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Original poster

TUI - stranded me alone in Morocco - beware!

81 replies

StrandedbyTUI · 14/03/2025 10:57

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.

OP posts:
InMyMNEra · 14/03/2025 14:30

Upsetbetty · 14/03/2025 14:16

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

Good question 😂

dairydebris · 14/03/2025 14:36

Zanzara · 14/03/2025 14:29

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.

Show quote history

Whats the relevance? Op wasn't in Puerto Rico. She was in Agadir, there were plenty of taxis, including official ones, she managed to get to her hotel uninjured. It's no big deal.
For what it's worth I've arrived on my own in Guatemala City, Manila, Marrakech, Fez, and many many others and never had a problem getting a taxi. Getting a taxi from an airport to a hotel is very basic. It's not 'being stranded'.

Velmy · 14/03/2025 14:40

There's nothing dangerous about Agadir airport. It's no different from any number of holiday destination airports when it comes to people trying to take your bags etc. Just say no, and get a cab.

If you can't handle that you really shouldn't be solo traveling.

TheJoanCollins · 14/03/2025 15:25

I can understand that you are shaken and a bit p*ssed off with Tui, but the final paragraph of your original post is a bit over the top.
As pps have said, Tui are usually pretty good. We fly regularly with them (Europe and long haul) and the transfer info has always been available on the app.
You’ve had a bad experience with them, but to say that this is normal practice for the company is incorrect.

ItsReallyOnlyMe · 14/03/2025 15:29

Some of the posters on this thread have not been kind!

The OP was alerting everyone to a situation so they don’t find themselves in a similar one. The OP does not need people to tell them it was not a big deal.

I too would have been annoyed at Tui for promising something that wasn’t delivered.

Getting into a stranger’s car on your own as a female especially abroad, involves completely trusting the driver to get you to the right place safely. Yes, most of the time it’s fine - but there’s always a nagging doubt and an official Tui representative there would have eliminated this.

MumChp · 14/03/2025 15:42

StrandedbyTUI · 14/03/2025 11:09

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.

Why holiday in a country which you consider dangerous?

YaWeeFurryBastard · 14/03/2025 16:12

I see the arseholes are out in force as usual on this thread. I can only imagine most of them have never left Western Europe or travelled without their parents or “hubby”.

Of course you were scared of getting into a taxi in a foreign country as a solo female, only an idiot wouldn’t be and of course you booked a TUI transfer to avoid the stress of a potentially unsafe situation. Not acceptable from TUI to leave you without transport, I’d be pissed off and I don’t usually travel alone.

YaWeeFurryBastard · 14/03/2025 16:14

MumChp · 14/03/2025 15:42

Why holiday in a country which you consider dangerous?

Show quote history

What a stupid question. We’ve been to a few amazing destinations where I’d consider it dangerous to get in a non pre-booked car outside the airport.

Shubbypubby · 14/03/2025 16:37

I’ve always used Jet2 and found them very good.

Upsetbetty · 14/03/2025 16:38

YaWeeFurryBastard · 14/03/2025 16:12

I see the arseholes are out in force as usual on this thread. I can only imagine most of them have never left Western Europe or travelled without their parents or “hubby”.

Of course you were scared of getting into a taxi in a foreign country as a solo female, only an idiot wouldn’t be and of course you booked a TUI transfer to avoid the stress of a potentially unsafe situation. Not acceptable from TUI to leave you without transport, I’d be pissed off and I don’t usually travel alone.

Did they leave her though or did she just not read signs and follow to the transfer that takes her to the resort, surely she wasn’t the only person flying. Usually it’s the whole plane and they get on the same transfer and it drops them at their hotel? I’ve missed these shuttles before, albeit there was another about an hour later but usually that’s how TUI work.

MissyB1 · 14/03/2025 17:58

Shubbypubby · 14/03/2025 16:37

I’ve always used Jet2 and found them very good.

I was going to say the same thing, out of Tui or Jet2 I would travel Jet2 every time.

FortyElephants · 14/03/2025 18:00

StrandedbyTUI · 14/03/2025 11:09

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.

It's really annoying that you didn't get your transfer sure but the airport wasn't closing and taxis are taxis - plenty of taxi drivers would have been working 24/7 and they are no riskier to get in than any other taxi. In the circumstances you were in, assuming you had the hotel address, it shouldn't have been a big deal just to get into a taxi and suck it up. You weren't at risk.

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 14/03/2025 19:09

dairydebris · 14/03/2025 10:58

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

Have you ever been to Morocco ?

dairydebris · 14/03/2025 19:22

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 14/03/2025 19:09

Have you ever been to Morocco ?

Show quote history

Yes, twice to Marrakech ( once on my own, once with female friend ) and once to Fez with my boyfriend. Took a taxi every time as wasnt on a package. Why?

I think the op has mistaken an unfamiliar, somewhat chaotic, loud, colorful and totally typical travel situation for a dangerous one.

The creepiest feelings I've actually ever had about taxis has been in London, probably because I've taken more there. On one occasion I felt the need to stay on phone constantly and get out at a busy place.

The op was not in danger, and was not stranded. That's all.

Tequilamockinbird · 14/03/2025 19:58

There were no TUI reps in arrivals? Where did the rest of the people on your flight go?

SardinesOnGingerbread · 14/03/2025 20:13

Woman posts on predominantly female internet platform that she felt at risk in a specific situation. 90% of responses along the lines of she's over reacting, how ridiculous, you weren't in any danger. So much for the sisterhood. You weren't in that specific situation, you don't know what social or environmental cues she was picking up on that raised her concern.

ForPoliteHam · 14/03/2025 20:32

SardinesOnGingerbread · 14/03/2025 20:13

Woman posts on predominantly female internet platform that she felt at risk in a specific situation. 90% of responses along the lines of she's over reacting, how ridiculous, you weren't in any danger. So much for the sisterhood. You weren't in that specific situation, you don't know what social or environmental cues she was picking up on that raised her concern.

Just because someone feels it was 'dangerous' to have to ask for her own taxi doesn't mean the rest of us have to fawn over her in agreement.

A sisterhood doesn't mean agreeing with ridiculous hyperbole a out being 'unsafe'. Or are women not allowed to disagree with each other?

bostonchamps · 14/03/2025 21:27

YaWeeFurryBastard · 14/03/2025 16:12

I see the arseholes are out in force as usual on this thread. I can only imagine most of them have never left Western Europe or travelled without their parents or “hubby”.

Of course you were scared of getting into a taxi in a foreign country as a solo female, only an idiot wouldn’t be and of course you booked a TUI transfer to avoid the stress of a potentially unsafe situation. Not acceptable from TUI to leave you without transport, I’d be pissed off and I don’t usually travel alone.

Tf are you talking about. I travel outside of Western Europe without 'hubby' all the time and having to sort myself a transfer to a hotel has yet to end in me being abducted, raped or murdered. I just either order an uber if available, or go to the taxi rank. I'm a grown woman, not a fairy who breaks easily.

Do you know how many people land in Agadir a day? Do you think they're all being ushered safely into cars booked by 'western' travel companies?

CaribbeanCupcake · 14/03/2025 22:06

don't expect anything back from TUI- you'll be lucky to even get a half arsed apology. I will never book with them ever again! Worst company I've ever dealt with

GettingOlderandBetter · 15/03/2025 07:40

So where did all the other passengers that were on your flight go? There must have been transfers arranged because these are normally part of a package and there would have been a rep with the coaches. If you arranged a private transfer I wouldn’t think you would have a rep there just for you tbh.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 15/03/2025 07:56

If you'd have done what you normally do and travelled independently, what would you have done differently to get to your hotel from the airport?

XelaM · 15/03/2025 07:58

The people on this thread making snarky remarks about the OP are being purposely obtuse for the sake of it. The situation OP describes is absolutely scary and she could have been in danger going with one of the taxi touts. My friend is a very experienced lone-traveller but was raped by a group of men in broad daylight in South America a few years ago (it made the papers). Anything can happen to lone female travellers which is why it's unacceptable that no TUI rep was there.

jacktheladess · 15/03/2025 08:04

Similar happened to me and my DSis in Jamaica. That was booked with Kuoni, never ever again. It was late, there was no transfer (there should have been) and no rep. Never saw a rep the whole time we were there. We ended up catching a rickety old bus for the 3.5 hour journey and just had to pray we would get there in one piece. It was very frightening, and I was pregnant at the time.

minnienono · 15/03/2025 08:09

TUI always has reps but different airports make them wait in different places, they will have lanyards and clipboards. The fact you didn’t see the reps for easyJet holidays either makes me think you didn’t find the reps area. The holiday companies have to set up where they are told.

did you not spot the coach park? I just head towards that if I haven’t seen the reps inside as the bus rep will have a list of transport allocations

Oblomov25 · 15/03/2025 08:12

Complaining to big companies like TUI is pointless, because you barely get a weak apology email.

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