I will be going to Morrocco with my children(13 and 15). The younger one wants to ride a camel, the older one wants to go shopping. Has anyone done this in one day? We are going to Spain and planning a day trip to Africa. Should we stay over night, and do you have any hotel recs.? Thanks for your time,

Fradbran

Hello,
Although I live in Morocco and love it, I cannot recommend a day trip to Tangier from Spain. I usually liken it to taking a daytrip to New York City to "get a feel" for America.

Tangier is a town whose charm is slowly revealed over a few days - not while hustling around trying to make the ferry back to Europe.

Specifically, there are no camels in Tangier (except the mangy ones wheeled out for tourists). Tangier is too far north for camels - you'd need about 10-15 hours of driving to get to places where you could ride camels.

There is shopping to be done, but the quality if goods is not a good as elsewhere in Morocco and the prices are high as the merchants depend upon day-trippers to make a living.

There have been several posts on here from people who did day-trips and on the whole their experience was not positive. Save Morocco for when you have time to really visit the country.

And remember northen Morocco is very similar in landscape, flora, and fauna to southern Spain - so you wont see anything new or different. So many people expect to step off the ferry into the Sahara - which is actually REALLY far away.

I absolutely agree with Jenmaroc. A daytrip to Tangier is a waste of time.

Thank you for the information. I only have two days avialable for Africa, should I just scrap it or make the best of the two days?

Fradbran

scrap it. In all honesty, Morocco can be such a sensory overload that a two- day jaunt would be overwhelming to the point of not being enjoyable.

But do try to make it here at some point - and take your children to the Sahara to ride the camels into the dunes and sleep in Berber tents. Its simply fantastic. Shopping is best done in Fes or Marrakech where the souks are extensive.

Utter Camel poo
I have made sevral trips to Moroc.
One of which was a overnighter where I took the first ferry boat from Spaon to Tangiers, hung out for the day then went to the airport and caught a cheap local flight to marrekesh spent the night ALL the next day in the souk, fle back to tangiers that evening and took the last ferry boat back to Spain.
I travel the world and a day somewhere is better than no days. it is like eatting a Tapa. You just get a taste. Must you eat a WHOLE piece of chocolate cake to enjoy it, or can you just have a bite and TASTE it and still enjoys it. I say YES.
I have spent single days in many BIG cities just to get a taste as I was passing thru. GO FOR IT. Life is short. SIEZE the momment. Carpe Diem!

BwanaPaul,
Like you, I enjoy flying visits to places - I'm not specifically downing day-trips or quick jaunts... I just think that doing so with two teenagers mightnot be the most enjoyable use of the family's holiday time.