying there the whole time. Get out of the touristy areas of the country a get a taste of the true Morocco.
Keep in mind that depending on how many places you want to visit there is a lot of driving involved. For instance if you want to spend a night in the Sahara desert it could take you an 8 hour drive to and from the desert. So you will need to plan accordingly.
Be aware that if you ask around on how long it will take to get somewhere, you will most likely be told that it will take less time that it actually will take.
If you are a squeamish person you may want to really do some research before planning your trip. You will definitely see some eye opening sights, like animal parts just hanging or laid out in the open. This is not a location for a germaphobe and you need to be careful where you eat.
You may want to look into hiring a driver for your trip to Morocco. This will save you some headaches and if you are not comfortable driving in foreign places. This may not be in the budget, but it is definitely worth looking into.
Make sure to keep an eye out for different stands that sell souvenirs and authentic merchandise. You will find that there are a lot of places that sell imported knockoffs.
Something that may be on your bucket list is camping in the desert. If so you should look into the experience when visiting Morocco. This is a big commitment considering the drive it takes to get to and from the area.
If you like food you should definitely look into taking a cooking class when you are in Marrakech. It could turn into the highlight of your trip.
In major areas you will find that most speak English, but in smaller areas that are less touristy you will hear a lot of French and Moroccan Arabic.
The money in Morocco is the Moroccan dirham, and you can't get this out of the country. You can exchange at the airport or you can go to an ATM. But keep in mind that for the ATM you can only take out 2,000 dirham at a time which is about 200 dollars, and you can only take out a max of 4,000 dirham a day. You also find that very few places take credit cards.
Having a driver can really make a big difference on how your trip will go. A thing to keep in mind is that there are police everywhere, so if you are planning to drive around yourself you need to keep an eye out because they do pull people over quite a bit. The roads are mostly narrow and winding. You may also come across some areas that are in the mountains and you will be on a narrow with a drop off one side and mountain on the other. So, if you are a nervous driver in areas like this you should definitely look into hiring a driver.
Keep in mind that you are in a conservative country and will need to wear clothing that is appropriate. Pants or skirts need to be below the knee, keep your shoulders and cleavage covered. Loose and flowing is a good option because you will be able to cover the areas that need to be covered and not get overly hot in the weather.

BEST PLACE TO TAKE FAMILY PHOTO

If you plan on experiencing the desert, this is a great place to get a family photo while you are there!

MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST

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Riad Kaiss Marrakech

Chefchaouen Morocco: 5 Important Facts to Know Before You Go

50 Essential Morocco Travel Tips for First-Time Tourists

How Much Does a Morocco Trip Cost?

Plan a Perfect 7-day, 10-day, or Two-week Morocco Itinerary

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