Marrakesh - anyone been with smaller kids??

[SJaneS]

Planning ahead here for next May (having holidays to look forward and trips to plan keeps me going!), I was thinking of Marrakesh for the half term week - possibly 3 days at a Riad in the Medina and then the rest of the time at a big hotel with pools in the 'burbs. Our daughter is 6 and very well travelled. I've heard someone else say the Medina is a bit dangerous with carts and bikes for small people. I'd really lie to do the Medina/Road bit. Anyone been with their kids and what are your thoughts? Thank you!

We went with DD1 when she was 7, we stayed at a Riad in the medina in Marrakesh for a few days then travelled up to Essouira on the bus and stayed in a riad there for a couple of nights. We were there in February so the weather wasn't great, we ended up going up to Agadir for a couple of days for the sun, staying in a big AI Hotel, and back to Marrakesh and a Riad for two nights before we flew home. We had booked flights and the first nights Riad, everything else we did while we were there, basically just winging it!
It was a lovely holiday. Medina was done, just keep an eye on your child at all times!

We took our DD when she was 4 and had a good snoop round the medina. Don't miss the Marjorelle Gardens.They are so beautiful and calm. We'd been to Cairo several times before so Marrakech didn't seen too frenetic.

Thanks all - feel reassured!

DS is half Moroccan so we have been going since he was tiny. I think morocco is a great place for kids and Marrakech is less frenetic than it used to be/ than people believe it to be.

You will be fine with a 6 year old, only thing that could be tricky is 'interesting' toilets, so take wet wipes etc. Morocco in very child friendly, they will always welcome and accomadate children

I was just coming on to post the same thing. Thanks for the helpful info.
Can anyone recommend an atlas mountain tour suitable for a 6yr old?

We went this year just before DD was 2. She was predominately in her buggy but did walk quite a lot around the Medina and souks without too many issues. I'm sure with a 6 YO you'll be absolutely fine. The Riad we stayed in were great with her; really, really accommodating. We really enjoyed it and would like to go back again.

Fawakay Villas near Marrakech but in the hills is lovely and v child friendly

If budget will stretch I recommend this hotel. They have a small pool on site but a much larger one a 10 mins shuttle ride away. Fab.
www.lamaisonarabe.com/

I wasn't there with children but there were children on site. It's 5 mins from the medina/large square.

Generally, ensure you and your children have your jabs. Don't treat it as though you were just going to Spain because it feels so close by.

Treadsoftly what jabs? I've never had a jab to go to morocco. Nor has DS.

www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/africa/morocco.shtml

There's a relatively long list. It didn't occur to me to be vaccinated at all and due to a fairly recent trip to South America we'd had everything on the list anyway.
A colleague got Hepatitis A from a weekend in Marrakesh. Quite seriously ill and had permanent liver damage requiring monthly blood tests and other medical treatment on a long term basis. It was quite a wake up call for me as North Africa is so accessible now as a mainstream tourist destination.
We travelled all over Morocco. Mostly stayed in very naice Riads or places billed as 4* hotels like the one I've linked to. We were very careful about where we ate but still ended up with severe food poisoning after eating a side salad.

My colleague was probably just very unlucky and most people don't bother but I haven't met anyone who has visited north africa yet with or without children who haven't had a run in with a dicky tummy at best.

After 48hrs of vomming and diarrhoea and sharing the floor of the bathroom with my husband at a riad in Fez, I can safely say that the club sandwich that we had on arrival at Maison L'Arabe is the best thing we've ever eaten. Even more so because the room service waiter clearly clocked our vehement response to the side salad it came with when we were ordering, and returned with chips.

If you've not been to Morocco before, the hotels can often arrange a guide. ML'A booked one for us for a day. He was an English lecturer at the university, excellent company and gave us all the history, took us to the main sites, recommended cafes and restaurants, swatted away hassling types in the medina, advised what the going rate was for a pair of leather slippers, all for the princely sum of 25 plus tip.

We went with Naturally Morocco and had great riad plus lovely Atlas trip. Didn't have any vaccinations - didn't think any were recommended- and didn't have any tummy bugs.

We went when one of the kids were slightly older than 7 (possibly just turned 8) and we stayed at this place:

www.riad-dar-one.com/en/

It is in the Medina and the Jewish quarter. In seems very scary as it is down back allies but it is very safe and the staff and owner are wonderful. Nothing is too much trouble for them and they were fab with the kids. Breakfast can be taken at your leisure and can be either inside or on the lovely roof terrace.

I think 7 is absolutely fine. We walked everywhere and felt extremely safe even in the Jemaa el Fna square at night (beware of the snakes though if you don't like them!). We also ate in the square at night a few times and none of us suffered any food poisoning at all. The only place we didn't feel comfortable was up by the tanneries as there was pressure to buy/tip. Everywhere else was great and the kids really enjoyed it.

We also all did a balloon ride which was fab:

www.marrakechbyair.com/en/

and included a great berber breakfast and then the inevitable camel ride!