Dar Ayman Essaouira

We came back for a second stay because we love this place. It’s peaceful and quiet, set between Sidi Kaouki and Essaouira. The staff are lovely, and breakfast is amazing.

We stayed at Dar Ayman for 10 days, just me and my kids, who are eight and twelve. I was looking for somewhere quiet and safe, and that’s exactly what we found. The hosts made us feel at home and were always helpful, with tips on restaurants, the best hammam in town, and other things. There’s no air conditioning, but we didn’t need it. The temperature stayed pleasant and the breeze kept things cool. We also enjoyed the delicious food at the restaurant on site. We’re used to high-end hotels, and I can be pretty critical about hotels and restaurants, but this place is excellent value. They keep it simple and do it well, with real attention to what guests need. We had such a good time that we’ve already decided to come back.

We couldn’t get any sleep because the room was too hot without air conditioning. Opening the window let mosquitoes in, and after being bitten several times we were awake until 3 in the morning. There was no fridge in the room either, which was inconvenient. The hotel itself was beautiful and clean, in a quiet area, and had free parking. Still, there are a few things that need work.

We arrived as a family at 6 PM and found no receptionist at the villa. A friendly woman who seemed to take care of breakfast welcomed us, then explained that only the security guard stayed overnight. Since she wasn’t the receptionist, she told us to call the receptionist by phone. When we asked to speak with the owner, we were told he wasn’t available. It didn’t feel like there was proper hotel management, and there was nobody around to help or serve us. We asked for an upgrade because the villa was completely empty. The receptionist was rude and blamed us for booking the cheapest rooms, even though we have a Genius account on Booking.com. Then she canceled our Booking.com reservation, which seemed likely to stop us from leaving a review. That was unprofessional and unacceptable. The road to the villa is also difficult to use in a small car. This was a disappointing stay, and I wouldn’t recommend the place to anyone expecting professional service or a secure environment. It isn’t really a hotel, and I wouldn’t choose it as a solo female traveler or with a group of girlfriends, since you may be left in an empty villa with only a guard at night. -----> Just to clarify, the person she is referring to is our son, who is 4 years old!!!