Auberge Hostel Traditionnel

We booked just one night and arrived around 9 p.m. The owner was waiting for us and seemed a little drunk, but at first he was warm and welcoming. He offered tea and biscuits, and we had a long, pleasant talk about Berber life and how hard he’d worked to build the small hostel. I relaxed after hearing his stories. Later, while we were getting food ready for the next day, he asked my partner to drive him to the nearest shop for cigarettes and cola for his whiskey. My partner agreed to help. When we got back, we said we were exhausted and going to bed, while the owner stayed up drinking. In the middle of the night, he tried to get into our room. I’d locked the door with the key, so he couldn’t enter, but he banged on it and said things we couldn’t understand because he was heavily drunk. We were terrified and had no idea what he wanted. I first wondered if he’d run out of alcohol and wanted my partner to take him back to the shop. Eventually he stopped hitting the door and went downstairs, where he kept talking loudly to himself and acting in a frightening way. I couldn’t sleep again, afraid he’d return or try to break in. At dawn, we were just waiting to leave. He acted completely normal and kind again in the morning, as he had when we arrived. He didn’t mention the night, and neither did we because we wanted to get out as soon as possible. He was already drinking early that morning. We checked his bottle and saw there was still alcohol in it, so we don’t believe he’d tried to enter our room because he needed more. I can’t explain what happened. He seemed exceptionally kind at first, then completely lost control during the night. It’s clear to us that he has serious problems with alcohol, though we don’t know what he wanted from us. I spent a long time wondering whether to write this because I didn’t want to hurt him with a negative review. But as a traveler, I’d want to know if a place felt safe. That’s why I’m sharing our experience. It was one of the most traumatizing nights of my life, and we were extremely disappointed.

Really clean, with traditional food and lovely people. One of the best places in tamtatocht. I’ll come back. Thanks so much for the hospitality.

Jawad was attentive from the start, offering mint tea, biscuits, and nuts when we arrived and again in the afternoons if we wanted them. He also cooks lovely tajines and couscous. We had music after our meal, and there was a chance to join in on the tams tams. I’d recommend this Auberge without hesitation.

They picked me up in the middle of the night and were incredibly welcoming. The couple speak French and English, and helped me plan a nice cycling route for the next day. The place was very clean, with European toilets, warm showers, and good food.