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Morocco (Africa) Reviews |
sam- Si
Guest
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I wasn't that keen on going to Morocco in the first place. However we had a good time and made the most of it and thats because we didnt leave the hotel.....!
On our first day there we decided to take a walk around the town, our holiday rep told us the bollovard 20 aout was were all the shops, resturants and night clubs are however we saw 2 bars and guess what... one of them was an English Bar,so we didnt fancy goin there, not while we were on holiday. Im so glad we were all inclusive, otherwise i dont think we would of eaten,i didnt see any restaurants...worth eating in anyway, and there were no other tourists around the town, the locals stared at us and we had a child shove her hand in my partners face demanding money, while her mum egged her on to keep trying...!The locals are really aggressive with there hassaling and wont take no for an answer...and thats why we stayed in our hotel all week i was too scared to leave it.
The hotel was good with plenty of entertainment more so for the children, but we both came down with stomach bugs from the food.My advice would be dont go to Morocco!
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Terry Dulling
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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Sorry to say we have just returned from a bad 2 weeks in this resort.
On arrival we knew there was alot of paper work to complete so we were prepared for that.
Our room was big but very basic, comprising of 3 beds a bathroom (just shower),toilet,and a tv( which didnt work).
On closer inspection the curtains fell off when you drew them, the toilet handle came off in your hand, when you went out the front dooryou couldnt get back in as the locks were jammed! not a bad start! this took 3 days to sort out.
The food was very bland catering more for the French. My ten year old lived on bread and butter for two weeks.
All our party had sickness whilst there and a doctor was called for.The doctor was going in one door and into another whilst we were there for the whole two weeks.
The entertainment is very low key for adults and caters more for the children. Although the entertainment team work very hard and are very friendly.
Be warned to take a pack of cards or such as the lobby bar shuts at 11pm. They will turn the lights off whilst you are still drinking forcing you to go bed!
My son had an accident whilst there during the first week. The blood was still on the sheets when we left hence the sheets hadnt been changed.
Our room had an invasion of ants by the bed
after numerous complaints this was never dealt with in the whole of the 2 weeks.
All in all we would never return to this resort again!!!
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Emma
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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we first visited this holiday in may 2005 for one week. we loved it. so we went back in october 2005 also for one week. once again, loved it. we then went in april 2006, may 2006, and most reciently, august 2006. we love it.
the food there is great, always something to eat, and the dinner time snack bar is great.
the staff at all of the bars are very friendly, and give you efficient service thanks to a little tip every couple of days.
The entertainment team also really friendly and put on great shows, with going back so many times we're great friends with them and we keep in touch all the time between visits, really great people.
The facilities in the hotel are also great, clean pool, well kept gardens, clean restaurants and great rooms.
its no surprise that we are going back for the new year!! a really great holiday fo all the family
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Debbie Richardson
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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After reading the bad reviews about this hotel we were absolutely dreading our holiday but one thing I have learned is to never believe all that you read.
We have just returned from a two week holiday here and it has been fantastic. Despite what reviews have said our room was clean, very nice and in a good location (block 33). The food was fine - what you would expect for a 3* all inclusive. All of the swimming pools were clean and we never had any problems getting a sun lounger. We had no problems obtaining three drinks on each visit to the bar (we even had drinks delivered to our room) - just be nice the bar staff and they will be nice to you! All three of us had an upset stomach at one point during the holiday but nothing any different than we have had when visiting other countries. All of the staff were very helpful and there was always a First Choice rep available. The one problem we did find was being hassled by the locals when you went outside the hotel but this is to be expected in a poor country like Morocco (no different that Turkey or Tunisia).
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Sharon & Scott Yorksh
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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We initially had some reservations after reading this site as others before us had done. I dont know if going in January and therefore out of season made a difference but we had a great time.
The hotel was spotlessly clean at all times. The staff in general were very pleasant and helpful. Once you get to know them they cant do enough for you. Like all hotel food it tended to be a little repetitive after two weeks, but was saved by the pizza chef, the omlette man and the freshly cooked pasta chap! Breakfast was the best meal, with pancakes,omlettes and doughnuts!
As regards the taxis available at the front of the hotel, I would say be a little wary we got to know one driver called Abdulla who was very helpful. However some drivers seem to want to take you to see their brothers shop or their sisters flower stall rather than the souke you wanted so be firm!
Marrakech is definately worth a visit as are some of the smaller villages in southern Morocco, Agadir does not represent the true Morocco.
Overall it is a wonderful country with very friendly people, showing a great diversity, well worth a visit.Don't expect english T.V, English food or English bars anywhere, thats what makes it special, so go before it becomes like a canary island!
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Natasha & Linda
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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Oh what a lucky bunny you are if you have booked this hotel. My mum and I are just back from a week there. I am well travelled and I can honestly say this is the best hotel and country I have ever been to. The hotel is on a brilliant location right on the lovely beach. The food is fantastic. The staff are so polite, happy and keen to meet your every need. This was my mum's first holiday and she loved it. We booked into the health spa for a pampering day, had walks down the beach in the warm water (the beach is spotless). We did a Moroccan night and city tour. All great. The staff come round and introduce themselves to you and ask you personally if you want to join in/come to events. There are a lot of french people in this resort who we found to be great too even though I don't speak french. The Direct holidays rep Kamal was absolutely great.
Best holiday ever. Our sheets and towels were changed every day.
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ANDREW, REAY,
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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Apartments were kept spotless at all times. Pool area was adequate and ample of sunloungers. Pool and bar staff very helpful and friendly. First choice rep was useless! Camel trek was good fun but got very hot at times. 4X4 Safari was excellent especially the lunch break Take your cameras! Catamaran trip was a huge disappointment and was not worth the £35 per person it cost.The food on this trip was inadequate for adult males!Unlimited drinks never materialised!Berber night was the best excursion ever absolutely brilliant. Food and drink included but ask before you go about choice of wines as the night we went there was only Red! If eating out try the Mexican TACO LOCO down the steps opposite the apts and continue to your right past Le Central Karaoke bar. Sits a little off the road but prices, wine service and food absolutely excellent the best meal we ate the whole time we were there!Dodgy prawns at Catanazo(also alcohol free!)
Watch the beach as it is very unclean and all the locals use it and the tend to perv after the brits! All in all it wasn't a bad holiday.
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AMANDA
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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I Stayed at the ANEZI H/B in AGADIR for a week arriving 30th May 2004.I went with Airtours , my friend had to cancel, so I went alone.The hotel was clean my room was spacious and I had a large balcony overlooking the sea.They served great breakfast,Fruit,Pastries,fresh Doughnuts and pancakes and cold meats cheese and fried eggs or omlette .The evening meals were also very tasty and the staff were friendly.
The hotel has a great pool but when you're bored of water polo go to l'oasis on the beach rent a sun bed and shade for £1.I took one trip to Marakesh ,the day trip ,it was very tiring but well worth it.Kamal the Airtours rep. was very good and arranged it at the last minute for me.You can find cheaper trips or take the bus but it was so hot, I was glad of the air conditioning in the coach.I had a great meal of grilled sardines at the port #37 (£3.50 with beer).Purchased green lipstick and herbs and shoes at the souk in Agadir.Had a wonderful massage and lost my top layer of skin at one of the the hammams in the town(£6 for over an hour).
Redy's land ,steak house was a great place to spend the evening.It's on the corner of Mohamed V and Prince Heritier Sidi Mohamed just across from the ANEZI.There is a playground for children in the back garden and live music in the front garden.Do ask Abdouh to play "smoke on the water" .A great restaurant is Scampi -Go to the top of the road past Redy's and Scampi is on the right just past HOTEL KAMAL.There are plenty of fun night clubs in Agadir but I really enjoyed Kharma ?I think that's what it was called.(Moroccan)it's near Hotel Sud Bahia on avenue GENERAL KETTANI.
I was unsure about holidaying alone but I had a wonderful time and I am looking forward to my next trip there.
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Janette, Wayne
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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i travelled to agadir with my boyfriend, staying half board at hotel anezi for 2 weeks in july/august 05. we travelled with sunset.. the flight was fine (except the pilot told us we didnt need to change our watches?? time difference is an hour behind!) when we got to agadir airport we went thru baggage reclaim, passport control etc really quickly, we were in the airport bus in less than half an hour from landing. a few forms to fill in but these will usually have been done on the plane. i was prepared to be hassled at the airport by porters wanting to take my bags etc+wanting tips, but i wasn't at all.. i think other people were but to be honest i didn't even see any porters! there are plenty of luggage trolleys tho.
transfer to agadir is only half an hour.. a good job as the road is dusty and boring. excpect to be told to look out for tree climbing goats! i didn't see any tho.
on arrival to agadir and pulling up at hotel anezi first impressions were good.. its the tallest hotel in the town, and whitewashed, all new looking, with a gorgeous waterfall set into the side of the hotel entrance.
things then went a bit pear shaped..
reception staff were unbeleivably rude, didn't smile, hardly spoke any englsih.. i definately recommend brushing up on school girl/boy french as if i didn't know any at all we would have really struggled. i had emailed the hotel manager prior to the holiday to request a room on a high floor with a double bed and fridge, which i had received confirmation in writing for.. however this wasn't provided! the room they put us in was plesant, but the wouldn't change, just saying 'no problem no problem' all the time.. as in WE didn't have a problem!! however when i started waving my email confirmation around and attempting the school girl french they said we would have to wait for the manager.. well it was worth the wait, he's a little old irish guy called michael, really sound, he sorted everything out for us straight away.. any probs just go and see him, his room is to the right of the money exchange desk.. when the door is open he is in.
the room we had was fine, massive comfortable queen size bed, room very clean, however teh air con was a joke, just a tiny trickle of cool air, didn't make a difference at all, however it is quite cool in the evenings (desert weather) so it didn't really bother us, but thats not the point really is it!!
tv in the room just has one uk news channel and the radio dosn't work! nice little balcony with a view of the sea, pool and the whole of agadir.
breakfast was fab.. eggs cooked to your liking ( a bit runny tho.. i wasn't sure of the french for 'well done!', pastries, bread, cornflakes, fruit salad, pancakes, salad stuff, jam, honey, alsorts, you couldn't go hungry at breakfast unless you were waiting for the sole toaster to work, it would be quicker to put it in the sun outside! dinner was a bit mining tho, generally catering for the french, of which the hotel is full of.. hardly any english (although there seemed to be more arriving towards the end of our holdiay) we are quite adventurous eaters but would only touch rice and chicken in the evenings, everything else looked too dodgy, tripe and stuff!! so we only ate there a couple of times and ate out every other nite, you can have lunch at the hotel if you don't want dinner in the evening but its limited.. chicken or fish usualy for main, with salad for starter and icecream.
there are loads of fab restaurants in the resort tho, or favourite was jardain d'leau, its fab and has really friendly engish speakin waiters if you sit outisde, the mexican taco loco is also nice, and via vinetto which is to the left of uni prix supermarket.. the fixed price supermarket for water,crisps, alcohol, not very cheap tho.. biscuits etc, even moroccan brands, were over a pound a packet?!
la scala restaurant is also nice, if you want to go to the beach go to palm beach, best to access it from the road, you can book a sunlounger there for 20 dirhams a day and its dead realaxing, the beach and sea are gorgeous.. quite a lot of locals on the main beach but we were never hassled at all.. palm beach also has a fab little cafe, it looks a bit minging but the food is lush, i recommend cheese omlete and dame blanche icecream.. i had it nearly every day for 2 weeks!!
my boyfriend went jetskiing and loved it, you get 1/2 hour for only 300dirhams which is very cheap compared to european prices, he also went paragliding for 300 dirhams but said it was a rip off, only lasted for about 10 mins max.
hardly any nite life.. to even have a drink you have to go to restaurants, not many bars on their own at all.. you don't have to eat in the restaurants tho, you can just drink.. there may be some nightclus in agadir but i think they're in the big hotels, we didn't venture into any.
the entertainment in the hotel is geared towards the french.. even the signs advertising the entertainment.. poolside activites geared towards kids, again all in french, evening entertainment usually little kids disco and then a bloke on an organ. not my idea of fun! and all in french. i think there is a morocco theme nite once a week but we didn't go.
i wouldn't go back here, but only coz of the unhelpful, unfriendly staff, the way nothing was geared towards english people, and lack of nitelife.
weather was fab, but very cloudy in the mornings.. sun didn't come out til miday, but then stayed hot til 6pm.. cool in the evenings tho, take a cardi!
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Dave 40 & Sue 43
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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Arrived in Agadir airport in blazing sunshine which was great for December. This continued all week from around 9.30am til about 5 in the afternoon. Check in quite thorough but fairly quick. There are official porters waiting outside to carry your case 20 yards or so to the coach who will expect a tip(a £ coin) but if you just say you're ok they won't argue or hassle u.
An interesting drive to the hotel(the last drop off point!) with a very informative rep & local guide explaining about local culture etc. First glimpse of hotel is very impressive because of it's height. Reception staff polite & friendly & there is a cashpoint to the left of the desk. The rooms are spacious with an enormous double bed you could fit 4 into!! Don't bother with the tv tho-only 1 channel-Euro news. Great views of Agadir from all rooms.
We were half board & found the food great & plentiful. Restaurant on 10th floor with breakfast starting at 5.45! Excellent beef & you can go up for 2nds (I did most days) Waiters very friendly & attentive. Beer & wine same price all over Agadir(even hotel bar). 20 dirham for a bottle of Flag beer (£1.25) & 95 for a bot of wine.
Entertainment by the pool was great fun. Jamal will introduce himself to u & if you want to get involved in anything just ask him. We did aerobics, darts & even took an arabic lesson! Michael the manager is always available for a chat & not just there to sort out problems.
Did the customery camel trek. A good laugh but can be sore the next day. Costs about £12.50.
Totally safe walking around even tho Sue is blond & we had heard that she might be kidnapped!! Locals trying to sell you souvenirs on the streets but not too pushy & are generally being friendly. Beware the spice man next to the irish bar tho-invited us in for a drink then wanted £35 for spices he bagged up. We got him down to £7 but he wasn't happy but we didn't want them in the 1st place.
To sum up we would deff return to this hotel next year. Very fair price & polite staff. The pool was heated as well which was a bonus. A minor downside was it could get a bit smokey in the bar but the waiter would open the windows on request. Bit fumey on the main road 2 but apart from that a great week.
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Bethany Alexander
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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Have just got back from a weeks holiday in Agadir. Had a fabulous time.
The hotel was very good, rooms very clean, were cleaned once and sometimes twice a day!Twin beds, a fridge and satellite T.V.Large private balcony. Rooms have either sea, pool or garden view. Staff were friendly, spoke english OK, fluent french and berber arabic.Hotel has three restaurants, food in the buffet restaurant was OK, lots of choice!
Entertainment throughout the day and night was very good, lots of poolside activities including darts, aerobics, polo and ping pong. At night time there was a live singer with a dancing competion one night and a moroccan evening one night. Large pool, plenty of sun loungers and hotel has private beach, again with lots of loungers. We went on a day trip to Marrakech, which I would recommend to see historical Morocco, although a 4 hour journey, the drive through the atlas mountains is very scenic and I would recommend it. Also, visiting the Casbah is interesting, breathtaking views from the top, not for the light hearted as the coach drives up the hill side and its a bit scary! Lots of cafes near the hotel, do cheap, tasty lunches!
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danni and mick
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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weather was fine. went half board basis
good cheap\holiday. great for families
got bored of same food at resort.
food very cheap outside resort. people very friendly. did not go on any excursions as my daughters only 1 years old. but had a relaxing time on great beach. much better than turkey and tunisia
much less hassle and people no way as pushy. felt safe in hotel for a change. and nothing went missing. a up and coming destination for the future.
reccomend highly to familiies with young children. very clean resort.
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KULLY , MANNY,
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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flight was excellent,went through agadir airport very quickly, weather was 26 degrees in first week of may, transfer was great, al moggar is best located in our opinion,hotel has too many steps for young kids and older people otherwise rooms are very basic (but clean) take a mini fan as we did because you can,t buy one or rent one as they say in brochure, entertainment is in french 90% of the time the only kids activity is in the pool, and the kids disco is only 20-30 minutes in evenings also half in french, (as french is second language) phone calls are very expensive (£1.50 p/m) exhange rate is 16 dirhams ave per £. internet at hotel was 10 dirhams per half hour
FANTASTIC food was 6/10 we were on half board, fully inclusive guests were complaining about the low quality drinks so we did the right thing. lager was 20 dirhams a bottle, but then we found an off licence 5 minutes walk away, same lager 7 dirhams, beach is lovely, people are SO NICE no hassle in normal shops, obviously a little pushy in the souk as they all sell similar items.
we took lots of insect repellents, did not use one! few cockroaches on street at night, but in hotel only a couple of ants in our room but the maids sprayed everywhere. agadir is a great resort much better than we thought, we were worried about our kids as they are so young but they did,nt want to come home! hotel is being modernised, also lots of building work going on at present, (new hotels) because people are realising what they have been missing. try a higher class hotel , but book morocco its clean and very hot.
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Bob Fox Sheffield
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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Arrived at the airport at 17:00hrs the only plane there, but you wouldn't have thought it the time it took to clear passport control. Then the bag snatchers try to get your cases to take to the buses for a small tip.
The short half hour transfer to the hotel was only spoilt by the queue at reception to book -in , then more bag snatchers take your cases to the room, get used to this as everyone in Morocco wants paying for little effort.
The room was ok, 4 single beds separated by a low wall with wrought iron work on top, separate toilet with extractor fan, good sized bathroom that only I managed not to soak the floor when in the shower, remote control air con was good but not needed on this occasion and a lovely sun terrace. Rooms were cleaned daily and towels changed if left on the floor.
The hotel is good just across from the excellent 7km beech and at the right end away from the beggars/pick pockets. The night entertainment is audience participation most of the time even it is mainly French but you don't have to get involved if you don't want. The Moroccan night is best with a snake charmer, acrobats and a belly dancer. During the day around the pool they try to get you involved with the activities ranging from darts/boules/water polo/aerobics/table tennis etc. You will make good friends with the waiters/bar staff and especially the animation team they are a great bunch of guys who don't want paying!
Meals were ok a lot of choice but I wouldn't say good food but you can just eat what you want.
Walking around in Agadir is different some locals come up to you and start chatting then want to take you somewhere as a guide or sell you something, then there's some that really just want a chat and are informative/polite and knowledgeable, but you can't tell the difference for a couple of minutes
The tour of Agadir was cr*p, short walk round the Kasbah where you were pounced on by locals selling "jewellery", camel rides, photo's with a goat and beggars. Then it was round the fishing port which is closed on Sundays (the only day this trip is run) see all the empty fish stalls and un seaworthy boats. Then drive through Agadir town look at the Mosque then onto the Chemist where you endure a talk on all the local spices and herbs benefits and cures and costs. Then its off to the Souke a market that we really wanted to see, but its massive and you only get to see a corner and no chance to buy anything then its off again, this time to a carpet shop for another demo and price list, I walked out of this one. Then its off for lunch at the same restaurant we'd been lunching at all week right next to our hotel.
The Souke was worth the extra visit, but you've got to haggle harder than we did, we got some "Nike" air trainers for £28 but probably could have got them for £15-20. And lookout for all the beggars outside the gates.
Be on your guard all the time I was nearly took for 200Dirhams by the man changing currency in the hotel and the poolside bar doesn't want to give change as most people are all inclusive so they pretend not to have any.
The internet facility is a joke, limited access to sites e.g. no MSN or Hotmail, stroppy staff who don't let you on until certain times and not as it is described in the hotel directory.
If you need to change money back do it before passport control because you can't spend it on much after and the duty-free shop only takes Sterling notes or Euros and gives change back in Euros.
All in all we did enjoy it, once we knew what to expect we could then relax and benefit from what is a nice resort and some great people. We will go back if the price is right as the weather was brilliant.
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Brian Taylor, Susan Taylo
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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The Al Madina Palace is a hotel fading from grace! It offers itself as 4* plus, and maybe it once was , but not anymore.
It has a lot of charm, being built in true Moorish style, with foliage laden alleyways, nooks and crannys, and cool courtyards, but its very design makes the rooms with their gunslit windows and heavy fretwork covers rather dark and gloomy. The rooms themselves are very nice, spacious, well furnished and spotless, but no balconies apart from odd ones.
The problem with this hotel is simply disorganisation and a lack of TLC. In terms of house staff , there are a lot of suits who seem to organise nothing, leaving the really very friendly staff to try to organise themselves - not a raging success!
The absolute requisites of constant hot water for a shower,(or any hot water at all, or even any water full stop at one point!), and a fully stocked Hot/ cold breakfast buffet seem unattainable in this hotel despite repeated requests to desk staff or restaraunt managers.
On the up side, you do not have to dine in the somewhat faded main restaraunt each night, as the hotel offers a beautifully turned out Italian where you can dine as many times as you want. A first class Morrocan also used by the public, a Lebanese (grim dont bother) and an excellent Mexican, as well as Pizzeria well worth a visit. These are all free to guests if you pick the table d'hote menu. The hotels private beach is excellent, and its location is very central. You pays your money (which is not cheap) and takes your choice with this hotel. It sounds good but be prepared for some dissapointment.
Agadir? Clean spacious, plenty of cafe/bars really very nice. Keep out of the clutches of con men and beggars (dont worry, you will get the plot after the first time you get conned) and you will have avery good holiday in Agadir
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