Thanks very much for all the information.

The Conways.

Hi Everyone,

The e-mail address of Iman in the syndicate office is  jawhara_smir@hotmail.fr

Thanks

Denise

Had an e-mail from Iman in the Syndicate office saying the meeting will be on 12th July at 19.00hrs. She wants to hear any complaints and sugestions that anyone may have.

Good Luck

Denise

Hi,

I just got back from JS last week and whilst there got a letter under the door saying the owners meeting is due to be held on the 12th of July.

Oops! Sent that last message by accident. Just a quick question - when exactly is the residents' meeting? Methinks its July 15th but not sure of the time. Hoping to make it over in time but will be quite a dash - doing a plane, bus, ferry trip on the very day from Ireland via Malaga.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a mil.

The Conways.

Hello!!!

Hi Champaine

We recently travelled from Casablanca to Fes by train (4 hours) and then drove from Fes to JS (5 hours). I beleive marrakesh is about 2hrs drive further south from Casablanca.

Hope this is helpful!!

Hi mr Fendi

Good to see you are still alive and well, how are things down in london? how did the mansion go?? sounds an interesting job.  would not mind some of that type of work myself,  although in the present climate any work would be good. we got back from J,S, last month, with regards to the palm tree, i would have to say it is a great feature and at one thousand ding dongs per apartment it's money well spent on this plastic master piece and thank you compass........  just on a different note, i cant believe how good my mobile phone reception was this time, its uncanny!! it was better than being at home.

                   keep in touch, be good to see you there sometime

                                             best regards

                                                            gibbo

Dear All,

We are off tomorrow - by car from Copenhagen - so expect to arrive beginning of next week. We plan to attend the AGM in July whenever it will be held. Have had different information on the timing. However, like last year we will give you a detailed update when we are back end of July.

We will go to pay our community tax. All Moroccans we talk to tell us that the amount will accumulate if you do not pay. But we did not pay last year like you Mark Fendi so in principal we should be charged double + the 10% that they add for every month overdue. - But the ones that went to pay this year were not charged double. So it will be "interesting" - not that we want to pay - on the other hand we se it as a contribution to the society that we are a part of . But maybe Rose is right .... then it is just bad luck for us....My husband will ask about the conditions and we'll update you.

Have a nice summer

Elisabeth and Nabil

Hi All

We have just got back from Jawhara after a couple of days stay - we are buying in Colina Smir. Just reading your messages and I can confirmthat the great palm tree IS a mobile phone mast to replace the red and white towers!! Looks great we were impressed!!

The Barkers

Hi Jose,

I payed my community tax bill last year in september & still have the receipt which gives the following govermental department ' TRESORERIE GENERALE DU ROYAUME' , in  M'DIG...I do n't think it matters if you are late as long as you pay it at some stage in the same year..I will pay this year bill when am there end of next month...My bill was 2223 M.D.

Rgards

Mark

Hi Everyone at  JS

Does anybody know where one has to go to pay the Community tax bill ( normally due before 1st June) ?

Thanks and have a great summer.

best regards

Jose

Hi Everyone,

We have just got back yesterday 19th from JS. and yes our syndicate bill was under the door. The girl in the on site office said that the bills had to be paid asap but did not mention any increases if they were not paid on time.

We discussed with Micah at Vista Rent about the council bill (bins etc) and he said that he understood we were exempt for several years, but clients had had several different replies when they contacted the authorities. His advice was if no bill arrives don't go and volunteer to pay as they will take your money regardless.

At the pool all the sun beds were locked away, when we asked at the syndicate office the girl said that we could only have the sunbeds if our community fees had been paid. This being done she said that normally we could only have two beds but as it was quiet she let us have three, but in the summer there will be a token system in opperation, each apartment has a token , you give it to the sunbed boy and he will let you have two beds, to be returned each night for the token.  I can't see there being enough beds unless they plan to buy more. The syndicate meeting is on 15th July and we have asked that Micah represent us when it takes place.

The shop at the front of phase one has been fitted out with shelves and counters and looks all ready for stocking up and next door looks as if that is being some sort of fast food place again all ready to go.  The supermarket down by the marina entrance has had a refurb and looks well stocked up with the basics.

Also down there near the roundabout there is a form of zebra crossing which was great as that road is really busy, not all the cars stopped each time but it was better than dodging both sets of traffic.

In all everything is looking a lot more tidy, pavements, plants and palms, thenew entrance is being constructed between phase one and two, where the little stage used to be and all the buildings have been repainted.

We went via Madrid/Tangiers and as it was a Saturday flight out we did not have to stay overnight in Madrid, Brian picked us up which was great and although the journey was a bit longer than the ferry route it was certainly more pleasant.

The weather was great , the pool open - the syndicate have said that the pool will be open all year this year and not be emptied early and be re-opened in time for spring school holidays next year. The great Palm Tree had the telecom people working under it so it must be a mast of some sort.

Great trip so I hope you all have a good summer.

Denise and Paul

Just got back (last night) from JS and to clarify, the "Plastic Palm Tree" is in fact not made of plastic, it is metal!

There are a couple around the area and I am sure they are replacements for the red and white telecommunication masks

I have placed a picture in the photos section

I will update on a couple of other bits and bobs later today/this week

Regarding the maintenance fee or "syndicate bill" - phase 1 and 2 are two different things - Phase 1 pay less than we do in Phase 2. I remember this issue was discussed on the AGM last July. Some pointed at the fact that we use each other's pools, whether this is fair or not fair, etc etc.. I don't remember the reason for why they pay less - maybe they have a higher net capital

The fee has not risen - I checked our 1st bill from August 2006 and it was 5.110 for a 73 sqm. By 7th July 2007  the net capital / eqiuty basis (do not know the exact word in English) of Jawhara was MAD 900.000 and since phase 2 did not pay any fee last year the 900.000 must have decreased during the winter to cover salaries and maintenance - and a plastic palm tree?? I understand from Brian :-) . But the account will be filled now so to say when we are all paying in 2008.

Regarding Community tax (a local tax covering garbage, etc) that apparently have to be paid every year before 1 June  - this tax is not the same as the  property tax which is the one we will not have to pay for 5 years. However, talked to a Moroccan friend - he had never heard of property tax. But said that there could be a difference as a complex like JS is belonging to "luxury properties" and therefore a special property tax has to be paid. - But this info reg. property tax is not confirmed so it might be that I am wrong.

Hope to meet some of you this summer - we will arrive around 1 July and stay 3 weeks.

Br. Eliza

Hi All,

Just checked Ryan Air website and noticed that they are starting to fly to Tangier from Brussels and Marseille from this Oct, looks promising. This adds more possibilities to the Easyjet flights to Tangier via Madrid.

Enjoy

Simon - SimplyMorocco.com

resale if any one knowa of any one or agent who wants or can sell a new property used just last summer a couple of weeks contact simplycw@live.co.uk

I received our syndicate bill under the door as we were leaving on 2nd June. 5,250 MAD  our apartment is 73sq m - the same as Julie and David but we seem to be paying a little more - maybe its because we look outwards and now have the lovely view of the motorway!!

We were not aware of any local tax to be paid - seem to recall Compass saying no taxes had to be paid for the first few years. Does anyone have more info?

Hope to see lots of  in the summer

Note for those of you arriving by car - the entrance has moved there is now an access road by the side of the complex opposite the Sofitel - coming in between phase 1 and 2

Marita

Hi all

while we were there in May we paid our 'community fees' at the new smirt office on site near the football pitch, our fees were 5,040MDH, as our apartment size is 72m2. They did put notices up in the entrances of all blocks before we left stating that community charges were now due(we left on the 21st May). While there the girl in the office, who speaks fairly good english asked if we had paid our taxes? She directed us to the offical building in M'diq opposite the petrol station, who when we when I told the chap there our complex name and our surname, he found our details on the computer and told me that our bill was 1,800MDH, apparantly if these fees are not paid by the first of June then they increase by 10% for every month over due but I was not made aware of any such surrcharge on community fees. We also went to the amedis as we had not recieved any recent bills under the door(apparently they are held in the new smirt office if you ask for them) where very helpful staff printed out an itemised monthly statment and told me that we were still in credit from the amount that we paid last summer. Hope that this help

Caroline

Dave - I heard that the yearly bill was in. I also heard that if it was paid by June 1st that it would go up by 50%. That seems to fit in with your comments

I am going over later this week and intend to find out more - will let you know

Paul

My 2 bed 2nd Floor Jawhara Smir apartment, furnished well (sleeping 4) is available all summer for excellent prices.  Sea and mountain views.  Feel free to contact me for the dates you want to book.

Debbie

Hello, I am an owner of a 2 bed apartment on JS looking to rent out privately in June 2008.

Its fully furnished with aircon and sat tv . has seaviews and on first floor over looking towards M'Diq. all inqs to joseluiscano2000@hotmail.com

 mob /00 34 639 220 299

Hi all owners at Jawhara

Have any of you received the community fees bill yet?

One of my friends at Jawhara found his under his door last week.

Best regards

Joe (Gibraltar)

Hello all!!!

Well we're here at Madrid airport waiting for our flight to luton returning from Jawhara, I have to say even with no adult company & 4 kids it's not been to bad, Fran left earlier in the week to go back to work, so I got the short straw and the kids!!

We have had a lovely break & although the weather has not been fantastic it has been lovely to get back there. The kids were pleased to catch up with some friends from the summer

We hired a car(via easyjet) & that made things a lots easier & we were able to get out and about, the trip out to morocco was also fine with just a 3 hour wait here in Madrid.

Thanks to Brian & Marge(& not forgeting Gary) for their usual hospitality, & Marges vodka!!!

Well heres to the summer!!! See you all then!!

Caroline, The Boys & Ellie

Hi eebee,

Found this website that offers courses in Arabic, Moroccan Arabic and Moroccan Culture. It is based in Tetouan and is called Dar Loughat. It has a very professional looking website(website address http://www.cclc-morocco.org/index.php ).

Hope that helps

Simon

Hi,

I'm looking for Arabic course in Tetouan and found this: http://www.onestoplanguage.net/SchoolDetail.php?id=429

20hrs a week (4 hrs a day) from 115 euros a week in a Tetouan school. I'm hoping to enrol beginning of 2009 for 2 weeks. I think this is a good price, but let me know if you find anything different.

I currently go to arabic lessons once a week, but they teache standard arabic, where I want to learn Moroccan arabic.

Emma

Just getting ready to leave, we're all sad now!!

hello to all jawhara smir owners.

the pool is now filled but sorry to say you will not be able to use it until 1st june.

janet

Hi - I found this message on the www.frs.es website - so time difference (compared to CET) over summer will only be 1 hour instead of 2. - And the time must be the same as in UK as Morocco does not change to summer time.

/Eliza

Maroc change the time

Since 1st of June to 27th of September Morocco will bring forward one hour.

The Moroccan government has decide to bring forward the time during this period with the purpose of be in the side of the energy savings and adapt itself to the European times. The diference with Spain will be one hour, when it´s 12,00 in Tarifa, it´s 11.00 in Tanger.

WOOOHOOO!!! How pleased are we!!??? Flying in on Wednesday, can't wait!

Caroline, Fran, The Boys & Ellie x

The pool at JS is now full and in use - About time!

Hi All,

FYI. Monarch have announced regular flights from Manchester to Gibraltar starting in September. So we have a new option for travel from the North.

I have revamped my "Costa Vista" travel site. http://morocco.services.officelive.com to allow people to leave hints & tips on travel to the area. Let me have your thoughts on what works and what doesn't in terms of travel and I'll update.

Your hints & tips would also be welcome (phone number of a good taxi firm, how to get through customs at Ceuta etc etc.).

ps. This is not a commercial site or a bulletin board.

Rgds,

For all flyers in north England, flights to Gibraltar from Manchester start in September 2008 with Fly Monarch.

Regards

Emma 

hello to jawhara owners.

just a note to inform you all they have started to fill the pool this morning.

looks lovely and the sun shinning.

janet

Rose - Try giving "Chairman" a call. He has put some entries on the Mirador Golf forum including his contact number. You will find him much cheaper than the "average" taxi with the added benefit of - new vehicle, air con, proper 9 seater, local knowledge, etc

As a guide, the taxi fare from Tangier airport to JS can be from 50 euros up to 90 euros

We flew out in Feb from Luton to Madrid then from Madrid to Tangiers. We did all our flights with Easyjet and it worked very well. We had a 2 hour wait at Madrid on the way out and about 4 and a half hour wait on the way back. It worked out about £60 per person return. I used a flights search site www.skyscanner.net to find the flights, it is a great website for finding indirect flights and it mixes and matches airlines to find the cheapest options for each leg. Hope that helps

Simon

Hi Everybody,

Just booked really good flights, flights to Madrid from Ryanair, madrid to tangiers by Easyjet, and returning Madrid to Manchester with BMI baby, total price £235 for three people, we had to swap and change flights to get the timings right in Madrid, so this meant no overnights. Anyway we will see if this is better that the Malaga/ferry route.

Does anybody know a number and price for a taxi pick up from Tangiers back to JS. We are coming out on June 14th, so hopefully the pool will be filled in by then!.

Thanks
Denise