We could not purchase Moroccan Dirhams outside Morocco in the UK so after emailing Antoine and Simo at the Riad we established the ATM at the airport would not give us the best exchange rate so we should wait until after arrival and they would show us a better ATM.
We arrived at the Riad Limouna in our pre-arranged air-conditioned transfer taxi it cost €25 (each way). The transfer took 15 minutes and the driver showed us right to the hidden door of Riad Limouna. My husband and I were travelling with our 8 year old son and we were all very excited to visit Morocco for the first time.
We were warmly welcomed on arrival by Simo who showed us our room and the smell of our evening meal cooking wafted around. We dropped our bags and sat downstairs in the communal courtyard and had mint tea and cake and chatted to other lovely guests. We were shown the beautiful roof terrace also, it was hot outside over 40 degrees.
I pre-arranged a meal in the Riad for the evening we arrived. We had an amazing Berber chicken tagine followed by a hot fruit salad which was so good, all washed down with a surprisingly good bottle of Moroccan Rosè. The tagine was cooked for us in a traditional way by lovely Simo, our host for the duration. We didn't explore on our first night as our son was...We could not purchase Moroccan Dirhams outside Morocco in the UK so after emailing Antoine and Simo at the Riad we established the ATM at the airport would not give us the best exchange rate so we should wait until after arrival and they would show us a better ATM.
We arrived at the Riad Limouna in our pre-arranged air-conditioned transfer taxi it cost €25 (each way). The transfer took 15 minutes and the driver showed us right to the hidden door of Riad Limouna. My husband and I were travelling with our 8 year old son and we were all very excited to visit Morocco for the first time.
We were warmly welcomed on arrival by Simo who showed us our room and the smell of our evening meal cooking wafted around. We dropped our bags and sat downstairs in the communal courtyard and had mint tea and cake and chatted to other lovely guests. We were shown the beautiful roof terrace also, it was hot outside over 40 degrees.
I pre-arranged a meal in the Riad for the evening we arrived. We had an amazing Berber chicken tagine followed by a hot fruit salad which was so good, all washed down with a surprisingly good bottle of Moroccan Rosè. The tagine was cooked for us in a traditional way by lovely Simo, our host for the duration. We didn't explore on our first night as our son was tired from travelling.
The following morning after breakfast which consisted of coffee, fresh OJ, cake, yogurt, bread and jam, Simo showed us local maps and gave us a copy to keep, he gave us an idea of prices and what to see and do then he took us to Djamaa El Fna the main square and showed us the ATM. We then explored the souks, we visited the tannery which is the smelliest place on earth but the men kindly gave us big sprigs of mint to hold under our noses (locally referred to as gas masks!).
We walked a lot, it was 45 degrees too much for an eight year old not used to the heat so we found our way back to the Riad for a siesta. In the evening we had arranged for a trip to a hammam. We were guided by a really nice chap (arranged by Simo) to the lovely Riad Menzeh for a family hammam which left us all squeaky clean and relaxed. We were walked back to our Riad too which was great as we would most definitely have got ourselves lost. It was Ramadam so the streets were busy at night.
We also visited Chez Ali for the Fantasia show the following night, again arranged by Simo including taxi transfer there and back, it was very Disneyesque but for children I'd recommend it.
We also got a shuttle bus to Oasiria the water park, which was perfect on a hot day, it was really quiet. They had stunning gardens and a fabulous lazy river which you could easily laze in all day, the food was also really good here, although it was more sandwiches, burgers, crepes etc.
Don't let travelling with children put you off, everyone couldn't have been nicer. My son wanted a traditional Djellaba (hooded robe) to dress up in which we purchased very cheaply in the souk. Once it was on everyone called him a Berber or Mini-Mustafa, everyone smiled.
Simo, and the two ladies that help in the Riad Limouna were always smiling, nothing was too much trouble. I fell in love with Morocco and am already planning my next trip, I'll be staying at the Riad Limouna for sure and hope to visit the mountains and learn more about the Berber Culture. Don't worry about travelling with children just go for it although cooler months of the year may suit better.
Simo - thank you so much for making our trip extra special.More
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