All the Travel Advice you need for Rabat, Morocco

Morocco is a foreign environment and children will probably take a day or so to adapt, but it has plenty of familiar and fun aspects that kids can relate to. Here is all the Travel Advice you need for Rabat, Morocco.

Eating Out

Although you may want to encourage your child to try Moroccan food, don’t worry if they don’t take to it like fish to water; Western foods, such as pasta, pizza, and fries, are available. High chairs are not always available in restaurants, although the staff is almost universally accommodating with children.

Be careful about choosing restaurants; steer clear of salads and stick to piping-hot tajines, couscous, omelets and soups such as lentil soup. Markets sell delicious fruit and veggies, but be sure to wash or peel them.

To avoid stomach upsets, stick to purified or bottled water. Milk is widely available and you should bring any special foods you require.

Health & Hygiene

Hand sanitizer is essential, as children tend to touch everything. Also, disposable nappies are readily available.

Ensure your children are up to date with routine vaccinations. Please discuss possible travel vaccines with your doctor well before departure, as some are not suitable for children aged less than a year.

If your child is vomiting or experiencing diarrhea, it is essential lost fluid and salts be replaced. It may be helpful to take rehydration powders for reconstituting with sterile water.

Encourage children to avoid stray dogs and other mammals because of the risk of rabies and other diseases.

Consider packing the following items in your medical kit:

• antidiarrhoeal drugs
• paracetamol or aspirin
• anti-inflammatory drugs (eg ibuprofen)
• antihistamines (for hay fever and allergic reactions)
• antibacterial ointment for cuts and abrasions?
• steroid cream or cortisone (for allergic rashes)
• bandages, gauze and gauze rolls
• adhesive or paper tape
• scissors, safety pins, and tweezers
• thermometer
• insect spray for clothing, tents and bed nets
• sunblock
• oral rehydration salts
• iodine or other water-purification tablets

Bring medications in their original, clearly labeled containers. A signed and dated letter from your physician describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also helpful. If carrying syringes or needles, ensure you have a physician?s letter documenting their medical necessity. See your dentist before a long trip; carry a spare pair of contact lenses and glasses (and take your optical prescription with you).

Availability & Cost of Health Care

Primary medical care is not always readily available outside major cities and towns. Your hotel may be able to recommend the nearest source of medical help, and embassy websites sometimes list doctors and clinics. In an emergency, contact your embassy or consulate.

Pharmacies

These are generally well-stocked, and pharmacists can provide advice (usually in French) covering common travelers? complaints. They can sell over-the-counter medication, often including drugs only available on prescription at home, and advise when more specialized help is needed. Double-check any unfamiliar purchases;

Doctors and clinics

If you are being treated by a doctor or at a clinic, particularly outside the major cities, you will often be expected to purchase medical supplies on the spot even including sterile dressings or intravenous fluids.

Dental care

Standards are variable and travel insurance doesn’t usually cover dental work other than emergency treatment.?

Toilets

1. Flush toilets are a luxury and outside midrange and top-end hotels and restaurants, toilets are mostly of the squat variety.?
2. Squat toilets feature a tap, hose or container of water for the idea being to wash (with your left hand) after performing.?
3. There?s often no toilet paper so carry a supply with you.?
4. Women will need to take along a plastic bag for disposing of tampons and pads.?
5. Public toilets are rare outside the major cities. If you HAVE to use a public toilet, you will need to bring a tip for the attendant and a nose clip.

Tap Water

Tap water is chlorinated in Morocco’s cities and generally safe to drink but stick to treated water filters or purify it.

Bottled water is available everywhere. Water drawn from wells or pumped from boreholes should be safe. Never drink water from rivers or lakes, as they may contain bacteria or viruses.

Travelers with Disabilities

Morocco has few facilities for the disabled, but the country is not necessarily out of bounds for travelers with a physical disability and a sense of adventure. Some factors to be aware of:

• The awkward nature of narrow medina streets and rutted pavements can make mobility challenging at times even for the able-bodied.
• Not all hotels (almost none of the cheaper ones) have lifts, so booking ground-floor hotel rooms ahead of time is essential. Riads invariably have steep, narrow and twisting stairs.
• Only a handful of the very top-end hotels have rooms designed for the disabled.
• Traveling by car is probably the best transport, though you’ll be able to get assistance in bus and train stations.
• Many tour operators can tailor trips to suit your requirements.
• Unfortunately, vision or hearing-impaired travelers are poorly catered for. Hearing loops, Braille signs and talking pedestrian crossings are nonexistent.

Touts, Guides & Hustlers

An unavoidable part of the Moroccan experience is the hustlers and faux guides. You will generally find faux guides hanging around the entrances to the big cities? medinas, and outside the bus, train and ferry stations. When arriving in a place for the first time, you might benefit from the services of a guide, official or otherwise. Many are very experienced and speak multiple languages and not are imposters.

Travel Insurance

P.S. As someone who spent close to 20 years working in insurance, I strongly recommend buying travel insurance if you are going on holiday. It costs a fraction of your holiday but covers the potential risk of the entire holiday. You can read my post on why you need travel insurance.

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