We are very proud of the holidays we arrange in Morocco but no one says it better than you, our wonderful customers who have tried and tested our holidays….
Roger March 2020:’Before we get sucked back into everyday life here in the UK we just wanted to send our warmest thanks to you and the teams you work with in Morocco.
We had a fantastic time at both locations. With the help of the local teams lead by Mohamed and Allan and also the drivers we discovered a great deal about the food, the culture and the people. Everyone was so helpful and all the arrangements worked really well. We felt very well looked after at all times.
Once Roger has downloaded pictures from his camera we’ll send some through for you to share as appropriate. We promised we would send at least one picture to Rebali Riads of our visit with Hussein to his mother’s farm. That was indeed a really amazing experience and she is a very lovely lady.
Allan at Riad El Zohar is a real sweetie and such a brilliant source of local knowledge. The service at the Rebali Riads was truly remarkable and we cannot speak too highly of the welcome we received there.
Thank you too for the time you spent organising our trip and helping us to get the most out of the relatively short time we spent there.’
Jane W. March 2020: Jenna has been very attentive and suggested the itinery which met our thoughts and wishes. Marrakesh – we’re very glad we had a guide for our first trip into the medina. Aziz is an institution apparently and knows everyone!
The gardens were beautiful and we just loved the secret garden and le jardin Majorelle and YSL museum. Interesting visits to the perfume museum and also women’s museum.
Great meal at La Foundouk on the roof top at sunset.
Essaouira – walk along the beach. Didn’t do a camel ride – too smelly!, lots of regeneration underway with a lot if works going on in and around the medina so have to mind where you’re walking as lots of trip hazards and trucks etc in the small roads and lanes. Enjoyed learning about the women’s cooperatives and also the silversmith workshops teaching young people a trade. Trip down to the port and the castle very interesting’
Paul F. February 2020:‘Amazing destination, accommodation and food.Kasbah Bab Ourika: Totally amazing. Location, service, scenery and dining.
Riad Africa : Truly beautiful accommodation, great food and attentive service.’
Steve C. February 2020: ‘We thoroughly enjoyed Essaouria and Marrakech and the standards for the Riads in both were excellent’
Paul S.February 2020:‘Barbara was excellent, dealt with our last minute requests promptly, including lost headphones and last minute itinerary changes – all driven by us. Thank you ‘
Eve T. February 2020: ‘Thank you for organising our trip to Morocco – we both really enjoyed it.The Riad Hikaya was lovely and in particular the female staff were very attentive and kind – having organised a birthday cake for Helene and they gave each of us necklaces on our departure! ‘
Alan L. February 2020: ‘Excellent itinerary everything fulfilled our likes & dislikes.’
Patrick R. January 2020: ‘Rebali riads was excellent. Delightful staff
Kasbar Toubkhal was also excellent for walking and great guides
Café caravan in Essaouria was a fantastic final evening dinner and cabaret ‘
Michael H.January 2020:‘ An excellent itinerary for our first trip to Morocco. We loved all 3 destinations, accommodation and above all, the people we met who were so friendly and helpful. Never felt unsafe at any time despite lots of walking in the two urban areas. Weather was good but Essaoura was windy (as expected’
Valerie N. January 2020:’Dar Anywen Beautiful grounds but rooms a bit tired. Restaurant is way out of date but quirky. Staff and owner we very accommodating and friendly. Useful transfer service into Medina. Weather was poor so unable to use the beautiful pool.
Kasbah Tamadot – Perfect in every way. ‘
Ciara M.January 2020:‘ Accommodation was lovely. We booked lunch for the first day and it was amazing. We would had booked at least one dinner but the kitchen staff were off the other nights we were there. It was chilly at night but the team lit the fire for us in the living room which was lovely.
Rebecca I.January 2020:‘Barbara Podbial heard our interested and suggested accommodations that more than met those needs. She responded immediately with requests and was knowledgeable and helpful. Both the riad in the city center and the Villa Dinari were wonderful, each offering exactly and more than promised.
Hospitality in both places and any requests accommodated.’
Amy S. December 2019: ‘Every single place we stayed at was exceptional. All 5 star!
We started in Marrakech in rial el zohar. Allan was a brilliant character and such a good host. He went above and beyond to help us, and his Riad was absolutely beautiful.
Next was Jardins De Scoura
Again an absolutely beautiful place that we would have liked to live in, forever!! Lovely hosts, beautiful food, and an absolutely lovely place. Our room was just gorgeous.
Azalai lodge was the next stop. We were upgraded here to a beautiful suite as we were the only ones staying there! Again faultless. A lovely colonial style small hotel with delicious food and helpful staff.
Erg Chigaga luxury desert camp next stop.
What a spot!! Amazing experience and a beautiful camp. Very welcoming staff with Booboo at the helm. Amazing double bed in our own big tent and delicious food with a free bar all times of the day. Again it was perfect.
Dar Al Hassoun was the next hotel. Upgraded again to an apartment!! Absolute luxury, what a place. Wild peacocks, tortoises, beautiful gardens, a spa, and delicious food. Staff as always very polite and helpful. Another winner!
Lastly Rebali Riads.
We were upgraded again as we were pretty much the only ones there for our stay. We had Our own Riad and it was just beautiful. We stayed here for 5 days and really felt at home. Mohammed and his team were so lovely. Very helpful, beautiful food. Couldn’t have been better. We want to go back and take the children ( once we’ve saved up!). We loved it so much.’
Asgerdur K. November 2019: ‘Riad Nashira was wonderful, good food, nice staff and good spa. But the location was not good. We found it very difficult to find our way to the Riad when walking on our own in the Medina. Fortunately we had a good guide with us for two morning walks.’
Judy R. November 2019: ‘Les Trois Mages – lovely traditional feel to this Riad. Made to feel very welcome, helpful and friendly staff. Very comfortable, clean and a pleasure to stay there.
Rebali Riads – absolutely fabulous – made to feel like Royalty! Comments from above also apply.’
Henry K. November 2019:‘Barbara was great – very helpful, knowledgable and accommodating eg when we wanted to go off-piste with an Airbnb for a few days (which was a brilliant property by the way!)’
Gabriella T. November 2019: ‘We liked our holiday to Morocco, everything went well. We had a taste of different aspects of the country and enjoyed it. We felt perfectly safe.’
Adrianna B. October 2019: ‘This was truly a memorable holiday. We (myself, husband and 9 years old son) we delightedly surprised with the magic of Morocco, particularly the Moroccan people. We loved the food, the colours, the madness of the markets, the stunning Atlas Mountains, the intensity of Marrakech and the chilled out Essaouira. ‘
Tim Y.October 2019: ‘Just to say thank you!We had a good time and all worked like clockwork. Riads, and Wadir, Muhammed and their teams were great, and transfers were all excellent.
We will definitely look to travel again with Fleewinter….’
Vanda H. September 2019: ‘We had the best time at Rebali. Mohammed was so helpful in organising taxis and food for us. Our dinners were delicious and all the team was really adorable and patient with the children. Special thanks to Hassan for his wonderful cooking, and a lovely cooking lesson with him.’
Andy C. September 2019:‘ Barbara Podbial was very good at putting my itinerary together and was very responsive to requests to discus the holiday.
Also, i was very impressed with how Barbara dealt with an issue whilst I was away, as she resolved it without fuss, with the urgency it required and completely to my satisfaction.
This made me feel that the customers satisfaction was put before any financial impact to Fleewinter, which means I would book again’
Tracey W. August 2019: ‘We stayed at Rebali Riads in Sidi Kaouki and then Riad El Zohar in Marrakech. Both places were fabulous! We had been to Rebel before so one what to expect and the standard of accommodation and service were just as good as our first visit, – with the food being even better if anything. It was our first visit to Marrakech but hopefully not our last and we would definitely try to stay in El Zohar again. The riad is beautiful with amazing attention to detail and the staff were absolutely lovely.’
Richard D. August 2019: ‘Excellent start to finish’
Denise M. May 2019: ‘Douar Samra was fantastic and such a idyllic place to spend the night before the trek, the communal dinners were really fun and food was great. The treehouse was very sweet and lovely decor. The donkey and vegetable garden were lovely, really liked the eco consciousness that they are instilling.
Bab Ourika was fantastic and really enjoyed our stay, more luxurious and perfect to spend 3nights, the valley itself is beautiful and the food and service was great. And the room spacious and decor was really nice. ‘
Linden S. May 2019: ‘It was wonderful and exceeded our expectations. Accommodation, food, service, friendliness. Barbara went over and above to make our holiday work.
Ryad Hikaya was a hidden gem. They made us do welcome and our best breakfasts on Morocco were served to us there.
Dar Khamar wa like a little oasis in the middle of Agdz. Our delightful hosts made us very welcome dinner by the pool was magical.
The Chigagga Berber camp in the desert took a little while to adjust to. Basic toilet arrangements and the heat. But it was so worth it for dinner in the Sahara under the stars. The three and a half hours off riisdvacroosxtge dried out Iriiki lake was challenging.
Dar Zitoune in Taroudant made up for c the not so interesting town. The hotel gardens were exquisite as was the pool. We were lucky to have a driver to take us in to town.
L’Heure Bleu in Essaouira was very beautiful and classy. A little cold for eating breakfast outside in the internal gardens. Dinner was a bit soulless. We preferred eating at Le Patio in town.
The last minute stop at Ribali Ryada at Sidi Kaouiki was lovely. We were made very welcome. The beach is probably not what you would expect for a beach holiday: rather wild. Wonderful walk up the beach fir lunch at Le choumette et les Dromadaires.’
Alexandra G. May 2019: ‘We were very satisfied with the trip! From the travel agent to the accommodations to the drivers. The food was great at all the riads/hotels and everyone so friendly. There was a lot of driving, most of which we expected. Jenna was knowledgeable, professional, accommodating, very responsive and had great ideas. She was so easy to work with.’
Kathryn P. April 2019: ‘ We had a great time, just wish we had gone for longer!’
John D. April 2019: ‘Our family cannot recommend highly enough booking a trip to Morocco through Fleewinter. Barbara’s help and advice were invaluable. Our guides, Assa and Musa, made our 5 day journey from Marrakech to the desert an excellent adventure. All of the places to eat and view were brilliant – very authentic. The trip to the luxury desert camp in Erg Chigaga was perfect for our group with three children and had just the right balance of driving and experiences. We recommend the luxury desert camp if you are considering making a visit, the hospitality shown and quality of food and experiences were phenomenal. We even experienced a sandstorm! All of the places we stayed en route took exceptional care of us all. We are so happy to have chosen Fleewinter to arrange our tour, we will for sure be returning. ‘
Teresa,W. April 2019: ‘We rang Fleewinter for basic advice never having visited Morocco before, and at very short notice – we booked in October/November for a Christmas break. Anna couldnt have been more helpful and solicitous about exactly what kind of family holiday we wanted – it really felt like a bespoke service based on personal recommendations from knowledgeable staff. In the end we booked half the holiday through Fleewinter and the rest independently, including the flights. But this didnt make any difference to the service we got. Overall cant recommend highly enough.’
Danielle O. April 2019: ‘Absolute pleasure to book with, so incredibly helpful, didn’t have to worry or think about anything. Would recommend and use over and over again. Our riad was absolutely stunning, it was such a beautiful place. Our host was so welcoming and really looked after us.
We asked him to make a booking for a restaurant, which was fully booked and he kindly booked an alternative instead
We fell in love with Marrakech. Loved Le Fondouk for dinner. Le Secret Garden was such a beautiful place too. Highly recommend. Loved getting lost in the Souks’
Stephen D. April 2019: ‘ A fabulous holiday, made carefree by the planning of all stages by Barbara Podbial. For our 4-day desert trip we had a driver (Lahcen Bouferoual) from Hamada Travel, and we would like a special mention of our total satisfaction with him to go to his employer. All hotels were very good, offering a range of accommodation. We especially liked Kasbah Azul (homely and tasteful) and Dar Zemora (paradise on earth – the most beautiful place we have ever stayed in).’
Richard S. April 2019: ‘ Les Trois Mages Marrakesh was great. Good quiet location with easy access to the centre (once you’ve found you way the first time) and to the Jardin Majorelle. Great staff-very friendly and helpful . A lovely environment and wonderful cooking even when we were the only guests eating. The bed in the Bahia Suite was very impressive (but could be a bit difficult for visitors with mobility problems).
Domaine La Roseraie is in a stunning location with huge and beautiful grounds . Again the staff were helpful and friendly. Junior suite great. Food pretty good but variable. Limited choice menu when there were only 6 guests & a so-so buffet when there was a tour party.
Very good breakfasts.’
Gaynor F. April 2019:‘ Just as we expected and all very efficient and well organised. The guides and drivers were very helpful and had excellent english
All as we had hoped with no issues or concerns at all . A great break, thank you ‘
Karen T. March 2019: Excellent – Jenna catered to our every need. Atlas mountains were spectacular and well worth trekking. Maybe worth noting that there are some tricky bits to some of the treks and would be worth checking capability/fitness levels
The Scarabo camp was wonderful – all needs catered for. Camping in style! The food was excellent’
Jane S. March 2019: ‘We loved Essaouira. The small lanes and interesting shops – especially the carpets – we had a great meal at Caravane and Restaurant Umia – a little expensive but good. We also enjoyed the trip to Hotel Maroc’s hideaway in the country.’
Tony R. March 2019:’ Booking process was fine. Barbara talked through options and gave helpful advice on what was possible and what would be more arduous. The documentation received summarised everything very clearly.
Riad Papillon: very helpful welcome from manager. Ground floor room had a bit of a damp smell which was off putting.
Rebali Riads: excellent. Very sincere welcome from all staff. Felt a genuine warmth from all.
Madada Mogador: very good. Very good location,
Domaine Malika: welcoming and very courteous. Serving of meals was slow – we think this was because the staff appeared inexperienced/ lacking in confidence.
Riad Adore: excellent local advice from the manager on arrival – what to watch out for when visiting the souks, what price is fair for a taxi, etc.’
Emma F. March 2019: ‘Both the villa and Riad were exceptional in the level of service and food in addition to the level of personal service. The owners of Villa Dinari paid attention to our every need and had great advice regarding trips, restaurants, and general info, the food was beautiful, small touches such as afternoon tea were a great touch too. The Riad Noire d’Ivoire was another level of luxury amazing food and staff attention to detail.
We would revisit both places again without a doubt.’
Thyri S. March 2019: ‘Absolutely amazing! Scarabeo camp was the highlight. Everything just perfect.
Ribali Riads on the beach also perfect. Mohammed and Fatima very very friendly and helpful. The food and accommodation absolutely amazing. Everything very spacious and lovely.
Ribali Hiyaka in Marrakesh also excellent. The staff very friendly and the rooms very nice. ‘
Julia L. February 2019: ‘I wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for your part in our excellent break in Morocco. All the Fleewinter arrangements worked perfectly, the drivers were excellent and the guest houses were wonderful.
We love the Riad, so central yet so quiet, and Allan was a brilliant host. Douar Samra is a very special place, and we arrived just after a massive snow fall so it was spectacularly pretty in the village and in the mountains. We met some lovely people there, locals and travellers.
Many thanks for your suggestions and organising everything. We would definitely recommend Fleewinter. You clearly know your stuff but also pay attention to detail and value for money. One of your best pieces of advice was to pay for a licensed guide in Marrakesh. Allan booked us Yassine who was superb. We did what turned out to be a 5 hour walking tour, avoiding all busy touristy spots and learning so much about Morroccan culture, past and present. He also took us to a cafe which had wonderful, very reasonably-priced food. We found most ‘recommended’ restaurants in Marrakesh expensive and aimed at the well-heeled International tourist market – not our thing.
Thank you.’
Alistair D. February 2019: ‘Back from a really great holiday and that despite the weather which wasn’t that kind to us. Even in the rain ( & boy did it ) Chefchaouen is still beautiful, so glad we made the long journey there.
Everything worked. The guides on the two tours were very experienced and the two hour trip ” outside the walls ” we got the manager at the Riad in Fes to organise was well worth it .
All the Riads were comfortable, the staff helpful and the breakfasts more than adequate to set us up for the days adventures.
I managed to keep the destination a secret from my wife through check in at Gatwick ( with help from the BA staff ), through security control and until we got into the airport lounge !She enjoyed her holiday.
Food wise highlights included
the birthday supper at the golden fish in Rabat ( the restaurant surprised us with a birthday cake. Don’t know who organised it but thank you to whoever did. )
camel burgers at the clock café in Chefchaouen and also in Fes
the evening meal at Dar Roumana in Fes
our last supper at Le Foundouk in Marrakech ( a restaurant we had enjoyed when we were here last year )
Thank you so much for organising the trip for us, it is one which will remain long in our memories’
Catherine S. February 2019: ‘All of the accommodations were amazing. Les Trois Mages staff, cooking and accommodations were top notch. All of the hotels were fantastic and I wish I could have stayed longer. Location of Dar Maya and Les Trois Mages was great! All breakfasts were delicious. Can’t say enough good things! Oh and Erg Chigaga is not to be missed!
I just wish I could’ve stayed longer’
Thomas H. January 2019: ‘We were very fortunate in having the Hotel Villa Dar Zemora all to ourselves for our family group of twelve for nearly all the time. An enchanted place set in a splendid garden and staffed by a courteous, unobtrusive and efficient team. Highly recommended. Its distance from the centre of the City was no drawback as taxis were easily obtainable with a little planning. ‘
Fiona D. January 2019: ‘The personal service from Fleewinter is outstanding. It is part of the wonderful Rebali experience. All the stress is removed by the fantasic organisation and attention to detail.
Angela D. January 2019: ‘Essaouria hotel was great in every way. Staff friendly and great location. The hotel in Marrakesh was also great and the people were very friendly and helpful. The bed was a bit small however and the bedroom was also quite small. But the house was beautiful and in a good location. Appreciated being shown how to find our way back!’
Maggie C. January 2019: ‘The recommendations you gave us were really helpful and we tried several of the restaurants – all were very good indeed. We loved both places but having only a week perhaps the extra day in Marrakesh rather than Essaouira would have allowed time for a trip to the Atlas Mountains. We particular liked the gardens as you suggested. The Secret Garden is a joy as escape from dust and noise right in centre and we thought the YSL museum was well worth the queuing. Definite recommendation is to get to popular places as early as you can. Queues get very long.’
Laura A. June 2018: ‘All were fantastic- thank you for the recommendations. Everything was great – Kasbah bab ourika, azalai lodge, desert lodge and Kasbah ellouze which you recommended – all brilliant. We also stayed at Riad dar assiya le grand in Marrakech which was very nice. Driver was good. ‘
Craig June 2018: ‘We returned on Saturday from another lovely trip to Morocco (tho much too short!)
Once again, everything you arranged was perfect.
I really have to make a special mention though for the wonderful gang at Riad Chbanate – some of the friendliest people we’ve met who completely looked after us and made us feel so very welcome. They were great.
It was of course Ramadan whilst we were there & while it was quieter, Essaouira was still vibrant and lively – we really love the laid back feel of the place and only wished we could have stayed for the music festival which looks amazing.
We popped along to have a look at both Villa Maroc and Heure Bleue as you’d recommended them previously. We thought Villa Maroc gorgeous so will definitely consider that next time. I think as I’m a coeliac and Chrissie’s vegan we always get a bit nervous when places also want to cook but having been there we feel totally confident they could cope with us!!!
And as for Heure Bleue – we couldn’t quite believe it was in Essaouira – it’s like stepping into another world! (And as for that pool….) We’ll definitely pop in for a drink on our next visit or maybe treat ourselves to a stay.
The flight, Luton – Essaouira was so easy and the only downside of the whole holiday was discovering that Easy Jet have stopped all flights in July & August, resume them until the end of October but currently have no schedule beyond that. They have apparently been threatening to discontinue direct flights and this may be taking affect from November. Such a shame.
Anyway, we’ll be back however we have to get there!
Again Jenna, I can’t thank you enough for helping us with this little trip. We’ve absolutely fallen for this town & Morocco and we’re so grateful that our introduction to the country was made so easy because of your help & advice. THANK YOU.’
Lauretta Z. May 2018: ‘It was magical and anything anybody could imagine and wish for. From the places we stayed at, to the food, to the organization of everything. Barbara was of enormous help even tho I called her last minute to help us find adeguate places. It was much more than we expected.
We loved the Ecolodge Quaryati. A true hidden gem overlooking the Atlas mountains and serving wholesome tasty foods. also went to Imlil and hiked up the mountains with a gorgeous meal mid-way. Loved La Maison Arabe for dinner and the cooking class, along with other Moroccan restaurants.’
Helaine H. May 2018: ‘Rebel Riad, absolutely wonderful, really enjoyed the cooking class and the overall atmosphere. We had dinner the first night for our group of 12, we found it perhaps a little small (could have used one more tagine for the group). Breakfasts were great, and facilities well looked after.
Riad El Zohar, Allen was fabulous, so helpful and very nice!! My only comment would be that if you were there with other people (strangers) in the other rooms, if you have a noisy group, could be noisy, as the windows face into the courtyard.
In the high atlas, was only one night, but a beautiful place, and offered a nice hike.’
Christina H. April 2018: ‘It was the perfect vacation for our family of 6. It was such a great location to go back and forth from private pool to the public beach. Our hosts, Mohamed, Fatima, and staff were super friendly and so helpful. They would check up on us every day to make sure our needs were satisfied. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a relaxing and beautiful place to stay.
It was so easy working with Fleewinter and super helpful. I was so impressed with how quickly you responded to all my questions and needs. They took the stress out of making all of our travel arrangements in a foreign country so I could relax and enjoy it.
Our driver was waiting for us when we finally made it through customs and exchanged money for our stay. He was super friendly. He even found a stopping point when asked if we could buy something to eat since our flight came in after dinner time.
We absolutely loved the Rebali Riads in Sidi Kaouki with Mohamed and Fatima. They were so sweet and made our stay super comfortable. When we first arrived, we asked (ahead of time) to have some snacks since we would had missed dinner however, upon arrival they had dinner all hot and freshly prepared for us! All the food that night and for the whole week was so delicious plus it was such a treat having it brought to us for each meal. We being a family of 6 stayed in one of the villas with a private pool with our kids so enjoyed everyday. The first day after our arrival the staff brought over the chameleon for us to hold and the kids loved playing with the turtles in the garden. I unfortunately got sick the first night of our stay with a flu and was not able to do all I wanted. However, the staff took care of me by bring me medicine, fixing me side dishes my stomach could handle, and bring me herbal tea. Even though I was sick the entire vacation I was super comfortable and so impressed with how well the staff tended to our needs’
Daniel R. April 2018:‘ Thank’s for the assistance with regards to our trip to Marrakech this weekend.
We had a great time, nine friends spending a few days together, played some golf and had great fun. Dar Ayniwen is a jewel. Aziz was really helpful and assisted us in all the transports to the city and the golf courses as well as with the city guides and restaurant reservations. Transports that you booked for us also worked as expected.
FYI, The Samanah golf course was really good (9/10) Really good condition and a championship course. Palmarie Golf and Royal Golf was also good courses and well in par with medium/good courses in Spain or so.’
Pernille F. March 2018: ‘So we have returned from our trip to Morocco. It has been one of the most amazing and memorable family holidays we’ve had. All the places we stayed were perfect and the order of the itinerary was spot on. We had been slightly concerned that we wouldn’t have enough time in Marrakech but it was ideal. There has been so much to take in and process from everywhere.
It was a lovely start to just relax at Rebald Riads and we were so well looked after by Mohamed and Fatima. Breakfast and dinner on our terrace was beautiful. All the staff were so attentive and friendly.
At Bab Ourika we felt very spoiled with the beautiful views everywhere we looked and the food was gorgeous. We had a stunning 3 hour walk with a fantastic guide around Setti Fatima waterfalls.
And what can I say for Allan and his amazing staff at Riad El Zohar? Beautiful place to stay and he really made our stay in Marrakech very special. If not for him it would have been a very different visit I’m sure. He made the souks and the medina easy to navigate and made us feel so welcome helping us to choose and book restaurants and recommending places to visit and what to avoid. Having been feeling a bit apprehensive of the souks we ended up having so much fun there. His staff were so friendly and helpful and nothing was too much trouble.
Can I also say what helpful and friendly drivers we encountered through Tabarak. In particular our driver taking us from Sidi Kaouki to the Atlas Mountains and again from there to Marrakech. Very informative.
Thank you Jenna for arranging this fantastic introduction to Morocco. I feel certain we’ll be back. I have lost count of how many times I have recommended Flee Winter. Can’t praise you enough. And will you please pass on our sincerest thanks to all the people who made our stay so special at Rebali and El Zohar. At Bab Ourika we stayed a bit too short to get to know the staff but we were certainly very well looked after. ‘
Lauretta Z. March 2018: ‘I’m still in Morocco and have been e joying everything very much. I can’t thank you enough for all yr choices and organization. From the driver Youness to the hotel Dar Ayniwen ti La Pause today. All perfect! I will be in touch as I plan future trips here (still to do, desert, Essaouira, Fez and come back to Marrakech for sure).’
Merrell V. March 2018: ‘Jenna was amazing from start to finish. She stood out from other travel operators I contacted. Jenna was positive, friendly and professional. Huge thanks to her from Matt and me.
All our drivers spoke good English and were friendly. We were able to chat about life in Morocco which was very interesting.
Both Les Deux Tours in Marrakesh and La Sultana in Oualidia were outstanding. The rooms, the environment, the service were all sublime.’
Kathy P. March 2018: ‘Barbara was very helpful and efficient and responded very quickly to queries. It was altogether a very easy and straightforward booking process with clear communication at every stage.
Villa Maroc is an excellent hotel with charming staff. It delivers the true riad experience and is in a great location. We liked the fact that the owner did the rounds of the breakfast tables chatting to guests and making sure everyone was happy – this is always a sign of a well run hotel. Our room on the top floor was immaculate – spacious, warm and comfortable, with a side sea view. Breakfast was very good – and it certainly meant that lunch was optional! Dinner (we ate at the hotel twice) was also good – the service was leisurely but professional and friendly. We spent one day at Les Jardins Villa Maroc – this was a highlight – a delightful place, lovely pool, excellent lunch and really charming staff. NB worth mentioning that VM is not a good hotel for people with limited mobility – there are lots of stairs and they are very narrow and steep’
Jennie S. March 2018: ‘Excellent. Plenty of good suggestions for where to stay and what to do, very prompt emails and lots of information. Many thanks Barbara!
Riad El Zohar – excellent. Wonderful host and staff who look after you really well, beautiful riad and excellent location. And so quiet!
Villa Quieta – also very good, bit further out of town than perhaps we expected, but a lovely easy walk to town. Again a beautiful hotel, with a pretty garden and pool.
Food at El Zohar was excellent, we also really liked Cafe Arabe in Marrakech. Jardin Majorelle was beautiful, but worth going to the YSL museum first, buying a combined ticket and then going into gardens and avoiding queues!
Day trip to Atlas Mountains was great too, excellent guide who took us on a beautiful hike through the mountains, very knowledgeable and interesting.
In Essaouira we liked Sams restaurant, fantastic seafood. They’ve moved from the port to just outside the walls whilst building work is being carried out at the port.’
Sean M. March 2019: ‘From start to finish, and down to the fine detail, Barbra was absolutely excellent. She works to a very high level of professionalism while maintaining a lightness of heart, this in turn has the effect for the customer of being able to look forward to the trip in full confidence of knowing your requirements are being attended to.
Riad El Zohar: from start to finish, excellent! Allan is a true gentleman & his personal touch really added to the buzz of the whole experience. The riad is beautifully furnished, location is wonderfully quiet, food is excellent, staff are charming-THE WAY A GOOD TRAVEL EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE!
Dar Maya: Lovely riad, super room ‘Tignna’, Youseff is a great concierge, nice location quiet but close to everything, perfect for Essauoira!
Kasbah Bab Ourika: STUNNING, STUNNING, STUNNING!!! No other words needed, the ‘Amana’ suite is paradise, as is the whole experience.’
Julie H. January 2018: ‘ A stunning Riad and fantastic service . John and his staff are attentive to your every need . The bedrooms and decor are unique and such attention to detail really made our stay a very special one . John couldn’t do more to help us and we were so grateful , what a find !
We absolutely love Marrakech , fascinating , surprising , something for everyone , our 3rd trip and still finding new places to visit , amazing restaurants bars and cafes . Culture abounds and so many quirky places and people – can’t wait to return.’
Sally L. January 2018: ‘Ryad Mabrouka excellent but cold due to unusual weather. Staff excellent and food good . Good position on edge of medina with good outlook .
Rebali just exceptional can not praise it enough . Our third visit !’
Claire G. January 2018:‘ Rebali was fantastic in every way. Felt very spoilt and for a really great price. Food was best we had in Morocco!
The guy that ran the place in Marrakesh made our experience there so much easier with his knowledge and help. The kids found the whole place quite scary! But he made it so much easier’
Mark G. January 2018: ‘If you wanted an example for the website of a family (2 adults, a teen and a nine year old) saying things couldn’t have gone better, then we would be that family.
In the past we have normally driven ourselves, booked our own accommodation, food etc, avoiding the group mind of the traditional package holiday.
Using a bespoke service like yourselves has proved a revelation.
The transfers were always on time, courteous and luxurious. We never arrived at any of our destinations late, more often a few minutes early.
The accommodation at The Riad el Zohar, Rebali Riads & Scarabeo camp exceeded our expectations. Sumptious, perfectly situated, & staff at all three helpful and friendly beyond anything we could have expected.
Alan at REZ sat us down over tea and talked us through the ins and outs of Marakesh for an hour (we saw him do this wine subsequent guests too). Meals were served when we wished, and were first class. His staff we delightful.
Mohammed & Fatima at RR made our stay effortless: booking events (body boarding, Quad bike excursion), paying bills at restaurants, getting Moroccan money, arranging cabs. The food was great, and the service incredible; in our own riad, a fire started for us, all cleared away.
At SC all the staff were attentive, the camp was spectacular, the insides of the tents beautifully appointed. The food here too was amazing.
On top of that the hike in the Atlas Mountains was fantastic, (4 days after the heaviest snow fall in 45 years, it was like Switzerland. So beautiful).
The camel trek, and the star gazing in the desert (OMG, we’ve never seen a star field quite like it) on the last day just rounded things off so magically.
Everything fell into place. Everything was as thrilling, or romantic, or staggering as we hoped it would be.
To have packed so much adventure into 10 days, and yet come away so relaxed and de-stressed has been a remarkable experience. Mary and I work in film and TV and have travelled for work our entire adult lives. We know how things can go wrong. This was the antithesis of all that. The perfect family holiday.
Thank you so much for organising it.’
Emily R. December 2017: ‘Barbara was absolutely amazing – responding immediately to every question and request, and helping us but together the perfect itinerary.
Flying from Marrakech to Fes on Airarabia was extremely easy – definitely recommend!
We can’t say enough about Mohammed (Our driver for the week). He is an amazing person, a wonderful guide, and a incredible ambassador for his country. He made our trip even more special and meaningful by sharing his culture, religion, and love of Morocco. From now on, whenever we think about our trip to Morocco, we will remember Mohammed first!
The hotels were fantastic – especially the service at Riad Hikaya and Riad Mabrouka (Fatima!!) We absolutely loved Kasbah Bab Ourika and Jardins d’Skoura – very luxurious’
Ron L. December 2017: ‘ Although seasoned travellers, we didn’t feel confident to put together a 2 centre trip in a country where english isn’t their 1st (or 2rd) language. I came across FleeWinter after a quick search, but was slightly apprehensive of engaging them – especially since their online testimonials are so out of date.
However I needn’t have worried and I have been delighted by their professionalism and on the ground know-how. I would not hesitate to use FleeWinter again.
Our only disappointment was outside of FleeWinter’s control – the weather: rain, rain rain! Hohum. Some you win, some you loose.
Despite having a slightly last min change of plan (ditching a long train transfer from Marrakech to Fez for a 1 hour plane hop) the change was undertaken swiftly with no fuss.
Marrakech: Riad el Zohar (5). Superb, slightly bohemian style riad. Excellent friendly, helpful staff. Great, quiet location. Nicely laid out terrace with ample varied seating. We had not stayed in a riad before so were a bit taken aback by the ‘laid-back’ approach of the staff and room security: rooms have no proper door locks and windows are open to the central courtyard. Obviously they can be shuttered close at night. Breakfasts are also rather samey, with heavy sweet bias, but this may just be a Moroccan thing. Unfortunately visiting in early Jan temps were low and rain high and the riad was only 1/4 full. I would really like to revisit this riad later in the year to enjoy the full experience as I think it would be fantastic.
Fez: Ryad Mabrouka: Visiting in early Jan I feel we really caught this place at its worst! Although the manager did his best to greet us, his english isn’t the best outside of what he needs to tell you. The central fountain was only switched on when guests were arriving, central lighting was only fully switched for a couple of hours each eve. Despite it’s ‘no expense spared’ initial refurb this ryad always felt cold and empty (you literally had to hunt the staff for drinks – the bell was ‘for emergency only’). Breakfast was always politely presented to your table but looked basic. Shame – as the ryad (and our room) are jaw-droppingly palatial.
No amount of reading can prepare the new comer for the pushiness of the traders both in the Souks and market squares. And despite guidebooks suggestion to embrace bartering, the process can really spoil the experience. I found it far more relaxing to simply look and not buy anything.
On recommendation we enjoyed meals at the Clock Cafe in both towns, being the safe option for english palettes. However this safeness comes at a price and we found we could eat at half the price in local cafes once we had grown braver.
It was 17 years since I was last in Marrakech and I was happy to find the Majorelle Gardens just as inspirational. The ‘find’ of the visit (and overlooked by many guides) is Le Jardin Secret, marrakech. Not as lush as Majorelle but still a quiet haven in the bustling souk.’
Anna D. December 2017:‘ This is just to let you know that we had a fantastic time in Morocco. We thought the riad in Marrakech was lovely and Allan crump an excellent host who gave us a good introduction to Marrakech before we were let loose in the souks. We had some great meals but our favourite was terasse le espices. We loved douar samra too especially the food and had two good walks with our guide. There’s more we’d like to do so may return! By the way i ended up at the hammam round the corner from the riad – the locals’ one. It was a bit intimidating initially but okay and I felt great after.’
Iona U. December 2017: ‘Each accommodation booked was exactly what we had been hoping for. 5 stars each for Villa Maroc, Douar Samra and Riad el Zohar. The staff were all extremely welcoming, our rooms were lovely and food was pretty good everywhere we went. Essaouira was perfect for easing us into the morrocan culture. Worth noting that Scottish notes were not welcome at the currency exchange and this could be included in the guide as a reminder.
Also, restaurant de la Baie has changed hands, and name, and Ferdaous no longer exists. We did go to Les Alizes, which was our favourite meal of the whole week- the owner was lovely, food was incredible and such good value.
Taros was also a lot of fun for a cocktail.
It was not too much of a journey to head from the coast into the high atlas, and we were well looked after in Douar Samra. Would recommend booking a guide in advance if you only have a one full day there and want a guided trek.
Marrakech was a lot of fun. Made less intimidating by the wealth of knowledge that out Riad owner Allan passed on to us. The Majorelle Gardens were beautiful and the Berber Museum fascinating, especially after our time in the high atlas. We enjoyed the Badi palace, the Bahia palace and the Sadiian tombs.
We ate in Cafe Arabe on our first night, which was a fun and great food and service. ‘
Polly B. 2017: ‘Thank you for your message. Whilst it was horrific getting home at 2 am on Monday morning and then setting off to work 5 hours later I cannot thank you enough for creating the most wonderful holiday for us. We had the most lovely time – everything worked superbly and both the hotels were excellent. I have just finished writing a trip advisor report for them and could not have been more complimentary. The only thing which I criticised slightly was the the Riad’s beds were a little small for us old marrieds!! I will, of course, do the feedback form.
The transfers were superb – you may have heard that we meddled with the one on Sunday as we went and spent the day at Ourika Organic with Amanda – we had the most superb time cooking with her and her husband – an absolutely sensational way of spending our last day away.
All in all we were very happy punters and we will not hesitate to use Fleewinter in future – so impressed.
Thank you very much indeed. I was going to write today as i do not work on Fridays – but you beat me to it!!’
Sherman B. November 2017: ‘Really enjoyed Morocco we have traveled all over the world , but the people and service in the accommodation was excellent in all 3 stops , a special mention to the staff at the road Hikaya in Marrakech ‘
Jane M. September 2017: ‘Thank you for an amazing trip. You will see from our feedback, we had a wonderful time. Genuinely from the moment we first spoke, I felt comfortable and safe that we would have the holiday that we wanted and you delivered : over and above our expectations.
If we were to do it again, we would probably say to go further out of the desert for a stop – back to Kasbah Azul, but having said that the hotel was great, we just preferred Kasbah Azul and would have been happy to have the driving split a little more evenly. That said, that was a very minor change. Also we would go into the desert for 2 nights but we weren’t to know how blown away we would be by being there.
Thank you once again, and next trip to either Morocco or one of your other destinations, we will be using you. I have been recommending you to all our friends.’
Lawson H. September 2017: ‘Car and drivers were one of the best parts of the trip. We really enjoyed our time with Mustapha and Mubark. Mustapha speak great English and was very open and interested in engaging and responding to our questions about Morocco, its culture and its people. It made the trip so much more enjoyable, especially since we were driving for several hours every day. I cannot recommend them highly enough. We view them as our friends after this trip and would certainly want to use them again if we return to Morocco.’
Carolyn O. September 2017: ‘Thank you so much for arranging our trip to Morocco. I must say I hadn’t heard of Fleewinter until I saw a link in a newspaper relating to holidays in Morocco. Before progressing too far I did investigate Fleewinter just in case I was sending a lot of money and getting nothing back!
You made me feel very confident once I had decided Fleewinter did exist in the real world. You were very tolerant of our changes to the itinerary ……and … I was very pleased you were able to reply quickly to last minute emails regarding airport transfer, thank you. Traffic turned out to be very light and despite security checks were we at the gate in plenty of time. Thank you.
We would never have discovered the lovely individual places to stay without Fleewinter. We could have researched but you never really know. Dar les Sirenes suited us very well, we enjoyed staying in the part of the Medina where people actually lived and worked. You were right about spending time in a quieter town first. We enjoyed our stay in Essaouira the staff were kind and attentive and the property beautifully designed.
Douar Samra was something different, I would never have chosen to stay there if it hadn’t been suggested on your site! The concept was interesting, food and staff were great. We appreciated the donkey too, he took our luggage up the hill at the end of out stay. I did feel visitors had to be relatively agile at the property, lots of steps and changes in levels in dim conditions ….. all part of the experience, in a house on the side of a mountain, you’d say!
Scarabeo Camp, was a bit of a touristy experience. The tents were huge, candle light everywhere, it was a bit like being on a film set! The tent for the meal looked great, food left a bit to be desired however were we out in an isolated spot not in a 5 star restaurant. Only down side – the beds were very hard.
Riad el Zohar – well what can I say? Absolutely fantastic way to end our holiday. Allan is a marvelous host, the Riad is beautifully appointed, the classic oasis away from the action of the market. Food was to die for and amazing value. Who can argue with a home cooked, 3 course meal on the roof top in the middle of Marrakesh, with our own personal member of staff for under £20? ‘
Fiona P. July 2017: ‘We had one main driver – Said – who took us over the Atlas Mountains and all the way to Rebali Ryads. He was an excellent driver. Very calm, and safe. He drove with great care and I never felt concerned once.
All the places were 1st class. All unique, welcoming and the food and service was fabulous.
The trip to the desert was unforgettable. However it was extremely hot – 47 degrees. For a family of five staying just one night I would recommend at least 10-12 large bottles of water.’
Susan G. June 2017: ‘Wonderful, friendly guides who made our stay fantastic, safe at all times, would recommend Majoub and his friend Said.
Chagaga tents were amazing although staff very friendly on arrival but next morning very offhand and disinterested.
Really impressed with Morocco and would recommend to anyone a visit and your company, Flee a Winter.’
Izzy G. June 2017:
‘Booking Process: Barbara, you are so efficient, nothing is too much trouble and it was all made so easy. Super quick responses to my many questions were hugely appreciated too.
Rebali: 5* for Rebali. I can honestly say we had the best time. Accommodation was great, tidy and clean. We loved having our own pool. The food was so so good- we ate in every evening. The staff completely round off the experience. Nothing is too much trouble. Mohamed, Fatima – everyone made us feel so at home. They also saw that it was one of the girls birthday by seeing some birthday cards on the table- we then came back after a day exploring the souks in Essaouira to find a cake, and a birthday banner- just so great!
Thank you so so much again for all of your help and please pass our feedback on to Rebali!’
Corinna K April 2017: ‘ Perfect: I got confused with the date of the flights on the travel consultant, Barbara podbial, rearranged all the hotels and trips to the new travel date, only 2 weeks prior to leaving.
All the accomodations were beautiful, food was fantastic, service excellent; only thing that maybe wasn’t 100% ideal: when we arrived at the riad on marrakech (les 3 mages) in the evening after the flight w ehad to wait a bit too long before we could go into our rooms and have dinner.
great fruit cocktails at the cafe arabe in marrakech, on a nice roof terrace overlooking the own. Worth eating on the main sqaure at night, delicious, clean, great experience; for lovely cosmetics go to the shop ‘les sens de Marrakech’ (the hotels use their products)’
Yukie W. April 2017: ‘I loved everything about Morocco, and I am sure all the recommendations helped me to have the best possible experience! I was in a bit of a rush, and very busy at the time, so I tooke a long time to respond and decide. Fleewinter was very accommodating and efficient even though I made it very hard to finalize everything.
The driver was always very helpful, doubled as guide and, what I enjoy most, I was able to understand the current situation of the country and its people
Lina Riad (Chefchaouen): super good spa, friendly personnel and I am just sorry I didn’t stay there longer.
Riad Laarousa (Fez): Perfect location, amazing room, and oasis in Fez.
Riad Hikaya (Marrakesh): Jane was a lovely hostess and I loved all the personnel. I noticed it was all-female, which pleases me. Location regarding my lovev of walking everywhere wasn’t great, but compensated by everything else and the convenience of having a car on the doorstep.I cannot rave enough about Morocco. I was concerned about being a female solo traveler, which ended up not being a problem at all. But I understand it has to do with the personality and attitude.
I do love shopping and it was great being able to go mostly to social responsible cooperatives and women empowering organizations. It looks like a detail, but it was really enjoyable experience.
Lovely experience at Dar Moha, in Marrakesh. Perfect food and service, even though they seemed a little puzzled at having a party of one (woman).’
Victor D. March 2017: ‘Our trip as excellent on all fronts Anna was excellent answering all our questions, providing information and suggestions, changing things happily when we need to adjust dates etc. The guide we had was a highlight, kind, interesting welcoming and proud of his country the various hotels and the camp were inviting, clean and welcoming and while they ranged in style all added to our experience. As I told Anna it is experiences like this where your realize the shortfall of the Expedia’s of the world. A truly professional travel agent brings a whole level of expertise and makes the trip much less stress and much more pleasurable.
All were good in their own way. Each welcoming and clean and allowed one to see different aspects of the country. The desert camp and the hosts there were exception in their attention and pride in what they Finns he facilities were great. RIchard Branson’s hotel was superb, the food and staff excellent and the location and building are truly outstanding.’
Sandie S. March 2017: ‘One of the best holidays we’ve ever had. Morocco and it’s warm and welcoming people is an amazing country. It’s a short hop from the UK but you feel you’re in a different world. The behind the scenes organisation by Fleewinter meant that we could sit back and enjoy it, knowing everything would happen as planned. We can honestly say that there is no part of the holiday that we didn’t thoroughly enjoy – and that’s rare when four completely different peope go away together.
All our drivers from Tabarak were punctual, informative and chatty, great drivers and we were very happy with all of our transfers. Our guide and driver for the desert trip from Hamada Tour (Mbarak and Mustapha) were fantastic. We all got on really well with them, they were great fun and we learnt lots about their life in Morocco. First class.’
Janet D. February 2017: ‘I thought I would let you know how much we enjoyed our trip to Morocco, thank you for all the advice and organisation, it was really wonderful! This is our feedback:
We loved Fez, and could not have managed without our local guide Hamido, who was a total star. We really liked Riad Laaroussa, a lovely building and atmosphere, very friendly staff, although sometimes a little bit less than professional – especially the spa staff who were a bit intimidating when it came to tips. It is not possible to give this feedback to the Riad management without feeling you are getting the spa staff into trouble.
After and easy train journey from Fez, we found Marrakech a bit touristy and preferred our second day when we visited the main cultural sites, like the palaces, Saadian Tombs and the Qu’ran School, rather than the souks and the main square which we saw on our first day. Riad Hikaya was lovely, the staff charming, we had a log fire in our room every night, and ‘Mr John’ gave us so much advice Marrakech that we would have needed a month to go everywhere he suggested! The nesting storks were a treat.
Lahsan, our driver for the mountains and desert trip was excellent, the drive over the mountains really nice, and the desert camp absolutely brilliant. We enjoyed the camel ride to the dunes at sunset, dancing round the fire in the evening, stargazing, getting up for sunrise, and the fascinating off road driving. Lahsan’s local knowledge and love of the desert made it really special. Both the hotels we stayed at were lovely with nice staff and good food.
In Essauoria we wound down and enjoyed the ambience and the central location of Hotel Heure Blue, we ate informally on the windy roof terrace with its lovely views and had Kemia in the courtyard, and a nightcap in the English Bar. The breakfast buffet was enormous, so we only needed snacks during the day. We had a brilliant massage at the hotel. The port area and the medina were fascinating, it was a bit breezy and cloudy for the beach and on Sunday morning full of football teams, which were fun to watch.
We met some nice people on our travels, including Fleewinter clients, who all seemed to be enjoying themselves enormously, so thank you again, Barbara!’
Ali B. January 2017: ‘ We had a wonderful holiday despite the coldest January in Morocco for 20 years. Everything worked to schedule, thank you.
Kasbah Bab Ourika 5 Excellent; Loved it and definitely hope to go back.Superb setting, great welcome and good food.
Kasbah Azul 5 (food not as good as Bab Ourika, but fine)
Luxury Camp El Chegaga 5 Excellent.
Bab Rimal: 4 – accommodation not with the really ‘cared for’ appearance but food better than Azul, and staff very friendly and helpful.
Riad El Zohar: 5 Excellent, though reception rooms could have been warmer! However, a lovely log fire was lit each evening for us, and it was exceptionally cold weather.
We’ll definitely hope to go back to the Ourika valley. Hassan, guide, led us through National Park; we lunched in a berber home in Taourite – very friendly hosts. Stunning setting.
Desert trip with Hamada tours was good though the lunch stops/cafes were not ones we would have chosen! However, Guide and driver were pleasant and guide well informed about culture and country as a whole. Would have welcomed a little more information on geology and plantlife we encountered. El Chegaga camp was superb!
In Marrakech: particularly recommend Cafe Arabe for supper, Nomad terrace for lunch and a visit to newly opened Le Jardin Secret – delightful, clean and peaceful.’
Brad H. Januray 2017: ‘We were overall very pleased with the trip. No problems occurred. Bonus points for me as my partner does not really trust me to organise any trip and she suffers from pangs of concern that something has been forgotten or missed!
The transfers all worked out well – there was no delay or problems experienced with any. In Marrakech, the driver is supposed to pay the porters that collected luggage to-/from- the riad. In one case we tipped the porter before the driver had paid and the driver did not subsequently pay the porter. Question of whether the tipping is warranted in this case and if not be clear on the itinerary about it.
We rated the accommodation very highly and would spend time in them again and not hesitate to recommend them both to others. The riad in Marrakech was very nice and has an excellent and genial host in Alan. The location was also very good and a bit of a challenge to find sometimes (part of the fun). Breakfeast was generous and dinner (the one time we ate dinner in the riad) was onerous by volume of alone! Food quality was very good.
The villas in the Rebali riads in Sidi Kaouki are nicely designed and fitted (though in need of some minor maintenance e.g. loose electric sockets). Nice, tranquil location. Staff were very helpful and friendly.’
Lizzie D. December 2016: ‘Just fantastic – Barbara was an absolute star and arranged pretty much the perfect holiday for us! Thank you for a brilliant Christmas away!
All the accommodation was great but special call out to rebali who upgraded us to an amazing 2bed house and cooked absolutely beautiful food! Nothing was too much trouble for them to organise a great start to our vacation :)’
Annie S. December 2016: ‘A fantastic family experience – with just a week window for a family of 4 with 2 teenage boys this holiday gave us a wonderful taste for Morocco, great range of different venues and activities, friendly people and lovely food we hope to be able to revisit again soon.
The service from Fleewinter was excellent from first enquiry telephone call, emails and booking details and support information made this holiday go like clockwork
Rebali Riads (5) – a perfect place to arrive in Morocco and relax – the accommodation was wonderful and spacious, breakfast was good and excellent evening meal in the riad. Mohammed, our host was at hand to advice and help organise activities, the staff all friendly and helpful and the facilities great.
Duar Samra (5) – with snow under foot we were welcomed by Mohammed into cosy communal eating area to a roaring fire. Our room was snug for 2 adults and 2 (6′) teenage boys, but the fire, hot water bottles and huge pile of blankets meant we all slept like logs. A 5 hour trek into the hills was a great taster of the Altas mountains with our knowledgeable and friendly guide. The communal meals were a lovely way to share the experience with fellow travellers – and tagine we had here was voted best in Morocco by the boys.’
Riad El Zohar (5) – a beautiful, tranquil space in the midst of the wonderful buzz of Marrakesh. The riad is delightfully appointed and all the staff were fantastic. Alan, the owners love and knowledge of the city helped us make the most of a short window of time to really enjoy and get a taste for the city.
Riad Chergui- so beautiful. We were greeted and brought over to the riad by the owner, and she couldnt have been nicer. The staff here were very friendly and made us feel very comfortable, they recommended the greatest places to eat as well’
Charmaine B. November 2016: ‘My holiday to Morocco has to be one of the best my partner and myself have been on. It was truly fantastic. The service we received from all the hotels and people we encountered were second to none. Everything was handled so professionally and so friendly.
Rebali Riads- This by far has to be our favourite! From the moment we arrived, Mohammed and Fatima treated us like family. We were upgraded for free to what could be described as a mansion. They attended to us every day with anything we could possibly have needed/wanted. They were so incredible to us, going above and beyond to accommodate us. I unfortunately hurt myself on one of the days, and Fatima came straight over and mended my hurt foot and stayed with me and helped me recover. She was truly a star. Could not sing any higher praises for this place. The other staff as well were so so friendly, always stopping to have a chat with us to make sure we were happy and comfortable.
Rebali really took our visit to Morocco to a different level. We couldnt be happier with them!’
Alison G. November 2016: ‘Fleewinter performance was absolutely first class. Super helpful at every step of the way. Guided us to make the right selections in both cases.
Doaur Samra was lovely, we enjoyed everything about this wonderful place. Welcoming staff, wonderful food, lovely comfortable rooms and amazing views. Would love to go back.
Riad Adore was beautiful, and just the touch of luxury needed after our mountain trek. Bit more modern and chic than some of the more’
Zareena M. October 2016: ‘The whole process was so easy, from contacting the travel consultant and telling them exactly what we were looking for. Our consultant was Barbara who was a fantastic help and sorted all the accommodation booking out for us. She had a good knowledge of where we”d be staying and was able to offer good advice. Communication was good, open and frequent, if we had a query then she would get back to us within a matter of a day. Thank you Barbara your help was much appreciated and it made the whole booking process so easy and straight forwardThe accommodation was like a little part of paradise. It was idyllic. Everything was so well maintained and the staff who look after and manage the place work so hard and put so much effort in keeping it that way. All the staff were so friendly and looked after us so well. Nothing was too much trouble for them and they were very professional and discreet. I would definitely recommend Rebali Riads to my family and friends and I most certainly will visit again at some point in the future.
Sidi Kaouki is such a friendly little place, we loved it. There’s not a lot to do in the evenings but we headed out to Essaouira on a couple of days which is only 30mins away. We either eat at Rebali or at Momo”s which we enjoyed.
Be warned about the dogs barking at night (you do get used to it) and the camel poo on the beach.
We loved doing the quad biking to the waterfall, visiting Houciane’s family to have a Berber lunch and the cooking demo with the chef.’
Mike F. October 2016: ‘We rested at Rebali so enjoyed roof garden and beach especially La Mouette. Went to Assaouira and a day did it … a bit too basic and while i loved the docks (early nineteenth technology with people everywhere making it work) the girls could not stand the smell. Not the pretty down as billed but worth a look and a roof-top meal.
Tamadot … well, you need to afford it but other than that just go there as it is all good, so well thought out even down to the walks and people.
Marrakech … loathed the pestering / hustling (so we bought nothing from the souks), the Square was atmospheric but the monkeys and snakes were cruelly hard done by which upset us; strayed into the living area and liked it, taxis easy to get you away from being completely bloody lost; Ali the guide very good especially with culture and ‘museums’ … should have gone to YSL garden and others but ran out of time. May be next time with more resilience against pestering lying conniving traders ‘
Jennie H. October 2016: ‘I just wanted to let you know how we got on in Morocco.
Tabarak transport are brilliant, we were delayed by over an hour on departure and he was still waiting for us when we arrived, and they were prompt when collecting us from Douar Samra even though its in the middle of nowhere!
Riad star was nice, in a good location but they were doing a little bit of renovations and I didn’t love it as much as Riad Hikaya, but they were still very welcoming and helpful, plus having a room large enough to comfortably accommodate us all was amazing. I think I just prefer the more traditional look and feel of Hikaya, although location wise this was perfect for my children. I loved seeing their shocked faces wandering around the souks amid all the hectic noise with scooters and mules! We went to the photographic museum just around the corner and did the usual caleche rides and trying to avoid the monkeys in the Jemaa el Fna!
Then on to the huge contrast of Douar Samra – this place is such a gem….I was getting a lot of raised eyebrows from the family as our bags were packed onto the donkey to take them down the dirt road into the village, “how much research did you actually do, where are we?!” But once inside and welcomed warmly with mint tea the family soon relaxed. Love it there, such a good mix of basic traditional with hot water, comfortable beds and good communal dinners – the whole family really enjoyed that collective experience. The guide for the walk was brilliant, a bit too strenuous for some of my family who left after 30mins to go back to relax in hammocks, but my other 2 children and I loved it – proper walking! I never would have considered staying there if you hadn’t offered it as an option on your website, but other people from around the globe flock to Samra as its part of the known trekking trails, but being a suburban stroller after a sunday lunch would never have found out about it, but so pleased I did.
All in all a wonderful break, thank you for all your help. It was great to escape and open my children’s eyes up to a different type of holiday…..I’m saving up for the next trip already, hopefully I’ll be back in touch next year for our next adventure.
Many thanks for making it all run so smoothly.”
Nimmi B. September 2016: ‘Thank you ( and your team) so much.
We had a fantastic time at the Rebal Riads with Mohammed and Fatima and all the staff making sure were 100% ok and able to relax and enjoy our family holiday.
Thank you both for not only organizing the normal holiday details but for also going out of your way to deal with our little requests ( from having grocery shopping at the villa on arrival, a small stool for elderly parents to access the bath etc.) Much appreciated.’
Stephanie L. September 2016: ‘ Fleewinter was amazing. The team made the process very easy, everything was arrange and sort out very quickly and super efficiently. Email answered straight away and always someone over the phone to answer our questions. We love the extra help and informations provided by the app Vammoos.
Cab was perfect. Super comfortable and safe cars, which is important while travelling abroad, with very nice drivers.
Villa Reballi was amazing. The accommodation by itself is perfect, beautiful villas and surroundings, very luxurious and comfortable.
But what makes the experience extra special is the staff there. Mohamed the manager is exceptional, always providing informations and tips and arranging outings for you in the best possible way. Fatima and the rest of the staff are the same, welcoming you very warmly and genuinely super nice and super efficient. A little paradise !
Sidi Kaouki is a dream destination, not far from Essaouira, 5 minutes to the beach and very cool weather even in summer.
We Like very much eating in the little village “Momo’s” being our favourite, very cheap and lovely service.
As for the night we enjoyed very much eating out at “Kaouki hotel” (recommended by Villa Reballi), great, great food, and very atmospheric setting with the candle lights !!!
Love, love Vamoos, packed with very useful information about Morocco in general, and about our destination. Invaluable app.”
Kanwal A. August 2016: ‘We had an absolutely lovely time – not easy with the needs of 3 generations! Both Riad Sila and Valmar were beautifully decorated with lots of useful details. The grounds and pool areas were great and the meals we had prepared for us were excellent. However, a particular mention has to go to the superb staff especially Mohammed and Fatimah for whom nothing was too much trouble. It really is a ‘home from home’ – Fleewinter has created just the right balance of the privacy and the amenities of a hotel. We all loved our trip.
Vimmi D. August 2016: ‘We all had a fantastic time didn’t want to come back home. In Essaouira Fatima, Habib and Mohammed were so lovely and helpful, made us feel at home. In Marrakech the Riad Adore was absolutely gorgeous we just had an amazing time. Again, big thankyou to Fleewinter for being helpful and helped us get the best out of our holiday and everything went smoothly.’
Lindsey T. June 2016: ‘Excellent holiday. The Riad was lovely and in a great location. The team at Riad Adore could not be faulted – they were friendly, efficient and very informative – nothing was too much trouble. The food [and the hammam] at the Riad were also first class.
Barbara was extremely helpful and informative and kept in touch throughout the whole process.
The Medina was great – loved the whole experience of staying in an oasis of calm at the Riad – then exploring the amazing souk markets and the night market. You will get lost sometimes, but you will find some great places and bargains. We visited all the sites and places of interest, including the tombs, palaces and gardens [the Yves St Laurent garden was lovely]. Very easy to get around – walked mostly, taxis sometimes [very reasonable]. Walked in the Atlas mountains, stopped at Richard Branson’s hotel on the way back for a cocktail and birthday lunch at la Mamounia on my birthday [so experienced it all]. All the restaurants we visited on recommendation from the Riad were great [all types, various prices – very reasonable, mid-range and expensive] to suit anyone’s budget. Tried to experience everything and loved every minute.’
Maria L. May 2016: ‘I don’t know why we haven’t been to Morocco before. We had a fabulous holiday and only wish we had stayed longer. Barbara was absolutely superb in recommending places to stay and minor changes to length of time staying was no problem along with all the extras like the cookery lesson and advice on walking…. All superb.
Douar Samra was great…exactly what it says about it… Simple but trad accommodation. Rashidas food is superb…everyone was so welcoming… All the people are delightful and friendly.
Views fabulous and walking great…we will be back… Climbing Toubkal next time!!!
Riad el Zohar was so welcoming and like staying in someone’s home. Allan was incredibly helpful with restaurant recommendations and apps to help get around… Rooms are lovely and service impeccable.
The souks were fascinating. We especially liked The Ben Youssef school and the Photography museum…as well as the Bahia and Badi palaces… Both different but both well worthwhile.
And of course the majorelle gardens with the excellent Berber museum.
Nomad restaurant was highly recommended but we were not impressed….. Due tomits popularity our feeling is they were trying to get more people crammed in … A romantic dinner for 2 was alittle uncomfortable as the tables on either side were only 6 inches away …we had booked the roof terrace but it was alittle chilly that night.
Cafe Arabbe was very relaxing with a great view and good food.’
Bobbi B. April 2016: ‘We had a very enjoyable holiday. Essaouira was perfect for our young family. The Rebali Riads were beautiful. The pool was a little on the cold side but this didn’t stop the kids going in 3 times a day! Mohammed and Fatima make the stay and are very friendly and helpful.
The accommodation in each place was fantastic. We had ample space at the Rebali Riads. I asked for another cover and this was given to me promptly. The food was very good. We had freshly prepared pancakes and pastries every morning. The accommodation overall was very clean and comfortable. The Trois Mages was within walking distance of the souks and square. The rooftop pool was like a bath and the kids were in for a long time each time they swam.’
Rosemary H. April 2016: ‘We booked our holiday through Fleewinter because we had been so pleased with our previous holiday arrangements booked with you three years ago.
From our first phone call and then the following emails we were listened to carefully. Our every need was addressed. Suggestions made that we hadn’t thought about resulting in a great holiday experience. Thank you so much. We recommend your company at every opportunity.’
Karen R, March 2016: ‘It was clear that Anna had real expertise and local knowledge. I felt comfortable leaving the bookings in her hands and going with her recommendations – which is a big thing for me as I am usually a control freak! It was also really nice to speak to someone on the telephone rather than just booking online. Anna was also very responsive to my emails and always answered my queries very promptly. Very happy with the service and would absolutely use again and recommend to friends.
The private transfers really made our holiday so easy and relaxing. We had a wonderful driver, Mohammed. We liked him so much we asked if he could do all of our transfers. In the end he did three – the only exception was the trip to the airport on our last dat. He was very nice and accommodating. We were not able to do the camel trip at the desert as planned due to the weather, so the next morning when it was sunny he made sure we did get the chance to do a trek and waited and extra 45 minutes for us. Truly outstanding service.
We especially loved the desert camp – it was a unique experience. Our host, Allan, at Riad El Zohar was outstanding. So helpful and welcoming. Would recommend Scarabeo and Riad El Zohar to friends as outstanding.
We loved Morocco and found the people extremely welcoming and friendly.’
Shirley B. January 2016: ‘Alan and his staff at El Zohar are very very good hosts. Cookery lesson was excellent, including trip to parts of the souk we’d never have found ourselves.
Villa Dinari is such a special place, I can’t say enough about it. Heather and Abdel provide a very clever blend of relaxation and fun. We’ve made lovely new friends both times we’ve stayed. The new ‘wing’ is fantastic.
I’d hate anyone to visit the Medina and miss Dar Cherifa, what a sublime place. Will return again and again.
We managed to get a short notice table for dinner at La Maison Arabe, very special location but very busy. Food superb, tangia in particular.
Heather also managed to shoehorn us into Dar Yacout! This was I think the highlight of the visit. I was expecting a touristy vibe but nothing of the sort, very intimate and special experience. Although the amount of food is on the obscene side.
We had dinner at a riad restaurant El Badia which was poor, wouldn’t return there.
Kosybar was superb, went in the evening.
La Terrasse des Epices was very cool, nice tea venue. Cafe Arabe was ok, service not great, good cocktails. Cafe des Epices food was ok, more the location. They now have another place diametrically opposite called Nomad, on quite a few floors. That was worth a visit.
The big disappointment in terms of venues was the SkyBar, dreadful place. Really dirty, cocktail and champagne were returned to them, shocking service.
Grande Cafe de la Poste never fails to deliver, a classic.
Souk El Khemis was a highlight, not for everyone but right up my street!’
Julia B. January 2016: ‘Morocco is a wonderful country. Staying in Essaouira – the Medina was fantastic and complemented the rest of our stay. We had such a lovely family holiday. We then went into Agadir to meet other extended family which was very relaxing. ‘
Deborah W. December 2015: ‘We just wanted to thank you so much for all the arrangements that went into making our holiday to Morocco so wonderful.
Everything worked well, bar the minor problem with the porter in Marrakech. The 2 places we stayed at were perfect, and the staff at both could not have been more delightful, helpful, friendly and efficient. Likewise our drivers, in whose care we felt safe and well looked after.
The cooking lesson in Essaouira was great fun, especially the guided visit to the spice market. Simon and Kezia also enjoyed some quad biking, while I preferred a more leisurely morning on a hired bike. We had great meals at Elizir and Caravanne Café – both are more than just the meal – the unexpected settings, decor and ambience were just wonderful.
And then by huge contrast: Marrakech! We loved the Riad el Zohar and we quickly found our way round (Simon’s excellent map-reading skills). One thing that could easily have disheartened us was frequently being told by locals in the Medina that wherever we were heading was closed that day, and we should rather go and look at the Tanneries! It was only because we had been alerted to this practice in one of the guidebooks that we steadfastly refused to be diverted. They always seemed so convincing, though, and less determined tourists could easily be caught out. Please do warn future travellers.
Eating out in Marrakech was a bit of a challenge with a vegetarian. However we had 2 excellent meals at Café Arabe, which has much more atmosphere in the evening.
We also discovered Nomad, just off the spice square, where great food was let down by less than great service on the night we went. It’s imaginative, modern cuisine, and when they sort out the service issue, will be a great place. We also enjoyed lunch at the café at the top of the Photo Museum – both worth a visit.
We were puzzled by Easyjet’s advice to get to the airport 4 hours early. Even the check-in staff could not understand it and thought 3 hours would have been quite adequate. Nonetheless, we had plenty time and were not at all rushed or pressured. It was the end of a great week and we thank you and Fleewinter for all your help, advice and responsiveness.’
Helen P. December 2015: ‘It was great. We were very well looked after by Fleewinter. I usually travel independently and not with a travel company, but as I wanted only a short trip to Morocco, and as it was my first time to the country, I decided to go with a package deal to make life easier. And I’m very glad I did. We had a bit of a mishap at the beginning of our trip as my friend missed the flight, so I flew to Marrakesh alone, and then she joined me that evening when she managed to get another flight. She was in touch with Anna from Fleewinter, who arranged another pick up from the airport for when she arrived, which was great. But apart from that mishap, the holiday was fabulous! The country information provided by Fleewinter was very useful to read beforehand.
Fleewinter were a dream to book through and provided excellent customer service from day 1. Their package was excellent value in comparison to other travel companies, and the quality of the accomodation was fantastic. They were both very special places, so many personal touches which made them feel 5 star, and friendly and helpful staff. Anna suggested the 2 guest houses, and I couldn’t have been happier with her choices. I had no issues with the booking process, it was all very straightforward, we checked the availability, then bought the flights, then confirmed and paid for the package.
Both places were without fault. Really individual, beautiful Moroccan textiles and decor, friendly and welcoming staff, excellent food (b n b in the city, half board in the mountains), lots of useful information about the area in both places, comfy beds. I’d recommend them to anyone.
El Badi Palace in Marrakesh is beautiful. As is the Majorelle Gardens, and the Ben Youssef Medersa. Don’t get unintentionally dragged into seeing the tanneries, then have to pay for it! (I was quite aggressively pestered unti I gave some money which did leave a bit of a bad impression). In the mountains we went on a guided walk to a waterfall which was lovely. We ate so well in the riad and guest house that we actually didn’t need to eat out much at all, so I don’t really have restaurant recommendations.’
Susannah W. December 2015: ‘Absolutely loved kasbah angour and rebali riads, couldn’t fault the staff or the quality of accommodation…….maybe a kettle in the room at the kasbah. Both places were so peaceful just what we needed to recharge our batteries 5***
The magnes trois in Marrakech was good too I would still give it a 5 – but we didn’t like it as much as the other 2 places we stayed, perhaps because we had been surrounded by such wonderful space and peace and quiet magnes trois perhaps felt a little squashed and noisey. The staff were lovely & really went out of their way to help you but we didn’t love it as much as the other places and we don’t really know why.
Majorelle gardens in Marrakech definitely worth a visit
The beach at sidi kaouki magnificent”
Margaret A. December 2015: ‘When we started discussing this holiday with Barbara we felt we were in safe hands. She was sympathetic to our needs and gave us good suggestions on how best to achieve the itinerary we settled on. We were very satisfied.
The airport transfers were perfect – pleasant drivers, clean cars.
Our driver Khalifa was very courteous and utterly reliable. He was a very good driver and we felt safe at all times, even on the winding High Atlas roads. The Toyota Landcruiser was absolutely fit for the terrain, and was reliable and spacious.
Les Trois Mages was ideally situated close to the souk, but in a peaceful location. It’s a very pretty Riad and we found our room comfortable and well appointed. Aziz, the manager, was so attentive and courteous. The dinner on our first evening was delicious.
Jardins de Skoura – our favourite. Caroline was a perfect hostess and went out of her way to ensure we enjoyed our stay.The room was welcoming and comfortable and the location within the palmerie is delightful. We could have happily stayed an extra day.
Hotel Yasmina. The setting is amazing – right on the dunes. The room was a little tired looking and the place had more staff than clients. There was only one other couple at dinner that first night. There were no other people on our camel trek and we camped in the desert alone, however we were looked after very well by our guide Ibrahim, and, at the camp, by Mustafa. After dinner they entertained us by singing and playing their drums before we went outside to view the Milky Way – fabulous! We spent a surprisingly comfortable night in our tent.
Kazbah Azul in Agdz – A lovely setting, pretty gardens, a comfortable room and the best food of our holiday. We saw little of the owners but the place seemed to be virtually run by a lady called Majuba. She was delightful!
Jardins d’Issil – a perfect location for our last night being so close to the airport. The manager was very attentive despite speaking very little English but we got by quite well on our basic French! The “tents”, rather than Moroccan style looked a little medieval (we were imagining knights and jousting!) but our room was very comfortable if a little “pink” for our tastes!’
Angelina G. November 2015: ‘I am just letting you know that we really enjoyed our holiday to Morocco. Your recommendations were spot on. The Kasbah Tamadot was beautiful and our lovely driver who took us to The Ribali Rhiads was very informative regarding traditions and culture. We found the immediate area there to be very quiet but the hospitality of Mohammed and Fatima really made up for it. They couldn’t have done more for us. The Villa de Orangers was a great hotel. It was good to experience Marakesh for a couple of days. We loved the Hamam and the massage as well. Thanks again.’
Cindy R. November 2015: ‘Thought Rebali was excellent with a v good cook which was such a treat; Mohammed was incredibly helpful with all we wanted to do and all the staff were exceptionally friendly.
Kasbah Angour is a lovely spot – and very relaxing; food not quite as good as Rebali – but certainly good enough and different! It was a shame the sea was so murky at Rebali because we had the most incredible rain on the Sunday which didn’t make the surfing too appetising! The quad biking was fantastic fun and the highlight of our entire trip; clients should not be put off on arrival at Rebali as it is in the middle of nowhere – Rebali is a relaxing and peaceful haven; we did a 14km trek in the Atlas Mtns which was very informative and I would highly recommend Morocco as a destination with all it has to offer – it is so different! We went to the Caravan Restaurant in Essaouira (recommended by Mohammed) which was excellent.’
Jean L. October 2015: ‘Thanks to your company, we had an absolutely brilliant holiday in Morocco. This was our first experience in Morocco. The itinerary, accommodation and transportation you put together was an excellent introduction to a country which we would all love to return. Hopefully, we will use your company again and will definitely encourage others to do so.
Well done, thank you very much!
We had 3 drivers over the course of our 10 day journey. They were all very good: pleasant, knowledgeable and helpful.
We loved Riad Hikaya, Agdz and Dar Zitoune! I could have done with a couple of more days in Dar Zitoune.
As for our 1 night in the desert, we chose to stay in the “basic tents” which we all agreed were a little too basic for us;)
Marrakech: I’d recommend The Clock Café, which is right across the street from Riad Hikaya. I’d also recommend Café L’Arab. Excellent food, great vibe. I recommend people stick to the medina and avoid the “new town” especially the restaurant in the old post office. Very touristy, boring menu, felt like a North American chain restaurant, could be anywhere in the world.’
Matt S. October 2015: ‘The booking process was excellent. We felt you translated our requirements into an itinary well and understood the needs of a family with 3 children. The information provided allowed us to be sure that we had the right sort of accommodation. All the communication was prompt and helpful.
Reballi Riads, Dar Medava, great accommodation , really welcoming staff, great food, trip out to buy and prepare our meal was fantastic, thank you chef. A few bits of maintenance would help to keep it in top condition- a few lights out, leaking sink in the kitchen. The DVDs and games were appreciated. Cake and tea in the afternoon was a nice touch.
Kasbah Angour, warm welcome, safe and friendly environment for the family. Good service, lovely architecture. Could do with a few of the finishing touches of our 1st location. Games etc for kids. Pool was good but getting a bit cold. Our plan was to have a day just lazing by the pool. A heated (even just a bit) would have made a big difference. Trip out with Abdul was good. Paul was very helpful went we had to curtail our plans.’
Rod B. September 2015: ‘This was our third holiday to Morocco booked through Fleewinter and as on our previous trips everything went smoothly and my wife and I were completely satisfied with all the arrangements.
Alasdair and his team supplied us with all the information that we needed for our stay in Marrakech and Essouria and could not have been more helpful. The booking and payment were all arranged perfectly on line. I had mentioned to Alisdair at the time of booking that as we were scheduled to arrive at Marrakech airport at 2050 hours on 01 September it would be nice if a light evening meal could be arranged at the Riad Zolah. This he did for us and we were able to enjoy a lamb tagine in the tranquillity of this lovely riad. Many thanks Alisdair.
The big air conditioned taxi was at the airport to meet us and the English speaking driver was excellent.
Fleewinter had also arranged for us to be picked up on the morning of 4th September from Riad Zolah and driven to Essaouria. Again a nice big aircondioned car with a charming English speaking driver who arrived on time and was able to give us information on the places that we passed through and on Morocco in general.
No problem with the taxi on our last day too. He arrived on time in the big taxi and got us to Marrakech Airport in plenty of time. He also spoke English but not quite as well as the other two. Nevertheless he was very pleasant and we had a nice chat along the way.
Riad Zolah is fantastic as are the staff who could not be more helpful. We stayed there in September last year and it was our first choice for accommodation this year. My wife and I cannot rate it highly enough. The room was lovely with bowls of fruit and nuts on the table for us everyday. We were there for three nights. The only minus was that when I came to settle the bill for extras the credit card reader was not working. No problem though as I had enough dirhams. They said that there would be no charge for the light meal that we had on arrival so you just can’t beat that for service.
The Dar Maya was a smaller and more modern boutique Riad but recently built in a traditional style.
The air conditioned room was very nice with a large and extremely comfortable bed. We met the owner, Gareth Turpin, on our second day there as he had only arrived back from a short stay in the UK that morning. Gareth and his staff were all charming and extremely helpful. They were able to recommend some lovely restaurants in the Medina.
One of our favourite places in Marrakesh is Jardin Marjorelle. It is so peaceful in there and we love it. There is a small café within the gardens together with a Berber Museum.
Another place we like to go to is the Mamonia Hotel. Have a drink or two there in the afternoon with small trays of nibbles and then stroll around the garden. The interior décor of the hotel is absolutely fantastic.
The terrace of the Café Arabe is a great place to eat in the evening and to watch the sun go down.
Whilst in Essouria we had our first evening meal on the terrace of the Taros Café which was very good. The second night we went to the Elizir and we both thought this to be fantastic. The owner is a charming Moroccan man who has spent a lot of time in Bologna and his food, especially the fish (my wife had the John Dory and I had the sea bass) is fantastic. It is a very small menu but that means quality and there is something for all tastes. We were so impressed by this quirky place with all the old televisions and other objects scattered around that we returned on our last night too. We would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys good food.
We also went to La Table Madada in Essaouria but although the décor was splendid the food was a little disappointing.’
Bill P. September 2015: ‘The trip to Morocco was amazing! We had already booked some accommodation for the first 4 nights and we were able to seamlessly continue the trip across the south of the country to arrive in Marrakech and spend time before returning home. Visiting Morocco in August may seem a little foolhardy, but in fact the time spent near Essouaira was warm with a breeze, and temperatures increased steadily as we travelled inland (eastward) with our Fleewinter guide, Mahjub. He really made the difference as we saw, met and visited areas that would not have been possible without his willingness and knowledge of the area. The complete trust we had in him was preceded by kind and helpful people en route; in Marrakech we had no problem at all embracing the vibrant atmosphere of the bustling city.
My daughter is pressing for us to go back in February – trust me, that is testament to the wonderful time we had!
Very slick, helpful and informative would be the simplest way to describe the Fleewinter experience. We had to tag our daughter onto the trip at short notice and even that was a seamless process. I can’t thank the team enough (especially Barbara) and I wouldn’t hesitate in travelling with Fleewinter again, or recommending Fleewinter to friends/family.We went on a morning’s cookery course at Atelier Madada in Essouira – great experience and value for money. While the self-prepared food finished cooking we went into the souk to meet the spice merchant which was fun and educational.
Taroudant is a gem of a place and well worth its reputation as a ‘small Marrakech’. The souk is amazing and the city has a fascinating history. As mentioned before, a guide is well worth it to get the most out of a morning in a wonderful location.
The desert is a must for those who enjoy an adventure holiday – camel trains/nomads/camel rides/sunset/(shooting) stars/sunrise. Ait Ben Haddou is a must-see, and we had a lunch en route to Agdz but I’ve mislaid the card – I’ll send you details when I find it. We ate at Cafe des Arabes and Latitude 31 (my daughter tired of tajines at this point and their fusion food did the trick!). You have to go to Jemaa el-Fnaa for fresh orange juice and a meal at one of the many stalls – it has to be done! Marjorelle Gardens and the Museum for Photography and Visual arts offer a contrast to the mosques/palace ruins. Not to mention a spa treatment (Heritage Spa). There is a lot to see in Marrakech and we would have liked to stay an extra night (3 nights was only just enough).’
Ceri L. August 2015: ‘I just wanted to thank you so much for all your help prior to our holiday. We had a fantastic time, it was one of the most relaxing holidays I’ve had since having children and the staff were fantastic. We have received excellent service throughout beginning with you and the booking process so a huge thank you. We are definitely coming back next year!’
Gill D. July 2015: ‘We have used Fleewinter on four occasions when travelling to Morocco. Each visit has been tailor made to suit our requirements and each trip has been slightly different as we have travelled around the country. The service provided on every occasion has been exceptional, from the initial contact to the final confirmation to the post service follow-up. What a rare treat to deal with a company who have such a wealth of experience and are so knowledgeable about the destination you are travelling too.’
Janine B. June 2015: ‘It was well worth doing a 3 centre holiday as we were able to see more of Morrocco and get a feel of life for local people. We enjoyed every location and the time in each location was perfect for us – plenty of time to explore but not too much time to get bored.
Mohammed at Rebali was very helpful. The service and food there was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The local restaurant Le Kaouki was a fabulous experience, however, we did not enjoy the Pergola restaurant and would not recommend it. The food there was bland and the restaurant room not to my taste.’
James G. May 2015: ‘Incredibly well organised. Fleewinter demonstrated a great understanding of the type of honeymoon we wanted and accommodated with ease any changes to the schedule. It was the most personable travel service we have ever come across.
Surf School in Sidi Kaoki – Amine is a great guy to be in touch with for all things kite surf. He even lent me his personal board. A great place to have sundowners. A hidden gem on the surf circuit.
Cookery Course – Kandusi (Chef) was so engaging and we both left Morocco with lots more tools in our toolbox to be able to create some authentic cuisine. A great day!
Fell-Running in the Atlas – Mohammad (Rebali Manager) had a good mountain guide contact in Imlil who was able to run with me in the mountains for 35km. A wonderful experience for those interested fell-running.’
Vicky B. May 2015: ‘We surprised my sister with a weekend in Marrakech for her hen do. We had a weekend to remember for all the right reasons, Marrakech had everything to offer and more. We visited the souk markets day and night, trekked 7miles of the Atlas mountains and experienced the traditional Hamman that was fit for kings! Loved every minute of it. The Medina was clean and everyone was really friendly.
Fleewinter made the whole booking experience very smooth and easy they took care of everything which put my mind at ease especially as the weekend was a surprise! Barbara was extremely helpful in the whole process and the guides and transfers she booked were fantastic!’
Jan S. March 2015: ‘Had a brilliant time. Definitely think that it was a good idea to have a guide for visiting the Souk (and the Medina for the first time) as this gave us an idea of where we were, although we still got slightly lost on the second evening. Enjoyed the Bahia Palace, Badia Place, Saadian Tombs. The Majorelle Gardens were lovely but the trip to the Atlas Mountains where we trekked for 3 1/2 hours was amazing. Both our guides, Ali, for the Souk etc, and Abdul for the trekking for really good. The tannery was good, if smelly!!!!Interesting to see Richard Branson’s Casbah Taradot. I’m sure that i’ve forgotten something that we did, but we really managed to fit in so much without feeling rushed. The Riad was absolutely amazing, the service was second to none. Really enjoyed talking to John about Morocco and his staff are so friendly and attentive. I even received a bottle of wine from John and a Birthday Cake from the girls for my birth day. Such a nice thought and a big surprise !’
Susanna F. March 2015: ‘La Villa des Orangers is a great hotel. Lovely staff who went out of their way to be charming helpful and courteous. We felt they all went above and beyond. One of the best features was having our own private roof terrace. The food was marvelous. We went out to dinner one night, but the food was so much better in the hotel, that we spent the other nights there. They even allowed us an extremely late check out as our flight did not leave until 8pm, and refused to charge us.’
Kyla F. January 2015: “We loved both places for different reasons. Jardin d’issil was more rustic but the staff were wonderful and made us very at home and we’re happy to help in any way possible- this included serving is dinner in our tent when it was stormy as we didn’t want to go to the main dining room as our baby had an ear infection and was very grumpy and needed to sleep.Rebali was very luxurious- helped by the amazing upgrade to a 3 bed villa with pool. We felt thoroughly spoilt throughout our stay but once again felt the service was very personal. Mohammed and Fatima were great at helping us make arrangements eg a taxi with car seat to take us & collect us from Essaouria and the children were thoroughly spoilt with attention. The accommodation itself was beautiful and spacious and we would definitely return and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.Essaouria was the biggest surprise to us- a beautiful town with a great atmosphere- very arty but retaining a Moroccan charm.”
Tricia S. November 2014: ‘It has been rather hectic since we arrived back from Morocco so this email is rather later than I would have hoped. I wanted to say how much we enjoyed our trip. Both Rebali Riads and Riad Chergui were excellent and all the staff we encountered were so friendly. Our transfers were all punctual and we particularly enjoyed having Ibrahim as our driver on two occasions. Our Atlas mountain day trip was one of many highlights with a lovely guide and a very tasty meal at just the right time. I am already trying to figure out when I can go back.’
Eleni P. November 2014: ‘Just wanted to say thank you for our fleeting visit to Morocco – we had an amazing time there. Your itinerary was perfect and all went to smoothly and to plan. The 2 days in Marrakech were just enough: the Riad Hikaya was a well located oasis, beautifully decorated, with such attention to detail and John was a charming and informative host. The mountain trek was a refreshingly stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the town: the guide was friendly and knowledgeable and the picnic lunch was a delight. The Tamadot was a wonderful end to our stay; it’s an amazingly relaxing and beautiful place and an extra day and night would have been welcome (but I was on enough of a guilt trip already, having left the kids home alone …. to be fair, they did very well without us!). Thank you also for the little birthday extras which made the trip even more special.’
Colin G. November 2014: ‘It’s hard to believe that this time 2 weeks ago myself and my 2 children were being taught how to surf off the coast at Sidi Kaouki while my wife was on the ‘fastest’ horse she has ever ridden for a ‘spirited’ ride along the beach. From the above I guess that you can sense the fact that we had just about a best family holiday we have ever had in Morocco. Can I pass on my thanks to you and all the staff at Fleewinter for all your recommendations, advice and for helping us to organise a fantastic holiday. I cannot forget the staff in Morocco, especially Mohammad, Fatima and all the staff at Rebail Riad. They couldn’t do enough for you and we very quickly relaxed into the Rebali way of life. Again please pass on my thanks. We will definitely recommend Fleewinter, indeed I have already passed on details to a variety of people in my work as well as to he person sitting next to me on the return flight. The only issue I have is that the kids are pestering me about going back. I can live with that.’
Christine M. October 2014: ‘Just wanted to say my family and I had an amazing time at the Rebali Riads, we loved everything about the setup. The location, the riads, the food and most importantly the staff who very so accommodating and charming. I hope we will have the opportunity in the future for a return visit and or try another Fleewinter destination!
Charlie H. October 2014: ‘We had a fabulous time in Morocco. Riad Adore was complete bliss, beautifully done, the staff could not have been more helpful and the food was absolutely delicious. All the transfers worked like clockwork. The setting of Bab Ourika is truly amazing and the weather could not have been better. I’ve never seen a more perfect vegetable garden with views to die for, we just sat and gazed at the beautiful pink sun kissed mountains. Thank you for organising it for us….. great job.’
Manjit C. October 2014: ‘Thank you for putting our holiday together, the advice, tips and brilliant organisation. We had a fantastic time, loved all the day trips, accommodation was great, staff were always helpful and friendly and drivers wonderfully punctual as well as a mine of information. The only thing we would change is to have spent an extra day in the desert which was truly magical,rather than extra time in Essaouira.’
