Palais Houyam Guest house

We only wish we could have stayed longer. The palace is full of art and little details, and it’s been kept in beautiful condition. The staff were so sweet for my birthday, and our room was decorated perfectly. We also had to leave very early, but they insisted on making us breakfast. The location worked well too, in a safe area that’s accessible by car. I’d happily come back anytime!

For €70 per person, we booked a 30-minute hammam and 30-minute couples massage as guests from outside the hotel. The whole visit felt rushed and left us disappointed. We were taken to the basement, where the massage and hammam each have a room next to the other. There was nowhere to change or put our belongings, so we left them on a massage table while the therapists waited beside us. We asked whether to put on the bottoms of our swimsuits, but they said no, or perhaps didn’t understand English, so we stayed in our underwear, assuming that was just for the massage. The massage came first and was okay. Then they gestured for us to go into the hammam in our underwear. The hammam itself wasn’t bad, but there was no time to take things at an easy pace. At the end, we got bathrobes to dry off, then had to get dressed, with wet hair, in the same room. We had no spare underwear, only our swimsuits, which we put on after the treatment when we should have worn them beforehand. They sent us off overheated, with soaking wet hair and no chance to rest or have tea. We returned to our accommodation wet, then had to shower and dry our hair again. We’ve had hammam experiences elsewhere with much better hospitality and treatment for far less money, so this was especially disappointing.

The shared tea area is beautiful, and the staff are amazing, especially Soulayman, Youssef and Ibrahim. They were so kind, attentive and cheerful. I’d stay at Palais Houyam again just for those three helpful guys, but the rooms urgently need renovating!

Our clients always enjoy their stays, which is why we keep choosing Palais Houyam. The rooms are comfortable and air-conditioned, the staff are welcoming, and the traditional Moroccan food is delicious. Set amid spectacular views of Medina of Fes, it’s a great spot for an authentic, relaxing stay in Morocco. Highly recommended.