The Zenith. Where to start? This place was supposed to be close to the airport... nobody’s fault but mine: it isn’t, and they could give a rat’s rear how you get there from the airport. When the person I called there told me that I should talk to the cabby and try to negotiate a good price I should have known what was in store. Mind you, it was 2am, nearly no one at the airport spoke anything other than Arabic and French and there was a very thick hustle to get these dumb Americans in my cab situation going on as soon as we stepped out into the night air. Looking back, I could have simply been more trusting, but at the time the only word for the whole fiasco would be scary.

No data plan in Morocco! I could have sworn when I called ATT before leaving the states I told the agent we’d be spending time there also, he didn’t mention there’d be no service in Morocco (or to be fair, only $20/MB service).

There was no cute little tourist stand in the Casablanca airport... no maps or hints about transportation.

So we waited for a cab for 200Dh instead of 250Dh (the currency out there is about 10 to 1 for the US Dollar) and drove off into the night in the dark. In the total dark.

We finally got to our destination and what was scary about the cabby (and an old man that rode with us... his other fare) melted into what was just different.

When we got into the Zenith what was kindness melted into what is inept. Smiles and sorry’s alone aren’t service at 2am when your room has been paid for via Orbitz and you’re dying for sleep and one of you is coming down with a nasty cold. “Okay fine, charge me again, just give me a room key already!” Be careful what you ask for. We got the nastiest room... I wonder if it was their worst. Visibly dirty sheets (stuff on the edges)... towels that have apparently never seen bleach, warm thick cigarette smoke stained air. Worse outside the window, nothing but concrete and air-conditioner fans. A hatch with hand prints and no lock above the toilet. A shower that drains a puddle out onto the floor. Lights and AC that only come on when you put the room key into a slot on the wall (which would have been fine if they’d told us that at the front desk). Lamps in the room that don’t work because they have nowhere to plug in. Dark hallways that light up via motion sensor 3 feet in front of you, to illuminate stained carpet and walls. One of two elevators busted. Roaches in the Lobby. Don’t bother calling the lobby for anything. I prayed against bedbugs... might have slept in clothes too... can’t remember.

There was a continental breakfast (essential because the Zenith is in the middle of no where)... the soup and pan au chocolate made it work for me.... everything else was highly questionable.

Word of advice: Skip Casablanca. Everyone knows you don’t want to vacation there, but what I’m saying is SKIP it... don’t even fly into Casablaca. Both Fez and Marrakech have airports. And unless you’ve done something wrong and wish to punish yourself, don’t visit the Zenith.