Daranur

The location is really good, and the terrace has an amazing view. Hassan was very friendly and helpful. Cleaning was okay by Moroccan standards, though the air circulation was poor and the bathroom always smelled damp. Overall, it was a good experience.

The ocean view from the rooftop was amazing, and there’s a shared kitchen and fridge, a perfect place for a private breakfast. We’d only planned to stay one night, but we were so comfortable that we extended our stay. We got lost on the way and arrived about three hours late, around 2230, but they waited for us, showed us around, and made us feel at home straight away. The room was clean and homey. The walls were thin, but it was very quiet and we slept without any problem. Definitely would visit again.

I’ll try to be objective, though I should mention that after I wrote a not-so-good review, the owner started berating me on Whatsapp. She seems to expect only good reviews. From my travels, I’ve stayed in all kinds of accommodation, and you can usually tell whether the owners take pride in the place and act professionally. If you haven’t stayed in old towns in developing countries and want to experience that culture, the Medinas in Morocco may suit you, and you might be ready to overlook some of the things I describe here. Daranur is an old building with a facelift for tourists, but I found no real attention to cleanliness, clean sheets or beds, towels, or good quality soap. I’m sure an ultraviolet light would reveal a disgusting place. There was a stench of urine everywhere. The owners take Euros and dollars and charge well above Moroccan standards, but don’t seem to think they should put some of that money toward providing a decent standard. That’s my opinion, based on my own travels, so make your own judgement too. I’ve stayed at hostels that would blow you away with their quality, like Sun, Surf, Sand in Santa Cruz, Portugal. Places like Salina hostels have crisp bedsheets, new towels, and a great breakfast, plus impeccable service with a smile.

The bathroom for our room wasn’t ensuite, which wasn’t great, but the friendly cleaning lady made up for it. She even laid a fire in our fireplace for us to light when we got back in the evening. I loved this little place and will definitely stay again. It has one of the most beautiful roof terraces in town, with a cute, tiny, well equipped kitchen.