Would you travel with your 7 year old in Morocco as the only adult?

[Anonymous]

I've never been to Morocco and have always heard stories about how it can be unsafe to travel alone in Morocco as a woman. That wouldn't intimidate me but I would be worried about being unsafe if my 7 year old son is with me. Can anyone comment?

[Anonymous]

I have traveled in the Middle East and have friends who have traveled to Morocco. This sounds like a stupid idea.

[Anonymous]

Where in Morocco would you be traveling to? You would be perfectly fine in a major tourist city like Marrakech. Not part of your question, but by the way, Moroccans adore children and you would feel comfortable bringing your 7 year old anywhere.

[Anonymous]

pp here. I'd like to add that it doesn't matter whether you are "intimidated" or not. If you travel to a country like that as a woman, alone, most likely you will be subjected to people staring at you incessantly in the street, catcalling you, possibly even touching you, possibly in front of your son. It's more demeaning than unsafe, really. Your call.

[Anonymous]

PP who asked where you'll be specifically - as a woman who lived in Morocco (not "traveled in the middle east") I can assure you that no one will touch you in a major tourist city (although there is of course the risk of pickpocketing that you would have in any city). You're actually much less likely to be harassed or catcalled as a mother with a young child. Somehow that makes you less sexy I guess? If you would feel comfortable traveling alone, I wouldn't feel any less safe with a child. But maybe that's just me.

[Anonymous]

As for bringing a 7-year-old, frankly, I wouldn't do an international trip with a 7-year-old unless it was to a place where people spoke English. (unless the child spoke the language of the country I was visiting.)

The biggest fear I would have is that if the child wandered off or we got separated in a busy marketplace, then it would be extremely difficult for the child to communicate to someone that he was lost and who is mother was, et cetera. And with a child that age, you always have to worry about getting separated.

And this isn't a slight to nonEnglish speaking people. It's really just about logistics. It's hard enough for an adult to communicate to others who don't speak the language when traveling, but it's pretty impossible for a child.

And in places like Morocco, with busy, winding side streets and marketplaces, I would imagine it wouldn't take much for the kid to get lost.

[Anonymous]

Do you speak French or Arabic? I'd feel comfortable going alone if you know the local language, are going to larger tourist destinations, and are comfortable traveling internationally.

[Anonymous]

Without hesitation.

People will assume he is escorting you, depending on where you are!

[Anonymous]

Of course! Sounds like an amazing experience for a 7 year old.

[Anonymous]

I lived in the Middle East with my son for years and never had an issue. I agree that you would be even safer than you would alone. Just make sure you have a cell phone and he has the name, address and phone number of the hotel and your cell number. I lost my son for about 10 mins in a market once and found him sitting on a stool outside a shop. A very nice Indian couple was giving him candy while they were on the phone with the police. This was before cell phones. Make sure he knows to find a uniformed officer or a woman with children for help.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely and enthusiastically!

[Anonymous]

I would have no reservations about doing this. Sounds wonderful and a great experience for you and your son.

[Anonymous]

I've done it in Egypt. Just Cairo. I agree that its easier in major cities/tourist sites. I would read up on safety tips, like not getting in the front seat of a cab. Riding in women's only subway cars, etc. There are lots of expat and tourist forums online where you can get tips specific to your destination city.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the input.
I was thinking of Marrakesh actually. I do speak and read French and my son is in French immersion. Language won't be an issue. I've also travelled internationally with my son, in cities where he, and sometimes I, didn't speak the language - he's been to the Dominican Republic, Barcelona, Florence, Beijing. Spanish and Italian are close enough to French, and it's the same alphabet so no problem. Beijing was not easy! I had him keep the hotel card on him and asked the hotel staff to write "Please take me here" if he ever got lost. I've never lost him - I actually make it a point to put him in bright yellow, orange or red T-shirts so he's easy to spot.
So I'm not concerned about navigating around or losing him. I was wondering more about physical safety. Likely I would go where the tourists go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:pp here. I'd like to add that it doesn't matter whether you are "intimidated" or not. If you travel to a country like that as a woman, alone, most likely you will be subjected to people staring at you incessantly in the street, catcalling you, possibly even touching you, possibly in front of your son. It's more demeaning than unsafe, really. Your call.

I've been to Morocco (woman traveling alone) and certainly there was unwanted attention but not nearly as much as in Italy. No one came up and touched me. Far more irritating was the incessant attempts to get me to enter stores and buy goods. I think it depends OP on what kind of trip you want to do, how much traveling you have done and how confident / prepared you feel to deal with unwanted attention. If this is your first international trip and you are a nervous traveler then I would say no. If you have traveled extensively then go for it.