Riad Menthe Et Citron

We try to leave positive reviews, especially in countries that don't have the relative wealth of our own, and we set our expectations accordingly. We're adventurous and care about authenticity more than luxury. Still, during our three-week driving trip around Morocco, Riad Menthe Et Citron was the only place that disappointed us. Our room opened straight onto the central courtyard, as some rooms do in this kind of riad. That makes it hard to create much atmosphere without keeping everything quiet. Even so, our hosts came across as quiet and not especially warm or welcoming. A language barrier isn't a big obstacle to warmth. A few smiles or a hand clasp can show guests you're glad they're there. The first morning, several of us stood around the courtyard wondering when breakfast would start. Nothing happened until about 9:10, after we'd waited for 15 minutes. With other guests still asleep, we couldn't make noise to get anyone's attention. The staff needed to be more attentive. Breakfast was poor compared with other places we stayed. This was the only riad that didn't serve eggs. Instead of the lovely Moroccan pancakes we'd had elsewhere, there were dry polenta cakes, perhaps because they can be made ahead or bought in. There was no fruit, yoghurt, or cake either, all of which had been usual at the other riads. We got the sense they simply didn't want to cook. On our one full day there, we drove to the Roman ruins at Volubilis and got back hot and sweaty, needing a shower. We'd showered that morning, and the water had drained very slowly, but that's not unusual in an old riad, so we thought it would clear while we were out. It hadn't drained at all. We couldn't find anyone on duty or get a staff member to come, so we had to go to bed feeling sticky and sweaty. Early the next morning, my partner bailed out the standing water with the lid of her soap dish, about 250 scoops. Later, I soaked up the water from her shower with a towel, wringing it out in the sink as I went. When someone finally appeared for breakfast, we reported the blockage and it was cleared quickly with a plunger. They explained that drains in a building several hundred years old can cause this problem, which we understand. But someone should be available in the evening to help guests, or there should be a drain plunger in each bathroom. We left feeling uncared for and unappreciated. It's a shame, because the people seemed nice, but these are basic things when you run guest accommodation. One last small maintenance issue: our room's outside bolt was old and very hard to slide. It could be secured with the padlock provided, but my partner couldn't move the bolt at all. It just needs easing. Something can be old and still work smoothly. That felt like another sign of a lack of care and attention.