(Image from L’ma Lodge in Skoura)
Congratulations! You are moving into a beautiful new stage of life with the one you love. This is a special season full of excitement, joy, and preparation! We understand all of the work going into getting ready for your big day, so when it comes to the honeymoon, we want it to be as stress-free as possible.
Now that you’ve narrowed it down to what country you want to enjoy together, it’s time to get to planning. Morocco is calling you to a romantic getaway, the only thing left to do is make some decisions on what exactly you want to experience in this beautiful country!
Who’s Doing the Planning?
One of the first questions you’ll need to talk through as a couple is, who will be planning your trip? This is not necessarily about which of you is more organized or which one has more travel experience.
I’ll assume that there’s no question about whether you would choose a private or a group tour! Your honeymoon is a chance to really invest in the beginning of your new marriage. The privacy and quality time spent together is precious! This should be protected and enjoyed to the utmost.
Will you book your trip through a tour agency that specializes in private tours of Morocco? Or are you looking to take this adventure head on and travel just the two of you? If you choose to use a tour agent, make sure to let them know that it’s your honeymoon!
They will be more than happy to see what kind of deals, packages, or special extras they can do to make your time in Morocco the trip of a lifetime. Whether or not you’re working with an agent or just with internet research, the following information will be helpful and informative for making your honeymoon exactly what you’re looking for.
(Image from Riad Fes)
Now that you’ve made the hard decision of where to honeymoon, it’s time to decide when! This will depend on whether or not your wedding date is set in stone. Are you looking to get married during a specific time of year or month? Then your trip might change depending on this predetermined date.
Or, you might not feel the need to take a honeymoon immediately after your wedding, instead picking other dates that are better for travel. If your travel dates are flexible, see below what time of year would best suit your interests! Consider what time of year is best for what you want when it comes to activities, cities, events, and weather. And on the other hand, if your travel dates are already fixed for you, see what will be at its best during the time of year you are going to come! Read our guide on Best Time to Come To Morocco.
Arrival and Departure
As you’re planning where to arrive and depart, here are four of the main options:
Casablanca: This airport is often the best option for cross-Atlantic or intercontinental travels. If you are coming from the United States, there are direct flights from some airports (including JFK in New York) to Casablanca, which is an easy and convenient travel option.
Marrakech: The airport in Marrakech is normally used for smaller flights in from Europe.
Fes: The Fes-Saiss airport is also usually best used if flying in from a major European city. While you can find intercontinental flights coming in and out of Fes, from a price point perspective, they are often more expensive than those arriving and departing from Casablanca.
Tangier: Starting or ending in Tangier is a great option if you are spending part of your trip in Spain or driving into Morocco from Europe. The ferry from Spain to Tangier, Morocco is an easy way to enter the country.
Most of the time, round trip tickets will be your cheapest option. However, if you are limited for time in any way, you might want to consider flying into one airport and departing from another. This saves you having to return to your starting point, maximizing your time in country!
When to Come
Cities and Regions
What cities are you interested in? Is there someplace that you have had your heart set on? Somewhere that seems like a dream getaway? A city that seems to have been taken straight out of a movie? Is there something on your bucket list that Morocco can help you check off?
In deciding what cities or regions to put on your itinerary, make a list of “must-see” locations. Is the blue city of Chefchaouen at the top of what you want to see? Have you dreamt of riding camels in the Sahara desert, sleeping in tents under a million stars? Is the coastal city of Essaouira calling your name? Do a little research into what Morocco has to offer, and what you’d most like to experience while you’re here! Morocco has much more to give than what you might see at first glance.
Climate and Weather
Since Morocco is along the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Sahara Desert, there are three main climate regions to look at: the Coastal Region, the Inland Region, and the Saharan Southern Region.
The Coastal Region has generally mild weather, with temperate winters and nicely warm summers. Because of the ocean breezes and weather patterns, these cities get relieved of the cold that hits the inland regions and mountains, while also getting to escape the dry, hot summers that comes from the desert. Some of the main cities you might like to visit in this region would be Essaouira, Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat, and Agadir.
The Inland Region has weather more in line with the other mediterranean countries. In the winter, the weather will be rainy, wet, and cold. While the summers can get extremely hot, autumn and spring are when this area really shines. The mountains and valleys here come to life and offer you cities and sights like Fes and Marrakech. There’s so much to explore here that makes it worth it, even if you encounter more extreme temperatures than you originally planned on.
The Saharan Southern Region is exactly like you would think: like the desert! In the winter, you’ll still experience many days of sun and relatively warm weather. While the desert can get chilly or even cold at night, when the sun rises you’ll see the power of the North African sun! In the spring and autumn, temperatures are more mild and enjoyable. But if you decide to make a trip during the summer months, prepare for the heat!
For more information about when is the best time to honeymoon in Morocco, check out our in depth post!
(Image from L’ma Lodge in Skoura)
Where to stay?
It can be so hard to know where to book your stay. Take some time to discuss if you’d rather stay in traditional Moroccan riads or Western hotels. Are you looking to save money with 3 star accommodations, going for comfortable 4 star, or looking to splurge on 5 star?
If you are overwhelmed by the options on TripAdvisor, it would be wise to check with a travel expert on this. They will be able to help you select the best places to stay within the budget that you have available.
Here’s are recommendations from firsthand experience of 8 romantic honeymoon hotels! From Kasbah Tamadot in the High Atlas Mountains to the legendary Hotel La Mamounia in Marrakech, Riad Fes in the imperial cultural capital of Morocco to the naturalistic escape in the Dades Valley of L’ma Lodge, there is something special for you to discover! Our advice? Splurge on at least one night: you’re only in Morocco once (maybe) so why not book a 5 star while you are in Marrakech or another city along the way?
Add-ons and Extras
If you could add anything to your trip to make it unbelievable, what would it be? Golfing? Hiking by waterfalls? Sandboarding in the desert? Learning how to make traditional Moroccan food? Horseback riding on the beach? Hot air balloon ride outside of Marrakech? A luxury spa package for two? This is a time to treat yourselves! This trip is all about you and your loved one. Indulge and go all out! It’s your trip of a lifetime!
Make a list and then either research it on your own or ask a travel agent what is possible in Morocco.
Length and Pace
How many days will you spend in country? Our advice: Consider taking a slower pace than you think. Most people try to see too much in too little time, leading to a vacation which feels rushed. Morocco might seem like a small country when you look at the whole map of Africa, but it’s bigger than you think! Touring by car or train is one of the best ways to see the country firsthand, so as you make your way from city to city it’s important to take into account how long of a drive or train ride you will have.
Tip: Google maps is not always the most accurate judge of travel time between cities. We find that it often underestimates the time it will take to get from city to city. Remember to take into account gas stops, restroom breaks and meal stops as well. When in doubt, see if you can ask someone who has driven that route for a more accurate estimate of distances!
We often hear from travelers that their trips felt packed and they would have loved to add a day to just relax and enjoy their hotel. You don’t want a honeymoon that feels rushed!
What to pack: Packing list
Dressing Culturally Appropriately
While Morocco is used to tourists from all parts of the globe traveling through, it’s good to keep in mind that it still has a conservative muslim-majority culture. The more touristy your location, the more you can get away with. The more rural your location, the more you should take cues from locals and other local expats as to what is respectful (or not so respectful) to be wearing. Inside hotels, you can wear what you’d like, as it will be mostly tourists. Bring some dressier options for dinners, especially if you are staying at 4 and 5 star riads or hotels!
For men: the general guidelines would suggest keeping away from shorts (particularly in villages where they can be seen as underwear rather than regular clothing), and sticking to full length pants. As for shirts, it might be time to leave tank tops at home and play it safe with t-shirts or long-sleeve shirts. And when it comes to enjoying a nice dip in the pool, think to take your pair of swimming trunks rather than a more European style speedo.
For women: Most recommendations for women would suggest wearing shirts with some kind of sleeve, pants or skirts that go past the knee, and generally avoiding low cut tops. It’s advisable to stay away from shorts and tank tops while out and about. Women traveling normally find that sticking to these guidelines helps decrease the amount of unwanted attention and comments they receive.
For extra coverage, it’s a nice idea to carry a scarf with you to throw on when you need it. For swimming, consider choosing a more modest one-piece swimsuit or two-piece option like a tankini. In the heat, loose-fitting clothes with light fabrics help keep you cool as well as respectful of Moroccan culture. Layering clothes can also be helpful as the temperature changes through out the day.
Clothing:
- Jacket or coat (Winter: a warm coat if you’re heading to the mountains or the desert, a windbreaker if you’re heading to the coast; Spring and Autumn: a jacket to keep you warm from the nighttime chill; Summer: light jacket for nighttime depending on where you travel)
- Socks and underwear
- T-shirts and long sleeve shirts (and/or tunics for women)
- Scarf (warm for the winter, light for the warmer months)
- Jeans, shorts, or trousers
- Sweater, sweatshirt, or fleece
- Dress clothes for nice dinners
- Sleepwear
- Swimming suit
- Good walking shoes (comfort is key! Prepare well for lots of walking.)
- Flip flops (if you’re planning on going to a traditional, local hammam
Documents and Papers:
- Passport
- Photocopies of important documents (and a set emailed to yourself)
- Drivers license (or other forms of identification)
- International drivers license (if you’re planning on hiring a car)
- Flight tickets and information
- Vouchers for trip confirmation (if using a travel company)
- Travel insurance – information, emergency contact number, and policy number
- Vaccination records
- Prescriptions for Medications
- Extra set of passport photos
- Cash
- Money belt or pouch
- Debit or bank card (to use at ATMs or Cash Machines)
Luggage:
- Padlocks and keys
- Daypack or small backpack
- Soft luggage, a bag with wheels and straps, or backpack
Personal Health:
- Contact lenses and solution or glasses
- Sunglasses
- Bug spray or insect repellant
- Sunscreen (high SPF; it can be expensive and difficult to get sunscreen in Morocco)
- Hat
- Skin care and moisturizer
- Feminine hygiene products
- Ibuprofen, aspirin, or other over the counter pain medication
- Travel sickness tablets (talk with your doctor about what medications or helpful over the counter options there are for getting sick overseas)
- First aid kit
- Medication (pack in carry-on to be sure it doesn’t get lost!)
- Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
- Lip balm
- Toiletries
- Shaving kit
Personal Items:
- Small travel sewing kit
- Water bottle (because visitors shouldn’t drink tap water in Morocco, consider water bottles with built in filtration systems for clean drinking water anywhere!)
- Eye mask
- Ear plugs
- Sunglasses
Electronics:
- Electronics adapter and portable charger
- Camera and camera case
- Extra batteries (if electronics take batteries)
- Phone
- Phone charger
- All needed cords
- Kindle or tablet for reading
If Camping:
- Travel pillow
- Sleeping bag liner or travel sheet
- Head torch or lamp
- Camping mattress or thermarest
- Sleeping bag
- Ground sheet/polythene sheet (if you’re sleeping outside/not in a tent)
Rainy Weather:
- Small umbrella (if with a tour company, your driver may have one, ask!)
- Waterproof bags
- Windproof and waterproof jacket or raincoat
- Waterproof pants (if camping or hiking)
One final piece of advice…
Your honeymoon is about YOU! You and your loved one should have the experience of a lifetime. After a lot of time spent planning and preparing for your wedding, this trip is an occasion to truly escape from the stress of the world and invest in your relationship with one another. Your choices and decisions should ultimately be up to you and what will make your dreams become a reality.
If you would like our help to plan your perfect honeymoon, let us know! We’d love to hear what would make this trip memorable for you and your loved one so that you can focus on enjoying your time together, rather than the details of planning. Get in touch today!