Riad Al Mida

The smell was unbearable, with a general mouldy smell in the air. After a long time in Morocco, we were treated like garbage and left scared for our lives. I've stayed in budget hotels all my life, but this is one to avoid, and I wouldn't stay even for free. I love Morocco, so this experience was especially upsetting. The entrance door was impossible to find, and a man threatened us with a knife as we entered. The child at reception seemed more eager to side with the knife hustler than with us, and, as a hotelier, I understand a host's responsibility to guests. The internet password was available, but there was no working internet. The child at reception directly asked us to pay for the accommodation. When I asked to use the bathroom, he wouldn't let me. Smoking inside the riad is permitted. First-time visitors to Marrakech shouldn't have to put up with hustlers outside and inside the riad. There are plenty of other places in the city, go somewhere else.

A nice little place with a clean, simple room that was just right. The owner and his wife were lovely and helpful. It's near the station and the wall, so it was easy to get around, including to the supermarket outside the wall where locals shop.

We paid the full amount for our stay in cash when we arrived, then were shown to a room that smelled nasty and seemed dirty overall. We asked the receptionist to move us, and were told another room would be ready in an hour, so we waited at a nearby coffee shop. While there, we both decided another room was unlikely to be much better and chose to cancel. The receptionist spoke to the owner, then said no refund was possible because we'd paid, despite our printed confirmation saying only part of the money would be lost. There were no booking conditions displayed. When we asked for a copy, the receptionist couldn't provide one and refused to refund what was due. We understand this is a budget property, but that doesn't excuse the uncleanliness or disregard for the booking terms.

I spent one night there and got bitten by bed bugs around 100 times. When I told the host, Younes, he denied it and asked me for more money for no reason.