Flying High, Haggling Low: A BA holiday to Marrakesh
May 13, 2024, 6:54 am
#77
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Gold, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 2,937
Yet more food photos! The salads, breads, deserts are either unchanged or in a similar vein to previous days but the hot options are completely different again
May 13, 2024, 9:28 am
#79
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,363
Iberostar is a solid choice usually, although in my family we preffer RIU hotels generally speaking, RIU Palace in particular. Melia also have a decend offering.... all of them Spanish, interestingly. I would put all of them in upper middle class of resorts. If you want a bit more, you can look for resorts operated by estabilished upmarket chain brands too, having spent some time in a Hilton AI resort in the Carribean earlier in the year, the hotel is one of the few things I liked about the holiday.
Re. the baloons, I'm a bit disappointed by the plain design, drab color too... I am used to seeing much more colorful baloons around here.
May 13, 2024, 9:44 am
#80
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Gold, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 2,937
This afternoon has been a repeat of yesterday, a leisurely lunch and then back to the room for a shower and a snooze. It is now approaching 16:45 and way past coffee time!
When I got back to the room there was this
Heaven knows what a cocktail party looks like here
Sartorial rule number one, no socks with sandals
Sartorial rule number two, if you are breaking rule number one, go loud!
When I got back to the room there was this
Heaven knows what a cocktail party looks like here
Sartorial rule number one, no socks with sandals
Sartorial rule number two, if you are breaking rule number one, go loud!
May 13, 2024, 10:01 am
#81
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Gold, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 2,937
Oh my, you're turning into an AI convert and by the looks of it you are pulling some other folk down with you
Iberostar is a solid choice usually, although in my family we preffer RIU hotels generally speaking, RIU Palace in particular. Melia also have a decend offering.... all of them Spanish, interestingly. I would put all of them in upper middle class of resorts. If you want a bit more, you can look for resorts operated by estabilished upmarket chain brands too, having spent some time in a Hilton AI resort in the Carribean earlier in the year, the hotel is one of the few things I liked about the holiday.
Re. the baloons, I'm a bit disappointed by the plain design, drab color too... I am used to seeing much more colorful baloons around here.
Iberostar is a solid choice usually, although in my family we preffer RIU hotels generally speaking, RIU Palace in particular. Melia also have a decend offering.... all of them Spanish, interestingly. I would put all of them in upper middle class of resorts. If you want a bit more, you can look for resorts operated by estabilished upmarket chain brands too, having spent some time in a Hilton AI resort in the Carribean earlier in the year, the hotel is one of the few things I liked about the holiday.
Re. the baloons, I'm a bit disappointed by the plain design, drab color too... I am used to seeing much more colorful baloons around here.
I will definitely consider AI in future, this experience has way exceeded expectations. I had a mental picture of groups drinking themselves into oblivion and mediocre repetitive food, and neither of those assumptions has proved true. I will not go looking for it, I prefer the short sharp trips I usually do, but if BA continue the holiday TP bonus then this is hard to refuse
May 13, 2024, 10:12 am
#82
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Gold, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 2,937
A few surprises with Wednesdays Royal Air Maroc flights
Firstly, checkin opens at T-48
Secondly, no mobile or printed boarding passes, you have to go to the checkin desk at the airport
Thirdly, masks?
Transfers now booked to and from the airport. Nothing booked for tomorrow, the excursion desk was empty after the power cut. I had already been put off of the idea of going to the waterfall after chatting to the guys at the balloon flight, apparently it is a two hour plus trip either way.
Maybe a guided tour of the city tomorrow morning, it has been a while. Time for some research.
Firstly, checkin opens at T-48
Secondly, no mobile or printed boarding passes, you have to go to the checkin desk at the airport
Thirdly, masks?
Transfers now booked to and from the airport. Nothing booked for tomorrow, the excursion desk was empty after the power cut. I had already been put off of the idea of going to the waterfall after chatting to the guys at the balloon flight, apparently it is a two hour plus trip either way.
Maybe a guided tour of the city tomorrow morning, it has been a while. Time for some research.
May 13, 2024, 11:46 am
#83
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Gold, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 2,937
It’s nearly time for the cocktail party and it is well past beer o’clock!
heading back to my room to drop off my iPad I was astonished to find that the laundry I dropped off around noon was back already and excellently done. Two shirts and those filthy trousers came to 80 DHM or a little under seven pounds.
After all my research nothing called out to me so tomorrow will be a slow day in the hotel. There is the archery that I want to try, and dinner in the speciality restaurant but apart from that, food and more food. The snack van has yet to be investigated too.
heading back to my room to drop off my iPad I was astonished to find that the laundry I dropped off around noon was back already and excellently done. Two shirts and those filthy trousers came to 80 DHM or a little under seven pounds.
After all my research nothing called out to me so tomorrow will be a slow day in the hotel. There is the archery that I want to try, and dinner in the speciality restaurant but apart from that, food and more food
. The snack van has yet to be investigated too.
May 13, 2024, 12:14 pm
#84
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Gold, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 2,937
A little walk down to the main pool to take a look at the cocktail party. Lots of staff and guests standing around, nobody serving, drinking, or eating. All very odd, no idea what they’re all waiting for but I decided to wander off
May 13, 2024, 1:09 pm
#85
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Gold, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 2,937
And so to dinner. Just the highlights and changes again. The hot stand that recently did kebab and eggs, to name just a couple, is a cold buffet stand tonight with the same tidbits as at the pool party
Temperature issues tonight, the beef and the pork were tepid unfortunately
Temperature issues tonight, the beef and the pork were tepid unfortunately
May 13, 2024, 1:59 pm
#86
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Gold, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 2,937
With a keyboard and speakers being set up in the bar area I decide to retreat to my balcony and crack open the duty free
It’s time to see the evening to a gentle close and hope for a good nights sleep.
It’s time to see the evening to a gentle close and hope for a good nights sleep.
May 13, 2024, 2:12 pm
#87
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hampshire UK
Programs: BA Silver, Virgin Red, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 170
May 13, 2024, 3:53 pm
#88
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: A3*G, Marriott Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium
Posts: 873
May 14, 2024, 1:03 am
#89
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, IHG Platinum, FlyingBlue Gold, Hilton Gold, Mucci des repas d'enfant
Posts: 2,937
Good morning from Morocco where it is exactly 8am and I have literally just arisen after ten hours sleep! It is one of those rare days where I’m awake after the breakfast has commenced so the first order of the day is to throw some clothes on and head down to the buffet to inhale a vast quantity of coffee!