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.

Don’t know about Agadir, but been to Marrakesh in January. It’s chaotic, but actually very safe. We booked the transfer with the Riad.

I’ve been to Morocco as a lone female - local women generally don’t travel alone there and no, it’s not the same as other places.

i had a taxi driver motion for me to give him oral sex while taking me to my hotel and I actually got out of another taxi and had to walk in 45 degree heat because the driver was putting his hand on my thigh (through trousers, I was not exposed).

I’ve been to many places in Asia and Europe and I never felt anywhere near as unsafe and vulnerable as I did there. Men follow you everywhere trying to talk to you and can be quite aggressive, it’s intimidating.

Yes, really. I don't drink, so I can drive myself home any time. I don't really go out these days, not on nights out that require getting home by myself. When I was younger, I'd get the night bus, it felt safer to me than taxis - being stuck in a car with one man, no thank you. I'd go out in trainers and run the short distance home from the bus stop. Only once did I feel unsafe on that run home, and I nipped into someone's garden and hid til I felt the potential danger had passed/recouped my energy for my sprint home.

Abroad, I usually use public transport, or if it's a package, the airport coach. And I'd be with my family, not on my own.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Worboys

100%. Some people think they're sounding big and just showing their lack of solo travel experience. I go to South Africa twice a year for work and have navigated Cape Town airport plenty of times but like hell would I get in a random taxi alone. I use the same company prebooked every time, I know the owner and have him on Whatsapp, great guy, if he can't come himself he sends a woman driver. It sounds very unsettling OP, glad you were okay.

I am sorry to hear this. I hope you are putting in a complaint with TUI, you could tell them you contribute to an online holiday website and will not be giving a favourable review. For the safety of yourself and future clients this needs sorting by TUI .They have been disgraceful. I was pleased to hear you got back safely to your hotel.

OP I travel a lot and would have been unnerved in this situation . Surprised at some of the responses here .