Dear Max
I am not on Facebook so I will try and give you my comments by e-mail.
I was very pleased with Denise and your other staff members, with the attention we received before we commenced on our holidays.
Even the canceling of the Royal Air Maroc Airline flight at the end, and our request to cancel one of our days in Marroco was dealt with, with such efficiency.

1. Bab Ourika - Ourika Valley was perfect. The accommodation was first class and the food was to die for.
We enjoyed the Berber lunch and, walking to the village nearly killed us but we enjoyed every minute it.
2. Our second stop to Rock Camp - Agafay was a little disappointing. The camel ride was good, and the service was good. However we were the only ones in camp that night and that we did not expect. The “camp” environment was totally lost because if this. Eating under the stars did not happen. A suggestion that they do not book just one person, , it defeats the idea of camping.
3. Our last stop to Villa des Orangers - Marrakech was all that it promised and more. The Riad was out of this world, the service was second to none and we could not ask for anything more. The fact that
Royal Air Maroc cancelled our last day was a bit disappointing. However your people arranged for the cancellation of the booking, and we will get a refund is good in our books.
We will definitely use your service again and will spread the word in our part of the world.
I will write under separate cover how to refund our account.
Once again thank you very much for one of our best holidays we have had to date.
Marcia & Lem.

Thank you, yes, a really excellent holiday – superbly choreographed by Denise.

EasyJet was a new experience for me (as Denise knows). I did not have very high hopes, which was the right approach since the flights were delayed out and inbound.

We did not particularly take to our cynical and plump little guide to Historical Marrakesh – clearly in cahoots with the Soukees, he would sit in the background while a rather obvious attempt to fleece us was made; tiresome and not especially educational.

As for the hotels Denise chose (Deux Tours, La Pause, Kasbah Bab Ourikah), they were exceptional and a wonderful combo. You should know that the current manager of Bab Ourikah (one Damien) is a superstar who made a huge, and unwarranted, effort to make sure we enjoyed ourselves (we did).

I am very glad we organized our holiday through you – thank you.

Best,

David Hansell

Dear Max,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. It's only today I noticed that your email had wrongly reached my junk mail folder!

We had a wonderful holiday. Everything went smoothly from start to finish. Both Villa Maroc and Riad Camilia exceeded our expectations and were perfect places to stay both having very friendly, helpful staff and good food. Nicolas at Riad Camilia deserves a special mention for being the perfect host! We enjoyed a half day historic tour of Marrakesh with our guide, Nora, who was great. It was well worth the money as I did find Marrakesh, at least at first, quite a daunting place to get around, especially the medina. I would not normally book excursions/tours as I prefer doing things myself but having a local person showing us around and informing us about the culture and history was a godsend, and made me and my sister far more confident about exploring the city on our own.

I'm hard pressed to think of any negative points about the holiday as I think your team did an excellent job and everything fitted into place perfectly.Booking with Lawrence of Morocco took the hard work out of planning the holiday and I will certainly recommend the company to friends.

From what I have seen of Morocco so far, I think it is a very interesting country with a fascinating culture, lovely people and glorious weather! I think my only tiny complaint is that will did endure some low-level harrasment in the souks from shopowners desperate to sell us things.It did get very tiresome after a while and put us off staying very long. I completely understand the need to make a living but it was a bit offputting for me. On a return visit to the country I would be more inclined to visit less touristy places to avoid this.

I have 'liked' on Facebook. Many thanks to you, Emma, Souad and the rest of the team.

Best wishes,

Frances

Dear Max and Denise

We had a wonderful time.  What a fantastic place La Sultana is; thank you very much for the recommendation and your excellent service.

Dear Max,

Les Deux Tours was beautiful, our room wasn’t ready on arrival but we had lunch and lounged around the pool.  Again – we loved this hotel (brilliant recommendation from you!) staff were attentive, girls loved the gardens and our suite was amazing with its own little pool which was welcome when the main pool was busy and after a hot morning in the city.  If I was going to find one niggle, a few things in the room needed repair (shower was a bit rickety/handrail in bathroom coming away) but didn’t detract from our stay one bit. The hammam was fantastic – I took the girls with me for the experience and they were spoilt rotten, I also took advantage of a massage which was excellent. The guide you arranged was great, tailored the tour for us and the girls, was very informative, good mix of culture and pottering the souks and looked after us very well, certainly well worth it as we felt confident about going back to the souks the next day on our own for an explore.  Both meals Souad arranged were fantastic (even though we turned up a day early to Le Fondouk – they managed to fit us in!), my favourite was La Maison Arabe – absolutely incredible setting and food, again they were brilliant with the children, food was incredible.  We ate at the hotel on the last night and that too was excellent.

Thank you.
We had a wonderful time at Maroc lodge in Azmizmiz and everything from booking to our return was easy and stress free!
The Hotel and its gardens were lovely and the owners and their staff did everything to make our stay very enjoyable and relaxing.
We had a brilliant days walk in the town and countryside with our guide Latifa. She took us to meet so many different people and enabled us to discover life in both the town environment and  the villages. We had lunch with a family in a Berber village who were charming and very hospitable as were everyone we met.

The only negatives were that the weather was not good on the first day. Very cold and very cloudy!!
We also realised that we needed to brush up on our French language skills!!
WIFI would be useful in the villas if that was a possibility.

We would certainly go to Morocco again and definitely book through your company, and have no hesitation in recommending you to friends.

Regards
Kate and Chris Palmer

Dear Max,

Everything went really well, thank you. We found both the Maroc Lodge and Villa Maroc, excellent. The food was also great in both places - we only had b & b at Villa Maroc but we did eat there on the first evening and it was very good. The food at Maroc Lodge was outstanding. I couldn't fault it in any way. 

We also had two excellent guides - the Berber guide Nourid was great and so was Claudia who runs Berber tours in Essaouria. Both were very knowledgeable and on time. All connections and travel was good. No problems at all, in fact. We had a fantastic relaxing holiday - the only problem being that we didn't want to come home.

If I have any quibbles...and it's a small thing ....we forgot to take our travel kettle and it wasn't always so easy to get cups of tea....maybe it's something you could remind us English travelers about!

I would definitely recommend Lawrence of Morocco to friends and relatives and I hope we will travel with you again sometime.

Many thanks

Bronwen & Dave

Dear Max, 

Thanks for your email. We have had a wonderful holiday, one of the best. The travel details and transfers were all perfect and all charming. The fact that we spoke French was of course a big bonus as we had a full commentary from the drivers.

Kasbah Tamadot was absolutely magnificent. We had a smaller room on the corner of the courtyard but it as really cosy with lovely views across the river. The staff were delightful and we were very cosy. We loved the fact that the manager had thought of everything. Reading lights and torches. Slippers and the free mini bar.

The weather was gorgeous so we enjoyed the grounds and the lovely terrace for lunch. We also loved drinks in the library before dinner where we made some friends for our stay. We were also delighted that Eve herself came and sat with us one evening. I cant really think of anything at all I would change abut the place.

Villa les Oragers was of course a total contrast in setting. When we arrived we thought our room was very dark and had a flight of steps up to the bathroom. We were kindly sorted with an upgrade and had a very pleasant room with a terrace. After that we had a lovely time. The Hotel is a wonder with the door between the tyre shop and the washing machine repairers but that only added to the charm. A bit like a secret passage. The Staff were a little reserved but very friendly and helpful. I think that the difference is that at the villa you could have everything but needed to ask whereas at Tamadot it was just all there for you already. It also seemed that the Villa was set up more for French travellers which I am sure is not surprising considering the French connection.

The food was excellent and the local wines good. We enjoyed our lunches with the friendly staff and then most nights had drinks and tapas around the medina to soak up the local atmosphere. The tour of the medina and souk was epic running to a full 5 hours. The guide showed us everything but there was some pressure to go into a carpet shop which was a little unwonted and not perhaps official? Despite that we saw everything and our guide Rashid was excellent

We saw the Majorelle and the new town as well so we enjoyed all of Marrakech but we loved the juxtaposition of the hotel to the Jamaa al Fna and how we left such busy streets to get into the Riad

All in all the trip was certainly one of the best I could imagine and we are so glad we went to see such a vibrant place at a warm sunny time.

Suggestions?
Perhaps to advise travellers to get a room with a terrace at the Villa and to ask the staff to stock the minibar or to ask the minibar to stock the bar for your customers

I cant think of anything else really other than to say thanks for the experience which seemed to last for much more than just a week.

Martyn

Dear Max

Thank you for your email.  Philip and I thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. 
The riads we stayed in were excellent and we must mention Riad Cinnamon in particular as they were most helpful to us and were so obliging in every way. 

Unfortunately nothing really went wrong on the holiday so no negative feedback to give you. The transfers went smoothly and we had no real problem with flights etc.  The only probelm is the weight we have put on after the excellent food and wine!!!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your staff espceially Denise inh elping us book this trip and will certainly be recommended you.

Best wishes
Kay

Hi Denise/Max

We had a great time and here is my feedback.

Mrs Souad introduced herself on the journey from the airport to the Riad but we had no reason to contact her.

The Riad Camilia was terrific – Nicholas looked after us really well and was a mine of information.
We ate all of our meals in the Riad except for the first night.  As the hotel wasn’t full Nicholas moved us to a small private dining room, which was lovely, when it was just the two of us eating in. Although my husband did find the low seats rather trying. All the staff were most helpful.

The balloon ride was a great success.

The first guide who showed us the cultural parts of Marrakech was very good, and he even took as to a good English speaking herbalist as my husband had a cold, and we bought some rather potent nigella seeds, which certainly helped.
The 2nd day we had a driver to drive us around to see the gardens and he must have thought we were odd because they really weren’t worth the bother.  They could and probably were once so much more, and from the air on the way out of Marrakech you could appreciate the extent of them.  It was my idea to have a look but I certainly wouldn’t recommend this to any others except of course the Majorelle gardens which were interesting in their own way. The driver also took as to the Mamounia Hotel at my request – we thought we would have a coffee there, which was an excellent idea as it turned out, a swanky hotel with a nice garden! We didn’t bother going around the Palm Grove area as we had driven through there quite a lot before and after the balloon ride, delivering other guests so felt we had seen it.

On reflection we could have made better use of the driver.  Next time!

We had an easy transit to Bab Ourika and requested that we visit the Berber market on the way, but the driver indicated he was short of time having driven quite slowly  to the mountains.  Although he did say we could stop for a short while  I felt that we didn’t really have enough time, so we decided not to see it.  A mistake.

Bab Ourika was a complete contrast to the Riad, where one was opulent the other stark, but we had been upgraded to a de luxe room, and it was really a very good peaceful location, lovely grounds and views.
We had an excellent guide the next day, with good English and a good and generous picnic was bought to us on a donkey!  We made use of the Hammam and the masseuse afterwards which was a good idea for desk bound English people who hadn’t taken any exercise for some time.
I would say that the food was quite basic here but perfectly edible, and I think I would be disappointed if I had come to Bab Ourika for my main holiday for a rest.  Fine as a base for walks, which others were doing, or as a stopover.  I believe the owner is English – we met him briefly - but I thought he might have realised that the actual food itself could have been so much more.  Again the staff were faultless.

All in all a great success and leaving us wanting more.  As an aside both Maurice from the balloon company and Nicholas sang the praises of your company. 

Kind regards and many thanks.

Fiona Applegate

Hi Max

Thanks for your email, overall we had a great time, we would return to Marrakech, and we would definitely recommend you to all of our friends that are thinking of going to Morocco.

The La Sultana was fantastic in every aspect, and especially the staff. The Balloon flight was a bit disappointing, in part due to the weather. The guided tour was good but unfortunately the guide did not want to take on board what we wanted to do, only what he wanted us to see. In the end we cut the tour slightly short but enjoyed the experience.

KBO was a total contrast, and again was fantastic. The trek was great and our guide was perfect.

The transfers were spot on, and the contact we had with your local team was spot on.

Thanks again for your guidance and arranging a fabulous break for us.

Cheers Ian

We cannot thank you enough for the wonderful holiday, the pre flight documentation was first class and while a departure from MP2 on Ryanair is never a wonderful experience, everything changed the moment we arrived in Morocco. The hotels lived up to our expectations and in each we received a warm reception, good service and on each occasion were sorry to leave. The hire car was fine and we enjoyed our drive from Essaouira, Taroudant, Skoura and onto Marakesh and although the roads had suffered from considerable damage after the recent storms we quickly realised that it takes far longer than a 'French autoroute' but it was all part of a wonderful experience. The final stay at Les deux Tours was magnificent, the staff were so friendly and the hotel well positioned that we were reluctant to leave at 6.45am especially after the New Year celebrations! the night before.

This was our first long stay in Morocco and we are already discussing a trip next Christmas to see Rabat and Fes - if we do, We will definately use LOM and I have no hesitation in recommending the company to family and friends - GREAT experiences - many thanks and best wishes for 2015

A fantastic trip, thank you for organising it. This is my second one with you , having been torn away from a company I have used for over 20 years, and I have to say that I am really  impressed again. My initial choice of Maroc Lodge wasn't available and I was dubious about Bab Ourika, as some reviews are a bit.... But Denise convinced me and I am glad she did.

Although I was away for only a short time , it felt like I was away for far longer.

The whole service from start to finish was first class. I loved the venue and the walking so much so that I am seriously tempted to book straight away for a similar time next year...something I have never done! So hopefully that gives you some idea of the satisfaction I have had for both my trips.

With many thanks to you all and I wish you an amazing and successful New Year.

Dear Max,

Thank you for your email - I am sorry, but I am going to disappoint you!  Although negatives are helpful to you, our holiday was perfect and I really can't find anything but praise to feed back to you.  I would say you have a great team and we will definitely use you again for a return trip to Morocco.  Thank you to everyone for making our holiday everything we wanted it to be.

With best wishes

Dear Max
Thank you for your request for feedback. Unfortunately I have nothing but praise and positive comments for my whole experience with your company!

From my first contact with your staff I have been impressed by the fantastic organisation you run. I found your company on the Internet.  I put "holidays in Marrakech" into google and you were on the second page after all the big travel companies like Thomas Cook and Thompson. We wanted a more individual experience than the big boys offer so I called your office. I am so glad I did as everything after that point went so well. 

I listened to the advice from your staff, who knew the accommodations and had been there. That is worth so much, to have recommendations from people who have actually been there.   I chose Riad Camilia on their advice and I am so glad I did.  It is such an oasis in the heart of the medina. Nicholas is a fantastic manager and such a great host. I shall be putting a review on a trip advisor!

We were also recommended to take a guided tour of the city and again, I am so glad we did as it gave us so many insights into the city and also enabled us to talk to a local and find out what life is like for people in Morocco.

The whole trip, from the flights - with their pre-booked seats ( we have never done this with Easy jet but its so easy!) to being met at the airport, the guided tour, Nicolas, the Riad, etc etc was absolutely fabulous.

I cannot recommend your company highly enough and I shall be liking you in Facebook and telling all my friends about you.

With many thanks and best wishes

Dear Max,

Just to say we had an utterly fantastic time in Morocco thanks to you and your team. Thank you so much for organising it all.

Right now like everyone I'm plunged into the business of catching up on work emails etc  but I take the point of your request for feedback and will write properly as soon as I can with any comments I think might be useful to you.

I'll be in touch again asap whilst memory is fresh (though how could it not be after the holiday of a lifetime).

All the Best

 

Hi Max,

Overall a great holiday:

Les Deux Tours - loved this hotel, food was excellent, service was ok, but could have been better, internet connection was sporadic. Superb setting.

Medina Treasures Tour - was too long for us, we didn't finish it til half one and it was a really hot day. Was interesting though and worth doing. Our guide Rashid was very good.

Restaurants - We ate at Dar Moha on the Mon night and weren't impressed I'm afraid. Very expensive, lacking in atmosphere and entertainment, food not great. Not a patch on the restaurant at the hotel, but then perhaps our expectations were too high.

Hippocampe - what this hotel lacked in luxury was made up for by its staff. Great location. Wouldn't do half board again as food was ok but they didn't do half what was on the menu, and it got a bit samey. I also had really bad vomiting and diarrhoea half way through, which put a bit of a damper on the week. Thankfully everyone else in party was ok. We ended up doing the surfing with the other surf place, purely because when we said he had surf lessons lined up, this was who the hotel called. It worked out really well as they had one on one tuition and they were very flexible.

We had lunch at La Sultana on our last day, after trying to book unsuccessfully for dinner during the week. We left wishing we had spent at least one night there!

Your recommendation on time split was spot on, and the taxi transfers were all comfortable and the drivers drove very safely.

A bit of drama on our way home when our flight was diverted to Porto to offload a disruptive drunk passenger!

I left with slightly mixed feelings about Morocco, I almost felt we hadn't done it justice, as hubby and I were craving some serious R&R but It has so much more than this to offer. I suppose you could say it has whetted our appetite and I could see us returning at some point in the future.

Lawrence of Morocco made this a very enjoyable holiday and your planning and organisation was second to none. Thank You!

Regards

Max,

We had a fantastic time - thank you so much. We were so grateful that you recommended we do a bit of Marrakech and the Atlas - it was the perfect balance. We loved Les Deux Tours - didn’t want to leave and La Roserie though not as chic made up for it in other ways with such lovely staff, and as you said nice earthy food which I think we probably preferred. Our guide in the Atlas - Ali was perfect and we loved eating in the Berber village. As you also predicted the pool in la Roserie was freezing but was somehow part of the fun. If you want a negative it was that at La Roserie although they tried to be flexible about dinner timings, it did end up being quite late for small children. I don’t know if we were alone in that but for our only just 5 year old - eating at 7.30 every night was quite tiring. The flexibility to have an omelette at 5 might have been helpful at times.

We have it in the back of our minds to climb Toubkal when the kids are a bit older so will be back in touch and will certainly recommend you to others.

Best,

PS: My husband bought some shoes at the shoe shop you recommended. He was very pleased.

Thank you for your email. We had a great holiday in Morocco and would definitely like to return. In fact we can't think why we haven't been before!

All the arrangements made by your company went very smoothly indeed and we would be very happy to recommend Lawrence of Morocco.

As a family we are not always easy to please, but It would be difficult to fault Dar Ayniwen in any respect -  beautiful suites, idyllic garden with baby tortoises and charming staff who find nothing too much trouble. The owner too was very present and welcoming. We had relaxing days by the pool and very enjoyable evenings in the medina.

We were likewise very pleased with our accommodation at Maroc Lodge. The definite highlight was our wonderful day out with the lovely Latifa, who also arranged for her friend to visit our daughter in the hotel for a henna tattoo.  The dinners at Maroc Lodge were delicious and the local serving staff very friendly. We did find that the reception from the French owners was less welcoming and they made little effort to have a chat during our stay or make any suggestions as to what was to be found in the local area  - this was particularly noticeable as for most of our visit we were the only guests, and was in contrast to the local people we met in Marrakech and around Amizmiz.

From the hotel's own website we had also gained the impression that Maroc Lodge was more rural than it actually turned out to be - we were expecting to be further out in the mountains and to have the very dark night skies. Surprisingly it was probably more tranquil in the Palmeraie- there was quite a lot of noise coming up from Amizmiz.

However these are trivial points as you asked for any negative points.

We had a really good holiday and I am sure we will be travelling with your company again- Inshallah.

Kind regards,

Dear Max and Denise. 

Just a short note to thank you for a most enjoyable trip, we have enjoyed every moment. The hotels were brilliant. Branson's was our least favourite, too commercial and pompous the surroundings mountains made up for its lacking. The best of all, our driver Said, he made our whole trip a joy, we found him perfect in every way and one couldn't ask for a more perfect gentleman.       

Thank you again. Regards.

Hi Max,

I have been meaning to let you know how much we enjoyed our holiday in Morocco. We absolutely loved it and your staff were absolutely brilliant particularly Souad who could not have done more or been more helpful, she was wonderful and took away all the angst of travelling with elderly parents by fast tracking us at the airport etc.

As you recall, I had booked the Es Saadi independently and it was lovely, but next time I think I would like to stay in a Riad for a more authentic atmosphere. We loved La Roseriae, it was gorgeous and perfect for sitting in their stunning gardens watching the butterflies and birds after a good day out.

The food was excellent most of the time and the service excellent. My Dad fell and cracked three ribs and Mohammed was so helpful getting a doctor and helping wherever possible.

Sharif our guide for our Berber trek gave us lots of information and was charming.

I am so glad we found your company and have already recommended you to several people and when we return we will definitely use your excellent service again.

From the initial contact I made to the end of our holiday, your prompt, professional responses could not have been faulted!

Thanks again, I will be in touch.

Dear Max,

Faultless from start to finish. I can't possibly think of anything that we were unhappy with, please pass on my thanks to all those involved with sorting out our break.

Regards,

Hi Max,

We loved our vacation in Morocco.  The trek completely lived up to our expectations and  the third day in the gorge exceeded them.  The accommodation was very comfortable, the food was fresh and healthy and, considering the circumstances, very well prepared.  However, what made the trip was how knowledgeable, professional and friendly our guide Abdellah Allali was, we cannot rate him highly enough.  In fact, the whole support team were excellent.

The Villa de Orangers was the perfect respite in the middle of Marrakech and a welcome haven for our tired bodies.  Our only disappointment was Les Deux Tours which was a little worn around the edges.

The travel arrangements were professional and went off without a hitch and we would have no qualms in recommending your services to any of our friends.

Thanks for organizing a great trip.

Hey Max,

Thank you for arranging such a wonderful trip! We had a blast and everywhere you sent us was magical.

Thanks!!

Anyway,  a fab holiday in Morocco and nothing to really complain about at all. The hotels were just perfect for us,  really liked your choices which all felt unique and not some corporate anywhere-in-the-world type hotel.

We visited in Ramandan but I have to say that didn’t cause any issues at all. Could I moan about anything? Well not really,  if I was really pushed I might say that most of the hotel restaurants had a fairly limited menu and I don’t think that any changed over a few days,  but that’s very minor as the food they served was consistently good.

We will certainly recommend to friends and family!

Best wishes

Max,

We had a fantastic time and all returned very relaxed.  

We had no problems with any of the transfers, all worked really well and we got to see the same driver several times which was good.

The first hotel, Les Deux Tours, was really relaxing and we loved it.  Trips into Marrakech were awesome.  It is great to know that such madness still exists so close to home!

The trek was stunning and made by Ahmed and the cook who turned out some amazing food, even putting the hotel to shame!  We had the right kit with us although we didn't need any of the water purification as they had bottled water.

Then to Bab Ourika.  We have travelled to quite a few places around the globe and stayed in some interesting hotels but everyone agreed that this is probably the best.  When we turned up to this tranquil, cool haven we were hot, sweaty and covered in dust but after a day we were totally relaxed.  We met Amanda and she sorted our trek as Ali and Beth decided against another walk.  So Matthew and I did a shorter trek as the temperatures were increasing.  The rest of the time was spent unwinding.

The coast was, as you warned us, a different experience.  We took full advantage of the kayaks, boat trip, beach walks and surfing.  We even managed to see flamingoes after a march at the end of the lagoon.  Mohammed is delightful but we struggled in the restaurant as they seemed to lack any fish we ordered.  It did have the feel of an out of season holiday camp!  The curtains in the rooms we had (refurbished ones on the front) did cause the biggest laugh on the holiday (photograph available on request).

Thanks for organising our last night back at Marrakech.  We had missed the Moroccan feel when we were on the coast and really enjoyed being back in Les Deux Tours and Marrakech late on Saturday.  This also meant that we had a short transfer to the airport on the Sunday so we spread the journey.  We all thought it worked well.

Do thank everyone involved in organising our holiday, it really was one of our best.

Cheers,

Dear Max

I have never written to thank you for organising such an amazing holiday for myself and Sharon in Marrakech.  I returned home to problems with the health of my 90 year old mother along with catching up with work and I have never got round to contacting you.

Anyhow it was a brilliant holiday and we would never have done it or indeed enjoyed it so much without your organisation, we didn't have to do a thing and everything ran like clockwork!  The mix of Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains, les Deux Tours and Maroc Lodge was perfect.

Many thanks

Dear Denise,

All went very well yesterday. Car collected on time – and was a very comfortable minibus, not a van. Made it to airport on time. The upgrading was not possible because they had actually sold out Club! But flight home was a breeze and eventually made it back to country house in early evening.

Sarah is much better but has been in touch with her medical team in Cambridge and will be having more tests and assessments.

Now I am not jabbing at an iPhone, I just want to thank you properly for everything you did. When I first spoke to you – before you even told me your name! – I was at lowest ebb. Had just seen Sarah bleed copiously, struggled to get her seen by a doctor, had to pay 3000 dirhams before the ambulance would even move, not slept at all, paid another 20,000 dirhams before the clinic docs would even take her blood pressure. Then seen her wheeled off to intensive care with some very serious looks on faces of the docs. Then been deposited in a fleapit of a hotel by a taxi driver. Phone out of all charge. Charger and rest of luggage 100Km away. My French non-existent. My cash all spent on ambulance…

I really was at lowest ebb. And then your cheerful voice came on and your helpfulness began to sort all my woes. Within hours I was in a presidential suite at a lovely hotel, reunited with luggage and able to turn attention to Sarah. You need to know how good that was of you.

I have a friend who mocks me for continuing to use travel agents in this era of self-booking on internet. But I have proven the worth of having professionals on side to help in times of crisis. This was certainly one of those.

You must know how grateful I am for everything you did.

 

HI Max,

I've been wanting to write to you since I came back from my lovely honeymoon but never got the chance due to a full work and family life schedule. Your service, and hotel partners were top notch. We enjoyed every bit of our unforgettable honeymoon.. everyone from your staff to the tour operators, hotel staff etc were very friendly and extra helpful.

Both Sarah and I loved Fes the most, more then Marrakech, though everyone talks about Marrakech and nevertheless it's a beautiful ancient city, we thought it was over rated. In Essaouira, other then the Horse riding trip we didn't like the city much, hence we won't be doing it or recommending it to anyone. But the rest of the places we saw, we'd definitely recommend all our family and friends to visit.

Said our driver was very friendly and helpful, I'd definitely recommend him for anyone touring Morocco through your agency.

Best Regards,

Dear Max

Thank you so much for organising such a wonderful holiday.  I really have no negative comments at all, everything was fantastic.  Dar Ayniwen was a great place to start the holiday being able to relax in the gardens by the pool away from the hustle and bustle of the medina.  It was a great contrast actually to the medina.  The staff were very welcoming and friendly and your rep visited us there and was equally welcoming, friendly and informative.

La Sultana was exquisite and it was a privilege to stay there.  We loved every minute and although the medina was crazy in many ways and so busy in the evenings it was lovely to come back to the calm of the Riad.  Actually the only negative comment I have was our inability to barter....we definitely need to brush up on our bartering skills!!

Your transfers and day trip to Asni Ourigane were punctual and the drivers helpful and informative.

Our trip was rounded off with a night's stay at La Pause and we can honestly say it was one of the best holidays we've ever had.  We'll definitely be going back to Morocco!

Thank you again, we'll definitely be back in touch for our next visit and I will be happy to recommend you to anyone wanting to visit Morocco.

Regards

Dear Max,

We had a fabulous holiday at Les Deux Tours and Maroc Lodge. Accommodation at both places was superb, better than we could have imagined, with Les Deux Tours stylish and elegant and Maroc Lodge more period,  food and service excellent in both.
At Maroc Lodge, we felt particularly looked after as I got a stomach problem and without my requesting, Beatrix realised the set menu food would be too rich. She kindly arranged for me to have  a special broth, and plain fish the next meal too.
Our  guide on the two walking trips we did, Latifa Asselouf was exactly as her name states! seems to know absolutely everybody within a wide geographical range of Amizmiz and gave us two wonderful and different experiences of the countryside and people.

All the transport arrangements went very smoothly. All drivers were on time, efficient and when a tyre burst on our way from the airport to les Deux Tours, we weren't even aware there was a problem until the driver pulled up and at the same time, another taxi pulled up behind to take us on to the hotel, while the driver remained with the first taxi to fix the problem.

Thank you so much for your very individual attention to all the details of the trip. I know you asked us to let you about anything we felt could be better - but we can't think of anything! Oh, except that there was no 'service compris' in the hotels, and maybe we missed it in your notes, but we had to make a guess at what was appropriate. At les Deux Tours they thought we were being too generous and stopped Paul putting any more into the tip box. At Maroc Lodge David didn't give us much of a clue either!

I am sure we will be returning to Morocco - it is a fascinating and varied country and the people are a delight.
I will certainly come back to you to make arrangements for us.

Many thanks for the fact that we will go back to work feeling genuinely relaxed and rested.

Best wishes

Dear Max,

We were delighted with our holiday, which went without a hitch.

We particularly appreciated your service and availability, your professionalism and reliabilty and the quality of the recommendations that you made.

As you’ll recall, my daughter and I stayed at Les Deux Tours for 5 nights/6 days, and were extremely happy with the rooms that you managed to obtain for us as well as the value for money that these represented. The hotel was beautiful : absolutely what we were looking for and more. The staff were friendly and the grounds and rooms had real character and charm.

On the downside, some of the appointments in the bathrooms (particularly the showers) were a little rickety and in need of modernisation. Also, on the last two days of our stay the hotel was running at full capacity, which put some visible strain on the infrastructure and service. Some examples :

waiting times at some meals became very long
on one evening we were denied a table at the restaurant despite having booked with the reception that morning
it was impossible to get loungers by the pool because there was too much demand

However, these were minor inconveniences and bearable.

One final tip : on departure, we discovered that despite having a preprinted, checked in boarding pass, it was still necessary to queue at the check in desk to have our boarding pass stamped (Moroccan bureaucracy). We also discovered that we had to fill in a departure card. It would have been helpful to know about this beforehand, although I may have missed this in your e mails and the documentation that you sent us.

We’ll be using Lawrence of Morocco again, and recommending you to friends.

Thank you again.
With best wishes,

Dear Max

We had a wonderful trip thank you, thoroughly enjoyed it!  both hotels were lovely, the gardens at each were fabulous, the staff helpful and friendly and each pick-up with our drivers was very efficient, it all felt totally stress free.  I asked my husband about any negative points as I couldn't actually think of any, and neither could he.  Both guides we met were excellent also, it was really nice to have a guide just for the 2 of us.

We definitely plan to return to Morocco again, perhaps the Atlas mountains once more as the scenery was so stunning, and further south maybe, to be decided!

So many thanks for organising such a great itinerary for us.

Best wishes,

Dear Max,

Your arrangements all worked to the letter. We loved Les yeux Bleu.  My wife in particular thought the renovations and general style very much to her taste, and staff were excellent.  They provided us with a delicious supper on our first night.  Oualidia - as beautiful as predicted, and the Hippocampe friendly and welcoming, from the boss (M Yvan?) to the amazing Mohammed and his team who couldn't do enough for us.  The rooms may not be 5 star, but we did not find them at all basic.  The owner showed us the work being done to upgrade the hotel, and the showroom looked just right.  (My wife's opinion again!)

Overall, your service was excellent, from the information you provided before we went, to being greeted at the airport by the driver and by Mrs Souad on the way to the riad. Our transfer to Oualidia was excellent - the driver friendly and knowledgeable.  The only quibble would be the journey from Oualidia to the airport. The young driver did not seem to know how to work the aircon in the car, with the result that we spent most of the journey being blown with hot air until he figured it out!
Our thanks for a lovely holiday.

Kind regards

Dear Mr. Lawrence

I am sorry to disappoint you but I cannot find any fault with your organisation. All the advice and guidance I got in selecting the holiday was excellent. Some of the confirmatory material came through in Travel Agent speak!

The hotels were excellent and we had superb rooms at both. Room 5 at Villa des Orangers was particularly good. Les Deux Tours was absolutely excellent with the grandchildren. I got the impression that coming through Lawrence of Morocco ensured extra special attention.

Mrs Souad was very solicitous; but as things were going so well I didn’t like to trouble her. But she came out to see us in any event.

You have an excellent team and delivered a wonderful holiday for us. It was a real pleasure doing business with you.

I attach an iPad drawing that my wife did at Les Deux Tours.

With thanks and all good wishes

Hello Max,

It's taken me a few weeks to get caught up from our trip so that I could reply to your email, but I'd like you to know that our whole family (all nine of us) had a fantastic time in Morocco.  Your company did an excellent job of organizing our itinerary, providing transportation, selecting the most gorgeous hotels, and arranging for the extras such as walking tours, the hot air balloon ride, and camel rides.  Souad is amazing.  We never got to personally meet her, but she went the "extra mile" for us every time we made a request.  And she did so happily with the most wonderful "can do" attitude. 

Shafiq, our guide in Marrakech was also tremendous.  He was interesting, personable, and also went way above and beyond the call of duty to show us sights, make sure we were never hungry, and to arrange for transportation at the end of the day to the Catholic Church in Marrakech for Christmas Mass.  All personnel at the hotels and Rock Camp, even those who didn't speak much English, did their very best to help us.  I wish you arranged private tours in other countries, so that we could continue to have such great travel adventures elsewhere. 

In any event, we haven't stopped telling everyone we know about our trip and the incredible job your company had done.  Please, also thank  your staff for us.  We will never forget our trip to Morocco!
With best regards

Quite simply a truly well organised trip from start to end.

Morocco deserves another trip and we will certainly book through you again.

Dear Max,

Sadly back to reality this morning.

Great feedback all round – pick up and briefing from Souad was fine, Maison Arabe was simply excellent (probably the best all round hotel we have stayed in – great rooms; ambience; facilities, food and staff).

One thing to note – we thought the meal/experience at Dar Moha was not good value and not a patch on the meal/evening at the Maison Arabe the night before. Also it was approximately 50% more expensive for the same bottle of wine and the food was no-where near the quality of Maison. It felt a little tired. which is possibly a result of the “set menu” experience.

Bab Ourika, of course very different, but equally beguiling as Maison Arabe– wonderful room; equally great and friendly staff; good food and superb ambience. Amanda was very willing and helpful.

I have only been in the office 15 minutes and have thoroughly recommended the whole experience 5 times already. Say no more. 

From your perspective, very informative staff and professional pre-holiday experience. The late change of hotel just needed the confirmation email and your system updated but Denise was excellent when I phoned from the airport and Henry and her sorted out the finer details. Again, recommendation all round.

All we need to do now is save up for future trips….  

Regards,

 

Dear Max

Thanks for arranging such a great trip for us. Splitting our time between the mountains & Marrakesh was just what we needed.

Maroc Lodge was fantastic. We could not have been looked after better. The highlight was the guided tour with Latife. She was exceptionally knowledgable and we really enjoyed hearing a woman's perspective on life in the mountains.

Racking my brains for useful feedback on Maroc Lodge, it would be good to have the cost of the light lunch included in the price list in the room (the list includes the drink, hamman and tour prices at the moment.) The lunches were really good value but it's always good to know how much things are going to be in advance.

Also, if I was David I'd charge a small fee for use of the wifi! It's free at the moment and remarkably fast.

The Riad was really good and Majit's service was great. It was reassuring to know Souad was there too.

I'm not sure I'd go on a tour with Jamel again.  He wasn't particularly enthusiastic and didn't answer most of the questions we asked him.

A few thoughts on tipping in your info would be very handy. Latifa's advice was; only if you're really happy with the service, not below 20 and not above 100 dhms, so we stuck to that.

Thanks again. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending your services.

Best
 

Dear Max,

Many apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

Transfers - these were efficient, punctual and the drivers were excellent.   I know we were travelling on major routes to the mountains/coast and not all roads in Morocco would be like them, but the standard of the roads we drove on put the potholes of Surrey to shame!  We went on a morning trek in the mountains from La Roseraie which was stunning - our guide (Brian!) didn't speak much English but we got by with rusty French (mainly our daughters) and he was delightful.  Our guide for the half day in Marrakech, Mustafa, organised by you was very informative and helpful and showed us lots.  He told us a lot about the history of the country and it was interesting to hear about some of the current customs in Morocco and how things have changed. We ended up giving his card to a couple we met at Les Deux Tours and they called him for a tour and found him very informative too;

Morocco and Its People - we loved the country - the combination of mountains, city and coast was perfect (although another time, we would love to go into the desert).   We felt we saw Morocco in its natural form, rather than being 'on show' although of course we were staying in wonderful hotels that perhaps are not entirely typical.
Ouirgane was so lovely - sitting by the pool surrounded by stunning flowers with the backdrop of mountains was quite a feast for the eyes.
Marrakech was a wonderful place - we wandered rounds the souks the day after our guided tour and had a great meal at the Soudhouk - very atmospheric.  The only thing we missed out on which was a bit disappointing was seeing the Medina at night (we got a taxi straight to/from the restaurant), as on our last night I started coming down with this wretched bug. 
We all loved Essaouira, and whilst I didn't feel great, it didn't stop us wandering around and my husband was in seventh heaven tramping around the forts in the town.  We also had two great meals out in the evening. 

We found the people of Morocco gracious and charming - haggling in the souks was done with much humour and was an entertaining experience! Our elder daughter surprised us with her rather ruthless negotiating skills!  We were expecting to be hassled a lot more than we were (our younger daughter was expecting it to be similar to her experience in India, but said this was far more civilised);

Lawrence of Morocco - we have been greatly impressed with the personal, efficient and professional service you have given us.  You made me feel that you really cared about our experience on holiday and the hotels and itinerary you recommended for us had been chosen with care and thought.  We felt privileged guests at our hotels - as though travelling with your company made a difference - and you clearly have a great relationship and rapport with the hotels you deal with.  Your website is SO good - attractive, easy to navigate and very informative.

I suppose the only concern - and this was my husband's main worry  - was the tipping issue.  Your website gave good advice and you and Henry also responded to my specific queries before we went.  However, I foolishly forgot to ask about the etiquette for tipping hotel staff (particularly maids/waiters, etc).  The L'heure Bleue made this issue easier by stating in their hotel directory that although guests were not obliged to give tips, they had a box on reception for anyone who would like to give something and donations would be distributed to all hotel staff.   Perhaps other hotels could give guests guidelines on this and maybe some reference made to tipping in hotels in your website?

This year we wanted to have a real family celebration as all of us have had significant birthdays (some less depressing than others!) and felt we would like to mark it by doing something special.   We felt we had found the perfect holiday tailor made for us by Lawrence of Morocco.  From the moment Henry started putting together an itinerary for us, I really felt we were in for something special and my expectations were quite high - we were not disappointed, and the whole experience has been fantastic.
So thank you and Henry so much - and don't worry - I have been recommending you to any of my friends who will listen!

Sorry this is so long but hope you find some of it useful.
Kind regards,
 

Hi Max
We'd just like to say a big thank you for sorting out our honeymoon. We had a wonderful time. Everything worked perfectly. We loved both of the hotels (especially Les Deux Tours - our own swimming pool!) and all of the connections happened perfectly.

Thanks again.
 

Dear Max,
Thank you so much.  Our first experience of Marrakech was in every way the Arabian Nights adventure your website promises. Your suggestions for our accommodation and itinerary allowed us to experience  more of the life, architecture and culture of this lovely city and its friendly, welcoming people than we could  possibly otherwise have done in such a short time.
Riad Souika was a perfect base for exploring Marrakech itself - a luxurious  and peaceful haven in the heart of the bustling, exciting life of the Medina. Aziz cosseted us outrageously, was always ready with delicious mint tea and pastries on our return, and his cooking was inspired. His lamb and quince tagine was truly memorable.
Chez Max added a whole new dimension to what was already a wonderful trip, giving us a flavor of Berber culture and allowing us to explore further into the Atlas mountains.
We were lost in admiration for the imaginative and sympathetic way you had developed the concept of a traditional village house and translated it into a bold modern design. We loved your light, spacious, high ceilinged rooms and rambling roof terraces and the cool peace of the classically Moroccan courtyards and garden. Saida and the household staff were lovely people and unfailingly attentive, and Saida herself created a wonderful selection of local meals for us.  Everyone we met in the village, as you had led us to expect, was friendly and welcoming and simply walking around the village and meeting people going about their daily life was a delight.
Could you please pass on our thanks to Aziz, Saida and everyone involved, including particularly the wonderfully efficient Saoud with her bubbling enthusiasm, and all the support team who ensured that a splendid week went without a hitch from arrival to departure.

Our very best wishes,

Hi guys, we had a great time in Morocco and really enjoyed it as a destination. All the arrangements/timings/travel were seamless and we would be more than happy to recommend your services to others.

City tour/travel arrangements - all drivers on time, honest and good company. The half day city tour was useful for orientation and good on historical and social detail (it probably helped that I lived in Bahrain for a few years and knew a bit about Moslem culture and history).

La Roserie hotel in the mountains: Lovely setting, fab garden, good food in the evenings. We enjoyed the day horse riding but, as good riders ourselves, would say it would be pretty challenging (ie steep) for a beginner/novice rider. We did not do the full day walk as we felt it would cover much of the same ground, and I was tempted by the pool!  Service was a little haphazard especially at lunchtimes, and I was rather surprised to find two full-size raw leeks, two large potatos and an iceberg lettuce in my 'assiette du crudities'! Those of us raised on Fawlty Towers could laugh it off; other nationalities might be more grumpy. To be fair, there were only four other guests in the entire place, so atmosphere/concentration were a bit lacking. On reflection, one night two days would have been enough - but, a lovely spot to be after the Marrakech madness.

All in all, a great fun trip to a great destination just three hours flight away. Thanks for organising it all so well.

Dear Max ,

Well what can I say about Marrakech.  It's totally bonkers but in an exhilarating and vibrant way.  Despite my reservations about traveling by Easyjet the journey was quite civilised, especially with the speedy boarding option you included for us.  We were met at the airport on time for our transfer to Les Yeux Blue by a charming man whose name escapes me. We were made very welcome by the staff who then provided an enormous lunch with some very acceptable Morrocan wine.

The Riad was charming and a very tranquil haven from the madness outside. The only negative comment about it was we had a cold shower every day as we could not seem to get any hot water in our room ( 1st floor on the left). 

Again the transfer to Riad Camilia was very slick. As you predicted Nicholas made us feel very welcome and could not do enough for us.  He definitely went the extra mile though in making sure our stay was memorable in terms of the service and food he provided.  Our last meal in particular on the roof terrace with the mosques calling those to prayer will remain embedded in our memories for ever. 

We would all like to return to Morroco to visit the coast and mountains sometime. As for your request to provide negative comments I am afraid we have failed you miserably which means you have succeeded fantastically in providing a wonderful holiday experience. Thank you!

Dear Max

We had a lovely time in Morocco. Our travel arrangements ran exactly to time and transfers vehicles were ready and waiting for us at each step of our journey. The accommodation we selected was perfect for us,each providing an oasis of calm with high quality service and food. The half day city tour was very interesting and informative. Our only criticism would be that we were taken into a couple of shops and treated to some high pressure sales techniques which we didn't appreciate but the guide eventually got the message.

We particularly enjoyed meeting local people and talking with them. Everyone that we met was friendly and helpful. The taxi driver that took us from Marrakech to the coast stopped for us to use a toilet in a cafe and we stayed for a quick espresso and a chat. It was there that we felt we experienced the cooperative, relaxed Moroccan culture.

Thank you for all your help and guidance. We will be back for the Atlas Mountains and to revisit La Sultana.

Regards 

Dear Max

Many thanks for your email. We arrived back in Manchester on Saturday evening having experienced a wonderful holiday in Morocco, thanks to the excellent organisation of Lawrence of Morocco in organising the itinerary and the incredibly warm welcome and fantastic service we received from everyone we met on our journeys.

We kept asking each other what was our favourite place/highlight but we concluded that that it was the combination of different locations and experiences that made this such a magical holiday. The contrast between the beautiful gardens and impressive scenery at La Roseraie in Ouirgane, the hustle and bustle of Marrakech, albeit with the tranquil retreat of the Riad Les Yeux Bleu, and  the different coastal experiences of Oualidia (sun, sea, sand, boats and birds) and Essaouira (a busy working harbour and tourist town)  - it was the combination of different experiences over 10 days which really delighted us.

Everyone we met was unfailingly helpful and all the transfers, car delivery etc, worked like clockwork.

We don't really have any suggestions for improvement - there is a danger in giving people too much information and guidance which then tends to dull the excitement of discovery in a new country.

We would have no hesitation in recommending Lawrence of Morocco to friends and family.

Best wishes

 

Hi Max,

I'm pleased to tell you that the trip went very well and we both had a fantastic time.  From the moment we were greeted at the airport on arrival to the time we were taken back, everything was perfect.

The hotels were great.  Les Deux Tours was really special and the service especially was second to none.  Bab Ourika's setting was like nothing else.  Great recommendations.  Both places had decorated the bed and room with petals having obviously got wind that we were on honeymoon.

We had dinner at Dar Moha on our first night, which was very good.  Souad (who was charming) gave us some good advice before we went there - don't have any lunch!  Wise words.

The transfers also went well, always on time.

The five days really couldn't have gone any better, so thanks to you for that.

I had never used a travel agent before but now I wouldn't hesitate to use one again, and if I am to travel to Morocco I would have no hesitation using LOM again.  The advice and service you have given along the way has been priceless.

You said you are interested to hear any negative points, so I'm sorry to disappoint you with this very positive email.

The only thing I can think of is that we didn't seem to have Speedy Boarding tickets on the flight back to London (perhaps our error).  However, this made no difference as we were amongst the first to board the plane anyway.  So not a problem.

And one more thing perhaps.  We had an interesting day and evening in Marrakech.  It's certainly a place like no other and I should have prepared myself better for the experience (which included Rachel nearly having her engagement ring yanked off her finger).  All was well in the end though.

So what I would suggest is maybe you could put together a few "Dos and don'ts", for Marrakech (keeping your wits about you, haggling etc) and wider Morocco (culture, behaviour etc) and include these in the travel wallet you send out prior to departure.

I should add that Souad was very good at giving us useful information, but I always like something to refer to.

But, as I have said, it was a great trip and there really is very little you can improve on.  You did a great job.

Many thanks,

Hello Max,

We are just back in Canada from our travels to England, Morocco, England.

I want to say that our stay at Villa des Orangers was unbelievable! We have stayed at many hotels all over the world and this hotel takes first prize for the incredible attention to detail, service (unobtrusive but there whenever you need it). The hotel is small and right where the action is but totally private and quiet. I have stayed at large 5 star hotels but this one exceeds all of them. It felt like a home away from home. The room was superb, the courtyards and living rooms were very intimate, the pools impressive, restaurant and bar had great offerings well presented and the Spa was awesome.

The Atlas Mountains were also very nice, but it was a hard act to follow after Marrakech. We had a great mini vacation in Morocco thanks to your great recommendations. We have recommended you to friends and acquaintances in England and will definitely recommend your company to friends in Canada.

Thanks for setting up such a great trip for us,

Dear Max,

Thank you for the welcome home message.

I'm so sorry but I'm afraid I don't have anything negative to say that could help improve the service you provide.

We had a really wonderful and memorable time in Morocco.  Les Deaux Tours was all I had dreamed of.  What a beautiful and special hotel!  I was very sad to leave the sunshine, bird song, scent of orange blossom and beautiful gardens but I have hundreds of photos to keep those memories alive.

Our trips out into the real world were a bit of a culture shock but very memorable and an experience not to be missed and you might be pleased to know that the overnight stay in the Agafay Desert with the camel ride was the high point of our holiday (in spite of the overnight temperature!!).

Also the staff we met in the hotel, in the Desert Camp (Florence in particular), taxi drivers etc couldn't have been more helpful, courteous and friendly.

So, Max, apologies again for the lack of negatives and thank you for organising such a wonderful holiday.  I wish I could have it all over again.

With very best wishes,

 

Dear Max

Thank you for your email.

I have to congratulate you on your organisation of our holiday. Everything went like clockwork and I would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone wishing to visit Morocco.

If I had to make any observation then it would be that perhaps you ought to state that when you walk to and from the Riad Souika you are confronted with a 'lively' journey on the road. The Riad itself is lovely and Aziz excellent. However, some less adventurous than my wife and I might find it daunting.

Finally, I would also mention that all the staff at L'Hippocampe were very friendly and helpful as was your team.

Thanks again

Kind regards

Hi Max

I was planning to email you today to say a very big thank you -we had a wonderful time and loved Morocco.

We are so glad you suggested we stay at Dar Ayniwen rather than a larger hotel. The house and gardens are really gorgeous and you have this lovely sense of staying in a beautiful private house which was so relaxing . We can't speak highly enough of Stefan , Aziz and all the staff. Each member of the team couldn't do enough for us and were so kind and helpful , particularly to our daughter , Zara. The food was superb at all times and we got some great recommendations for eating out too. It felt great to be somewhere where Zara could safely wander around the grounds on her own with no concerns . I really wouldn't want to stay anywhere but DA in Marrakesh!

I can honestly say I'm struggling for negatives!  The worst thing for me is the serious diet I now have to go on..

We appreciate your time and trouble in sorting the holiday for us and recommending this lovely hotel.

regards
 

Dear Max,

Thank you so, so much for organising such an amazing trip for us at very short notice!
Les Deux Tours was just a delight. The staff and hotel were beyond perfect. They all got to know by name, our children who enjoyed the safety of the beautiful gardens, turtles (!) and amazing swimming pool! I'm sure we were upgraded to a Pool Suite because we had booked with you! Pure heaven and an oasis outside of the madness of Marrakech…We'll be back for sure.
Onto Maroc Lodge, a different pace altogether but it completely captured our hearts! David and Beatrice were amazing hosts and our wonderful bungalow became a home from home immediately. Latifa, the resident guide, was the icing on the cake and we can't wait to enjoy more of her amazing treks, Berber house tea and bread, Tagine pot making and stunning picnics (not a cheese sandwich in sight!).
Every day, the sun shone and every day we enjoyed something new that Morocco had to offer. Once again, many thanks, we will be back as soon as we can!

Dear Mr Lawrence,

We had a lovely holiday in Morocco, thanks.
It was arranged at very short notice and Henry's advice on various options was invaluable and the speed with which our arrangements were made was remarkable.
We had only one slight hitch at the Marrakech end when there was a mix-up about which flight we were catching and so our private transfer was not scheduled. however this was rectified very rapidly.

So all in all, I have nothing to suggest by way of improvement - even the EasyJet flights arrived at the destinations early!
I would definitely use your company again and recommend it.

Best regards
 

Dear Max,

Thank you for your follow up email.
Yes, we really did enjoy our short stay in Morocco.
From helpful booking with Henry to fabulous Dar Jaguar.
Only wish we had more time to spend there.

Regards
 

Hi Max,

Just dropping you a few lines re. our Morocco trip. Firstly, your recommendations all exceeded our expectations (rare these days)…..La Roseraie was peaceful and good quality. We got upgraded when we asked for a room with a fireplace, which was nice because it was a little cold in the evenings,as we expected. The manager didn't make his presence felt much which didn't bother us much, but might be important to less seasoned travellers. The evening meals were very good, plenty to eat and quite varied. The breakfast was minimal i.e. continental style with fresh breads, jams etc. but they also put out processed cheeses and meats under cellophane (a slight downer we thought). The staff were attentive and friendly and we really enjoyed our trips out in the hire car….the drive from Amizmiz back to Ouirgane was absolutely hair-raising and unforgettable!

Transport to Oualidia was great, no problems. La Sultana was another fine experience..we were upgraded again when the house manager detected that the view we had wasn't quite what we were expecting ( he was very aware to spot that) So, great place, quite luxurious with very attentive staff, lovely food and very tranquil location. The Manager Khalil was enthusiastic, engaging and very helpful. We walked quite a lot during our stay, and I would say that 4 or 5 days would have been enough as there is not really too much else to see around that area. Bird watchers delight though.

On to Dar Zemora…what a fab place to stay…very convenient for the city, great welcome and service from the charming Youssef and all of his staff. He was concerned about a previous client's unfavourable report about him…it seems the guy was ill (nothing to do with the food) during the stay and then found things not to his liking, including Youssef's apparent non-presence. Well, our experience could not have been more different….He is a perfect host, and you need to know that, Max.

On reflection, next time (and there will be a next time) we would spend more time in the mountains, take in a desert trip and stay at Dar Zemora to finish off. Thank you for organising the excess baggage thing. 

As this is our first experience of tailored holidays, we don't have a comparison as to the value of the price we paid for our trip, but all I can report is that we are quite happy with the overall cost..your service and advice was first class.

Thanks again
 

Good afternoon all,

We had a wonderful holiday. The hotel staff were very welcoming but discreet and made every effort to ensure our stay was comfortable. The lodge was lovely and kept spotlessly clean. Due to the cold nights, when we arrived, and when we returned from a day in Marrakesh, the radiators were turned on and the staff offered to light the fire each night.  Our meals were simply devine. I have to follow a gluten free diet but even got to enjoy a wheat free chocolate cake.

We took a day tour  with Latifa as our guide.  She took us up into the mountains to a Berber market. Despite our cultural differences the locals were friendly and seemed happy to let us experience their traditions. Onto Marrakesh she showed us everything! Chose a lunch venue that would be authentic,reasonably priced but easy on our delicate stomachs.  Latifa was great, she not only acted as a tour guide but offered us details of her Berber life and the ways of the Moroccan people. We cannot praise her enough.

We have wracked our brains for negative comments but cannot come up with any, only 2 very minor notes for other travellers. 1) if you are a light sleeper take earplugs to avoid the 5am wake up call to prayer and 2) at this time of year pack clothing for pleasantly hot days and freezing cold nights.
We have and will continue to recommend LawrenceofMorocco to all of our friends. From my first telephone call to book this holiday to now you have responded to my questions and worries without fail, thank you. We hope to return to Morocco in the future and will most definitely use you again, possibly to Chez Max next time.
Bet you're regretting asking for long feedback?

Thanks again,
 

Dear Max

Thank you for your email this morning.

We had such a lovely time in Morocco, and, highly unusually for us, would happily have extended our time there. We are usually turned for home but not this this trip.

We have nothing but praise for Lawrence of Morocco. You were so helpful when we were booking, giving excellent advice. It was lovely to be met at the airport by the charming Souad who organised a guide for us the following day. The guide was good, and ensured that I had the confidence to visit Marrakech independently the next day. Les Deux Tours was delightful, staff, gardens, room, food, everything was super. We were impressed by the very hands on manager who seemed to be everywhere all the time, making sure all was well for his guests. We especially enjoyed breakfast on the beautiful terrace. Sweet staff in the spa too.

We enjoyed the drive to Oulidia and were blown away by the Sultana. Fabulous position, staff could not do enough, room was splendid, particularly enjoyed the log fire in the evening.

We are so well fixed at home that usually, however nice the holiday, we are more than happy to return home. However, as I said, not this trip!  My husband is already thinking about a return, which is a triumph for you as Morocco was very much my idea and he took a little persuading.

We will certainly recommend you to friends, and hope that we will be travelling with you again too. Can't think of a thing that could have been better, many thanks.

Regards

Dear Max,

Everything was well planned for our visit and we all thought the Riad Les Yeux Bleus and the hotel Domaine Malika in the Atlas mts were great places to stay.
The owners had prepared a lovely meal for us on our arrival in Marrakech and it was just what we needed.

Just one small criticism the Riad was rather cold in the evenings and morning
The guide we had was excellent and the transfers all went well.
I would certainly revisit Morocco again so thanks for all your help.

Regards
 

We had a lovely few days.  Thank you.  The Dar Ayniwen was very welcoming, particularly as we were given the top floor rooms with our own lovely sitting room.
Aziz the manager must be worth his wait in gold to the owners he was so charming, he could not have been more helpful never wilthout a smile and seemingly genuine interest in our well being.

We liked returning to the peace after the bustle of the Medina.
Thankyou again for your patience in all our dealings, everything ran very smoothly, and I will definitely recommend you to friends.
Yours Sincerely

Good Morning Max, Sheila showed me your e-mail requesting feedback from our recent honeymoon break in Morocco. I express our total satisfaction on behalf of both of us for a wonderful week there. I won't say that the 'Tichka Hotel' was as good as the 'La Roseraie' that you upgraded us to, but in fairness, one would be hard-pressed to compare anywhere in Morocco to the 'La Roseraie. For the money paid, the holiday was of extremely good value. There are no negatives about the 'Tichka Hotel' with the single exception that the reception was hardly ever in a position to change our high monetary notes into notes of smaller denomination so that we always had a number of 20s and 50s Dirhims on hand for tips. As regarding the La Roseraie, I would add all of the following remarks which are all positive: 1. The standard was excellent. 2. All of the service from the food, accommodation, service, price of food were good and faultless. The single aspect which separates the La Roseraie from any other hotel that I have ever stayed at during my 70 years on this earth ( and one that almost every hotel could benefit learning from), was the attitude and general temperament of the staff from cook's washer through to house maid, gardener, stablehand, waiters, cook, manager and even the proprietor who welcomed us. In short, everyone who worked at the La Roseraie were always happy in whatever situation one observed them in (both within and outside the presence of the guest). This of itself was the single-most-important memory that will stay with me when I recall Morocco and our stay there. If Nebula could bottle that magic and sell it to every other hotel in the world, he would benefit the travelling world greatly. In conclusion, I will certainly use Lawrence of Morocco again, and will most definitely return to the La Roseraie in the future. We shall also advertise both your own services and the services of La Roseraie to our friends or anyone who we learn intend to holiday in Morocco. Also, we would be extremely grateful if you could convey our special 'thank you' to the proprietor of the La Roeraie who kindly gave us a teapot as a memento of our honeymoon period there. If anyone related to your company has children and would like to listen freely to any stories, such can be found on my website www.fordefables.co.uk. The 'Douglas the Dragon' and 'Sleezy the Fox' stories ( 8 free audio stories suitable for the 7 to 11-year-old reader/listener) can also ber found on my website. These stories used to be read to Princes Williasm and Harry by their late mother, Princess Diana when they were 7 and 9 years old. It is nice to know that one's stories has been read by the next King of England. There are also audio stories recorded by Paul Daniels, celebrated television magician. Yours truly, 

Hi Max We had a very nice holiday in spite of bad weather which was unfortunate. Apparently they hadn’t had rain like it since 1995! You wanted feedback: Les Jardins de la Medina – very good location away from the madding crowd but in easy reach of getting everywhere by foot and facilities very good. We had the most expensive room which I thought would be on the roof top with a terrace but it wasn’t – located on the ground floor. However, was very nice large room with comfortable bed and the TV even had BBC channels! Room was at the other end of the hotel to the reception / dining area so was nice and quiet. Food was very good and the staff very helpful. Swimming pool small and overrun with children when the sun did shine so didn’t get a chance to try it. The roof top was lovely and afforded wonderful views. Bab Ourika – we had the least expensive room here and it was very nice, plenty big enough – we were up in the turret so had a fantastic view all around us plus our own roof top terrace. Definitely recommend this room as also very quiet as well as very private up there. The bed was one of the most comfortable I have ever slept in. Again the food was good and staff generally very helpful. The Kasbah lovely inside and the gardens wonderful – fantastic location and very relaxing. We went on one guided walk via the Kasbah, unfortunately we did not have one of their normal in house guides as they were with other guests and our guide’s English wasn’t that great which was unfortunate. The hammam was excellent and very reasonable – definitely recommend anyone going to stay there to try it. Swimming pool not heated so way too cold to go in which was unfortunate. Only possible down side for some people – could only get Wi-Fi if you sat in a certain area in the reception; no telephone in room so you needed to go on the hunt for staff if you needed anything and no TV in room (although I have to say none of these things bothered us). We ate out one night at Al Fassia which was recommended by both establishments and in our guide book. Excellent meal – you may like to add this one to your list? Hope this helps Thanks again for your advice – I felt we spent the right amount of time at each place and would recommend them both, although maybe you don’t need the most expensive room at the ‘Jardins’, from what I could see the less expensive rooms looked very good too and there were plenty of places on the roof top to sit quietly and in privacy if you didn’t have your own private terrace to sit in Kind regards

Hi Max We had a really great time and loved the hotel. The staff were excellent and always helpful and attentive. The transfers were very good as well so all in all we can think of nothing negative to say at all and have certainly been recommending your company and the hotel to our friends. Thank you for your assistance and we would definitely consider going again. Kind regards

Dear Mr Lawrence, Thank you very much for your message. We had a very nice time in Marrakech. The hotel you suggested to us was delightful and all your arrangements were conducive to a very pleasant holiday. Your personal service was precise and efficient, and the documentation you gave us was very useful. I would add that the hotel, apart from picking us up and taking us to the airport, really went out of their way to offer us a number of important services at no extra cost. I would have no hesitation in recommending your office to people wanting to visit Morocco. With many thanks and kind regards

Hello Max We had the most wonderful holiday, thank you. No problems at all. Both hotels couldn't have been better and the transfers were always on time and the rooms were really nice and quite large. Will get Robin to put something on facebook as requested. All in all, everything was super. We will certainly be going back & very many thanks for your recommendations and arrangements. Regards 

Dear Chris,

We're back from our wonderful trip to Morocco.  We just want to let you know everything went better than expected and more.  You and your team did a perfect job setting the right itinerary and booking us into fabulous accommodations.

No guidebook or other tour operator could have come close to the service and guidance you provided.  It was especially gratifying to know you're constantly updating and canvassing your sources to be able to put us in a place open only 8 months. You're definitely keeping current with your Morocco knowledge and it rewarded us everywhere we went. Thank you.

And we loved, loved Morocco.  We know both you and your son were in Marrakesh while we were there and it would have been nice to hook up.

We found Morocco to be a beautiful country with interesting sights and friendly people.  Thank you for helping us maximize our trip..... and I will pass your name to anyone I know who's interested in a discriminating trip to Morocco.

Best,

Dear Chris,

We have just come back from a wonderful holiday and wanted first of all to say thank you, and also to give you a little bit of (I hope) helpful feedback. ........So - thank you to you and your team for helping us have such a successful introduction to Morocco. We'll be in touch again when we plan our next trip!

Best wishes

Hi Max
Thanks for reaching out…trip was big success with my daughter
However:
- driving was too long to the sand dunes from Ouarzazate ( 7h on the Saturday-9 on the Monday)- my fault…had forgotten how long drive through mountains/Draa valley is
- I got food poising ; was very sick ; luckily Dar Ahlam staff was very helpful upon arrival/that evening…may be the lunch at  an inhabitant's house on the way to  the first camp night; or then cooking at camp…Luckily my daughter had nothing…but clearly spoiled stay at Dar ahlam
Otherwise great !
 

Dear Max,

Thank you for organising our trek/trip.  It was fabulous and all went seamlessly.  The hotel was kind enough to give us a room upgrade and a late check out, so all good there too.

We would love to do one again next year.  If we were to be really critical, we were disappointed not to have a fire in the various camps.  An essential part of the whole experience we feel.  Would it be possible to request a fire next time or do the national parks have strict regulations?  We would be interested to hear where you would think of sending us as an alternative, same time, same number of days next year.  We could of course fly to a different airport in morocco.

We would be interested to hear your suggestions /ideas!

Best wishes,

Dear Max,

I was so glad that I spotted your advertisement 'Lawrence of Morocco' in the paper.  Not knowing a thing about Morocco your help and advice was immensely helpful.   What I liked was the fact that you had lived in Morocco and knew the country and so many the hotels so well.  And you did not seem to mind how many times I rang you with yet another query.

We loved Dar Zemora, the small five bed roomed hotel outside Marrakech that you arranged for us.  It was beautifully run with wonderful staff and good food, with a nice pool in a  lovely garden.  It was so peaceful after visits to vibrant and frenetic Marrakech.  The house itself was fascinating built in Moroccan style and exquisitely furnished.

So a grateful thank you.