Dear Akim,

We have just come back home from our holidays. Following our trip to Morocco we spent few days in the South of Spain.

Visiting Morocco was an exciting and unforgettable experience: the people, the landscapes, the cities, the food, everything was just wonderful. We absolutely enjoyed it. As mentioned by Marrakesh Voyage advertisements, we are back home “with plenty of tales of Arabian days and nights”; I can still smell the spices, the flowers, the fresh of the Ourika valley. By the way, Mr Karim kindness and hospitality at the Kasbah Omar has to be highlighted. He also helped us in exploring the beautiful Ourika valley leading us in two wonderful walks.

The trip went on as planned. Riads and hotels were great, as well as restaurants and foods in our dinners. Guides and visits were very well coordinated. Everything on time and the trip fulfilled every word committed by Mr Akim Elanbassi of Marrakesh Voyage in the package we bought.

"Saiid", the driver that spent with us the whole visit, was perfect; always on time, ready to help us in every question we asked, excellent driver, at all times taking care of our safety and comfort. Meeting Saiid is part of the nice memories we have from our trip.

Summing up and for the requested feedback, I would qualified my holidays and Marrakesh Voyage with a 100. Hope to visit Morocco again!!!!

Regards, Silvia.

Silvia Portnoy & Husband -  USA
Traveled - May 2008

Hi Akim,

Well, we are home again. It was a wonderful trip. We learned so much about Morocco, about which we knew so little before.

Our driver, Anis, was superb. You have a great employee in Anis - 5 star service! He was not only a great driver, but was eager to help us see all the places we wanted to visit, even if they were not in the itinerary. And he made some wonderful suggestions for lunch. He was always waiting for us in the morning, eager to begin the day's activities. He helped act as a "guide" when we were not in medinas in the cities. We shared many stories about our respective families, and found a common interest in BMW cars.

The Riads were excellent, with one exception. The Riad  in Rabat. The facility seemed a bit tired, although the dinner was outstanding. Perhaps Rabat is a good city for a hotel, like Casablanca where our hotel was very good.

Most of our guides were good. Hisham in Fez was like a university professor (which he may well be). He taught us about history and culture way back to the original Berber immigrations beginning more than 2,500 years ago. We learned so much from him I felt we should be paying tuition. We also liked Fatah in Marrakesh, Karim in Ourika, and the guide in Essaouira.


Overall we were extremely satisfied with the trip, and are glad we took it. We have already started to recommend Morocco to our friends, and will give them your name. (Shukran) Thank you for a wonderful time. We plan to return again for a music festival in either Marrakech or Fes, and hike the high Atlas in Jebel Toubkal Park near Ourika.


David,

David Kapell & Wife -  USA
Traveled - May 2008

 

Akim:

I just wanted to follow up on our trip you planned for us throughout Morocco. First of all we had a wonderful time and everything was handled very well. Our driver was the best. We could not have asked for anybody better. He spoke good English, was very knowledgeable about Morocco and world affairs. He kept us very safe and informed and was very very accommodating and respectful. We would highly recommend him anytime. All of our hotels were very nice. I know we wanted a smaller Riad in Marrakech but once we settled into the Jardin de la Koutoubia we were fine. Its just we had read that there are hundreds of fabulous Riads in Marrakech and we loved the Riad (Kasbah Omar) we were at in the Ourika Valley. But everything was arranged well except for the wait at the Jardin de la Koutoubia and the fact that the air conditioner in our original room was not working. The second room or suite they put us in was fine and the air conditioner was working fine.

Fez was wonderful, the camel ride in the Sahara was fabulous and we really enjoyed all of our experiences.

Thank you and if you need me for any references I would be glad to be contacted.

All the best. 

Marc lanci

Marc Lanci & Wife -  USA
Traveled - April 2008

 

 

Diane Wolfe & Husband Wesley Smith - New York
Traveled - February 2008

 

 

Dear Akim,

A million thanks for the extraordinary trip you organized for Kiehl's in Morocco.

You and your wonderful team exceeded all of our expectations which made the trip personal, unique and memorable.

We hope you and your family enjoy the products that we sent you and of course when our products containing Argan Oil lunch in April, you will be one of the first to receive it.

We are looking forward to seeing you very soon for a reunion dinner.

With our deepest gratitude,

Charlotte and Cammie

Charlotte Adjchavanich
Vice President - Global Public Relations & Communication
Kiehl's / Since 1851

Kiehl's International
Event took Place in Marrakech - January 2008

 

 

 

 

Dear Akim,

We are now in Taghazout relaxing after our wonderful trip around Morocco.

We had a wonderful time with our driver Mohamed who took very good care of us throughout. It was great that he was always there to pick us up from outings which made for a very stress free trip. His driving, in sometimes very difficult conditions such as heavy snow in the High Atlas was to be commended. We feel we saw much more than was in the itinerary and people we have since spoken to have been amazed at what we actually fitted into the twelve days.

Regarding the dinners, all included, we could not fault them from the Style club in Marrakech to the home cooked meals in the Riads.

By chance we were invited to a Berber wedding which was being held next to our Kasbah Omar at the Ourika Valley which was a real bonus. Stayed with it till midnight. A lot of fun.

Even though we were guided everywhere, we felt we got to experience the local flavor and so believe our trip was wonderful value. Because of the spread of accommodation you supplied from very good small riads to the opulent riad in Fez we feel we have certainly seen a wide cross section of Moroccan life.

Finally, thank you for organizing all this at what was very short notice. It all went very smoothly and again thanks to for making all the arrangments

Hope you have a great year.

Kind regards,

Robert and Karen Grozier
 

Robert Grozier & Wife _ Australia
Traveled - January 2008

 

 

Trish Daley & Husband _ Autralia
Traveled - January 2008

 

Hi Akim,

This is just a quick note to tell you how wonderful our trip was in every
way! Youssef was a fabulous incredible guide and organizer and we had one of
our best holidays ever!
The care and personal attention and warmth was unbelievable and I am
grateful to you and your people for making Morroco such a memorable and
exhilerating experience.

I am writing up a full blog to post on travel advisor and other places as
well.

I wish you a marvelous New Year and once again, our great thanks for
everything you did for us.

Best,

Gareth

Gareth & Wife + Friends , NY_ USA
Traveled - December 2007

 

 

Dear Akim:

My husband and I want to let you know how much we enjoyed our Moroccan vacation. The itinerary covered a geographically diverse area and a great blend of large cities with small villages. We crossed paths with a few other American couples and discovered we were the only ones to visit and stay in the Ourika Valley (one of the highlights of our trip). A chance to see the rustic Berber villages up close and personal, the “real Morocco” as some have called it, should not be missed. In fact, I encourage all your clients to plan their travel so that they are in the Ourika Valley on Monday, Thursday or Friday for the weekly souk. Not at all like the larger souks in Fes or Marrakech!

Having our own driver provided a level of flexibility in our travels as well as a more relaxing experience. We never had to worry about arranging transit to or from a restaurant or local site. Our driver, Anis, was great. His driving skills were well above average and he was always there to make us feel safe and special. While we did not feel at all threatened during our visit, I especially liked travelling around the cities and countryside in a minivan without “Tourist Transportation” surrounding the exterior in multiple languages.

We both enjoyed the Moroccan food – although I would add that the most delicious tagine we had was in a small roadside restaurant almost at the top of the Tizi-n-Tichka pass in the High Atlas prepared by a 15-year old chef. And on our first day in Marrakech, we asked Anis to take us to a local, not touristy, restaurant for lunch. We were the only Americans and the food and ambiance was just what we were looking for. Early in the trip we decided that we could not eat the normal 3-course lunches served. But the 10+ dishes in a Moroccan salad with bread was just perfect. The restaurants were usually very agreeable to this request.

The accommodations were great. The Riad in Fes and Kasbah Omar in Ourika Valley were a nice balance to the luxurious hotels in Rabat and Marrakech. And nothing compares to riding a camel under a full moon to our camp in the desert. This trip had it all.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that French was spoken throughout Morocco. This made it much easier to communicate with the locals, especially the children. We brought along some small candies and had fun distributing them to the small children in the villages we visited.

Our only negative experience came when I had an allergic reaction a few days after a mud facial at the hammam in Ouarzazate. On our way into Marrakech, Anis stopped at a local pharmacy and I was able to get some antihistamine pills and cream to calm my irritated face. The medications worked and I was able to finish the trip with little or no discomfort. Another benefit of having a knowledgeable, local driver.

Many of our friends are interested in our Moroccan vacation and we have no hesitation in recommending Marrakesh Voyage to them. Overall we felt the itinerary was well planned, well organized, and well executed.

Regards, Eve Kahn & Ed Estin
 

Eve Kahn & Husband -   Napa, CA _ USA
Traveled - November 2007
 

 

AKIM

Just a quick note because I have so much paper work to catch up on but I wanted to tell you what a wonderful golf trip we had. All the golfers had a great time. Our driver ABDOL made the whole experience wonderful. He took care of every detail. he really made the experience very enjoyable because we never had to worry about anything. He made sure it was right. The hotels, restaurants, golfing, and sightseeing were all superb.

Abdol said that I should return and do the Sahara desert in a tent trip . some thing for me to look forward to..... again thank you for a most memorable trip. I'll stay in touch as I hope you will and let me know of any future deals to wonderful MOROCCO.

jerry
 

Gerald Long -   USA
Golf Tour - Traveled - November 2007

 

 

Hi Akim,
 
Sam and I had an excellent time in Morocco, and we were equally pleased to meet you and your family.  We didn't have a chance to say goodbye to Meg as she seemed to be falling ill that evening.  I hope she's doing better now.  Please give our regards to her.
 
We were very pleased with all the arrangements that were made for us.  My favorite part of the trip was definitely the desert.  The camel ride was fun, and being in the desert was magical for me.  We also loved all the riads that we stayed in (though I would say the bed at Casa Hassan (Chefchaouen) was a bit too hard for us).  We would also like to mention that our driver, Mohammed, was especially thoughtful, and really took excellent care of us. He was a skilled and safe driver.  Always on time and very accommodating.  He even drove us around for an extra day in Marrakech even though he was not required to.  He also made sure Youssef arranged a good guide for us in Marrakech, whom was by far the best city guide we had on the trip (her name was Souad).  Another guide that deserves special mention is Kareem.  He definitely showed us the warmest Berber hospitality on the trip.  He was very attentive to our needs, and also made sure that none of us slipped on the rocks as we climbed the waterfall.
 
The itinerary overall was also excellent.
 
Thank you again for arranging a memorable trip for us.  Below is a link to some of the photos we took during the trip.  Hope you like them!

 

http://web.mac.com/hawksworth/iWeb/ShortTrips/Morocco.html

 
Best Regards,
Bonny

Bonny & Sam Lee - USA
Traveled - October 2007

 

 

Dear Akim:



Please excuse the delay in my email feedback – there has been a lot calling for my attention after being gone for all of September…


So, I would say that the most pronounced, most positive, aspect of our trip was definitely the graciousness and kindness and patience and open-heartedness of our guides, especially Fateh and, most especially, Youssef. From the standpoint of our Open Center staff, these gentlemen were an honor to work with, absolutely professional, especially with a string of frustrating itinerary changes that we tried to implement, but more importantly than that, and from the perspective of both us as staff, and our participants, was their warmth and depth of character and generosity. They made themselves so fully available, very much beyond expectation ordinarily, especially more significant given their fasting. Our guests were deeply moved to have been invited to Youssef’s home and visit with his family. And we were all incredibly enriched by the depth of knowledge Fateh shared with us during our visit to Bahia Palace . As an organization part of whose mission is to explore the deeper meaning of the world’s traditions and events, we were concerned that we would find ourselves meeting only the more superficial aspects of the culture and history and people of Morocco , but that was not our experience at all. Akim, we very much want to thank you for putting us in such good hands.


We also wanted to thank you for bringing us to the incredibly beautiful kasbah Omar: both the people and the place itself were more than we had hoped for.

Please know that our experience in Marrakech was absolutely remarkable, and that we deeply appreciate all you did to contribute to that.



Many thanks, and many warm regards,
 

Andrea
 

Andrea Lamanto - The New York Open Center - USA
Event in Marakech - September 2007

 

 

Akim,

I apologize for the delay in sending this letter but I'd like to inform you that we had the most amazing and out-of-this-world experience while vacationing in Morocco.
Our driver Abdel was not only very careful and cordial but also extremely hospitable and eager to share with us the Moroccan lifestyle. We are most appreciative of him opening up his home for a home-made chicken cous-cous meal with his lovely family. It truly made our trip more than personal now that we have a 'new family' in Morocco!

We will highly recommend this trip with your company to our friends who have seen, from our pictures, the many splendors of Morocco!
We hope to travel back very soon as we know there are many other treasures yet to be seen!

Again, we give our highest marks to your agency and it's tour guides/driver.

Thank you so very much!

Dr Richard Zapanta & Family

Richard Zapanta & Family - USA
Traveled - August 2007

 

 

Akim,

Thanks for your note. I am happy to share my Moroccan experience with you. I really enjoyed the trip. I saw so much, met some wonderful people, ate great food, and have many outstanding memories. I will recommend visiting Morocco to all my friends and your tour company specifically. I haven't gone through all my pictures but if I find something worth 'publishing', I'll be sure to send it along.

Highlights - without a doubt for me it was spending the night in the desert. Outstanding.

Our guide Mohammed was great. The guest house proprietor Lachen could not have been more welcoming and warm. Breakfast was outstanding. While we didn't sleep in the room, it seemed fine. The shower was adequate and clean.

Fattah - our guide in Marrakech - was wonderful. He is very knowledgeable, has a warm and engaging manor and was not pushy when it came to taking us to
places to shop.

Anis - our driver - he was great. He got us where we needed to be, on time and safely. He answered our questions and engaged in conversation. He helped us understand the culture the better.

Karim - our guide in the Ourika Valley. He was flexible and adjusted our itinerary based on my abilities (not a fit for the hikes and treks specified
in the itinerary). All he kept saying was 'it's no problem'. He and Hafida and Naima at Kasbah Omar made us feel like we were staying in a real home. I learned so much about the area, the Berbers and history from them all. And I must mention Salima (I think that's her name). She was our masseusse. Our massage (after the hammam of course) was the perfect ending to a wonderful day of walking the valley.

Itinerary - I really enjoyed the mixture of experiences - cities, desert, rural mountains/vallies, ocean. I came away with a real appreciation for the
country as a whole and the diversity of terrain and peoples.

Riads - in Marrakech and Fes, and Kasbah Omar at the high atlas were all very good. The rooms were well appointed, clean and very comfortable. And, we were served some of the best food we had on the whole trip in each of them - better than some restaurants.

With my overall feedback very strong, I do want to share a couple of thoughts that I think would improve the trip experience for others.

I think future travelers could benefit from more information/guidance from you prior to the trip. I'm not sure how seasoned a traveler your typical customer is but some things Kelly and I did/prepared for out of experience that others might not know to do.

For instance -
- emphasize hiking shoes should be required for Ourika Valley treks
- sunscreen and hats given the really strong sun
- tipping guidelines (or at least advise people to have change with them to tip EVERYONE)
- no facecloths provided
- let people know which accommodations have pools so they can bring bathing
suits if they want to swim

You may be sorry you asked after having read this long note! I do want to say again how wonderful the trip was and I will always remember it with a
warm smile and many happy memories.

Thanks to you.

All the best-

Linda

Linda Jacobsen & friend - USA
Traveled - August 2007

 

 

 

Dear Akim,

 

Back again from our journey through Morocco, it was really a memorable journey to see the country, thanks to our best driver Mr Anis and the local guides who were very helpfull to assist us during the trip.

Also the experience to stay in the Riad in Fes and the kasbah omar in the mountain side of Ourika was marvelous, as we are also able to attend a local wedding party at night near our kasbah.

We hope to share our experience with our friends in Indonesia and to give more informations about Morocco and for sure we will recommend to use Marrakech Voyage  Tour.

Thanks alot Akim , all the best and success.

Ridwan and Alice Wihardja

 

Ridwan & Alice Wiharda - Jakarta Indonesia
Traveled - August 2007

Dear Akim,

The weeks have flown by since our return from Morocco and I am finally sitting down 

to share with you some of the highlights of our adventure.

First of all, thank you so much for arranging such a complete and varied tour of 

your country. From the seaside of Casablanca, the palaces of Rabat, the medieval 

charm of Fes, the mountain & desert experiences and finally the beautiful and bustling 

city of Marrakech, we truly were able to experience Morocco in all its forms.

Second, I would especially like to tell you how much we appreciated the "network" 

of people who guided us through our tour. Our driver, Ahmed, was excellent. 

He was always very professional and timely and made our many travels very smooth 

and effortless. He was also a very pleasant travel companion and so easy to be with. 

By the end of the trip, I certainly felt that we had made a wonderful, new friend.

Others who stood out were our guide Ahmed in Rabat - so interesting & knowledgeable, Raphael

 - who led us through the desert and Karim, Youssef & Miriam of the Kasbah Omar - who welcomed

 us so warmly in their beautiful, new riad. I know these people are all your friends, and 

I wanted you to know that they all played a big role in making our trip so memorable.

We did eat wonderfully, and really enjoyed the interesting flavors of Morocco's cuisine.

All in all, our trip was quite a success and an adventure that we will not soon forget.

With our thanks & warm regards,

Christine & Don Scholl

Christine & Don Scholl - USA

Traveled - August 2007

Hi Akim
 
Thank you for your follow up. Both Katherine and I can safely say that it was the trip 

of a lifetime.  Almost every aspect of the trip was flawless, and we must thank Youssef 

for making it so.  He was the highlight -- he ensured that everything we did, saw, ate, experienced 

was what we were looking for out of the trip.  The people we met, the sites we saw 

(even the sand storm in the desert) was all magical.  It's hard to define just one highlight, because 

every day was more spectacular than the next, but if I had to give just one, I'd say that the invitation 

to dinner at Youssef and Mariam's home on our last night was THE BEST.  It was such a kind 

and appreciated gesture, one which we'll remember forever.  Those are the kinds of experiences 

that make traveling so special.  They're all truly special people.
  
Akim, a big thank you to you and your colleagues in Morocco, particularly Youssef.. The trip was 

a dream and will be recommending your agency to family & friends in the future.

All the best,
Kira

Kira Wind & Friend - San Francisco, CA
Traveled - July 2007

Hello, Akim -

First of all, we had a wonderful, wonderful time!  We loved Morocco,  loved the people, 

the colors, the food, the varied experiences we had  all through the country.  

We especially enjoyed Youssef, who handled  every glitch, every issue, every problem, 

every request with  efficiency, humor and a positive attitude which we all really  appreciated.  

By the end of the trip we all felt that Youssef had  become 

a lifelong friend! Having him with us made our trip the best  it could be!

Now, looking back over the two weeks, I'd like to give you some  feedback about our trip.

Casablanca:  touring the Hassan II mosque was really terrific, and  shopping in the Habous 

was a memorable experience (Jon bought a  kaftan there - and we had lots of fun doing that). 

Rick's Cafe since  Casablanca, the movie, is such a classic…..The food's pretty good,  but 

if you've seen the movie, the restaurant itself is a cool  experience.

Rabat:  we really enjoyed Rabat, and had a fantastic guide - Achmed.

Fez:  wonderful city, excellent guide - Mohammed.  We were thrilled  with our decision 
to stay in Fez for 3 nights and enjoyed the Riad  Norma very, very much.  Of course, Youssef 

had to scramble to get us  in there since we had been bumped out of the Jnan Palace because the  

king arrived on the same night we did - just one example of the great  service Youssef gave us.

Meknes:  fascinating visit to the granary - well worth the trip.

Driving to Erfoud:  this was a beautiful and interesting drive and we  enjoyed all the places 

we stopped in along the way. The Desert:  We enjoyed this part of our trip very, very much 

because  it was so different from anything we have ever experienced.  Because  we had 

an extra day scheduled in the desert, we had the flexibility  to go out to the nomad camp.  

We enjoyed  Merzouga and enjoyed our early morning camel ride out of the auberge  to see 

the sunrise.  And we all loved the skiing on Erg Chebbi!!  Jon  and I loved watching our kids 

climb up and ski down - and the kids  thought it was the best!  Memorable experience for our family.

Tinghir:  Nice place to stop over on the way to Ourzazate.

Ourzazate:  We had fun seeing the movie lot and enjoyed an impromptu  visit to an herbalist / 

apothecary, but you were right about only  needing one night there.

Ourika Valley:  That was a big hit……… very nice trekking with our mountain guide Karim to see 

all the hidden villages……that was another highlight of our trip in addition to the Sahara.

Marrakech:  Lovely hotel, fascinating city -- we loved Marrakech.  We  especially enjoyed having 

dinner with your family one night and lunch  with Youssef's family on another day - these were highlights!

So, all in all, we had a great visit to Morocco, and came home very,  very happy with our experience 

there.  Once again, Youssef made all  the difference!  He's a tremendous asset to your agency and 

his  positive attitude and sense of humor kept us smiling for the entire  

two weeks.  We will definitely recommend your agency to our friends  -- in fact, we already have!

Thanks so much for reading such a long email - and for creating such  a memorable vacation 

for our family.  We'll never forget it!

Deborah Krass 

Deborah & Jon Krass Family
Traveled - May 2007

 

 

 

Akim,

I do not even know where to begin! To say thank you for planning such an magnificent trip, feels like a huge understatement.

We knew we were in for the time of our life, when Hussein with his warm, gentle face met us with open arms at the airport. It took us about 15 minutes to become fast friends. I believe he knew what he was in for when we passed a souk two hours into our trip and we were already taking marvelous detours! With cameras, video and our savior Hussein, we were off. As my father likes to say, "we are like herding cats", you can't quite keep us in control and Hussein seemed totally prepared for us.

Your country is fascinating, the diversity of people, culture and topography in such a small area is astounding. Around every corner we became more and more enthralled with Morocco. One Riad was more beautiful and welcoming the next. Then of course there was Casaba Omar. What a magnificent place to be. The warmth and hospitality that was shared with us could not have been more perfect...and what a view!

Dinner with your family was truly a special treat. Aside from being one of the best meals, Miriam and Yousef stole our hearts and were a pleasure to be with. How lucky were we that we were able to meet you whole family and share this time with them.

The cities, Marrakesh, Fez, Rabat, Meknes, Casablanca and others were eye opening and so diverse from one another that it was hard to believe we were in the same country. The desert, the camels, the Berber villages, the donkeys, the seaside, the gardens, the synagogues, the souks, the gorges, the valleys, the people, the goats in trees and oh the shopping! Boy did we shop.

Although we thought we were going to start out in a bigger vehicle, we were thrilled with the way things turned out. Had we not needed a car to follow us with our many purchases, we would never have had the opportunity to meet Said. Even with out language barrier, we felt we truly got to know him and spending time with the people of Morocco was at the top of our wish list.. We felt very fortunate that both Hussein and Said, were so comfortable hanging out with our crazy family.

The retaking of our parents wedding vows could not have turned out better. How fortuitous that Youssef was friendly with Jacob Kadosh. This event could not have been more perfect, and was filled with kindness and warmth, exactly what you would hope for, for an occasion like this.

There were so many highlights in our journey it is hard to pick only a few to mention. However being invited into the home of a Berber family during our walk in Ourika valley and Hussein working out us being able to visit a Berber nomad family truly was the people experiences were were hoping for. We gave out chocolate, pens, balloons, clothing, head scarves and I think best of all, Polaroid pictures of them and us. Right after visiting with the nomad family, we were rewarded with a full rainbow. These are the memories and expierences we will all carry with us forever.

Handing out liters of water to Shepperd's along the road prompted many great smiles of these hardworking men and was so heart warming, I am smiling as I write this. Seeing the sights of a country is one thing, experience a country is another. We can not thank you, your family and Hussein enough, for providing us with such an unbelievable Moroccan experience

The one thing that I think that came as surprise to all of us was the extreme warmth and comfort with closeness of the people We hugged and kissed and held the hands of both men and women. It continues to amaze me how people can connect with out sharing a spoken word between them. Where ever we went it was like being a member of the family.

Our only regret was not having another six weeks to explore and experience the wonders and the people of Morocco! Alas our trip had to come to an end. After many hugs and tears we headed home.

I truly hope to return to Morocco at some point in the future. I feel there is still much to explore and experience.

If the opportunity presents itself to you with your future clients, you should encourage them to bring and instant camera. It was a big hit! Like with my father, please feel free to have any of your future clients contact me.

With warmest regards and my gratitude,

Debbie,

Abelow Family
Traveled - May 2007

 

Akim -

We returned from Morocco just 20 hours ago after an absolutely
fantastic vacation in your wonderful country! I know Judy plans to e-mail you in
more detail, but I wanted you to know as soon as possible just how wonderful
everything was and how much we appreciate all the extra things you did
and arranged. Your family, Kasbah Omar, your gifts of djelabas, the Berber
entertainment, the other places we stayed, the meals we ate, the surprise
synagogue wedding and everything else - and I do mean everything - was
just perfect. Hussein was unbelievably terrific and he was, himself, a
highlight of the entire vacation. He deserves a bonus for putting up with us and
probably a few days rest to recover. The fact that we were able to do
everything we wanted to (and to change part of our planned itinerary)
is a tribute to his flexibility and resourcefulness; he is an amazing man!
And more importantly for Morocco's economy, all
the things we bought. We consider ourselves so fortunate to have been able
to really interact with Moroccan families and other people - not only your
family, but a Berber family who invited us for tea as we hiked through their
village as well as a Nomad family we saw and visited while driving. We left
lots of chocolate, pens, and a bunch of our clothing with various
people and enjoyed giving bottles of water to shepherds from time to time. Thank
you again for everything and thank your family as well as Hussein. We hope
there might be an opportunity to meet with you in person and maybe Meg to
share more of our thoughts and stories from the trip. Of course,
please feel free to use us as references if any prospective clients would like
to talk to us.

Bill,

Bill, Judy Abelow and Family
Traveled - May 2007

 

 

Hi Akim,

I promise that I will get back to you.  I have been away a lot (fencing and school trips) so things have been crazy. I want to write a detailed email ........ I promise that I will get back to you with a longer version. The short list would be that we loved the trip and would like to do it again, this time with the desert. Our driver and friend Abdul was great to travel with and he was there for us all the time.  Alex and I both looked at each other yesterday and said, "We miss Morocco."   Wonderful memories!! We even went out for Moroccan street food............thanks to you.

Anyway, details to follow.
 

All he best-

Cheryl

Cheryl Kozyra & Family - New Jersey
Traveled - April 2007

 

 

Hi Akim -

I wanted to thank you for helping organize my trip as a sigle woman to Morocco. It was fabulous. Mustapha was a very kind and patient driver, and made sure I had everything I needed while I was there. He showed all sights and my local local guide for a tour of Essaouira was great.

It was a fabulous trip and I will recommend your agency to anyone who is looking for a great and easy way to travel around Morocco.

Kind regards,
Dana Earl.

Dana Earl - California
Traveled - March 2007

Dear Akim

After Morocco I went on for a few days to Israel, and I only got back home yesterday, that is why I hadn't written.

Out trip to Morocco was SPLENDID, it really was very very very good, and we kept thinking nice thoughts about you all along (and voicing them too!).

We had excellent chemistry with our guide, Muchtar, he was very knowledgeable, pleasant, with a good sense of humor, and extremely patient (something you definitely need to travel with my family). I think he is the best guide we have ever had in our entire history of traveling to any country in the past.

I want to tell you that I know how complicated it must have been to get us always kosher food, but it was definitely worth it. The kosher food added a huge step to our enjoyment (even though I am afraid now I will have to go on a very strict diet!!).

And the hotels were also excellent. Fortunately, they were ordered from nice to gorgeous, so we were always pleasantly surprised. We liked the Palais Rhoul so much, we decided to spend the last day in the Hammam and the gardens!

All in all, it was really a perfect trip, and my father was extremely happy.

I thank you very much for your excellent work.

All the best,

The Katz Family - France, Israel & Mexico
Family Reunion
Traveled - February 2007

 

 

Dear Akim,

On behalf of my whole family, we thank you for the most memorable trip to Morocco. We especially appreciate what you and your friends did for my mother. Even though she had a cold, that birthday party really cheered her up, and we could not believe that she actually got up to dance!! Please do convey our gratitude to your friend at Ourika Garden.

The entire trip was lovely, and I am grateful to your suggestions for limiting our trip and not going to too many places. As it was, we already had the seashore, the mountains, the desert, and the medina. You were right that more would have been too exhausting. For us, the Sahara trip was definitely the highlight - spending the night in the desert with the first full moon of the year was just incredible. Although my mother did not go into the desert, she was game enough to get on a camel and have a photo taken.

We are very pleased with your arrangements, especially such last-minute planning for the busiest time of the year. We especially appreciate the personal touch, and enjoyed meeting your family and your friends. That made the trip very special.

Please be assured that we will tell our friends about your services. Our friends are very interested in Morocco after seeing our photos.

Thanks again,
Hazel

Dr. Hazel Szeto & Family - NYC
Traveled - December 06 / January 07

Hi there Akim.

Thanks for sending the email about feed back on our trip. Apologies for not
getting back sooner but life has been totally hectic.
We had an awesome time in Morocco and are promoting it to all our friends
and family.
The accommodation was incredible.-We could not complain about it at any of
the over night stops.
The meals that were included were superb except we cringed when asked to eat
the pigeon pie.
A suggestion for lunch meals - we are not very big eaters and with the large
breakfasts as well as the enormous dinners were unable to cope with large
lunches as well. Perhaps ask the tourists if they wanted full lunch meals or
a snack type meal. I think I put on 5 kgs on the holiday.

The tour was very well structured -a combination of outdoor activities as
well as cultural events.
The highlights of the tour were:
The desert experience- perhaps an extra day would have been awesome. The
best meal we had in Morocco were at the desert lodge. What about offering
quad bike trips into the desert for those thrill seekers??
The hike in the Atlas was breath taking and the guide was really caring and
helpful.
The tour of Fez and all the various crafts was superb.

Thank you for all your assistance and contact to ensure that our holiday was
a success. The fact that we had our personal driver and at times guide made
the holiday great. We have so many wonderful photos as constant reminders of
our time in an exciting country.
Take care
the turner family

Turner Family - Australia
Traveled - November - December 2006

 

 

Hi Akim:

The trip went really well. We enjoyed the sights and the architecture of Morocco. The food was generally very good too. We particularly enjoyed the kasbahs, the Dades and Todra gorges and the cities of Marrakech and Fez. Khalfaoui was a really great driver and extremely helpful and accommodating throughout the trip - and always with a positive attitude. He really did well to take care of all our needs and also took us to meet his family - your sister and nephews!  Thanks for all your help, advice and the superb planning of the itinerary. I'll be in touch in the future because I would like to take my wife and kids there the next time.

Thanks again,

Arjun

 

Arjun Desai & Father - INDIA
Traveled - October 2006

 

 

Akim:

Sorry for the delay in responding.  We had a delightful time.   Everything went off without a hitch....and our driver Khalid was GREAT!

The hotels were the highlight of our trip.....as I am sure you heard.....we did hang out at the hotels a bit.  The Kasbah in the High Atlas is to die for and my wife loved the horseback riding.

Thank you so much for all your help, guidance and suggestions.  Your guidance was excellent.  Although we are always a bit wary booking through the "internet," you smoothly and seamlessly delivered on all that was promised.  Most importantly, the driver and guide you provided were delightful.   The accommodations were truly outstanding and for us, the highlight of our trip.  

Without your suggestions, we would never have identified such fabulous Riads.

Thank you for all your help.   The trip was delightfully smooth -- great accommodations -- fabulous restaurants and no surprises.   Your promotion from president to travel counselor is well deserved:::)))))

 

 

 

Hello Akim,
 

 

 

Akim,

we are back! It was a wonderful trip and I wanted to thank you for organizing everything. Youssef was great and we have become good friends with him now!

Again, it was an amazing trip and thank you for facilitating it!

Warm regards,

 

Boris & Jennifer Rapoport- NYC

Traveled / August 2006

 

 

 

Akim,

Sorry I have not had a chance to tell you about our trip but I have been away for the last two weeks.

We have a great time in Morocco and loved the country.  Our driver, Khalid was great.  He was always on time, friendly and knew exactly where to go.  We really enjoyed his company and insights on Moroccan culture.  The people were all very friendly and we enjoyed learning about the Islamic tradition.

We really liked Feta, our guide in Marrakesh.  He was very knowledgeable about the area, history and culture.  He did take us shopping where we bought more items than planned.  Of course we bought rugs and some pottery. We were not very good a bartering, but by the end of the trip the shop keepers said we were like Berbers. 

We enjoyed our “trek” in the Ourika Valley.  Our guide was very nice and drilled some local phrases into our heads that we used the rest of the trip.  It was a great experience to see how simple the people live in the mountains. 

Many thanks to you…..We were extremely happy with the trip you planned for us and the experiences we had.  It was a great way to see Morocco.  We have already recommended going to Morocco and using your services.

 

Mark & Lisa Leonard - USA

Traveled / July 2006

 

 

Dear Akim,

 

 

Akim,

Traveled / Honeymoon-  February 2006