Morocco is located in North Africa, bordering the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans. It is Africa’s only country with coastal exposure to both seas. The country shares a land border with Algeria to the east and southeast, and Western Sahara to the south. Morocco also controls a territory, Western Sahara, which is slightly larger than California. Two small Spanish enclaves are situated on Morocco’s northern coast: Ceuta and Melilla.

Morocco is a country that gets plenty of sun all year round. The northern and coastal areas have a Mediterranean climate with 30°C summers. Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant times to visit, with winters rarely getting cold with temperatures around 20°C. However, November to March tends to have more rain. Inland and in the south, the climate gets more extreme. Close to the Sahara, it is scorching in summer and winter nights can get surprisingly cold.

Moroccan cuisine is quintessentially Maghreb and is inspired by the flavours of North Africa, with influences from Europe and the Middle East. Some national dishes to try include Tagine, Bessara (dried broad bean soup), Fish Chermoula (marinated grilled fish), Harira (rich tomato and lentil soup), Couscous, Makouda (deep fried potato balls) and Zaalouk (vegetable salad). Although Morocco is a Muslim country and alcohol is forbidden, you can still find it in many bars and restaurants, as well as hotels and resorts. It will not be readily available in shops but tourist areas will offer alcohol in most places. Local beers to try include Casa Beer and Flag Spéciale (Moroccan Heineken).

The culture of Morocco has changed a great deal throughout the centuries and there have been many influences from the different people who have lived, travelled and settled here, including the Berbers, the Phoenicians, the Arabs, the South Sub-Saharan Africans, the Romans, the Vandals and the Spanish-Andalusians. Today, Morocco is predominantly Muslim; as a moderate Muslim country, there are no extreme beliefs and the Moroccans in this sense, are more lenient and open than other Muslim countries. As people, they are extremely friendly and welcoming and they have been known to make a fuss over foreigners, including kids.

Morocco is one of the most exciting and exotic destinations in the world and kids will love it here. When it comes to facilities and amenities, families will have to do a little further research. Although you won’t find baby changing facilities everywhere, some larger hotels or restaurants may have them. The resorts along the coast tend to be extremely family friendly and will have children’s pools, children’s playgrounds and babysitting services. A huge benefit of travelling to Morocco is that the streets are very safe and even young children can be seen walking around on their own. Public transport as a whole is pretty decent too so you won’t have any trouble getting around from city to city. Taxis are extremely affordable but hiring your own car may make travelling around much easier.