Taking your parents or grandparents to Marrakech means giving them winter sun a few hours' flight from Europe. But when a parent walks little, can no longer manage steps or uses a wheelchair, the choice of accommodation and the pace of the trip make all the difference. Here is our advice, drawn from the families we host.
Pick the right time
Autumn, winter and spring are the mildest seasons in Marrakech for an older traveller. In high summer the daytime heat can be hard to bear. Christmas, February half-term and Easter are the busiest periods: book early if children are coming too.
Choose step-free accommodation
This is the most important decision. A medina riad or a flat without a lift can turn every day into an effort. Look for a place:
- with no steps at all between the entrance, bedrooms, living room and garden;
- with a bathroom for each bedroom and roll-in showers;
- with parking at the door;
- that is quiet, so everyone can rest when they need to.
A private villa also lets the whole family stay together without forcing the youngest's pace on the oldest.
Plan a slow pace
One outing a day is enough, in the morning or late afternoon, with the rest of the time by the pool or in the garden. The Marrakech medina is tiring: narrow lanes, cobbles, crowds. It is better to drive to a precise drop-off point than to cross it on foot. The Ourika valley offers mountain scenery to enjoy from the car or a terrace.
Arrange transport in advance
Book the airport transfer before you leave, saying whether your parent travels in a wheelchair and needs an adapted vehicle. For the flight, request assistance from the airline at least 48 hours before departure.
Have meals at the house
A cook at the villa saves evening trips to restaurants, often the most tiring part of the day. It is also a chance to taste real home-cooked Moroccan food.
Villa Ourikech, designed for these stays
Villa Ourikech, in the Ourika valley near Marrakech, is step-free throughout, from the entrance to the pool. Each of its 4 bedrooms has its own bathroom, with roll-in showers and shower chairs. An amphibious wheelchair lets guests into the pool. Housekeeping and a cook are available on request.
"Quality service, from the gardener to the housekeeper, and the wonderful cook who spoiled us throughout our stay."
To check your dates, message us on WhatsApp, or discover the villa.