Xaluca Arfoud

Our Gate1 group had a huge buffet spread, with table after table of carefully prepared dishes made with fresh ingredients. The desserts were just as lovely to look at and delicious. I definitely ate too much, and I doubt I’ll get to enjoy food like that again. It really felt like their way of showing love. The property is spacious and beautifully decorated, and the staff clearly know hospitality. We loved our room’s Moroccan touches, the teapot, and the cozy beds. Such a magical place.

Xaluca is the travel agency to go with for an incredible experience in Marocco. Don’t miss the chance to have an unforgettable one. This is also one of the best places to stay in Arfoud, with excellent service and real attention to detail.

KASBAH HOTEL XALUCA sits about 6 km from Arfoud, the city known as the gateway to the desert. It’s right at the Sahara’s edge, in a pleasantly authentic Moroccan style. The desert has a mysterious feel and plenty of opportunities to explore the area. Staying here is a good way to experience its adventure and excitement.

The building and setting were the best parts for me. It looks really cool, the ambiance is special, and the roof has a great view over the surrounding land. The buffet dinner and breakfast looked good, too. Our room was spacious and striking, with an amazing fossil sink. I would have rated the hotel 4.5 if we hadn’t had the bed bug problem. The room gets one star from me because of that, and service gets two, also because I got food poisoning. The building and location get five. My wife and I both ended up with our legs covered in bites, and when I asked around our tour, we found we weren’t the only ones bitten badly. Three weeks later, the marks were still noticeable. The beds sit low on solid bases, with covers hanging to the floor, and the rooms are dim, which seems like it could make a good environment for bed bugs. Those beds would be hard to treat as they are. They need raised, proper king-size metal frames and bedding that doesn’t reach the floor. Nobody wants the itch and pain from bites. We keep our luggage on raised platforms rather than the floor to avoid carrying bed bugs around, and we reported the issue to the tour company. I also got intense stomach trouble, with vomiting and violent diarrhea. This was the only place we ate, and the timing fit food poisoning, so I guess I drew the short straw. Luckily, nobody else on our tour had the same thing happen. There are lots of cats around. For western visitors, it would be good if the hotel spayed and neutered them, ear-tipped them, and vaccinated them against rabies and other illnesses. Caring for the animals adds to a positive atmosphere when traveling. The hotel could charge an extra $1 per guest and make sure the cats were looked after. It’s a shame we paid for the bed bug kasbah, but that’s water under the bridge now. I hope other guests have a better experience.