TUI - stranded me alone in Morocco - beware!

[StrandedbyTUI]

Name changed as still very shaken.
Solo female traveller to Morocco yesterday. Usually travel independently but chose to use TUI as unfamiliar destination.
No info on transfers except included and info would be available on day of travel,
No info but their ‘help’line assured me the ‘rep’ would be in arrivals.
No rep, no transfer, just nothing except dozens of guys trying to get me to take their taxi.
The ‘help’line (long delay in replying) blithely told me to go into the parking area and look around for a TUI person or EasyJet person - there weren’t any! Was utterly chaotic with guys trying to help’ me with my suitcases and aimlessly wandering about the car park.
Was scary!
There was an official taxi rank so took my chances with that. I was incredibly lucky because all the drivers were heading home (Ramadan) but one kindly agreed to take me.
No idea what to do if he hadn’t -there were numerous unofficial ones.
Today I saw the rep at the hotel and he claimed to know nothing about it.
Obviously will take up with TUI but was an utter waste to book with them -would have been better to have gone independently because zI would have booked a reputable transfer. And lucky was not travelling with children or elderly mother (was intending to book a TUI cruise this year for her and me - luckily hadn’t booked it yet and won’t - she would have been utterly distressed by this.
So… if you are booked with TUI /beware -at best they really aren’t worth the premium of paying for a ‘package’ , and at worst you might be stranded in a dangerous situation.

Getting a taxi from an airport isn't a dangerous situation.

We always use Tui for Cyprus and as soon as we come out the arrivals, there are loads of reps there, never had a problem

not dangerous maybe but certainly stressful and likely to be scammed in many destinations.

Do you have the TUI app?

TUI always communicate with me through the app, e.g. I’ll get a notification to tell me where the transfer is waiting for us at the airport

Did you fly into Marrakech?

Agree the arrivals is slightly chaotic but any of the travel reps outside would help you find the right person. There's always loads with signs and flags.

It was Agadir. Yes it was dangerous because there were numerous men touting. And the helpline on the app was useless just told me to look for a rep -there was no rep. And as I said -the official drivers are all going home. The airport was closing.

Same here.

We always use Tui, my son and I have severe disabilities and blue badges and one of the perks of booking with Tui is they give us free private transfers. Never had an issue, but I’m really sorry to hear this hasn’t been the case in your situation.

As I said -the app did not have the information obviously I had checked that and, as I said, had also asked them specifically in advance.
Anyway if you think it is trivial by all means ignore my post - just would like anyone else to avoid this situation as I will by not using them again.

Numerous men touting aren't inherently dangerous. If you can't handle getting a taxi from an airport without feeling completely overwhelmed then you're probably better off in a more familiar country. You weren't stranded.
Tui will refund your missed transfer I'm sure, but you are massively over reacting.

Same happened to me but through On The Beach. Flew into Marrakesh, was told not to approach anyone unless they were holding a sign with my name on. There was no one holding a sign, plenty of other transfer companies holding signs but not mine. Several people waiting for a transfer had the same problem with the same transfer company. People everywhere, randomers claiming to be taxi drivers. Next time I will book my own private transfer.

I always use Tui because I have disabilities and they’re the travel company that treats disabled people best ime. I’ve not had a taxi from them in a few years, because we tend to hire a car now, but when we did it was always easy and very smooth

This all sounds a bit dramatic but tbh I wouldn’t travel to Morocco as a lone female anyway.

I've not been to Agadir but I have travelled with Tui before and I've never had a problem with their transfers or the information they provided. I can only guess something went wrong with your particular transfer for some reason they weren't there (who know coach broke down - delayed at a previous collection point - could of been anything)
I understand for you this was a stressful situation - but just commenting that Tui have always proved reliable on my travels.

They will refund the taxi fare but that is not the point. My transfer was ‘included’ hence why they probably aren’t too bothered about arranging it.
Of course I am capable of travelling in an other country and usually do -but it is just not worth paying for a tour operator -I could have organised something more reliable myself, and will in future.

Yeah I would have thought the type of lone female happy to travel to Morocco alone wouldn't also be the type to get stressed over getting a taxi.

I have travelled quite a lot with TUI as they go from our local airport. I have never had this happen and I have been to Agadir with them. Make sure to fill out a complaint form with the rep because if you don’t they will ask you why you didn’t when you come back.

I think the issue is OP had chosen Tui package to avoid the stress of being hassled at the airport. She would have arranged a hotel pick up or booked in advance if she didn’t have the Tui package. It doesn’t mean she’s not capable of travelling on her own!

Seems like a massive over reaction, these men are people just trying to earn some money, support their families. It's the same when you arrive in many none European countries where it's harder to earn a living. If you chose to travel somewhere like Morocco you have to expect it to be a different experience to landing in Europe.

yes, some are earning money for their family and some will try to scam you and can be quite aggressive. Having a transfer included avoids any unnecessary unpleasantness @TeamGeriatric

You clearly have no idea how many women are raped and assaulted in taxis.

Also, if they said they would be there, they should have been there.

Moroccan airports are like this for everyone as the reps aren’t legally allowed apparently into the airport concourse or forecourt - hence all the signs of the travel companies outside . Taking a taxi was fine so I guess if your point was communication was poor than fair enough but not sure no agree with everything else you are saying .

We booked an exclusive hotel (I say this for contact as wasn’t an hole in the wall place) and were to be met by a rep and it was chaotic at best. All normal from our experience. We felt very safe in Morocco on our travels.

I can sympathise, OP. I
am entirely used to getting off at cruise ports with my dc and grabbing a taxi to whichever sight/attraction we have chosen. But Naples was an eye opener - guys trying to grab my little dd and lead her to a taxi so we had to follow, heckled and jostled from all directions. Next time we got off there I booked an excursion via the cruise ship, although we usually make our own way with no anxiety at all. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced and very unsettling

Oh fgs. How many women are assaulted in taxis? An absolutely tiny amount in relation to trups taken.

A failed transfer is not being 'left stranded'. A taxi from an airport to a hotel is not a 'dangerous situation'. Of course transfer should have been there. But this post is a massive overreaction.

Where did everyone else off of your flight go? Was it not a chartered TUI flight?

It is in some parts of the world. Have you been to Puerto Rico? They have government officers in uniform at the airport just to put tourists safely into official taxis and give them a form with the correct fare written on it. The doors lock automatically as you pull away.