Riad Etoile de Mogador

Internet access kept cutting in and out. Otherwise, riad étoile was lovely, with a clean room and nice decor. It was the only place we stayed in Marroco with a shower that was both hot and had good pressure.

The room was cleaned carefully every day, and it was nicely decorated and clean. Breakfast was good too. We stayed for the music festival and really appreciated that reception was open around the clock, since we came back late at night. The Riad is in the city center, close to the main square and the beach. One issue: there was no handle on the inside of the bathroom door, so it was hard to shut it while inside.

My wife and her friend stayed at the Etoile Mogador Hotel in Essaouira from July 17th to July 19th, 2024. A dispute over the receptionist's Hammam offer overshadowed their visit, and left them feeling exploited as tourists. The receptionist offered to arrange a visit for 300 Dh per person. As a Moroccan, I know that a regular Hammam visit with treatment in Essaouira should cost no more than 50 Dh, so I believe the receptionist kept an immensely high commission. When I contacted the hotel, the receptionist denied wrongdoing and wouldn't take responsibility. We understand hotels may receive commissions for arranging services, but this charge felt exaggerated and non-transparent, which is unacceptable. Reporting it to the police was solely meant to protect other guests from similar experiences. We hope management makes sure this doesn't happen again. The experience left us unable to recommend the hotel because of this unethical practice, and wary of trusting the hotel staff or owner.

It's a small riad with seven rooms, tucked off a quiet alley in a central spot near Bab Marrakech. Our room was on the small side and smelled rather damp, but was otherwise comfortable. The service was pleasant and courteous, and the price was good.