Villa Soraya

The room itself was comfortable, with clean bedding, a lovely hot shower, and a small balcony facing the back of the building. The address listed on booking.com was wrong, so the taxi couldn’t find the place. I called the number provided, and Yoesef was helpful and welcoming when I checked in. I also arranged a taxi with him for the next day. At check-in, guests are asked to pay a ‘tax.’ The aircon worked for a while but didn’t stay on continuously, and there was plenty of noise from other guests and outside. Breakfast looked good the next morning, though it came a bit late for my taxi.

Yusuf and Houssni made this stay. They were consistently kind and helpful, from showing me how to get to Jemaa el-Fnaa Square to arranging transport for the horse-riding activity I really enjoyed. Yusuf even drove me around and showed me local stores since I didn’t know the area. When I got lost near the center and my cab driver couldn’t find the square, Houssni called and guided me back. They always made sure I felt safe, and both deserve a raise. My flight to London was at 10:00 AM, so Houssni got up early to make me breakfast at 6:00 AM, even though normal hours are 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The two women on staff were lovely too. They cleaned my room when I asked and washed my clothes at no extra cost. Breakfast was excellent. I’d personally have liked a bigger cup of orange juice and maybe more eggs, but that’s just my preference, not a knock on the food or staff. The room was spacious, the shower was conveniently placed, and the air conditioning worked well. At around £269 for 11 days, I’d give it 6/10. It was right by reception, though, and the check-ins, loud conversations, and snooker games made it hard to sleep. That seems down to the layout and management, not the staff, who are doing their best with what they have. There was also a minor maintenance issue with my TV remote that should be repaired or replaced. Villa Soraya serves breakfast only, with no lunch or dinner. Management could consider adding more meals, since finding reliable food can be difficult if you don’t know the area. Glovo is an option for delivery, and there are a few stores on the nearby high street. The villa is about a 10-15-minute drive from Jemaa el-Fnaa. A taxi is usually 50 to 70 MAD, or around 100 MAD late at night. It’s somewhat isolated, with few amenities nearby, including by the airport. I’d rate the hotel 6.5/10 overall. It has real potential, mainly because of the outstanding staff, and a few management improvements could make the stay much better. The service was truly 10/10, and management is lucky to have people who go so far out of their way for guests. I wish all the staff good health and happiness, and especially the two lovely ladies and one woman’s daughter. May she grow strong, happy, and surrounded by love. Thanks for everything.

The man at reception was really kind, and the place seems to be family-run. It’s a bit far from the medina. Breakfast was much like the other breakfasts we had in Morocco, and we were pleased with it. There’s a jacuzzi for two, though we didn’t try it. Some other guests did.

The rooms were tidy and clean, with classic Moroccan architecture, and the breakfast was good. The host was one of the friendliest, most welcoming people we met. Jardin Majorelle and the YSL museum are an easy walk away, which makes this a really nice place to stay in Marrakech. There’s also a jacuzzi and hammam service for relaxing, though the hammam wasn’t working during our visit.