Special travelers

Special travelers: families with children, pets and other considerations

Each trip is different. And every tourist is different. But there is no doubt that some groups of travelers have different needs than others, such as specific services, special attention to security, different management of time, diet and accommodation, etc. Therefore, on this page we give you useful information on some cases to pay more attention to:

Families with children
Travelers with pets
Travelers with disabilities
Women’s groups
LGTBi Travelers

If your trip fits any of these assumptions, take note of everything we tell you. And if you need to organize your tailor-made trip because you find yourself in one of these special situations, do not hesitate to contact us.

Families with children

Undoubtedly, children are the main protagonists of the family. And so it is with the trips that have these little explorers in their ranks. Of course, the program should have activities or suggestions that will appeal to them, but you should not only pay attention to their entertainment, but also to other issues related to their well-being during the trip. Here is a list of aspects that you should take into account:

As you will probably do at home, you should follow the same hygiene and safety precautions for children as for adults, but with a little extra attention. For this reason, we recommend you to visit our page on

Useful Tips

to find recommendations of this type
If the children are young, their favorite moments may be their playtime. In this sense, you should keep in mind that, in general, playgrounds with recreational areas are not as numerous or as complete as those you can find in most western cities. This shortage will be especially noticeable in rural areas and small cities.
If you are going to move by road, the best service is private transportation with driver, such as the one offered by Chic Morocco. Not only for comfort but, above all, for safety: very few cabs (petit or grand) are equipped with child seats, forcing passengers to carry their children on their laps, which is not the most advisable for their own protection.
Patience in restaurants: local food may be too exotic for a child’s palate, as it is an explosion of unfamiliar flavors that is not always welcomed. However, you will have no problem finding places to eat pizzas, hamburgers, fries and other international foods that never fail.
Only in restaurants of a certain level will you find high chairs for small children, although in those that do not have them, they will make up for this lack with a friendly treatment and a special understanding of the small diner’s needs.
As we told you in
the page where we deal with the Moroccan demography
The country is very young, and it is common for families to be large or very large. This means that baby products for raising children are the order of the day in supermarkets.
Nearly all museums and recreational facilities offer special prices or free admission for children.

Plans and ideas for family travelers

Each Moroccan city is a world of its own, and its children’s leisure activities vary from one to another. In any case, if you want to get an idea of the plans you can propose to your children to make the trip more attractive to them, take note of the following proposals.

Animals always arouse fascination among children. Therefore, any plan that involves them will be a sure hit. There are several zoos of great interest in the country, among them the National Zoo of Rabat.

Another way to enjoy the animals is to walk with them. In this sense, the star proposal is the dromedary. These animals are very popular in the desert dune crossings, but if you consider this destination too demanding for your children, you can ride one on the beaches of Essaouira, which will surely be a more child-friendly environment. And the same goes for rickshaw rides, which are very popular in Marrakech and will be a comfortable way to get to know some corners outside the medina.

If you travel to Morocco in the hot season, temperatures can be sweltering. And in that case, the best way to cool off is water. It is recommended that your hotel has a swimming pool or is close to the beach, if you choose a seaside destination. But there are also many water parks scattered throughout the country, especially around major cities such as Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech.

Theme parks and amusement parks are perhaps not as abundant as in other countries, but there will still be enclosures set in a way that appeals to a child’s eyes. In this regard, we can mention the Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, focused on cinema and major productions filmed here, or the Palooza Park in Marrakech, focused on dinosaurs.

Cable cars are not to be missed, and in Morocco there is one option: the one in Agadir, within the Danialand complex, which also has a water park. In addition, there are other cable cars planned in the country, which would not only serve as an entertainment space but also as a means of transportation within the city.

In addition, in many destinations there are companies and tourism professionals that try to be especially attractive to younger travelers, offering plans and workshops of interest to them: from cooking classes to guided tours, craft activities, etc. Ask for information upon arrival at the tourist office of your destination.

Travelers with pets

More and more tourists are choosing to travel with their pets, instead of leaving them at home in someone’s care: they are members of the family and, as such, also have the right to enjoy trips in the company of their loved ones.

If that is your case, you will have to be patient when it comes to your pet, as it is not the most pet-friendly country for tourism. In addition, you will have to cope as well as possible with the situations you may encounter in the country, since Morocco is not exactly known for the concept of animal welfare.

It must be said that it is not very common for a Moroccan family to have a pet in its midst. And within the exception, it is more common to have a cat, rather than a dog. Even the ferret often enjoys greater popularity and visibility than the dog. The Qur’an does not ‘condemn’ these animals, but the popular custom is to consider the dog as an impure animal that can stain a person’s hands and feet with its licking.

As a result, dogs are relegated to their role as hunters or guardians of private spaces outside the city, or else they are forced to live abandoned in the city.

It should also be said that, as in other aspects, Morocco is taking steps to advance in the dignified care of animals, and more and more families are deciding to welcome a pet into their family… although this is still a slow process.

Given this reality, there are some aspects you should know, especially if you are determined to travel with your pet:

To enter Morocco by road with your pet, customs formalities are not particularly strict: it is sufficient to have a current veterinary certificate and that your pet is in good appearance.
To leave the country, on the other hand, the controls will be much stricter, in this case due to the ‘fault’ of the authorities of your country of origin, whether it is a territory of the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom or another country. In this case, we recommend that you consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country to find out what the requirements are, which may include a deworming certificate. Otherwise, you risk having your pet quarantined at the border, among other scenarios.
Pets are generally not allowed in public and enclosed areas, such as transport or stores.
The concept of a ‘dog-friendly beach’, as in many western destinations, is not developed. Therefore, the only option left for your pet to take a dip is to go to an unspoiled and remote bathing area, where it cannot disturb anyone.
Veterinary clinics are not particularly abundant, especially in small towns and rural areas.
In city supermarkets you will find pet food, although with a limited variety. It is also possible to find specific products in specialized stores, often in large cities. In rural areas, on the other hand, it will be more difficult to find stores of this type, and in small supermarkets the list of products available may be limited. Therefore, if you are going to travel outside the big cities, we recommend you to be well provided with food and basic products for your pet.

All this makes travelers with pets who travel to Morocco choose to leave them at home, in the care of someone they trust while they are away. The only viable options to move comfortably with animals in the country is by motorhome or private travel, carefully designed so that they can be admitted in pet-friendly accommodations and private transport of the same consideration.

Travelers with disabilities

If any of the travelers in the group has a disability, whether physical or mental, you will want them to be given special consideration, as they deserve. Therefore, here are some relevant aspects regarding people with disabilities in Morocco:

There is much disparity in the adequacy of spaces for people with physical disabilities. While new buildings and new projects (trains, streetcars, museums, etc.) are designed with this aspect in mind, older buildings are often not adapted. Sometimes, this lack of adaptation is not due to lack of intention, but because it is really complex to include elevators or other aids. The medina is sometimes a complicated place even for those with full mobility!
In the tourism sector, the companies that can guarantee full adaptability to people with disabilities are those in the highest segment. Rarely do inexpensive hotels and restaurants have elevators, ramps or other aids.
Lack of adaptability in Morocco is often replaced with solidarity and companionship. For example, there will be no shortage of hands to lift a person in a wheelchair when they need to climb steps.
If you want to organize a trip in which services adapted to people with disabilities are of special importance, we advise you to put yourself in the hands of an agency like Chic Morocco. By having a very large portfolio of suppliers and contacts, we can select those who can really guarantee an adequate service for these very special travelers.

Women travelers

Maybe the role of women in your society is different than in Morocco. Although great strides have been made in recent years in equalizing rights and freedoms between the sexes, there may still be certain attitudes and customs that may shock female travelers visiting the country. So here is a list of useful tips that will come in handy if you are a woman traveling to Morocco for the first time. Especially if you are traveling alone or with friends, without a male companion:

The clothing you should wear on the street should be discreet. It is not necessary to wear a hijab (veil), although if you decide to do so, it will not be superfluous. In any case, it will be enough if you opt for garments that cover the shoulders and knees, and that do not have plunging necklines.
Swimwear is another aspect to take into account if you go to the sea. On private beaches, you will have no problem wearing a bikini, but if you are going to take a dip on a public beach, it is advisable to wear a long swimsuit that covers your body. If your hotel has a swimming pool, ask the staff about it beforehand. It is not usually a problem, but each resort has its own rules. In any case, what is totally unacceptable is toplessness.
If you are young or consider yourself attractive, be patient. It is very likely that during your walks you will attract attention, sometimes with absolutely indiscreet looks. It can be exhausting, but the ideal is to ignore it and not to reply or reproach such an attitude, unless it can be really offensive. A firm look from you, a stern gesture or a resolute “no, thank you” may be enough to put an end to it, since more or less veiled flattery does not usually go any further
If you need to go a step further, you can firmly request “respect”, which is a concept that is held in high regard in Morocco. And in even more unpleasant situations, you can publicly invoke the feeling of “shame” before the harassers.
Sunglasses can be a good ally: with them you will avoid eye contact with other men. Such eye contact, however incidental and without any ulterior motives, can be used by some as an invitation for flattery or words. Therefore, if you wear them, you will reduce the chances of that occurring.
Public bars, even the most elegant and premium ones, are not usually environments frequented by women, except for exceptional occasions such as the broadcasting of an important soccer match. Having a drink in a public bar crowded with men can be misinterpreted, since the women who do so are usually prostitutes. Therefore, women travelers who want to have a relaxing drink in a local, should do so in a private place with good references.
Hitchhiking is strongly discouraged for women. It could be interpreted as a request to exchange favors: a free trip in exchange for sexual favors.
Singleness is a concept that is not always understood when applied to a woman. Therefore, if there are men in your group, it is advisable that the members introduce themselves as partners, as this will avoid having to give explanations.
Moving around at night with a Moroccan man who is not your husband can lead to suspicions among others, and may be grounds for interrogation by the police, as prostitution is highly prosecuted in the country.
In fact, for a woman, it is better not to lead too much of a night life. And if your return to the hotel is at night, it is better to take a cab or a private vehicle.
You will probably feel calmer and more relaxed if you sit next to another woman on the train or bus, in case you cannot do it with another person in your group.
In Grand Taxis, where it is common to have to share a ride with unfamiliar travelers, you can pay for two seats so that you can ride alone in the front, or you can pay for all the seats so that you do not share the vehicle with anyone else. This option is more expensive but may be worth it in terms of peace of mind.
If you are at a large gathering, such as a concert or a celebration, double your attention, as this can be an ideal occasion for some men to seek some physical contact.
Although smoking is a very common practice among men, it is not at all common among women. In fact, it is considered a gesture of very bad taste and, although it is not strictly forbidden, it is not advisable to do it publicly.

In any case, it’s not all precautionary, ‘defensive’ advice. Being a woman has an advantage: you will have more chances to make contact with Moroccan women, so if the opportunity arises, don’t miss it.

LGTBi Travelers

As an Arab country with a Muslim religion, homosexuality and transsexuality are not particularly accepted in Morocco. Therefore, if you travel to the country you should act with the utmost caution, not only to avoid unpleasant situations with other people but also to avoid legal problems, as some cases are prohibited and punishable by law. Here are some tips we can give you:

The attitude of suspicion and rejection is greater with respect to homosexual men and transsexual persons than with respect to lesbians, although the latter should follow all these safety recommendations
Prudence. This is the recommendation you should always keep in mind, especially in the public sphere. Therefore, if you are going on a trip with your homosexual partner, the ideal is to schedule a tour as private as possible, with exclusive services.
Demonstrations of homosexual love, such as kissing, are forbidden in public places, and the sanction may be financial (fine) or even disciplinary (arrest and imprisonment).
Two Moroccan men walking hand in hand should not be interpreted as a homosexual act, as this is a relatively common attitude in the Arab world. However, if this occurs between two foreigners, it can generate suspicions.
There are no gay cities or neighborhoods, although some destinations are more tolerant than others. Marrakech is perhaps the most open city, being the most touristic and the most accustomed to foreign travelers. Tangier is also another relatively open city, perhaps because of its cosmopolitan and international past in the 20th century.
Social networks and applications for private contact are often an escape route for many gay people in the country, but they can also hide traps for theft and robbery, so it is important to be more vigilant about their use.

Special travelers