Visiting Morocco had long been a dream of mine – but a kind of scary one. In the months leading up to the trip, during all my planning and research, I felt wariness and concern I don’t usually feel about travel. We were hauling our kids to Africa! Things would be different from what we know (which is, of course, also kind of the point). Would we get stranded somewhere? Would they hate our American family because America in the world is not nice right now? Would we end up in a Moroccan jail for trying to drive and not understanding the roads?
Then, the week before the trip, all the worrying ceased. I felt utter calm and peace. And nothing but excitement. We were hauling our kids to Africa!
I am not sure why I felt anxiety in those few months. Perhaps it was the load of doing all of the planning and booking. (When you plan it all, you can also see how easily it could all go wrong. For example, I had booked two hotels for the same night, so that had to be sorted out at the last minute.) Mistakes and incidents are bound to happen when we take huge trips. Heck, mistakes and incidents happen even when we stay home.
I know now that my anxiety was extremely unnecessary. What a messy headspace I created for myself for no reason. Our days in Morocco were nothing short of magical.
I’ll share our full agenda soon, and why we chose what we did, but we had a beautiful experience in this country. Marrakech grabbed me in a way similar to Istanbul. And riding camels in the Sahara Desert with my teenagers is a core memory.
But I admit, the planning was overwhelming. I understand why more families don’t travel to far-flung, more uncomfortable places. It takes a lot of work for someone to get it all together. It takes someone willing to shoulder the burden of thinking through the logistics. (It is why I don’t think small group tours, like Intrepid and G Adventures, are bad. They do the planning for you!)
In the end, this was in all ways completely worth it.
Morocco has captured imaginations for decades. It is exotic. It is vast. It sparkles with a dozen Marrakech lanterns but is pitch-black in the desert. The culture celebrates slow and simple, yet it feels luxurious. It offers so much.
(There’s a lot more content on Morocco coming soon, so stay tuned!)
Tips and What to Know to Visit Morocco
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is Morocco safe (especially for women and kids)?
I never once felt unsafe in Morocco in any manner. It could have been due to the areas we were in (high tourist destinations), but I always felt safe and comfortable.
Marrakech felt challenging at times due to motorbikes that come flying down the souks’ and medina’s narrow paths without warning. But crosswalks, back alleys … everything felt very safe.
I was not traveling solo this time (unlike in Sri Lanka) so perhaps my feelings would have been different; my “kids” are also two very tall teenage boys. The culture here is overall very respectful and kind.
I did notice once we got out of Marrakech and into the smaller cities, all public-facing jobs were conducted by men. And while they gravitated towards talking to my husband, there wasn’t an ounce of negativity or disrespect towards me.
I am sure others have had different experiences – I can only share what I felt, and it was nothing but positive. Less hustle culture than even Las Vegas!
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Is driving in Morocco safe?
Mr. Family Trip still thinks driving in Ireland was the hardest driving he’s ever done (and he’s driven in a lot of countries).
Moroccan driving was fairly easy overall. The roads were straight, and the highways paved and in good condition. We did hit a couple of backroads outside of Marrakech that were terrible (potholes, barely paved), but that was the exception, not the rule, throughout our road trip.
Speed limits are strictly enforced with cameras and speed guns. So don’t speed.
Passing is a bit more loose, especially on highways. People pass often, and while still safe, not always in a designated passing zone.
There are police stops in various places throughout the country, and while we passed through most without issue, we did get stopped at one for not stopping for them before we turned right (at a yield sign). They gave us an official ticket and asked us to pay in cash (not much by way of dollar amount). So be sure you have all of your rental car’s paperwork lined up, your passport, and cash whenever you drive.
It was easy to find gas stations (although, pursuant to my note below, not all of them take credit cards). Google Maps worked well.
What should I wear in Morocco?
To be forthright, I am the type of traveler who prefers to dress with a nod to the culture I am in. I know other travelers feel differently – they wear what they wear because it makes them feel better about themselves, and it is who they are. They view it as freedom of expression. I respect that, but that’s not me.
In Turkey and Sri Lanka, I dressed fairly conservatively. Even in Europe, I try to blend in a bit more (leaving the jeans and big running shoes at home).
In Morocco, I was glad I showed respect for their cultural norms through what I wore.
Covered knees, covered shoulders, nothing too tight-fitting. Modest yet also comfortable.
While I am confident no one would have said anything had I dressed differently, it was very clear that the norms are more coverage (most Moroccan women wear long tunics, and in some areas, women wear traditional attire like the hooded djellaba).
It felt right to me to dress in a way that honored that.
Can you buy alcohol in Morocco?
Yes, but…
Religiously and culturally, alcohol is not part of life in Morocco. However, the government does allow for some alcohol sales in the country.
Most hotels have licenses to sell wine and beer to guests. Restaurants were mostly non-alcoholic sales. To purchase a bottle of wine or beer at a store, you have to find a Carrefour.
There is one very popular bar in Marrakech that has a modern bar menu, with fancy mixed drinks. It is the rooftop of a hotel and is nearly always on a wait. That was the only bar (as we know it) that we saw.
Alcoholic beverages are rarely, if ever, advertised. They are not on the menu. Occasionally, the hotel owner or restaurant owner would mention that they sell beer (which I don’t even really like), but that was rare.
One hotel we stayed at later told us that while they sell alcohol to guests, they will not offer it if any Moroccan families are staying there. They feel it would be disrespectful.
So yes, alcohol is around, and it isn’t illegal, but the bar culture is not celebrated like it is in other countries.
What should I eat in Morocco?
Eat tagine dishes (and drink fresh juices)!
Tagines are dishes prepared in a special style – the terracotta pot you see above. Various ingredients and spices go into the tagine based on the cook’s choices. We had tagines which included items such as chicken, root vegetables, cous cous, eggs, and kefta throughout our stay.
In many places, our kids found versions of hamburgers, and we even found a few places that offered pizza.
When you check into a riad (a home offering guest rooms, all centered around an interior courtyard or garden), you will be offered Moroccan mint tea. It is considered polite and good manners to drink it slowly and with enjoyment. Our kids eventually learned they liked it if they added a sugar cube.
Can I use my credit card in Morocco?
No, not really.
While it is easy enough to book hotel rooms, cars, and excursions in advance using credit cards, once in the country, it is a predominantly cash culture.
In major restaurants that cater to tourists, there is usually a credit card option. But if you are determined to pay by card, call ahead to make sure.
We found that even hotels we had paid a deposit for via credit card in advance wanted a cash payment for the balance. For some, they didn’t have WiFi to process credit transactions onsite.
Plan to primarily use cash in Morocco. There will be some places that accept credit cards, but more that don’t.
What else should I know to visit Morocco?
- Don’t drink the tap water.
- Don’t eat the street food. Despite my love for street food, we were told by many people to avoid street food in Morocco as it would surely upset our stomachs.
- While people talk about “Moroccan time” and things running late, we found that all of our booked activities and excursions started promptly. That said, there is definitely a “don’t hurry” culture in the country, particularly when it comes to food and tea.
- We were there in early April, and Marrakech was crowded. All of the places to see were selling out, reservations were booked up, and lots of visitors were touring the major sites. We didn’t mind, just be prepared and plan ahead. (More on Marrakech coming soon, so be sure to subscribe.)
The lesson learned here is that I spent too much time worrying over nothing. Everything turned out great because Morocco, and the Moroccan people, were great.
This was an adventure I am so glad we took.
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