Palais El Miria

We booked this for a birthday break expecting the advertised five-star luxury, and it was nowhere near that. I’ve travelled a lot, and this didn’t even feel like a three-star property. The online photos gave a completely different impression. The hotel seemed run down, with no recent investment, and we paid a premium for an experience that came with a lot of disorganisation and poor service. I don’t understand how recent guests could have such different experiences here. Our room was in awful shape. There was mould on the walls and mosquitoes all over the ceiling. The plumbing was so bad we had no hot water for morning showers. There was no kettle, fridge, safe, or drinks, and being near the front gate meant constant noise and no sleep. Around the property, bird droppings stayed on the main patio door by the pool for three days. The coffee cups and cutlery in the supposedly clean kitchen were dirty too. During our stay they started loud pool refurbishment, with drilling and hammering so bad we could barely hear each other. Breakfast was another mess. Despite the stated 7:30 start, it only began when staff showed up, often after 8, and service took about 40 minutes. The first morning there was only bread and jam. Later, they got my order wrong twice: I asked for a cheese omelette and got scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Hot drinks weren’t offered until we’d finished eating. Staff were hard to find for hours and didn’t answer WhatsApp. When I was in pain and asked for Paracetamol, there were no medical supplies or help on site. With nobody around after 9 PM, I was left wondering what would happen in a real emergency. For my husband’s birthday, the hotel recommended and booked a local restaurant but didn’t tell us about its dress code or a major football match. We were turned away at the door and spent more than an hour each way in a taxi. We’d also missed our first night because our flights changed, but they still charged city tax for a night we weren’t there. This place may have potential, but it feels poorly organised and like a money grab. I regretted staying and would tell people to save their money and go elsewhere.

We were a bit concerned before arriving that the hotel was outside town and that getting back late might be difficult. Turns out there was no need to worry. They set up a WhatsApp chat, and we could text where we wanted to go or send our location when we were out; a taxi would pick us up and bring us back at a fixed cost. No haggling or worrying about being overcharged, which made everything feel safe and easy. The location worked well for us. We could head into Marrakesh and its wonderful chaos when we wanted, then come back to somewhere calm. From the moment we arrived until we left, everyone was so kind and made us feel special. We had a brilliant time, will recommend it to everyone, and will be back. Thanks to all the staff, you’re lovely people!

We’re already looking forward to going back. This was our third visit to the riad, and it’s still a great place to properly relax. The owners and staff are friendly and welcoming, and the medina with all its beautiful features is only about a 20-minute taxi ride away.

The hotel’s a cozy little place with amazing staff, and being outside the city centre was a big plus for us. After walking around the busy old town, it was nice to come back somewhere peaceful. The hotel can arrange a taxi at reception. Maybe you could find one a bit cheaper elsewhere, but you might also get scammed, and these drivers are recommended by the hotel and can be trusted. That means a lot there. We loved the evening meals, which were tasty and well priced. Breakfast was local style, different from what we’re used to in Europe, and personally I wouldn’t choose it again. Have a look at the Botanica products they offer. I thought I could buy them once home because I had limited luggage space, but sadly they’re not available outside Marakesh. Shipping costs too much to be worth it. Amazing place overall.