We returned in the early hours of this morning after our 10 break at this hotel. We were met with rain on our arrival on the 21st April and a pretty grotty Thomson flight! Two hours waiting for guests to get through customs and find their coaches and we were met with a fairly slow but very pleasant reception staff and a nice welcome drink. We were taken to our room which was fine, needing a refub but absolutely fine.
In the hours we were met with the maids cleaning their flours up and down the corridor outside and the maids chatting as we were right by the stair well. We asked to move rooms and it was absolutely fine, not a problem at all, a very pleasant manager arranged an upstairs room on other side and it was peaceful.
We were amazed how fantastic the staff were, nothing was too much trouble, from reception to bar staff to waiters,etc all went out of their way.
We thought the food was a good standard as always at rui, yes by the 10th night it was a little the same, but thats all inclusive, it was excellent standard, and a wonderful chef greeted us each night.
We booked through the rep two trips one to the water fall which was average, saw the monkeys and the waterfall and an average meal out . The other was the coast of Essaurioa, which we really enjoyed, and saw a womens argan oil project, a wood factory, and a couple of hours in resort, could have done with more free time there as the wood factory wasn't everyones' cup of tea. But a great day.
We loved hopping on the shuttle bus and taxi for 50 dm back to the hotel, they will try and say more, but if you are firm and say we pay 50 and walk away they follow you and then i give a tip as well. Souk buying was fun at times and others were a bit scarey but we felt safe wandering around although my "golden haired" daughter caused quite a stir, and we chose to cover up totally out of respect to the culture but others walked round in mini's and bare arms. Take plenty of scarves to drape round shoulders and long skirt/trousers/dress.
We had a lovely interesting holiday and enjoyed the retreat of the pool and excellent hospitality, of the hotel. The weather was in the 30's when we were there, so high factor needed and a take plenty with you! Take packs of immodium we needed it most days! Water is provided at reception large bottles to take to your fridge in your room. Some other guests booked trips for cheaper with reception and had equally a great time but we had already paid the rep by then.
Very cramped sun loungers, and they are all reserved around the pool by 8am with towels, and squashed with no room to walk inbetween.
The only let down for me was the spa experience, we were sold a package of a rub down and mud, with warm wrap and 50 minute massage via the rep which was cheaper, but we only had the rub down, mud and massage, and one woman was doing us (3 of us), like a conveyor belt, she was asking for help and it didnt arrive, the massage for the 3 of us, were not brilliant, wasnt 50 minutes more like 25 with lying there on your own for 25 mins with cotten balls on your eyes. My masseur fiddled with radio , chatted to her friend whilst trying to massage me, it was awful, and my daughter had her masseur on her phone....! Two the masseurs then asked us to tip them not put it in the 'share box' at reception which made us feel uncomfortable especially as we were not happy with the interuptions to our massage experience.
All in all we had a lovely overall holiday.
Down side due to Thomson, broken chairs, cramped flight don't know whats happened to the flight seating but it really lets the experience down and would now consider booking alternative holidays and not using the Thomsons flights, it used to be so good!
