Marrakech Retreat By La Siredrah

The room, pool, and facilities were lovely, and it’s a very relaxing spot. Getting there is another matter: the last 2 kms are a dirt road, and I can’t imagine making that drive at night. We were shown a menu with crossed-out prices for two dishes at 120 dirham, so it didn’t seem current, and told dinner could be served later. But after we settled in, we found a notice saying drinks brought from elsewhere incur a corkage fee, even water at 3€. At 8:30 pm we went to the hall ready to eat, only to be told the cook had left and dinner wasn’t possible. We had snacks, thankfully, since it was dark and we were far from any restaurant. We also planned to stay until noon, the Booking checkout time, but the staff member said checkout that day was 11 am. We refused to leave early. It’s a great place to unwind, though the hotel service wasn’t up to standard.

The retreat is very clean, both the accommodation and the gardens, and there’s plenty of room to wander among the plants or settle by the pool. Tables and chairs are dotted around the grounds. Staff made us feel welcome and looked after, and my daughter’s 18th birthday here became a night to remember. The food was okay, and alcohol is available, though there isn’t much choice. My main gripe is getting there: the road is awful, and the directions rely on landmarks that are hard to spot after dark. That’s not an issue if you take a taxi.

The green lawn was lovely and clearly very well cared for, with a few trees, but the guest experience was really poor. I came for my honeymoon and had specifically asked for a double bed. After a 15 broken road journey, which I expected from other reviews, I was told our bed was a double. It wasn’t. We ordered two tagines the next day and got half a piece of bread for two people. I had to track someone down for more, and it arrived after we’d finished eating. When I called the manager Abdul, he seemed uninterested and was watching football or something on TV. This place could be very good with proper management, but I can’t see myself returning. I wish I’d gone somewhere like the lemonary, which seems similar and costs a bit more, but may be worth it. If you care about your time and holiday, I wouldn’t come here. Management didn’t seem to care.

I used to think I wasn’t someone who could spend all day sunbathing by the pool, but this place changed my mind. The pool was clean and just the right temperature, and the sunbeds were excellent. Good facilities, lovely staff, and really good service. I’d recommend it without hesitation.