2 days ago
French Tourists Stranded After 5-Star Hotel Overbooking in Morocco
Several French tourists arrived in Morocco expecting a luxury escape, only to discover that their hotel had no rooms available.
According to the French media outlet Le Parisien, the incident affected dozens of travelers over the past two weeks.
Dylan, a 21-year-old student, traveled with his parents and his partner to Taghazout. They had booked a stay at the White Beach, a five-star-adults-only hotel promising Atlantic-view pools and 'ultra all-inclusive' service. Each paid around 1,000 euros.
Upon arrival on July 31, the group waited for a bus to take them to the hotel. They soon overheard a heated discussion between another traveler and an agency representative. When they asked for an explanation, they were told the hotel had overbooked.
The representative suggested the Palais des Roses in Agadir as an alternative, assuring them that the only difference was the presence of children and that the hotel had recently been renovated.
Dylan quickly realized that 20 to 30 travelers faced the same fate that day, while around 50 had experienced it the week before.
Faced with the risk of losing their bookings during the tourist season, most accepted the transfer.
Dylan described the Palais des Roses as 'family-oriented, noisy, damp, under renovation, without a private beach.' Attempts to reach the agency in France failed.
'Lies and manipulation'
The White Beach later explained that it had only allocated ten rooms per week to Ôvoyages, a travel agency, over the past two weeks.
Samia Guenaoui Benslimane, director of Ôvoyages, told Le Parisien, 'We have proof that these rooms were paid in advance. The hotel told us their system malfunctioned and overbooking occurred. I do not know if this information is true or false.'
After a tense confrontation, the travelers remained at the Palais des Roses. The agency initially promised a refund and later proposed a move to the four-star Riu, but the offer disappeared.
Dylan shared his experience on LinkedIn, describing the situation as 'lies, manipulation, and attempts to make us sign documents giving up our right to reimbursement.'
Guenaoui Benslimae insisted that solutions had been found for other travelers and said she wants to reach 'an amicable resolution' for the remaining guests.
According to Le Parisien, while no formal complaint has been filed, some travelers remain dissatisfied. Tags: French touristsMoroccooverbookingTourism
