Riad Mandalay

The rooms were filthy and run-down, and smelled of cat pee and mould. The pool was disgusting. There’s no spa or sauna. We’d booked a week but left after just a few hours. We couldn’t find any staff when we tried to speak to someone, so we booked flights and were back home less than 24 hours after arriving. We spent a thousand pounds on the week-long holiday, then hundreds more to get out. I’ve never stayed anywhere this awful. Do not book this place, you’ll regret it.

The food was very limited, breakfast was only bread, jam, and juice, and there was no menu or choice. Dinner was tagine and bread, with no dietary needs met. Don’t book food here, it isn’t worth it. Service was rude and aggressive, apart from one staff member who was somewhat approachable. The accommodation felt like a shabby one-star backpacker hostel, nothing like the pictures. It doesn’t seem suitable for young families or older people. One room in our party had no window, and the bathroom had no door, just a shower curtain. The place was dated, with little furniture and a clogged, dirty basin. The pool was dirty and unusable, and there was an unsafe electrical socket. Holiday from hell!

Abdul was such a great guy and really looked after me. As a woman traveling alone, I felt safe and welcome. A really lovely experience with very friendly hosts.

The room was spacious, the bathroom was very nice, and I wish I’d had time to use the big bath. The bed was a little hard, but after long days out, it worked for us. We only stayed two nights, and the big square and souks were about a 15-minute walk away. There are excursion pickup spots nearby too, and cheap food in the Kasbah area. The staff were all kind and made us feel at home. Mahmoud was our main guide and went above and beyond: he arranged our private airport transfer, walked us from the mosque to the Riad, and helped sort out a return taxi when we couldn’t contact the transfer company. Muhammad printed our boarding passes, and when we ran out of cash, the staff even gave us free drinks. After checkout, they were happy to let us use the rooftop seating for another good hour while we waited in the Moroccan heat. Really good people, and I’d stay again if we revisit. Highly recommended. Big thanks to Mahmoud and Mohammed.