"Beautiful beachfront hotel in Agadir. Very good overall, but a few service processes need improving
Overall I would recommend the hotel. I would rate it around 4.2 out of 5.
It is a very good hotel with a beautiful beachfront location, friendly staff, good food, spacious rooms and a premium feel.
However, there are a few areas where the hotel could improve, especially around service processes, bar ordering, taxis and family room preparation.
Actual issues experienced:
The main issues we experienced were NOT because the staff were rude. In fact, most staff were very friendly and polite. The problem was more around inconsistent processes and communication.
1. We travelled with a child and waited around 90 minutes for the additional bed to be provided. After travelling for around 9 hours, this was particularly frustrating as we were tired and simply wanted to go to bed. With a child, this delay felt even more difficult and should ideally have been prepared before arrival or resolved much quicker.
2. The bar service also needs improving. On 3 out of 6 occasions, staff did not write down our order and then forgot to bring or serve the drinks. In a 5-star hotel, you do not expect this level of inconsistency, especially for something as basic as drink service. The process felt outdated and long-winded. Staff take the order verbally, tell the manager, the manager inputs it into the computer, a ticket is created, and then staff carry out the order.
This system seemed to create avoidable mistakes. We were also incorrectly charged on three occasions. The staff were polite, but the ordering process itself needs to be more reliable.
3. There were also a few moments where staff did not seem to have the right information. I asked reception for help making a restaurant reservation, partly because the restaurant offered a pick-up service and had connections with the hotel. One person told me I had to do it myself, but another member of staff then came out and said concierge could help. Another staff member also did not know the timetable or menu for the buffet restaurant, which made it harder to plan dinner.
Suggestions for improvement:
1. The unheated pool should really be heated, or at least made warmer. It was absolutely freezing. Some guests were swimming in it, and it may suit people used to colder water, but for families and children it was too cold.
The heated pool makes a big difference, but the heated area is one depth and is not ideal for children who cannot swim confidently. The unheated pool has different depth sections, which would be much better for families if it was heated.
2. The bedded sun loungers are comfortable, but they need better overhead shade. The sun can be very harsh and I had to tie the side curtains overhead to stop us from burning. A proper overhead cover would make this area much more practical.
3. The hotel or concierge team should also consider working more closely with the local taxi drivers to protect guests from being overcharged. On two occasions, we overpaid for the official taxi service. On another occasion, one driver became aggressive when I refused to pay what he asked.
This was frustrating because the official taxis and pre-booked drivers are the only ones allowed, or given permission, to come to the front entrance. As a guest, you naturally assume this is the safer and more controlled option.
Location:
Approx 30-45min from airport via coach transfer, probably quicker by private taxi.
The location is one of the hotel’s biggest strengths. It is one of the last resorts along this part of the Agadir beachfront and has a calm, premium feel.
Unlike some other nearby hotels, the bar leads directly out onto the beach rather than requiring you to cross the promenade. This makes a big difference to the experience, especially if you want a hotel that feels properly connected to the beach.
There is another Sofitel next door, which guests can also visit, but Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea & Spa feels like the newer and more modern option.
You can also see why people staying in other hotels come here for food and drinks. The setting is lovely, the beach access is excellent, and the hotel has a polished feel that makes it one of the nicer places to spend time in the area.
Nearby: There is nothing immediately close to the hotel, so sometimes you feel like you want to stay at the hotel. I would recommend taking a taxi 5min uphill where there is a large shopping centre and McDonald’s, or to nearby area which has 4 highly recommended restaurants (Near Vitamix resturant) and and ice cream parlour. Then is just a 15min walk back (downhill).
There are 2 pubs near by, where you can get beer pints for 60 MAD - 15min walk up the promenade
Rooms:
The rooms are spacious and comfortable. A top tip would be to try and get a room overlooking the pool. If you are on the ground floor, the back of your room leads directly out into the hotel grounds, which is useful.
The only thing I did not like about the room layout was that the wash basin area is not fully walled off from the bedroom. This means if someone turns on the light or brushes their teeth while others are sleeping, it can wake them up.
Restaurants and food:
Food was one of the stronger parts of the stay. There are three main food and drink areas, each with a different purpose.
The main restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner only. Both are buffet style. Our breakfast was included and I would say it is worth having, especially because there are not many local cafés or restaurants very close by.
Breakfast was very good. There were fresh pancakes, Moroccan options such as shakshuka, hot dishes, fruit, porridge, dairy-free milks including oat and almond, and a small gluten-free section with cakes, cereal and pancakes. There was also a large bread and pastry selection.
The evening buffet in the main restaurant was around 400 MAD per person (30-40£), less for children.
The main bar opens in the evening only and serves Spanish tapas-style food.
The beach bar serves a lunch buffet and then an evening bar menu with dishes such as pasta, pizza and burgers. The beach bar food was also very good, and we were told the chef had worked in two Michelin-starred restaurants.
Drinks: are expensive. A bottle of beer was around 80 MAD, which is roughly £6 to £8. It does come served with a frosted glass, which is a nice touch. I would avoid buying drinks from the open pool bar if possible, as the same items appeared to cost around 5 MAD more and, because it is near the pool, drinks were mainly served in cans with plastic glasses.
Pool, gym and spa:
The pool areas are nice, but as mentioned, the unheated pool was too cold for us. The heated pool was much more usable, but less suitable for children who are not confident swimmers because of the single-depth layout.
The gym is adequate if you want to keep training while on holiday. It has enough for a basic workout, although the free weights only go up to 26kg, which may be limiting for some.
I did not use the spa, but it did look very nice and has an indoor pool. From what I saw, it was approximately 300 MAD, around £30, for one hour. However, there are spas out in Agadir where you can get a hammam, scrub and massage for around £30 for two hours. It depends whether you want the convenience of using the hotel spa or better value outside the resort.
Overall:
Overall, this is a stylish and well-located beachfront hotel with good food, friendly staff, spacious rooms and a lovely setting.
I would stay here again and would recommend it, especially if you want a calm, premium hotel directly on the beach in Agadir.
It is not perfect, but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.
For me, it sits around 4.2 out of 5. With better bar processes, quicker family room preparation, improved pool usability and better support around taxis, this could easily feel like a 5 out of 5 stay"
