Riad Elias

I requested a full refund for my two-night booking at the Riad Spa. The property was in an unacceptable, uninhabitable state, and I had to leave within half an hour of arriving. I appreciate authentic decor, but the place was in extremely poor condition. The pool and spa area were filthy, the towels were hard and worn, and the bed was very old and uncomfortable. It fell far below any reasonable standard for cleanliness or comfort. It was also very difficult to find. Even local people struggled to direct us, and it took over 45 minutes to get there with their help. In the end, they haggled for money, saying they would return the next day for more. I didn’t feel safe. Between the safety and hygiene concerns, I couldn’t stay and had to book somewhere else at short notice. That cost significantly more and affected what was meant to be a budget holiday. The property is in the heart of the Medina, among ghetto cobbled streets, walls, locals haggling, and young men speeding around on mopeds. The market, souks, and cafes are fine to visit, but I wouldn’t stay in this area.

Said, the owner, was outgoing, helpful, and friendly, and the breakfast each morning was very nice. They cleaned our room daily and checked that we were happy. The one thing I missed was having a key to the front door, so we had to ring the bell to get in. For a place right in the city center, the location is five star. It’s a nice, quiet oasis amid a busy city, and I’d stay again. I’d rate it 4.5/5.

The owner and staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Our airline lost our luggage on the way to Morocco, and the owner made a couple of phone calls so we could easily pick up the suitcases once they finally arrived at Marrakech airport. The riad is conveniently located in the medina, with plenty of cafes, restaurants, and street food stalls within a ten minute walk. We had a comfortable suite with its own shower. I deducted one star for the room because the AC was rather noisy. The rooftop is very nice, so be sure to visit if you stay.

Saeed and Sana took such good care of us. The riad is lovely and very quiet. Like most riads, taxis can’t reach it during the day, but the area around it is always busy, so the eight to ten minute walk to Jemaa El-Fnaa square is actually enjoyable.