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Updated Video tour of Villa Ramalah

October 22, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

With all the building work now pretty much done, we thought it would be a good idea to do an updated “Video Tour” of villa Ramalah.

The last video had 1,200 + views and the comments we got back were all good, so with this in mind – take a look at he modifications made. This is a great idea for people still deciding about going to Morocco, it really shows you what you can expect. We have really settled into the villa and it is very much a second home to us. Each time we go, it is harder to come back. We have added the dreaded TV now and it was pretty strange sat in the villa watching “Emmerdale” in Morocco (not that we watch it in the UK!) but you know what I mean.

We have taken loads of video this trip and so will be editing and loading this over the coming weeks – so keep watching. Richard Attenborough had better watch out!

Anyway, enjoy and comment if you want to:

Remember, if you want to know more about Morocco or how to book Villa Ramalah for that special Moroccan holiday, just contact us at www.holidays-morocco.co.uk.

Filed Under: Beach Front Villas, Morocco Holiday

Internet Connectivity in Morocco

September 5, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

A working holiday on the beach

One thing we have been putting off for quite a time is the decision to up an internet connection and subsequently a TV in the Villa. We are caught between a rock and a hard thing as the last thing we want to do when in Morocco, is watch TV or be connected – in fact it is our opinion that it is great to “disappear” for a week or so away from emails, phones etc.

We have been asking guests what they want, most are in the same frame of mind as us, but when you have kids etc it is difficult to tell them to sit and read instead of watching TV.

One thing we did learn on our last trip is that despite saying to the girls “don’t switch data roaming on” with the smart phone, they do and so posting stuff on Facebook and the like ended up costing our 17 year old about £100 – when will they listen!!

So I think we have to finally relent. We have just got all the info on doing this properly – no point in going at it half heartedly – and true to the King of Morocco’s word, high speed internet is available in Aourir, and the costs are not too bad – about the same as in the UK for a 4Mb feed, including international TV channels (you would not want to watch Moroccan channels!).

So when we are over later this month, we have to go to Maroc Telecom and sign up for the package. This will no doubt please some of our guests – we do have a 2 month booking in Jan/Feb so I am sure this will be very nice for them as well. The other cunning plan is that it allows the wife, Karen, to still run her internet and social media marketing business from the Villa (is there a cunning plan here for her to spend more time in Morocco now?).

Filed Under: Morocco Holiday, Villas in Morocco Tagged With: ,

New Motorway opened Agadir – Marrakesh

September 3, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Driving in Morocco

One of our recent guests has returned from Villa Ramalah in Agadir with the news that the new motorway has just opened between Agadir and Marrakesh, reducing the journey time down from 6 or 7 hours, down to just 3 hours. This is really great news for people who are planning a 2 centre stay in Morocco with limited time.

When we were last in Marrakesh, we had a real white knuckle ride from Agadir to Marrakesh, pretty much running parallel to the new road which was being built. Our driver was driving in true Moroccan “Insha Allah” Driving style (If God Will’s), so overtaking on blind bends and double overtaking was literally placed in the hands of God. I get pretty travel sick on buses, but this ride certainly cured me of it on this trip…I was simply too frightened! Despite or valiant drivers best efforts, the journey was long and took over 6 hours.

This new Toll Road apparently is almost empty, so a nice clear run makes a day trip to Marrakesh possible, though I would always say to people to take an overnight to get the real feel of the night life in Djemaa el Fna.

The King of Morocco has made transportation and tourism a real priority in Morocco and the completion of these projects just makes the country very accessible to people. We still love the old roads and going through the little villages, but this new route offers new possibilities to our guests and extends the reach from both Agadir and Marrakesh.

Driving in Morocco is pretty mental, but you soon get into it. Each time you drive, it gets easier and its amazing how quickly you start driving “native” - especially in the use of the horn – something you would not do in the UK , unless you wanted to be beaten up in a road rage incident!. The roads are generally very good, the road signs are a bit random, but once outside the towns the countryside is wonderful. We often just stop to look at the views as they are all spectacular.

So take a trip from Agadir to Marrakesh for the day – its now very possible – Enjoy!

Filed Under: Agadir, Marrakesh, Morocco Holiday

7 Nights for ONLY 440 Euros! – September 4th – 11th

August 22, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Grab that last minute holiday now!

Holidays Morocco are offering a special discount price for 7 Nights at Villa Ramalah from September 4th – 11th.

This amazing price is ideal for the short break. If you have not been to Agadir in Morocco before, this is your chance to rent a 3 Bed, fully modernised and re-furbished BEACH FRONT villa that sleeps up to 8 people.

With temperatures well into the 30′s, this is a great chance to grab the last of the sunshine, do some surfing in warmer seas, or just lazy on the beach.

Flights are really cheap at the moment from Ryaniar, when I checked yesterday, an average flight price for this week was £90 return!

So don’t delay, treat yourself and CONTACT US NOW!

For more information on Villa Ramalah, go to www.holidays-morocco.co.uk

Villa Ramalah - 100 metres from the sea

Enjoy the sea view from the Sun Terrace

Filed Under: Beach Front Villas, Cheap Flights to Morocco, Holidays in Morocco, Morocco Holiday, Surfer holidays, Villas in Morocco Tagged With: , , ,

Recent renovations to Villa Ramalah completed

July 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

One thing about having a beach front villa is that you must keep the elements out and the area clean because of the sea spray and sunshine. Its a bit of a hostile environment for a garden and so when we were visiting in May, we decided that the poor old garden just had to go.

We are very fortunate that we have some mature plants and trees – Pomegranate, Hibiscus, Lemon and Banana in particular, so we wanted to protect these but the rest of the garden was very high maintenance for the few pretty flowers etc. we had.

So we got our local guys in to discuss options, and they came up with turning the area into a patio, adding a dry stone wall to the pathway and a few steps to turn this area into a useful area for eating or for a barbecue. They also designed the area to cater for the trees, ensuring they could grow happily for years to come.

Picture from the driveway

Before Picture of Patio Area

After Picture - Patio Area

Pomegranate and Banana Trees preserved

Pathway made from Dry Stone

We also commissioned some work inside – basically to protect the walls and brighten up the inner hall way with some very nice tiles as well as painting a feature wall in the lounge.

Tiling the inner hall to protect the walls

Painting the feature wall makes a real difference to the Authentic feel of Morocco

All these changes just make Villa Ramalah feel more like home from home – we cant wait to be back there in September!

So why not book this home from home. To check availability or find out more about Villa Ramalah, our beach front villa in Agadir Morocco, contact us via the website or call +44 1635 247192

Filed Under: Beach Front Villas, Holidays in Morocco, Morocco Holiday, travel in Morocco, Travel Tips, Villas in Morocco

Getting dental treatment in Morocco

June 22, 2010 By admin 3 Comments

A daunting Experience - Emergency Dental Treatment in Morocco

Falling ill or getting a serious dental problem whilst travelling is probably one of the top fears of travellers especially in Africa.

On our last trip, this is exactly what happened to me.

Just before we went, I had a filling come out, which my dentist duly replaced with a warning that next time we needed to do more serious treatments on the tooth – the dreaded root canal treatment!

Anyway, off we went to Aourir, the small fishing village just 10km north of Agadir, where our beach front villa, Villa Ramalah is sited. On the first day, I got a small pain as I bit into some bread, but by the evening it was throbbing. After a night of no sleep, the pain got worse. The next day it was even worse and swelling. The next morning, agony!

So what were the options? The village dentist specialised in one treatment – extraction. Wild horse would not have dragged me into his chair!

So our agent Laurence of  Immo Bab Souss came to the rescue and booked us an appointment in Agadir with their dentist. So getting there was a challenge in rush hour traffic. We grabbed a taxi in Aourir and flew into Agadir to find this dentist with the only taxi driver who didn’t know where he was going…I knew more than him, but we eventually arrived.

I was somewhat surprised at the dentist’s surgery as it was ultra modern. Nobody spoke a single word of English, but the dentist was very nice and ushered me into the treatment room. The equipment was brand new, much better than our dentist in Newbury! One thing that does translate is “Root Canal”, which he did there and then!

After an hour in the chair, all sorted. I was then dreading getting the bill. I had been quoted £380 in the UK so was expecting a hefty bill for an emergency Saturday morning treatment but was shocked and surprised by the £90 bill. Now that’s the kind of shock I like.

This trip, guess what, the same tooth split in half on the first day….but no pain so I waited until I got home as the only options were a crown and time was against us.

So don’t panic if you get a dental issue in Morocco, ask around and you will get a great dentist with modern equipment in Agadir. All details are in the welcome pack in Villa Ramalah for our guests.

To check availability of our Beach Front Villa in Agadir, please contact us

Filed Under: Beach Front Villas, Holidays in Morocco, Morocco Holiday, travel in Morocco, Travel Tips, Villas in Morocco Tagged With: , , ,

So you think you can Haggle?

June 21, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Haggling is a total way of life in Morocco.

Everybody does it for everything from Milk to Motors.

One thing you have to get used to is doing it, yes I know Brits are “Hagglefobic”, but once you start and get used to it…you will love it!

When we go to the Villa in Aourir, we always buy everything locally in the village to make sure money is coming into the people who live and work in the area and to support them, but also so everybody knows us and the guests that stay in the villa, ensuring you always get the best prices and not ripped off.

We have a few favourites and make sure we visit them quite a few times during our stay. We take Cadburys Chocolate and a few pens etc. for their kids. One of our regulars is Hassan. He is known as the pottery man but sells just about everything from tagines, lamps and fishing rods to mirrors and rugs! In fact, if you want something he can get it.

If you want it, Hassan can get it!

We are always looking to add character to the villa and try to keep everything in true Moroccan style, so we needed to add a few lamps and a rug in the living room, so off to Hassan to see what he had. He has a main shop and several lock-ups in the village so the whole experience takes a pretty long time. The main purchase we wanted was some lamp shades for the small bedroom and a rug if we could find one.

With such a lot of choice, where do you start?

So off to the first lock up to rummage around…

Looking for that perfect lamp.. What's this a rug?

So armed with a new rug, off to the next one….

Could this be the one?

Having selected our bounty, its off to the main shop to sort out the deal….this is where your nerve must hold. He knows he has you, so starts at some crazy price. You laugh and offer a crazy price the other way…and so it goes on!

By now Karen the wife is going crazy. She hates to haggle. But this is a man thing and Hassan and I slog away for quite a way until an acceptable deal is struck. This now includes some very nice ornamental tagines, a cous cous bowl and promise of some large planter when the patio is finished this month!

At last the deal is done - everybody happy and smiling!

So when in Aourir, go and check out Hassan. He is the second pot shop on the left and tell him we sent you for the best prices!

for other places to visit, check out the website or contact us for availability of the villa.

Filed Under: Beach Front Villas, Morocco Holiday, Shopping in Morocco, Souks, travel in Morocco, Villas in Morocco Tagged With: , , , ,

Morocco is such a beautiful country – a must go destination for all travellers

June 13, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

Having just spent 10 days in Villa Ramalah, situated in Aourir, just north of Agadir, you do realise just why Morocco is so magical.

Normally, we just do short trips just to check on things and sort out stuff with the villa etc, but this trip we decided that we really needed a break and to relax and enjoy the pleasant pace of life Morocco has.

The flight out was the usual chore – Note to self: Do not book with Ryanair any more as its just too stressy – Can anybody tell me why they cant allocate seats either online as you book (lets face it you do everything else for them!) or at worst as you check in? I hate the bun fight that always happens and to be sat 10 rows from the kids is just a nightmare!

Anyway, on arrival at Agadir, we pretty much went straight through immigration, picked up the bags and had the car waiting - all done in under an hour! We always take a few extra immigration cards and fill them in prior to entry as this saves loads of time. Our driver from Lotus cars the local firm  we use was spot on and spoke good English all the way to the office, then we took the car on to Aourir.

On arrival at the villa, Hassan our Guardian was there to greet us – he is a total legend and all the guests love him – it was good to see him and big hugs all round as usual!

Hassan - always on hand to help

We tried to get a load of stuff organised during the stay as we wanted to show the girls around Morocco. We also booked to do quad biking in Essaouira, about 160Km North of Aourir, which I still have to edit the video and post!.

We also wanted to commission some more work on the villa, so had a few meetings to agree the works and kicked that off too – the workmen have already started on this project.

We were a bit surprised as to the changes the storms  had made to the beaches. During December and January, Agadir and the surrounding area had some of the worst storm in 60 years up in the mountains and this water had obviously made its way down the valleys to the sea – bringing with it palm trees from Paradise Valley over 30 Km away! The storm also changed the beach and moved sand and rocks all over the place. Nevertheless, they are still beautiful and deserted – just as we like it!

Banana Beach has changed due to the storms but is still deserted

The next beach down from the villa, Taghardot Beach, a 5 min walk along Banana Beach, (we call it Princes Beach due to the Palace on it) is still the perfect sandy beach to play football or swim in – we spent most of our spare time here body boarding and swimming.

We call this Prince's Beach due to the Palace in the distance

The one thing you can always guarentee in Africa is a perfect sunset. This was taken off the sun terrace at Villa Ramalah just as the sun was going down – pretty stunning don’t you think?

Sunset on Banana Beach, Aourir, Morocco

I will be posting loads of content on the website in the coming weeks www.holidays-morocco.co.uk including the quad biking in Essaouira and of the improvements of the sea front in Agadir – so keep reading!

Filed Under: Beach Front Villas, Body Boarding, Holidays in Morocco, Morocco Holiday, Quad biking, Surfing Tagged With: , , , ,

Tips on using your Smart-phone or mobile abroad

March 16, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Using your mobile phone abroad could leave you with a big bill

As you get off the plane, the first thing you do is switch on the mobile phone and see who has called you whilst being in isolation. Just look around, everybody is doing it too!
But have you ever really considered the cost and the bill you will get on your return home? What provider is the best in the country you are visiting and does your provider have a deal with a local provider? Chances are you haven’t. Especially the cost of data – something most of us now take for granted in the UK as most contracts allow certain data downloads for free (or nearly free).
Well here is a few tips for you before, during and after your trip – I hope you use them to save yourself loads of money – put that towards your next rip and not add to the profits of the mobile giants!
  • Contact your service provider and ensure you have international roaming enabled.
  • Check tariffs and any conditions regarding the areas you are travelling – know the cost before you go.
  • Keep calls brief as this will burn credit up and increase your bills on contract.
  • Only SMS if you have to – SMS’s are expensive and use credit quickly.
  • Try and negotiate a special deal with you provider – some will have bundles which may be attractive on contract.
  • Buy spare top up cards in the UK as getting them may be a problem in different countries.
  • If you are buying a new Smartphone, ensure you get one with inbuilt Wi-Fi capabilities as many hotels and restaurants etc have free Wi-Fi available.
  • Download Skype or Truphone on your device – calls made on Wi-Fi to other Skype or Truphone users is free and unlimited – as well as Instant Messaging.
Skype and Truphone also offer cheap calls or even free calls over its network as a pay as you go service – worth checking out the coverage and prices.
If you cannot download Truphone, purchase a travel SIM card from SIM4Travel or similar providers.
This offers a really low cost option with good rates in over 100 countries. Also it allows you to receive calls for free in Europe.
If you subscribe to mobile data, turn it off until you need it – the cost of roaming data is horrendous and can lead to very high bills on contract – particularly emails and web surfing.
Charge up wherever possible – always have travel adaptors of every description and plug in when you can. Think about buying a solar charger as these are low cost and quite effective – ideal to keep you topped up.
Happy tripping!
PS If you want a holiday destination with a difference, go to www.holidays-morocco.co.uk or call us on +44 1635 247192
Filed Under: Beach Front Villas, Holidays in Morocco, Morocco Holiday, travel in Morocco, Travel Tips Tagged With: , , , ,

Djemaa el Fna – The Main Square – Marrakesh

March 8, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Many visitors to Morocco travel to several destinations – usually Marrakesh for the bustle of a city, then to Agadir for a beach holiday.

One of the absolute must see places is The Main Square or Djemaa el Fna in the old city. The Square is right on the edge of the Souk, so most tourists end up here.

During the day, it is filled with snake charmers, water seller and stalls, but during the night it transforms into a great place to eat – with many food stalls cooking fresh food for you as you wait.

Story tellers, magicians and musicians fill the Square, making this a real spectacle.

Just be aware of your valuables – children often “bump” into you and any unguarded items tend to go missing! There is a strong but discrete police presence to minimise this, but it happens.

If you take photos, expect to have to pay the subject – especially the snake charmers. They seem to have eagle eyes and will send their boys to get money from you. I took a shot with a very long lens and was spotted from at least 100 metres – so it cost me 10 pence!

Snake Charmers in Djemaa el Fna

Coaches run from Marrakesh to Agadir 4 times per day, but it is advisable to book the day before as the buses get very busy – cost is about £8 one way – a true bargain – and take about 5 hours.

Filed Under: Holidays in Morocco, Marrakesh, Morocco Holiday, Souks, Villas in Morocco Tagged With: , , ,
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