Flying High, Haggling Low: A BA holiday to Marrakesh
May 11, 2024, 5:34 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Diamond, Mucci des repas d'enfant
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https://www.britishairways.com/trave...golden_tickets
May 11, 2024, 11:34 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
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BA668
LHR-RAK
G-EUYI
Another new one for me, G-EUYI, a mere 13 Year old A320.
In the end it was quite long taxi this afternoon and finally off the ground at 12:50. The crew didn’t move until well after the seatbelt light was out and then it was a pretty slow service. Drinks trolley finally made it after around 50 minutes and the meal arrived after an hour and a quarter. Surprisingly there was one cottage pie left and it was OK, despite the pea overload.
The free wifi still has challenges, it kicked me out after about an hour and then that was it, no way to get back in, just an error that it had already been used for my account.
An averagely indifferent crew, there was constantly someone on the go up front although they were slow and disorganised . That said, when I wandered to the back to get a couple of JD the ladies there were comfortably ensconced in the last two rows having a good chinwag. Felt like the IFL didn’t really have a grip on the service or the other cabin crew.
Three episodes of the mentalist later and I had just put all my tech away when 10 minutes to landing was announced. I hopped across to 11F on the off chance that there would be some scenic opportunities on the way down, but, alas, no.
LHR-RAK
G-EUYI
Another new one for me, G-EUYI, a mere 13 Year old A320.
In the end it was quite long taxi this afternoon and finally off the ground at 12:50. The crew didn’t move until well after the seatbelt light was out and then it was a pretty slow service. Drinks trolley finally made it after around 50 minutes and the meal arrived after an hour and a quarter. Surprisingly there was one cottage pie left and it was OK, despite the pea overload.
The free wifi still has challenges, it kicked me out after about an hour and then that was it, no way to get back in, just an error that it had already been used for my account.
An averagely indifferent crew, there was constantly someone on the go up front although they were slow and disorganised . That said, when I wandered to the back to get a couple of JD the ladies there were comfortably ensconced in the last two rows having a good chinwag. Felt like the IFL didn’t really have a grip on the service or the other cabin crew.
Three episodes of the mentalist later and I had just put all my tech away when 10 minutes to landing was announced. I hopped across to 11F on the off chance that there would be some scenic opportunities on the way down, but, alas, no.
May 11, 2024, 11:40 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Diamond, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 3,065
A very short taxi to the jet bridge and quickly through to passport control.
According to the chatty border agent we got lucky, it was deathly quiet and I was through to baggage reclaim in under five minutes, most of that spent chatting to the agent.
The bags were pretty quick and I was landside at 16:44
According to the chatty border agent we got lucky, it was deathly quiet and I was through to baggage reclaim in under five minutes, most of that spent chatting to the agent.
The bags were pretty quick and I was landside at 16:44
May 11, 2024, 11:41 am
#20
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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And I thought I travelled a lot. 
Great start to what sounds like another fun trip.
Tried Roku Gin in Tokyo last week and really enjoyed it.
That's the BA LHR experience I remember so fondly.
Great start to what sounds like another fun trip.
With forty minutes to go I took the long march to gate A3 and arrived in time to see the complete pigs ear the agents were making of boarding. Lady at the tensa-maze was calling 1 and 2, automated announcement was for 0 and 1, no real checking going on, group 5 ahead of me, just a mess
May 11, 2024, 11:45 am
#21
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Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
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Had booked a shared shuttle as part of the holiday and that was a major tactical
mistake! Fully fifty minutes waiting until another couple showed up who were going to a completely different hotel. A six seater minibus and I was the sole passenger for the vast majority of the trip
Marrakech is very much as I remember it, 90% building site
It was a really long trip out to the hotel, no popping into the city for a quick visit this week!
Finally arrived at the hotel at 18:20
mistake! Fully fifty minutes waiting until another couple showed up who were going to a completely different hotel. A six seater minibus and I was the sole passenger for the vast majority of the trip
Marrakech is very much as I remember it, 90% building site
It was a really long trip out to the hotel, no popping into the city for a quick visit this week!
Finally arrived at the hotel at 18:20
Last edited by JapesUK; May 11, 2024 at 11:58 am
May 11, 2024, 11:48 am
#23
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The boarding at Heathrow was a complete farce, one of the worst I’ve seen this year.
May 11, 2024, 11:50 am
#24
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Location: Newcastle, UK
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May 11, 2024, 11:56 am
#25
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The curse of the European ‘double’
The room is basic but perfectly acceptable and even has a little balcony with a view of the garden
Bags dropped and the first order of business was a beer, actually, two beers, it’s about 29 centigrade which means that, as a British northerner, I’m melting!
I’ve no idea what the local beer is, it’s out of an unbranded tap, but it is
cold and wet and hits the spot!
That catches me up to date and now I am going to sit here in the sun and enjoy the second beer. Apparently dinner starts at 19:30 so I think tonight will be dinner and then bed, we will see.
The room is basic but perfectly acceptable and even has a little balcony with a view of the garden
Bags dropped and the first order of business was a beer, actually, two beers, it’s about 29 centigrade which means that, as a British northerner, I’m melting!
I’ve no idea what the local beer is, it’s out of an unbranded tap, but it is
cold and wet and hits the spot!
That catches me up to date and now I am going to sit here in the sun and enjoy the second beer. Apparently dinner starts at 19:30 so I think tonight will be dinner and then bed, we will see.
May 11, 2024, 1:44 pm
#27
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And time to finish! I tried a spoon of almost everything and the flavours were good, albeit that the temperature could be better. Rapidly approaching 9pm which means I’ve been awake close to seventeen hours. A paid for Remy Martin to close the night and then time for bed.
So far, I like this place far more than I expected to, let’s see what tomorrow brings.
So far, I like this place far more than I expected to, let’s see what tomorrow brings.
May 11, 2024, 8:46 pm
#29
Join Date: Aug 2005
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That food spread looks massive!
Sad about the mediocre flight to RAK though, but at least you got there and the weather sounds nice.
I would second SFO777’s positive comments about the Roku Gin - it is pretty good.
Sad about the mediocre flight to RAK though, but at least you got there and the weather sounds nice.
I would second SFO777’s positive comments about the Roku Gin - it is pretty good.
May 11, 2024, 11:54 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
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good morning from a relatively cool marrakech where it is not yet 7am, the sun is only just rising, and the only sound is the birdsong from the garden.
The plan of the day is: that there is no plan of the day!
Guessing that there would be no kettle in the room I packed this vital piece of equipment and so coffee is literally in the cup
The hotel timings for its bacchanalian feasts are outlined in the key card holder
And apparently there is a program of activities and entertainment I am sure to ignore
For now the plan is to finish my coffee, shower, and head to breakfast. After that I think an explore and tour of the hotel is in order
The plan of the day is: that there is no plan of the day!
Guessing that there would be no kettle in the room I packed this vital piece of equipment and so coffee is literally in the cup
The hotel timings for its bacchanalian feasts are outlined in the key card holder
And apparently there is a program of activities and entertainment I am sure to ignore
For now the plan is to finish my coffee, shower, and head to breakfast. After that I think an explore and tour of the hotel is in order