Riad Les Hirondelles Boutique Hotel

The staff were polite, kind, and always ready to help, and breakfast was great. This lovely Medina riad is away from the chaos but close enough to the souk and tourist attractions. One thing to watch: my husband hit his head going down the stairs, which are quite dangerous. A warning or sign might help. Thanks for the hospitality.

We were welcomed with a delicious dinner, including the best chicken and lamb tagine we had during our stay. There was a warm fire, good breakfast each morning, and friendly, thoughtful staff. The riad was beautiful and comfortable, in an excellent location near Mederasa. Highly recommend.

Breakfast was divine, with such a good variety that we were ready for the day. The accommodation was perfect, and the staff were excellent and incredibly helpful. Dinner served at the riad was delicious too, and I’d highly recommend trying the cook’s food. The location made it easy to explore Marrakech on foot, finding something new at every turn in the Medina. We hope to come back soon!

I found this review hard to write because our four night stay had both good and bad parts. After visiting five places during our trip around Morocco, though, I feel I can compare them well. The location was excellent: quiet and near a major landmark, so it was easy to find. The decor was gorgeous and tasteful, and I loved the atmosphere. Most of the staff were very sweet and helpful. The Riad was incredibly quiet, and there were enough small spaces to enjoy some privacy. There were some real problems. I was traveling with my teenage daughter, who likes her own space and keeps her own schedule, so I specifically asked for a room with two beds. They said it was possible and directed me to book a room described as having two beds. After 27 hours of travel, we arrived to find only one bed. The night staff member checking us in asked why we could not both sleep in it. When I explained that I had specifically requested two beds, he said they would deal with it the next day, even though it was already 10 pm. I had lived in North Africa and knew it could get cold, so I specifically looked for a place that listed heating as an amenity. There was a heating unit in the room, but we could not get it to work. Staff said it did work, though they seemed hesitant about us using it. Eventually, a female staff member found that the control unit was broken and fixed it for us, but told us not to adjust it. The heater did not seem to do much. The shower water was only a little above room temperature, so showering in the very cold room was miserable. At a cheap Riad I might have accepted this as a Morocco quirk, but at this price these things should work. The place also had a strong mold smell, probably made worse by the cold. The room next door was undergoing major renovations all day, with lots of dust and workmen coming and going. You cannot lock your room, which is normal for a Riad. The Riad was nearly empty while we were there, so I could not understand why we were put beside the construction, especially since we had not received the two bed room I requested. I feel bad criticizing such a beautiful place, but at this price, and for a place owned by foreigners, I expect a certain standard of working facilities. We did not have similar problems with heating or hot water anywhere else on the trip. Did we enjoy our stay? It was fine, and the staff were sweet. Would I choose this place again? No.