Morocco Through a Family Traveler’s Lens

Rachel is the founder of Brooklyn Family Travelers, a platform dedicated to helping families travel meaningfully and joyfully—with kids in tow. 

With a background in education and a deep love for exploring the world with her husband and two children, Rachel shares honest, practical tips and thoughtful guides rooted in real experiences. Her family adventures span cities, deserts, and everything in between.


In this guide, Rachel shares her must-visit spots and practical travel wisdom for a memorable trip to Morocco.

Where did you go during your time in Morocco?

We visited Marrakech, spent a night glamping in the Agafay desert, and spent a day at Kasbah Bab Ourika in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.


What were some of your go-to spots to shop, eat, and stay while in Morocco?

To shop:

Getting lost in the souks (if you can find your way back out!)

Mustapha Blaoui — a must-visit for everything from rugs to lighting

Topolina — colorful prints, bags, and jackets

Lalla Marrakech — fun, chic handbags

Chabi Chic — beautiful ceramics and homewares, without the chaos of the medina


To eat:

Plus 61 — modern, hip, and delicious

La Trattoria — romantic setting, ask to sit by the pool

La Marocaine (at La Mamounia) — an unforgettable dining experience on stunning grounds

To stay:

We were lucky enough to stay in an incredible house swap but I’d recommend one of these beautiful hotels:

Royal Mansour — close to the medina and designed by the King himself

La Mamounia — gorgeous, iconic, and featured in Inventing Anna


Park Hyatt Marrakech — farther out, but perfect if you’re using points

Do you have any tips/tricks when planning a trip to Morocco?

While it may feel tempting or even imperative to get a guide for your time in Marrakech, it may not be necessary. Take into consideration your street savviness and how you like to travel – if you’re able to explore a new place, take in the surroundings and pivot as needed, you may not need a guide.

The medina is overwhelming by design, but that’s part of what makes it special. Getting lost in the souks and finding your way out – ignoring those trying to give you directions and haggling with sellers – is all part of the experience. Don’t be afraid to walk away but if you find something you really love, buy it. I learned the hard way that you can’t expect to find that exact shop again. The souks are like a giant maze full of some of the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen.

A few tips:

If you find a taxi driver you trust, ask to take down their number. The taxi driver we had on our first day, basically became our private driver for the remainder of our trip. When he wasn’t free he sent a friend or family member to pick us up. His prices were always reasonable and we appreciated that he always had working seat belts ;)

Don’t hesitate to book a night glamping in the desert. Our night at Scarabeo was one of the best experiences we’ve had on any of our trips. Some of these camps do a fantastic job of marrying the rugged vibes of the desert with modern conveniences like real beds, bathrooms and swimming pools.


Book a photo session with a photographer. The family photos we got on that trip were incredible and well worth the time, money and effort to make it happen. Morocco is an incredible backdrop and it’s amazing to have family photos because let’s be honest, as a mom, I’m hardly ever in the photos otherwise!

Do you have any off-the-beaten path places to take a break from the typical tourist experiences?

The new town and the medina were two locations in Marrakech we planned our trip around – they were more commonly recommended and easy to get to. We got a sitter for half a day through our home swap host and spent a few hours in the Sidi Ghanem (the design district) which felt off the beaten path and a chance to explore some of the shops and factories behind the incredible artisans coming out of Marrakech.

We took a taxi to the Sidi Ghanem and had a list of shops we’d made reservations to visit. We visited Popham Design, Marrakshi Life, LRNCE and of course, Salam Hello! I brought extra expandable duffel bags on the trip so we could bring some of these incredible wares home. And some things we had shipped to us – all arrived to Brooklyn in perfect condition (including the beautiful poufs we bought from Salam Hello made from handmade rug remnants).  


Any advice for traveling with family? Anything you wouldn’t miss—or might avoid—next time?

Marrakech is a city unlike any I’ve ever been to – and the sights and sounds can be both thrilling and overwhelming. My recommendation when traveling with kids is to build in some down time (or book a sitter to spend some times back at the hotel/house with the kids) – particularly during the hottest parts of the day – so the kids have a chance to rest and recoup. If you are staying in a riad or a resort style hotel with a pool, the mid afternoon is a great time to rest and recharge while the sun beats down on the red city and it’s a perfect time to bring home anything you’ve bought as you set back out again on your adventures.


We happened to be traveling to Morocco during Ramadan which gave us a different experience of the city than we’d have at other times. The city still had a pulse and life to it, and it was eye opening to see the energy rise at sundown when Iftar began. 

I also recommend getting the more touristy stuff in - the stuff that you do not want to miss - at the beginning of the trip. This way, you don’t risk missing out if you start running out of time and you’re free to explore the city without as much stress.


Make sure to schedule a night in the desert and in the mountains. Both are unforgettable experiences.

We tend to share and see the most perfectly-curated snapshots of our trips — can you share a challenge, mishap, or work in progress about visiting here?

My son was eaten by mosquitos and we came unprepared. Next time, we’ll bring bug spray and anti-itch cream from home! The rose water someone recommended we buy worked slightly better than nothing but on the way home it was confiscated on our layover at Charles de Gaulle and the rest of the flight my son was miserable. Now, we travel with a mini medicine cabinet, just in case.

Thanks, Rachel, for letting us tag along on your Moroccan adventure. Check out her personal guide to Marrakech and more on her substack and follow her on Instagram and her website for more family travel tips and inspiration.

Photographed by Delphine Warin and Rachel Lipson.