Dar Aymane

We love this place and have now stayed here twice. It’s quiet and peaceful, in a great spot between Sidi Kaouki and Essaouira. The staff are really nice, and the breakfast is amazing.

We spent 10 days at Dar Ayman, my two children, who are eight and twelve, and me. I wanted somewhere quiet and safe, and that’s exactly what we found. The hosts looked after us so well, with genuinely helpful advice about where to eat, the best hammam in town, and other things. They really made us feel at home. The on-site restaurant serves delicious food. There’s no air conditioning, but we didn’t need it: the temperature stays pleasant and the wind keeps things cool. I’m often quite critical of hotels and restaurants, since we’re used to high-end places, but this was excellent value for money. They keep it simple and do it very well, and they’re truly attentive to what guests need. We had such a great time that we’ve already decided to come back.

The hotel was lovely and clean, in a quiet area, and had free parking. But the lack of air conditioning made it hard to sleep in the heat. Opening the window let in mosquitoes, and we got bitten several times, staying awake until 3 in the morning. There was no fridge in the room either, which was inconvenient.

We arrived as a family at 6 PM and found no receptionist at the villa. A kind, welcoming woman who seemed to serve breakfast greeted us instead. She said only the security guard stayed there overnight and asked us to phone the receptionist, since she wasn’t responsible for reception. When we requested an upgrade because the villa was completely empty, the receptionist was rude and blamed us for choosing the cheapest rooms, even though we had a Genius account on Booking.com. She then cancelled our Booking.com reservation, apparently to stop us leaving a review. That was unprofessional and unacceptable. When we asked to speak to the owner, we were told he wasn’t available. There clearly isn’t proper hotel management. The road to the villa is also difficult for small cars. This isn’t a hotel, and I wouldn’t recommend it to solo female travellers or groups of girlfriends. You’d be in an empty villa with only a night security guard and no one else available to help or serve you. It was a disappointing stay, and I can’t recommend it to anyone expecting professional service or a secure environment. Just to clarify, the person she’s referring to is our son, who is 4 years old!!!