Dar Zman Guest House

Our room was very small, with one big bed and a smaller one that we used for luggage, since there was no closet and barely 4 square metres left to move around. The toilet was tiny too. We were there in January, when it was very cold, and the tap water started warm but turned cold, making a shower a bad idea. Hope they fix that. I really liked having a heating system in the room, and breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 was okay. The service was good, and I loved the terrace and balcony views from this old traditional house. The location was the best part for us: Dar Zman was only a few steps from the main street, which mattered with our luggage because we didn’t want to carry everything up the old medina stairs. If cramped spaces don't bother you, you should be okay.

The price was good, and the bed was comfortable. Our apartment was the “basement” one, just a few minutes from the Medina, so it was very quiet. The bathroom was tiny, though there was plenty of hot water. The place felt dark, with lots of bulbs missing, and the only outdoor area had nothing to sit on except garbage. Breakfast was basic but nice.

The staff were extremely friendly and polite, and the facilities were nice. But we found bed bugs on the first night. They let us switch rooms, though we had to move for both nights, which was a hassle. The owner said this happens often and showed no remorse. After talking with him on the phone, it was clear he didn’t seem concerned about our stay. Days later, we were still dealing with the effects of the bed bugs, so travelers should be cautious.

This is really an eight-room guesthouse for budget travelers, and I’d rate it two stars, not three. The rooms are very small. If you’re not quite skinny, you may not fit in the shower. They don’t take credit cards, and the closest ATM wouldn’t accept international cards, so you have to walk into town for cash. Also, if you arrive by taxi, boys may offer to carry your bags up the steep steps and then ask for far too much, 500DH. The hotel reception just laughs about it.