Riad LakLak la Tradition

We were a group of 16 and left after just two hours. Between us, we’ve visited Marrakech more than ten times and stayed in plenty of riads, so we understood what to expect from traditional accommodation. We chose this one because it was described as bright, airy, and modern. Inside, it felt dark, damp, poorly lit, and badly ventilated, nothing like the listing photos. We found cockroaches and ants, the bedroom AC barely cooled the rooms, and the communal spaces had no AC and felt stifling in the heat. After the taps sat unused for an hour or more, brown water came out. We couldn’t feel comfortable drinking it, brushing our teeth, or showering with it. We checked the rooms and bathrooms, tested the AC, opened windows, and tried to see if things would improve, but the combination of pests, water, heat, and the condition of the place made it impossible for our group to stay the night, let alone a week. We had young children, tired adults, and a lot of luggage, but we went online and found a hotel that night so we could leave. We paid €3,327 for the week and were charged the full amount despite leaving almost immediately. When we raised our concerns, the owner said we hadn’t researched Marrakech properly and that our expectations were inappropriate. That wasn’t fair. We know the city and have stayed in many local riads. This wasn’t about the quirks of traditional buildings, it was about basic cleanliness and comfort. The owner has since said we had arranged other accommodation before seeing the riad. That isn’t true, and we can prove it. We only looked for somewhere else after arriving and seeing the property. Avoid this place.

After more than four visits to Morocco, I can say this was the worst place we’ve stayed. Our group of 16 found cockroaches and ants throughout the property, the AC barely worked in the extreme heat, and orange water came from the taps. The water was completely unusable. We hoped the owner would help or at least apologize when we reported these problems. Instead, he said we should have researched the destination more. That felt insulting and dismissive. These weren’t cultural differences, they were signs of poor upkeep and hygiene. The property was filthy, the facilities weren’t working properly, and management showed no concern for guests’ comfort or safety. I’d avoid it.

From July 28 to August 4, I stayed with 16 people. There were cockroaches, an ant infestation, no AC, and brown water. The pictures didn’t show what the place was really like. When we complained, the response was rude and they said we hadn’t researched the area properly. I’ve been to Morocco three times. They refused to refund any of our money.

We arrived to find insects all over the property, and the kids were frightened. The tap water wasn’t clean either, so we left and had to find somewhere else late that night. It was a huge inconvenience, and we expected the owner to make up for what happened. He brushed off our concerns rudely. This was the worst place we’ve booked in Marrakech. Avoid it.