Yalah Surf - Hostel

It was easy to rest for the next surf day in this quiet, clean, comfortable hostel. The owner, manager, and staff all did their best to support us and make the stay wonderful. I'm grateful for my time there and will definitely return. My three-day surf stay in Taghazout was a great choice after traveling around the country. The day began with sunrise yoga on the rooftop, then a tasty breakfast at the big communal tables where everyone chatted. Organized rides took us to good surf spots in and outside the city. The instructors were funny, kind, patient, and clearly passionate about teaching us to catch waves. They did their best to give everyone a great experience. The food was tasty and healthy each day, and they even delivered lunch packs to the beach where we surfed. In the evenings, there were different trips or another chance to relax with rooftop yoga.

My boyfriend said the surf lesson was fine. That's about the only good thing I can say. I almost never leave bad reviews, but this was the worst part of our Morocco trip, and I want to warn anyone thinking of staying here. We encountered animal cruelty, bed bugs, an unfriendly staff member, and dirty rooms, all at a high price by Moroccan standards. When we arrived in Taghazout, we waited 40 minutes for someone to show us to the hostel. It turned out to be Adventurekeys, which Google marks as "closed" for some reason. My review is about that place. Our room wasn't clean: there was a dead cockroach on the floor and mold on a wall. We often stay in lower-standard places, but for 140 euros total for two nights for two people plus one surf lesson for one person, this was not acceptable. We did like the terrace and main chill-out area, and the food was good. The breakfast didn't seem "healthy," as the website claims. The extra trips on the schedule only go ahead if at least eight people want to join. There was also a problem with hot water in the shower, and after reception closed at 8 p.m. there was no way to get it fixed. The next day, while my boyfriend was surfing and I was still at the hostel, I planned to join the group later. The surf teacher wasn't very polite and didn't seem keen to tell me where they were going. They wanted 10 euros for a car ride to the beach, so I decided to walk. As I was getting ready, I heard someone beating the dog that lives there through the window. The dog had been barking. It was a staff member, the driver, and the dog's owner, hitting it with a large piece of wood to "calm it down." I yelled for him to stop, but he ignored me. I understand cultural differences, but to me cruelty and violence are unacceptable, especially given the nature-loving image they present on their website. We told our contact person, though I'm not sure it will help the dog. We left feeling these weren't good people. My boyfriend thought the surf lessons were okay. We met some really cool attendees, and lunch at the beach was nice. But the next morning I woke up covered in horribly itchy bites, which later turned out to be bed bugs. We had to fight them for the rest of our time in Morocco because we obviously didn't want to bring them home. That evening my boyfriend got sick, and I strongly suspect the food there, since some other guests were sick too. We left with a huge sense of relief, bad memories, and bed bugs. Luckily, our wonderful adventures afterward saved the holiday, but I still wish I could forget this Surf Hostel.

The food was tasty, and the teachers really look after you. You can learn to surf very quickly, since they take you to good spots with lots of waves. Great hosting, and I'd recommend this place. I'll come back for sure. Best regards to Lahoucien, the best teacher ever!

We had a great time, especially having dinner together on the terrace with its amazing view. The food was good, and the staff were friendly and helpful. We did expect more from the surf coaching, though. The coaches seemed pretty disorganized.