My husband and I want to take our family of 8 ( two of the 8 are grandchildren ages 9-11) to Morocco with Marrakesh at the top of our list. We also want to get a camel ride in but the trip to the Sahara Desert appears daunting as do the flights! I'm unsure how the grandchildren would deal with the journey from Marrakesh to the Sahara. We will fly out of the best airport in NYC that we can find but it's not easy. We plan to leave late December 26 (older son has to work that day) or sometime December 27 and return January 4. I believe that the first thing is to arrange flights and would like to start there. I've looked at all sorts of combinations such as NYC to Marrakesh/Casablance (expensive); NYC to Madrid or Barcelona with flights from either to Marrakesh (much more money than I'd thought). Any help with this tangle is much appreciated. TIA
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
588 posts
Something to consider in booking flights for so many is to search first for eight. But then also search for just one or two at a time. Airlines put fares in buckets and have cheaper to more expensive buckets with limited numbers in each. If you search for eight you will get eight times the price of whatever is the highest bucket. So if there were two tickets available for $1000 each, two tickets available for $1200 each and four + tickets available for $1500 each you will see only eight tickets for $1500 each. You can then later call the airline and ask to have all the records cross referenced so any changes of schedule or such will apply to all. But you will likely save on at least some of the tickets.
Posted by
Los Angeles
5183 posts
For this many people to this kind of destination, I'd recommend you look for a travel agent/tour operator. They will have the info and connections you will need to get this done.
CN Traveler and Travel & Leisure have recommended companies on their websites.
Posted by
OP
1309 posts
Laurie Ann, something tells me that you've done this before. I had no idea of the pricing that you pointed out. I'll look into tickets for just one traveler. Thanks, Phred, I'll try my best to find a travel agent.
Posted by
The Netherlands
1942 posts
Have you looked into flying via Amsterdam? I visited Marrakech and surrounding areas a couple of years ago and we had a direct flight from Amsterdam with Transavia. Transavia is the low-cost daughter of KLM/Air France.
Or via Paris? Air France has several fights a day from Paris CDG to Marrakech.
Don’t be daunted about the desert by the way. The desert is very close to Marrakech. You don’t have to drive a long way to go camel riding. There are lots of tours that take you from Marrakech to the desert. Or you can rent a car and do this on your own. I also highly recommend a visit to Aït-Ben-Haddou
Posted by
OP
1309 posts
Dutch_traveler thanks for your input. I'll be checking out your suggestions.
Posted by
OP
1309 posts
Aït-Ben-Haddou looks wonderful. We're thinking of renting two cars and going ourselves. Crazy? Also, is it possible to add a camel ride into that experience?
I checked into flights from Amsterdam to Casablanca--it's wildly expensive--@$6,000 RT for eight on Royal Air Maroc and @$5,000 on Transavia.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
588 posts
I understand you can and some do rent cars and drive, but with your limited time, large group and the chance of winter weather I would not. A driver/guide will make it so much easier and will be an invaluable point of access into Moroccan culture. We used Wild Morocco for our 2018 trip. Highly recommend. You could do a few days in a riad in Marrakech, a trip out to desert with them like this https://wildmorocco.com/morocco-4x4-tours-packages/, and have a wonderful family holiday.