“Working with Hands Up Holidays to coordinate our TOMS volunteer trip in South Africa was a great experience.
“We had wanted to give back in some way and rather than take just another wonderful trip, we contacted Hands Up Holidays about mixing vacation with volunteering.
Our trip was wonderful. It really felt planned to the most minute detail without being overly planned, which was perfect. The best part by far was the volunteering. I could have done that for the entire trip!
Our guide was exceptional. Everyone, everywhere was exceptionally pleasant. It makes coming home to the states feel like a rude shock.
“It is hard to know where to start, as the whole trip was filled with such great experiences. First of all, I must commend your guides, Hassan and Abdellah, who went above and beyond, and then further still, to try to make our vacation enjoyable and fulfilling. What a pleasure it was to spend time with such interesting people. We talked about everything from Algerian politics to the poetry of Baudelaire. They always treated us more like friends than clients. To see Morocco with them was a truly enriching experience that would be hard to replicate, even on the most expensive tour. Despite the fact that we were there for such a short time, they found a way to take us up into the mountains and on an overnight trip to the coast. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing these areas.
Working on the project and staying with the local family was an equally wonderful experience. The family was so hospitable and made us welcome in every way. It was fascinating to be part of such a different way of life. Our host, Abderrahim, tried to make sure that we felt included in every stage of the work. It was great fun to interact with the teachers and the children, and we only wished that we could have stayed longer with them. It was so sad to leave, but I am trying to get together a large box of school supplies to send to them. I think of the village and the school every day. The riad in Marrakech was wonderful, full of charm and atmosphere, and ideally located. The riad in Essaouira was also very comfortable, and we loved looking out at the beach.