"Agadir, Morocco, Feb 2022"
"with our friends Dawn & Alan"
Finally after 2 years of Covid and the borders in Morocco closed to visitors until the 7th February this year, we were able to take a one week all-inclusive break to our favourite hotel near Agadir, the Riu Palace Tikida Taghazout. In fact we had only just arrived back from here in February 2020 when lockdown came into effect in the UK.
We travelled on the 10th February and were the first foreign tourist flight in. At the airport in Agadir we were greeted by officials requesting paperwork, etc. followed by health workers who proceeded to stick swabs as far down our noses or throats as possible to test for Covid. However, after eventually leaving the airport building we were then greeted by a local band playing Moroccan music and a plethora of photographers who no doubt submiited our pictures to the newspapers as proof that the borders were finally open. For a country dependant on tourism this was probably a massive step forward for their economy.
Similarly when we arrived at our hotel there was a similar warm reception as we were the first foreign tourists to arrive since before their lockdown in November 2021.
We went there for a 'chill-out' holiday and that's exactly what we had. The weather was fantastic (in the upper 20's) and the pool was warm and very inviting. There were not many children and with hundreds of sun-beds and 5 pools we had the place virtually to ourselves. The food was good and the drinks were all named makes not local cheap stuff. The room was superb and looked out on to the pool (our request) which was possible due to the low numbers of guests; I'm not sure we would like this as much during the height of the season when everywhere would have been packed. Every day the pool staff led aqua-aerobics sessions which both Jane and Dawn participated; the staff were very enthusiastic as can be seen from the last video below.
During our last visit in 2021 we made very good friends with our waiter then, Mohammed Meshkour, and Jane had maintained contact with him through Facebook since. He had not worked there since then but arranged to come in just for the week we were there to meet us again and planned to go to Casablanca when we left. On our second day he took the time off to take us to the town next to the hotel, Taghazough, for the day and we had a very enjoyable time. We had authentic Moroccan coffee, were serenaded by a local banjo player, bought a few trinkets and had a typical Moroccan lunch of lamb and beef stew in tagines with bread. The day was so much better having our own local tour guide and we went back to the hotel very satisfied. We continued to see Mohammed throughout the week and we were all very sad when the time came to leave; we will continue to keep in touch and maybe go to Casablanca to see him next time.
My birthday fell on Valentines Day when we were there and embarrassingly (at 76 years old) I had the staff sing and present me with a cake, in spite of my threats to Jane. Needless to say we all went swimming during our stay but unfortunately I got water in my ears and at time of writing this (1st March) am still partially deaf.
At the end of our stay we returned to the UK to a wet, cold and windy climate but hope to return again at the same time next year; we were informed by our local friend that Feb-March is probably the best time to go as for us Brits (well me!), the climate is very good and it's not too crowded
