Marrakech with a 5m old / first trip away...

[moggle]

We're expecting our first baby in mid November, and have been invited to the wedding of two good friends at the start of May. They're getting married in Marrakech in a riad in the medina and we would really love to go! It'd be a Friday-Monday trip. We've been to Marrakech before and done all the "must do's" so it'll be no problem if we end up spending the whole time in the (quite posh) riad.

I'm just trying to work out if we are nuts or this is a reasonable thing to do. I'd just like some other opinions from parents as to whether this is just a crazy thing to arrange so far in advance! Some of our parent friends think we are nuts; some think it's a great idea. Unfortunately we can't wait until after the baby is born to book as it will be much more expensive by this point.

Also two specific questions:
I've read that taxis in Morocco don't have car seats at all - this worries me as the baby will still be pretty small. Does anyone with specific knowledge know if it's possible to advance book transport with a car seat, regardless of the cost? (up to a point! Am hoping the riad will be able to help with this...)

Can I even book a ticket for a baby before it's born and it doesn't have a name?! Can I add it to my booking later like hold luggage or golf clubs?!

I would imagine it will be fine, but then we took a 5 month old to Antigua and an 8 month old to Australia, so we are very much of the get on with it approach (and had babies that were happy to travel, sleep in buggies, on laps etc)

You can book a ticket for "Baby Moggle" and give the name later, but you'll need to ring the airline to manage it I think.

I think you should go!

I'm currently in Greece with my 4 month old. It's quite a different holiday from what we're used to but it's been fine. There are no car seats in taxis here so when we have had to take one dd sits on my husband's knee. It's no different from taking a short trip in a bus. We also travelled to France about a month ago but this trip involved longer drives so we hired a car with a car seat. You should be able to do this is morocco too? Or indeed check with the riad.

You'll get people telling you it will be too hot for the baby. It will of course be hot but you just have to do things differently. We (obviously) avoid the hottest part of the day and when we are on the beach she is constantly in the shade with an iced bottle of water under the sunbed and a damp muslin above her head. She hasn't shown any signs of suffering from the heat at all.

Finally, check with the airline about adding a passenger. I did this with easyjet for a flight I'd booked before dd was born (I had to phone to do this) but other airlines may not let you.

Oh and if you're travelling to the airport by car you can also check your car seat in and then use it again when you get there. They're pretty hefty though!

I think we are of the same mindset Patricia but just worrying about what we'll feel like once baby moggle is actually here! And like you say - will we have a baby who's pretty easygoing or not. (I'm hoping so as apparently DH and I were both pretty 'easy' babies...).
I feel like as it's only 3 days, it can't be too much of a disaster, can it?! The worst outcome that's actually likely is baby doesn't sleep in the heat, so neither do we, we have to tag team at the reception because baby won't sleep in the buggy, baby cries a lot and earns us looks of disdain from other guests (but they should all be wedding guests, some with kids, so hopefully some understanding!), we get home and say 'never again!' and it takes a couple of weeks for life to get back to whatever normal is...

tertle - thanks that's really helpful! We probably will fly with easyjet. I think from reading on their site they allow an on-lap baby to bring two baby items so will need to decide what they would be! Buggy for slightly more flexible sleeping, car seat, etc. I think if we stay in the riad where the reception is, that will obviously be most convenient, but they don't normally allow children under 5 so if they do for the wedding we might need to bring something for baby to sleep in too. The riad has air-con too so hopefully a good respite from the heat if baby (or me!) does find it too much...

We took dd1 to a wedding in Berlin when she was 5 months old. Sounds straightforward but we travelled by train! It is a good age as they are not tiny newborns but they're not eating food. We had a brilliant time.

We had a Samsonsite popup cot we took loads of places when the DCs were that age that worked well - went in the suitcase!

I actually wouldn't bother with a buggy - just take the car seat, a sling & travel cot. For 3 days where you'll mostly be in one place it won't be worth it - especially if you are walking around the medina. However I would wait to make that decision when the baby's here - and see how you get on with sleeping / transport.

The heat shouldn't be an issue as most riads are pretty cool, lots of fans and shade. After a British winter your LO will welcome the sunshine!

I've never had one but I agree about the Samsonite cot - they look really handy.

I am so jealous! You'll have a fab time.

Ooh the samsonite cot looks fab! Good idea re the buggy tondelayo - probably will only be useful for sleeping and we should know by then whether or not baby likes sleeping in the buggy or not.
Thanks for all the positive responses, definitely helps us feel more reasonable!