Palais Khum

Shaheed was such a warm, friendly, accommodating host. I travel for the vibe, and he and the staff made this hotel feel special. I’d definitely consider staying here thanks to Shaheed. He’s a real asset to the hotel. Sincerely, Brandon.

Room 10 was huge and beautiful, but the noise from 5am was awful. There’s no sound insulation at all, almost as if the windows weren’t there, so make sure you don’t get that room. The staff were excellent and very helpful, and the courtyard was lovely for breakfast. There’s a nice spa area too. Taxis can’t drop you right outside, so it’s a short walk from the road.

Palais Khum has pleasant, welcoming staff, a hard-to-beat location, and excellent food and drinks. We had room #7, apparently the best one in the house, for three nights. It was enormous, about 3000 sq ft, with a private terrace big enough for six to eight people. The art and décor were outstanding, like living in a fine art museum. I can’t comment on the other rooms. At this price, I expected more personal service. A daily check-in and morning and evening coffee or tea in the room or on the terrace would make sense. Staff were accommodating whenever I asked for something, but they didn’t initiate. The robes and towels need bleaching at the least, perhaps replacing: the robe sash was so worn it ripped in half. The tub drained very slowly, so if you both wanted to shower before heading out, one person would be standing in dirty water. Water pressure and temperature were both poor, and the carpets, especially by the toilet, needed a deep clean. Breakfast was slow despite the very simple menu. I’ve had a better stay in less expensive rooms around the world.

The art and architecture here are stunning, and the riad feels grand, welcoming, and relaxing. My room was spacious and the bed was comfortable, but it didn’t seem to have been properly cleaned or dusted in a while. Lovely decoration can’t make up for that, so I’ve given four stars rather than five. I still recommend the place for its beauty and hope the cleaning improves.