Our trip was excellent. It was very well organised by your organisation. Every day was a new adventure. We had a very happy time – and isn’t that how holidays should be?
First of all: our driver, Youssef, was outstanding. He was a lovely mix of friendliness and professionalism. His manner with all persons was excellent. We enjoyed his sense of humour, and his guidance on what we should do in various places. We greatly appreciated when he gave us each a purse of small coins to use in places like service station bathrooms, etc, as it helped us to understand how important is the tip, and how much to give. (Being Australian we are not used to tipping culture.) Youssef was very clear on details: when to meet, what time and where. He never displayed any exasperation or irritation with us, and we trusted him absolutely. We felt very safe in his care. As well as having knowledge of the different regions and cultures, and good language skills, he was also an excellent driver.
Youssef asked us to provide some constructive feedback for him, on what could be improved…. I have tried very hard to think of something. All I can think of is that he could have given us more information to prepare for some of the restaurents we visited in the evening, eg some of the restaurents were more up-market than others, and we might have got a bit more dressed up for those. We LOVED the modern Rooftop Garden (on top of Hotel Nobu in Marrakesh), and the very traditional Dar Dada in Casablanca. Also the rooftop restaurant looking out over the sea in Essouira was very special.
Highlights of our tour would have to be our accommodation. The Riads were so beautiful, and so welcoming. Each one different from the next, and in harmony with its environment. It was great to be able to stay 2 nights in most places.
We were so pleased to have the 2 days of cooking classes. Each very different from the other. Our favourite day of the whole holiday was our cooking class in Chefchouan. We laughed all day, and learned much amid the laughter. Our chef, Emad, at The Clock in Chefchouan was a delight, and the food we made was fabulous. Latifa in Essouira was also superb (though more serious), and I have enjoyed making many of the things we made in the lessons. The pace of our trip was great – not many very early starts, also plenty of stops in the long driving days. Every day was a new adventure.
Your company’s service from initial inquiry to the moment that I left Morocco, and afterwards was excellent. All communication was friendly and prompt, and responded directly to the enquiries. We very much appreciated the guides you prepared for advance reading – and the very courteous way you responded when I obviously had not done my preparatory reading(!). Please thank Amy. Also, so much was covered in the up-front booking cost, that there were few other payments required apart from tips and occasional souvenirs.
YES. I would definitely recommend your organisation to others visiting Morocco (and Oman) – and have done so, to friends and to travel agents.
I have tried to think of anything that would improve our experience, and have come up with 2 things, only:
By starting our trip on a Wednesday we had some Friday disappointments: it was hard to find a baker for our cooking lesson baked items in Chefchouan; and, worse, most of the stalls and factories in the souk at Marrakech were closed on our tour on the Friday afternoon. We would have liked to start on a different day of the week, to ensure we had more opportunity to see things in Marrakech.
We had said before our trip, that we were very interested in art and design. We were delighted with the old buildings and kasbahs and traditional arts, however we did not have opportunity to see much contemporary art and design. I believe there is a strong contemporary art movement in Marrakech.
Fidye (February 2025)
