How Do You Fix Travel Problems When You're in Morocco?

Azdean Elmoustaquim (00:00)

Welcome back to another amazing episode of Destination Morocco podcast. In today's episode, we have Jill Smith. She has been to Morocco before. This is her second time. She has a fascinating story. Jill, if you would please share your story with us and the audience and welcome to the podcast.

Jill Smith (00:20)

Thank you, Asdian. Okay. ⁓ Yeah. Well, I live in Horsham in West Sussex in the United Kingdom. We first went to Marrakesh in November, October, 2024. Having been recommended by friends and having seen the amazing mosaics in Seville, just wanted to have more of the experience of the culture of Morocco.

So we booked five nights, I think it was, in Marrakesh. And it was fabulous. Absolutely loved it. We managed to see a lot of the sights of Marrakesh. And while we were there, we saw tours up into the mountains or into the desert, which kind of appealed. But I'm very much a person that if I'm somewhere

Azdean Elmoustaquim (00:58)

glad to hear that.

Jill Smith (01:18)

For the first time especially, I wanted to feel that I'd seen Marrakesh properly without then taking time out to go and maybe take a trip that you don't actually get to see that much when you get there and then you've got to come back and you've missed a day in Marrakesh. So we kind of promised ourselves that we would come back to Morocco so that we could do the Atlas Mountains and the desert and

maybe to the coast. Yes. At Essaouira So that was the plan and ⁓ me being me reached out to lots of different tour companies and ⁓

Azdean Elmoustaquim (02:03)

Okay, hold on, start from the ethos. I want to ask you that. Okay, this is amazing. So the first time you really went to Marrakesh, you fell in love with the city. You didn't want to travel in other places. You just want to immerse yourself in the city, then plan ahead and come back for another tour. In that second tour, that's when you're to basically do a multi-day tour, if possible, you know, go into the mountains, go to the desert, go into the coastal city of Essaouira.

Jill Smith (02:07)

Yeah.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (02:33)

Walk me through that process and how did we meet? Along on the way

Jill Smith (02:38)

Okay, so I had 12 days of holiday leave left to take from work, which I booked for November with the express purpose of coming to Morocco. So as I say, I was looking at tour operators, what there is to see, do, and get myself in quite overwhelmed really, because there's a lot of information out there.

A lot of the tours that were being offered seemed to be in groups. So it seemed you'd be spending a lot of time on a bus with 20 other people getting to these amazing places. But I'm not that kind of traveler. And I also don't travel that well in a car by road. I do get travel sick. So it was coming a little bit of a challenge for me.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (03:19)

the first

Jill Smith (03:38)

And then we found you.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (03:41)

I'm glad to

Jill Smith (03:41)

line

and you were offering a free, a free call. yeah, so we did it. And I think immediately there was a really good connection there. felt, um, know, very warm, very genuine. obviously, you know, Morocco will look better than I do. And you know, a lot of these tour operators who are working out of the UK, you know, yes, they've been to Morocco.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (03:57)

Thank you.

Jill Smith (04:12)

but they haven't really lived it. that felt like a good fit. And immediately you came forward with a good kind of itinerary, plan, know, suggestions of what we might see and do, including some real bucket list things that never in my wildest dreams, that I have imagined we might do.

Like going on a hot air balloon. Yes. It was just incredible.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (04:43)

Yes.

Thank you. Yes. I remember when we did the discovery call, I know that he had pages and pages of research. my goodness. You have done such an amazing job in the research. And I know probably I don't the length of time that it took you to gather all that information. And I totally agree with you, Jill, because when you're doing the research, you do find some good information than some not so good information. And it's at some point it really becomes kind of confusing.

So I'm very grateful that you have chose us to book your tour with us and we created an itinerary for you that I really believe it was. was just incredible itinerary ⁓ in Morocco. So what type of problem or problems did we solve for you when we met? What did we solve for you in terms of an issue or challenge or a problem that you were running into, Jill?

Jill Smith (05:41)

Well, as you say, I was feeling quite overwhelmed. And I think just talking to you, I just felt like I'd got a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Thank you. And I can literally just hand it to you and you would deal with it. Thank that's what you do. Thank you. We have never had that kind of experience before where we had our own private tour. had our own driver.

It was incredible and we felt very lucky and privileged to be able to do that. And imagining that that kind of holiday would have cost an awful lot more. So I think when you gave us the price and the full list of what we were doing, what we were getting, it was like a no brainer really. Thank you. We just had to do it.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (06:38)

Thank you. Thank you. That's really really important the reason because a lot of people when they look at the itinerary They just look at the price, but they don't see what the true value is and that isn't the experiences because You know whether in a market or fast or Merzouga or Shefshawan or anywhere throughout your trip There's a lot of things that are included and we keep in mind the driving not to do too much of it and also not

to book the whole day for you. We do the first half of the day, then ⁓ the second half and the nighttime, you can use it however you like. You can relax, you can do a few things, maybe one or two more things. Then dinner, we can do ⁓ dinner and a show somewhere and stuff like that. But I do appreciate the homework that I have done because I felt that we were on the same page, working together. sometimes,

One of the challenges that we find is when people get to that level of research, they don't want to let go of the rest. So it was a really good support and said, Hey, okay, know what, take over because that's what we really do. So I'm really, really grateful for that because they gave us the opportunity and you showed your trust. So when we got to that level and said, Hey, you know what, this is the responsibility.

We came up with an initial itinerary, then we went back and forth with a few tweaks, and then it was finalized, and after that it was just perfect.

Jill Smith (08:13)

You seem to remember there weren't many tweaks, I think we got there quite quickly because you listened to the places I wanted to go to and you suggested some places that I didn't even know about that would be good to visit along the way. worked.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (08:16)

Yes, no, no,

Awesome.

Thank you. Thank you. So when you went to Morocco, you said that Riyadhs and you know, lot of people, that's what we do recommend, but also we do tell them not all the Riyadhs are created equal. Some will have a good service, some will have mediocre service and even the way that they are built, some they look really nice and some they just look not so nice.

And you know, for having a night tennel like this, sometimes we don't really have a choice in a way that in some cities or some spots, the choices are really limited. But like in Marrakesh in fast, obviously there's quite a bit of choices. So that's why sometimes when people go to to certain reals that have really, really, really good experience and versus other reals and say, Hey, you know what? I was not really impressed. liked the one in

For example, the desert where I liked one in dads versus I liked one in Marrakesh or fast and stuff like that. So was it the same case for you, Jill?

Jill Smith (09:34)

Exactly, yes.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (09:35)

Yes. Tell us about it, please.

Jill Smith (09:37)

I think, well, our very first, as we arrived from the airport, so our first Riyadh was in Marrakesh. And having been to Marrakesh the previous year, we kind of knew, you know, that how it looked, because if you've not been, Marrakesh, we're in the Medina. It's unusual, as in the alleyways, they're so narrow and there's just doors off of it. You can't look in.

You don't know what's there, but they're inside, at the houses. It's very opposite to what we have here in England. And so when we first went to Marrakesh the year before, I felt a little bit afraid, a bit scared, like wandering down these very narrow little passageways. So when we first arrived to this year, again, it was this journey of like, where are we going?

Azdean Elmoustaquim (10:16)

absent.

Jill Smith (10:35)

down a little alleyway and then you turn right another little narrow alleyway. And on that particular day, I mean it was hot, we'd had an okay flight but obviously we were quite tired and then the driver where he dropped us off we had then to walk to the square but we needed to transfer some money, get some money and that was quite stressful and we were left with

the kind of porter guy who was carrying our bags. Eventually we managed to get the money. Gary's on crutches because he'd had a knee operation, hot, tired. Arrived at the Riyadh and went into the entrance where the desk is to be met by the receptionist lady who was very formal, very businesslike and just handed us some, have you got your passports? Yes.

handed us some forms and a pen and said, can you fill this in? Well, Gary's sweating profusely in a lot of pain and didn't offer us seat. Now that, I just thought this isn't the Marrakesh that I know. This what I was expecting. So previously when we'd arrived at the hotel, we were sat down with a nice glass of mint tea and the forms are brought over.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (11:43)

I can imagine

Jill Smith (12:03)

and we do it sitting down. Wonderful. Anyway, so we suffered that and then was taken to our room, but all in a very just prino cursory fashion. wasn't like, this is your room. Oh, and if you're about to go up to the terrace or I can show you, know, there's pool there. And this is where you'll have your break because none of that, was just here's your room.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (12:29)

It was very dry

Jill Smith (12:30)

very dry so that was a bit disappointing. The room was lovely, it was fine, no problem. So I felt a little disappointed. We went out for dinner and drinks and then the next morning we came down for breakfast and again I was just so disappointed because the breakfast was just...

Azdean Elmoustaquim (12:54)

you

Jill Smith (12:56)

Maybe it is traditional Moroccan, you know, but I'm not a Moroccan and it was just so heavy and dry. Everything apart from the little yogurt and fruit. That was fine. So that didn't get me off to a good start either. So.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (13:11)

I

do remember. do to you because... Absolutely, absolutely, yes. And I really, really appreciate it.

Jill Smith (13:13)

on

Well it's your business isn't it? you're people into these places you want to know that they're getting good service.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (13:24)

100%.

100%. You know, it's, I was disappointed as well. Then when we contacted the management and we talked to the front desk and you know, her story was different. But then when you came back because you had to spend more time in Marrakech and we needed to make sure that if breakfast is not to your standard, can, with no additional cost to you, we can just take you outside and you have breakfast somewhere else. So now when we...

mentioned and talked to the management about everything that you have told us about the experience and the disappointment. Was there a change in terms of the hospitality? Do they have treated you or was it still the same?

Jill Smith (14:09)

Sadly, so when we came back, the guy in Marrakesh, the who organizes the tours, I think, with you, for you, he met us, which was wonderful. And he took us to the riad and spoke to the receptionist and tea. And they offered us, they did offer us tea. But I'd already said, you know, we were quite tired. So, so the lady said, well, they're tired. So let's...

They can have it in their room. Well, okay. I mean, I could have sat down. So we had tea in the room and when she brought us to, I think the tour manager had said, she's going to apologize and bring you tea. And literally the apology, was putting the tea down and she just kind of went, sorry, here's your tea. And she was like, so it's needs some improvement on customer service.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (15:00)

⁓ my goodness.

Jill Smith (15:07)

skills there and interpersonal skills. But it was fine. And I have to say, ⁓ think the next morning we did the hot air balloon and we got breakfast out, which was amazing. That was an amazing experience. I highly recommend that. We'll do that again. But then the very last morning at the Rio Canipalas, the breakfast was better. Someone had obviously, they had listened. Yes.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (15:31)

I'm glad to hear that.

Jill Smith (15:37)

and followed that. Yes, but apart from there, mean, all the other hotels and places were good, but different, let's just say. Yeah. I mean, the next hotel was actually a big hotel. was in Orzuzati. Yes. Iron Palace. Yes. Had to, because I think when we first spoke to you, I'd expressed how much Gary and I like to swim.

I think he worked very hard to give us opportunity whenever it was possible. So we enjoyed the pool, but the downside with a large hotel like that is their restaurant is an international buffet, which isn't my bag. It's like I'm in Morocco. I want to be served Moroccan food.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (16:30)

Moroccan.

Jill Smith (16:34)

And also the other thing I would say is because we were traveling and we visited Benet Hadu. Did I say it right?

Azdean Elmoustaquim (16:42)

I do think yes.

Yeah, you're right. I do think yes.

Jill Smith (16:47)

I'd been had it. And ⁓ Abdu, our driver, had organised lunch for us. And of course, which again, because we were new to it all, we hadn't quite appreciated what was kind of on offer. And it was kind of a, like a free course, like a set lunch, which was meat. You have a lot of meat in Morocco. So we'd kind of done this at lunchtime. And that was fine. But then in the evening,

Azdean Elmoustaquim (17:08)

Yes.

Jill Smith (17:16)

at the buffet, it was just all the same. It was more of the same, which I, yeah, I really kind of struggle with that because I like to choose what I want to eat from a menu.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (17:30)

Yes, I totally hear you.

Jill Smith (17:34)

So that was the only issue with that hotel, but that's just probably just my personal choice. And then the following night was... Ball and Daddy's. ⁓ that was one of our highlights. So Abdullah and Suleiman who run it, they're two brothers. And you can just show they have a real heart for it. They ⁓ just love having guests and...

Azdean Elmoustaquim (17:45)

That's that's been

Jill Smith (18:04)

And they were just so kind, warm. So again, when we went in, we were offered the tea, we sat, was absolutely no rush at all. And then we showed them to the room and they actually asked what we'd had for lunch because they were going to be preparing dinner and they didn't want to serve us the same thing. So considerate, so kind.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (18:29)

Absolutely, absolutely. Yes, the food is, it is very popular in Morocco and it's really good and it's very diverse. And that's sometimes the challenge when you go to the southern part of Morocco is unfortunately you have to eat what you're staying in because there's not really a lot of options out there to dine. And you're right, the Riyadh in that valley, we always get a lot of really, really good feedback.

And right after you, I stayed there, I know exactly what you're talking about. met the gentleman who work with them. And the staff is amazing. I mean...

Jill Smith (19:05)

The kitchen stuff. Yes.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (19:07)

Yeah,

absolutely it is. It really shows. And in regards to the person that Riyadh stayed in, in Marrakesh, have always had really, really good experiences with them. But unfortunately, the person at the front desk, the one that we work with left. the other person, you know, she's not, I don't want to sound the wrong way, but sometimes if you're not Moroccan, you don't have that.

that hospitality, it's within you, you know, respectfully to everybody. It's just, that's how I felt because I talked to them and that's what I sensed. I'm very grateful because you shared it with me the moment it happened. But I also wanted to talk about it because it is very important and it is very important for a lot of listeners to know, hey, sometimes we do a good job, sometimes we fall short. But what we do is we will back you up.

We'll support you a hundred percent and we'll do whatever it takes to correct the mistake or the issue or the challenge. But because of you, stopped it. We stopped it from happening to our guests. And this is what the podcast, the podcast, we tell the truth. There's we don't hide anything. don't shy away from it. There's a challenge. We walk around towards it and we take care of it. And I know that you had an amazing, amazing tour, but every tour they will have a little bit of hiccups. And for this one.

This was the hiccup which is the Riyadh in Marrakesh. And I'm very glad that you talked about it and you didn't want to not mention it at all because it is part of the experience. And at the end of the day, what you leave, you leave with a lot of really, really good memories. What else can you share with us in terms of I know you're a big footage here.

Jill Smith (20:51)

Yeah, love food. And I like cooking.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (20:55)

What else can you share with us in terms of food? Please, do a near trip with Gary in Morocco.

Jill Smith (21:01)

Yeah, well yeah two things that Gary said we did the cooking and the cooking day. The chef tarak that was that was really cool that was really good and again something that maybe if we'd just been organizing our own itinerary probably wouldn't have booked. Yes. Because Gary would have gone oh I'm not I'm not. Anyway but it was great it was one of our high nights and what was lovely was we were in little groups of like five or so at.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (21:07)

I was

Jill Smith (21:31)

in teams. to be a kind of divisor competition but nobody was really competing. was just, yes. But yeah, we were on a team with some American ladies. Nice. they were just, yeah, really good fun. We had a good time.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (21:47)

Also, the cooking class, was it done in a farm?

Jill Smith (21:52)

It was done. They'd got this new premises. Yes. It was a beautiful farm, lovely setting. And they grew all their own, you know, fruits and vegetables and yeah, was really beautiful. Yeah. you. That's good. Perfect. Yeah. So that was part of it, but I would say, yes, food, apart from that, probably my favorite in-house meal was at the ⁓

Azdean Elmoustaquim (22:04)

of tennis organs.

Jill Smith (22:21)

Dadda's Luxury? Yes. In, where am I now? Is that the Ball Main? That was a lovely hotel. Lots of steps, I have to say. Yes. don't know if you've been there. Wow.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (22:29)

Yeah, boom, that's yes.

Well, it's, you know, it's so funny, ⁓ that one actually has less steps than a lot of other yards. Yeah. I mean those, those steps and I just took them like a, a mind, the parapets, they look really, really high.

Jill Smith (22:43)

Weenie? Yes? Just open up and open up

Yeah, but what I loved was the dinner that evening that we stayed there was one of my best experiences. Gary was not so because it was kind of quite nouvelle cuisine. I see. It was a bit too small.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (23:10)

Yes, yeah ⁓

Jill Smith (23:13)

But I loved it, the taste and everything. I thought it was really, really good.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (23:19)

I remember as well, it is still Moroccan cuisine, but it's done in a that it's more of a presentation than just mixing up vegetables and meat and non-stop.

Jill Smith (23:28)

Yes, yes, I am a visual person so I think it does make a difference to me. Yes, how things are presented and what it

Azdean Elmoustaquim (23:36)

I remember that the portions were small, but they have really good variety. Yeah, the salad, the fruits, the tea, and then the coffee. It's just incredible. Yes.

Jill Smith (23:47)

It was really good. Yeah. So I really enjoyed that. And when we got to the desert camp, that was an amazing experience. Let's see. So dinner there, obviously very traditional Moroccan, particularly the second night when we were in the Riyadh, the hotel. I think there was literally only Gary and I and another family. Oh, wow. was really quiet. Yeah. And this huge dining room.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (23:55)

Thank you.

Yes, I remember it, yes.

Jill Smith (24:17)

And they brought us this enormous, enormous plate of food with lots of meat. I mean, yeah. I mean, they really did take good care of us. think they really, yeah, really worked hard. And we were, that's something else to talk about, I guess. But while we were there, because we'd been on a long journey to get there, a lot of driving to the desert, we did our camel ride.

first time. That was incredible. And saw the sunset, the, you it was just beautiful. And then the next day, ⁓ that night, yes, after dinner, they said, you know, the manager wants to talk to you. And they said, tomorrow we've got a car organized for you and we're going to take you around in Mazuga and you can see the fossils and you can see the carpets and you can see, and I said, no, thank you.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (24:47)

That's I was going to ask you.

Jill Smith (25:17)

but no thank you. I just want ⁓ a day where I can relax and do nothing and I don't have to get in car.

and we had the best day at the hotel. We had the pool to ourselves.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (25:31)

I'm not scared of that.

I remember the Riyadh. The Riyadh, the way, for the listeners, it's, I mean, it's really close. It is a walking distance from the camp. So in some cases they are not there. It's a little bit of a drop, but this one, I mean, the car will pick you up and will drop you off right away. And then the nice thing about the pool is really, really the view. Yeah. You know, just the vast open of the desert dune and

Jill Smith (25:45)

From the camp,

Azdean Elmoustaquim (26:05)

and then the sun, then the changing of the colors of the sun, it's just magnificent. Then the sunset again, it's it's really, really beautiful. So ⁓ was that the same way for you, Jill?

Jill Smith (26:19)

Absolutely, yes, yes, yes, was dinner. Yeah, the other nice thing was because after breakfast they came said, oh, so for lunch, because it was only yours. For lunch? I was like, do you know what? We really don't need lunch. We're having so much food. Breakfast is big and the dinners are big and at home. I tend not to eat breakfast and have a small lunch. Or I will have a light breakfast.

But I only liked lunch, so he was just like, there's just too much food. So we said, we'd eat not lunch, lunch, because they were offering us meat to get. So they said, what would you like? And I said, well, just something simple like we got yogurts, yogurts and banana and some fruits and nuts and olives and it was just perfect.

It was something to nibble while we were just relaxing. Absolutely. Yeah, was lovely. And then that was complimentary. They just said, that's all complimentary for you. That's very nice. Thank you. Yeah. So that was unique. But I have to say on the food front, I love Marrakesh because it's more cosmopolitan, international.

So we love, I know I said this to you before and you were very happy, but we love Lebanese food.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (27:49)

I think there are a few places in Marrakesh.

Jill Smith (27:53)

Very good. So we really enjoyed those and the pizzas. My goodness. They are the best pizzas. ⁓ We went to Cafe Arab, which doesn't sound like they'd be doing pizzas, but they do. And they're absolutely amazing. that, ⁓ if you've been to Cafe Arab.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (28:10)

No I haven't.

Jill Smith (28:11)

The interior is just stunning. That's the other thing I love about Namoko is the interiors, the decor. It's just beautiful. They have such a good eye for beautiful things.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (28:28)

It is, it's it's part of, you know, different dynasties and different, yeah.

Jill Smith (28:34)

Sorry, just to change subject again, that gets me in trouble because I really enjoy beautiful things, seeing things. So when you're in the markets, you're very careful. The minute that I can't show any interest or are in anything, and then they want you to buy it, and I'm like, just because I like something doesn't mean...

Azdean Elmoustaquim (28:54)

What's coming?

Jill Smith (29:03)

I want to own. He won't go in my house, but he's beautiful. I just want to say how beautiful it is.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (29:13)

No, it's funny because it happens, you know, even when I go, I don't look like a local to them. know, those vendors, they're super smart. They look at you and they say, ⁓ you're not from Europe, you live somewhere else, maybe in Canada. I swear to you, Jen. Wow. And this is what had happened to me in the past. And I said, why? What makes you say that? He said, you're too polite. What's the He hates.

But the thing is when you're passing by, even when you're looking with your eyes and you don't say anything, they'll speak to you in three, four, five, six different languages. They just want you to respond. And the moment you respond with any language, they got you.

Jill Smith (29:57)

Yeah, they're really, really, really sharp. Yes. It's engaging with you and pulling you in, even though I know what they're doing. And you're like, ⁓ can't help myself. don't know if that's been British. We're just so polite. You kind of don't want to upset them, but then you just get further. You you end up in the shop and it's really hard to leave without buying anything.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (30:22)

my goodness.

You know, last time that I, when I went, which is right after you left Marrakesh, I was in Marrakesh. And one thing that I really stood out for me, because I got to spend more time in Marrakesh with the family, of course, but the square, I felt like I was addicted to the square. I had to go to the square almost every night, you know, because it's just, it was just, it looked different. It's so happening. It's so busy. And then the shops.

It looked different than the year before in terms of what did they have, what's trending and the decorations and things that they are selling. So every night, it's just like, wow, it's just like going to a show in a way. Was it that way for you, Jérôme Garride?

Jill Smith (31:06)

Yes, very busy. Gary doesn't really do busy places and lots of people, so that was quite challenging for him. But yeah, I just, enjoy, you know, just, well, trying to wander through, but of course, again, you get caught. Especially when you're in the little restaurant alley and you know, come and eat, eat, we'll eat and thank you. I think that hustle is quite challenging if you're not used to it.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (31:32)

Yeah, absolutely. The audience, they still have that little bit of a fear of, am going to Muslim country, I'm traveling to Africa and it's just, hey, you know, it's dangerous and a solo female traveler, safety concern. Did you feel unsafe? I mean, sometimes, yeah, you have that feel like uncomfortable, a little bit unsafe, but did you ever feel like, I should have not made this trip?

Jill Smith (31:58)

How was the Going back to our first trip, so prior to that, yeah, I got myself quite nervous about things because of the state of the world. And I was like, are we going to be safe? know, you can do a safety trick. And then talking to people, it's like, I'm to Marrakesh. I'd be talking to people about, I went there about like 20 years ago.

⁓ you need to make sure, you know, you know, keep everything close to you. There's pickpocket. They'll be after this, after that. And I was like, my goodness, this holiday is just going to be a trawler. Listen to Norm Deop. Are we going to be safe? And as soon as we got there, I just felt so safe. It's, Marrakesh is amazing. And yeah, the people are just so warm.

and friendly and apart from obviously in the market where you get those hustlers but they are nice people you can tell they're just trying to make money they just want to put food on the table but it's just so anti-British like we're doing things ⁓ but no we just felt very safe yeah and I think that's why I had such

a like warm, enthusiastic response to it that I was like, you know, this is fabulous and I want to come back and do more because it just felt so safe, so welcoming and like from the UK it's so easy. It's like four hours flight. And I'm in Africa. The culture is so different. So, you know, you're going to Europe, similar time or Greece or something, but it's...

kind of not as different.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (33:53)

Yes,

you're right. But also Morocco because of the location, there's an African influence, there's a Middle Eastern influence, there's obviously Spanish and French and European influence. So it's a really, really combination of a lot of cultures.

Jill Smith (34:12)

It is. And we haven't mentioned the weather. You can go away in November when it's sunny and it's warm. That was, yeah, amazing. It was funny, I was hearing all the Moroccans had their jumpers and coats on going, it's chinny. It's not a chinny! We were there in our t-shirts, nesting, basking in the sun.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (34:14)

Yes, yes, the weather, yes.

What else did that for you during your trip in Morocco? Chill, please.

Jill Smith (34:44)

We really enjoyed, this is one that hadn't kind of been put on any itinerary anywhere, but it had been recommended to me, the Museum of Photography in Marrakesh. That was one of the best days of visiting that. It was so amazing, beautiful photographs, but there's a video that was, I think, done film in the, I think it was the 1970s?

Azdean Elmoustaquim (34:54)

I'm Sidduky.

Jill Smith (35:13)

of this documentary maker who went and lived with...

Azdean Elmoustaquim (35:17)

Yeah. The burb. Absolutely.

Jill Smith (35:19)

vibe and he filmed it and we just sat and watched the whole thing. I was absolutely mesmerised. So having been out and seen them in the mountains and in the desert to actually come back and then see that film was very moving.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (35:34)

It's incredible.

It's

so funny you mentioned that because this is one of the trends that we really paid attention to in 2025 for all the itineraries, all the travelers. That was the number one experience that they want is the Burberry experience. And we're very lucky, very fortunate to be able to accomplish that and have it. I remember Rochelle and her husband from New Zealand, we took them.

They were in the north side. left, we left fast and we stopped at a city. But in that city, there's a family that lives in the cave. And that was the highlight of her tour. You know, a Berber family, know, 29th generation, if you can just imagine how long they've been there living in a cave. And when you go in, just, takes you back in time. It's just like, I in 2025 or am I in 1825? You know, it's just, it's fascinating. So.

We're getting really close to the end of this episode, Jill. Any questions that I should have asked you and have not asked you yet? Or Gary, because even though I don't see Gary, but I hear you, so... Hey Gary! Hello! Good to see you! Nice to How are you feeling Gary? Brilliant!

Jill Smith (36:49)

It's all sand.

⁓ I do fights with Mr. O. not, yeah, just watch your itinerary and don't overfill it.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (37:06)

Yes, that's a good one, that's a good

Jill Smith (37:08)

Definitely allow some days just to relax because it's quite the high sensory experience in Morocco. There's a lot to see, do. And yeah, you do need to take some time to rest, especially because a lot of our time was spent driving. Which in hindsight, if we did it again, I would,

Azdean Elmoustaquim (37:29)

And yes, that's fair.

Jill Smith (37:37)

certainly like to have had a longer time so that there could have been more rest stops. Yeah, but having said that, mean the time in obviously we got time in Marrakesh, which was great just to relax and we spent an afternoon just chilling at Le Jardin de Medina. That was a little free that I'd seen from the previous year and we hadn't been able to book that. So that was a treat.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (37:59)

Thank you, thank you.

Absolutely,

absolutely. That's a really, really good advice. And also just to add what you have said, Jill, you know, Morocco on the map doesn't look really that big, but it really is. It is. So when it comes to driving, I agree with you, but the way that I really see it, if you have an itinerary that it's more than eight days, just have like a day off on the ninth day. your itinerary is 10 days or something, you have to have a day off, complete day off within that itinerary.

Because if you don't, as the tour gets closer to finish, you do get tired. Then immersing yourself or the immersing of experience really changes because you're tired. You're not going to fully enjoy it or fully into things that you're going to be doing. So that's what I always tell a lot of the guests. Yes, you want to see all these things, but you still have to give yourself a day off because trust me, you're going to need it.

Jill Smith (39:03)

Yes, absolutely.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (39:05)

So any advice or suggestions for people that are thinking about visiting Morocco, whether a solo female traveler or a family or a couple, they're thinking about going to Morocco, but they still hesitant, they still have doubts. it's a Muslim country. It's in Africa, especially Africa. you know, it's the culture is different and all that stuff. What advice would you give them? Jill, please.

Jill Smith (39:33)

say go and talk twice, Deanna. Then you don't need to worry. I was in that place, I was totally overwhelmed and I kind of knew what I wanted to do but I didn't know that it was going to be viable in the time that we had and I was just getting more more kind of overwhelmed and confused. So the fact that you just took it all on board was amazing.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (39:58)

Thank thank you. You know, I always tell a lot of the travelers, they say, yeah, I've been to Jordan, I've been to Egypt, I've been to India. And I say, you're right. You have been to all those places. They are amazing, but you have not been to Morocco. It's a little different. You may think they are similar, but they are a little bit different. It can get really overwhelming. Putting something like this together, you can manage some of it, but then the desert part, the southern part of Morocco, that's going to be...

a major, major challenge. you know, Jill, I'm very grateful for the opportunity and Gary, that you have chosen to go to Morocco and plan everything for you. Thank you so much. It's been a lot of fun. Again, Jill, Gary, we really, really appreciate it. Your feedback is super important to us. And I'm very grateful again, because you were very open and you did not hide anything and you did not sugarcoat anything.

Jill Smith (40:38)

That was great.

Azdean Elmoustaquim (40:55)

And that's really, really crucial. So thank you so much. Thank you. Have an amazing day.