Holiday in Morroco with 14m old?

[candr]

Have been offered a chance to go in Jan but have never been abroad with DS. Does any one know how hot it will be (DS is red head and very fair) and what is the food like as DS won't eat spicey stuff? What do we do about drinking water as have been told LO shouldn't have bottled water?
What would you take with you and how long is the flight?
Is this going to be really hard work or will I enjoy it with (hopefully a toddler) in tow?

Honestly, I wouldn't go. It prob won't be that hot in jan (maybe 20) but it's the hygiene, water, insect bites and lack of access to good medical services that would bother me.
I'm widely travelled (pre DS) and took DS to Australia at 5 months so not travel averse, but I still wouln't take him to morroco now at a very robust 22 months.
That said, there are plenty of Moroccan babies and if you plan well, take a good first aid kit and take care to use bottled water you'll probably be fine.
I'm naturally not a risk taker!
Good luck with your choice.

We went to Marrakech when DD1 was 12 months old and had a fabulous time. The cuture loves babies and everyone was amazing. We hired a Riyadh and had a lovely lady who cooked for us £9 p,p,p,n and made DD1 food separately for her tea time at 5pm. DD1 did eat anything and everything, but IIRC none of it was particularly spicy.

We went in November and the weather was lovely (late teens/early 20's). The flight time is short and the airport transfer only minutes. The only thing i would say is that if your DS is properly walking it might be a bit of a pain. We were lucky that DD was still contained to a buggy so no risk of losing her in souks etc.

There are gardens, day trips to the mountains and much more. We bought milk and nappies (pampers) over there and it was all fine.

Go for it!!

DP's family is from Morrocco so we go every year. DS1 was 6 months the first time he went and DS2 was 5 months.

How old is your child?

where are you going? the weather can be very different if you are by the seaside or inland.
Also are you going to stay with moroccan people or in a hotel or in a club? it all varies!!
mosquito bites? well you can buy those plugs with insect repellent here or over there.

nothing is going to match european standard. It Is a developing country. Nappies (even pampers) are ofpoor quality. Kenda cream is as good as sudocream, should you need it. i make my kids drink bottled water (and i do too) and even with that we do get the occasional stomach bug. i do buy some dyarolite in england before we go.
you can get antibiotics without prescriptions at the chemist, should you need something. ive never been to the doctor there, but i did make use of the chemist advise quite a lot (for DP's eye infection, kids diarhea, kids flu).
I make sure my kids dont touch stray dogs and cats though,there are quite a lot of them around my PILs.

Why is your LO not allowed bottled water?

i used to take lots of babyjars with me, but my kids clearly prefer morocan food!!! same goes for formula milk, i used to bring mine but now i just buy over there.

it is so different from life in Europe, that both my kids love going there!! they just cant wait to go back and always talk about it!

People are really friendly, food is not spicy (the more east you go, algeria, tunisia, the spicier food is), the atmosphere is different, everything is different.

Id go, but i would go prepared. Let me know if you have anymore questions! Everybody there love children so dont be surprised if a total stranger stop and kiss your LO!

I would def go, I went In may last year with disabled father and 4 year old, the people could not have been more friendly and riads more helpful.

Much more helpful than here and they seem to LOVE children, so again a relief to be in such a child friendly place. i consider UK to be very un child freindly.

We have been in May and June/July and not one bite, I was biten to death in other african countries, the food isnt really spicey at all, its mostly tangines which are tasty stews with olives, chicken and lemons...breakfasts are same as anywhere - yoghurts, fruits, breads.....jam....

It is developing but also a strong western vibe there was french colony...some places are very very stylish and upmarket....

My only concern with small child toddling would be the little lanes....once you get used to them - fine but I wouldnt have a little one who doesnt understand traffic wandering....in the lanes I would keep child in pushchair.

I adore Marrakech been twice and cant wait to go back again....

also i took jar food in case she didnt eat, which she did and as normal when go away usually take own nappies and stuff anyway...they do have normal chemists and stuff...

honeslty i think its a magical place, i am sure your first night you will be thinking, wow - but perhpas made a mistake, after that though yo uwill LOVE it.

Thanks, has given me some things to think about.
Do you need any jabs or Malaria pills?
Will take fold up push chair as DS will be 14m (and can hang shopping on them )
Good idea to take 'squit' medicine with us as am prone to tummy bugs when I travel.
Is it a good idea to hire a car and drive round?, will I be able to hire a car seat there?
Was in Egypt with family I nannied for and everyone kept stroking their hair and trying to kiss them - freaked the kids out at first but they soon loved the attention, DS will beam at anyone who even glances at him.
I read somewhere that children shouldn't have bottled water due to levels of chemicals or something but I don't see a way around it if you can't have tap water.
How long is the flight?

Well u can always boil water for 5 minutes if you want to avoid bottled water.
London to fez is about 3.5 hours
Regarding car rental... Again it depends where u are going. It is very expensive to hire a car. Maybe there are some big rental companies at the airport? Try to get a quote from them. But you might be better off using "grand taxis" for longer distance and "petit taxis" for smaller trips. Always haggle the price!!!
Car seat - not a lot of people use them there. My mil bought us one in Marjane (big supermarket - best in terms of looking like a European supermarket). But otherwise my DCs are allowed on someone's knees either at the front or back if the car.... Something I would never ever allow here!!! I also have a booster seat for when there is room in the car (very often we end up squeezed in a car with all the family!). If I were u I'd buy an inflatable booster seat (mine is a bumble seat) so u can take it with u everywhere.
No malaria there but the hepatitis a or b is recommended. Ask your Gp.

Enjoy!!