Marrakesh Hotel Tips by lucyt

Dars Les Cigognes: Dar by the Palace Walls Dar Les Cigognes Review

Whilst perhaps a little pricey this riad is well worth the money. It provides a sublime retreat from the dust and bustle of Marrakech. Friendly staff were able to get us a motorbike on a day's notice.
Beautiful rooms, great homemade food. Only word of warning: some staff water (!) the (very expensive) whisky, under the misapprehension that this is how it should be drunk.
Has recently opened its hamman which I didn't try but hear great things about.
Great roof-top terrace with 360o views to the Altas mountains in the distance.

Unique Qualities: Effective and obliging staff; great location; fabulous interiors.

Address: Rue de Berima

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Next to the Palace Walls

Price: US$120-180

Theme: Hotel

Dar Silsila: This will do nicely thank-you very much Dar Silsila Review

Very nice riad in Moussaine area (to the north-east of the Djemma el Fnaa) owned by a chap by the name of Jean-Patrick. Stayed for three days: great breakfasts. Okay terrace - due (after the completion of building work) to be extended which will give a great view of the Kouttoubia Mosque.
By far the best location of any riad in which I've stayed: a wiggle to the right and up a bit and you're smack-bang in the souks.
The evening shift is run by Hassan: a good bloke more comfortable speaking French than English.
Will upload more piccies in the fullness of time.

ONE POINTER: at the time of writing Dar Silsila does not accept card payment and must be paid in cash (Euro or Dirham). However, due to the location, this is not going to pose any great problems

Unique Qualities: Whilst it doesn't have a classic fountain it does have a great wall water-feature. And an orange tree. With lights. It doesn't sound like much but really really is. On this trip we stayed in three riads and this was the best.

Comparison: about average

Directions: Moussaine

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Dar Houdou: A bit hit and miss...

After an inauspicious start, what with having to wait 2 1/2 hours to be shown to our room, we were shown to our room. Although we'd been assured than we'd have twin beds I was miffed to given a double bed to share with my Mum. In a room about the size of my loo.
It did, however, have a beautiful bathroom.
The main courtyard smelt overpoweringly of orange blossom: the riad is next to the tanneries and needed something to scent the air.
I found the location inconvenient. I got a bit stroppy when we went to pay for our room and were told there was no facility for paying with plastic.
I also found the area surrounding the riad a little hostile: an sensation unexpected anywhere in Morocco.

So all in all the riad was something of a disappointment.

Unique Qualities: Very very fabulous and much needed plunge pool.

Hugely friendly staff.

Very good breakfast.

Comparison: about average

Directions: Near to the tanneries

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Dar Warda: Not too shabby for Lulu Dar Warda Review

Tuscan elegance in the heart of Marrakech...
Nice location, very chilled atmosphere, fabulous terrace.
Unlike many riads Dar Warda tkes plastic. Hurray!
Good breakfasts.
Slightly disappointing service. The main guy could be quite dismissive and has been known to tut loudly at requests for a pot of tea, which was offputting and not a little unwelcoming.
Well presented throughout although some of the decor is starting to look a little tired.
On our last visit there was a distinct smell of drains but I don't think that was something over which the management could be expected to have any control.

Unique Qualities: ...

Comparison: about average

Directions: Riad Larrouse area to the north of the souks

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Jardins de Moussaine: Not so much... Les Jardins de Mouassine Review

A smell of cat wee pervades throughout...
Great location, friendly staff. On reflection, very friendly staff. Nice resident calico cat called Zoe.
Bed was as hard as a rock.
Buffet breakfast which I hadn't anticipated: the place felt much more like a hotel than a riad, which wasn't what I was looking for. I imagine, however, that this place would be great if travelling with a group of friends. If only it didn't smell so strongly of wee.

Comparison: about average

Directions: Moussaine

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Riad to the north of the square: Riad Des Arts

This place is quite nice. Frankly, I've given up looking for perfect.

The breakfast were different every morning. I disliked that we could only have one cup of tea each in the morning and that it was served from a white plastic thermos flask. Not quite luxury living. But they do have a tortoise. And he lives to poo on the floor and eat peaches.
We had no cold water in our room - only hot or scalding hot - so much so I managed to burn my foot (doh!).
Great great location, although one of the little boys that hang around the front door demanding kisses tried his luck sliding his hand into my handbag. Little sod.

Unique Qualities: Brilliant location.
Nice breakfasts.

WORD OF WARNING: although the websites say that the Riad des Arts accept payment by plastic they do so only very grudgingly and will charge you a levy of 5% so it's worthpaying in cash if you can.
Also on our last day we were due to be leaving too early to have breakfast and as a result had to beg and pay for a cup of tea - even though they were included in the room charge.

Head to the north of the Djemma el Fna, hook a right when you reach Terraces El Ahambra and head off into the souk. Keep going straight on. Take the third left (opposite the hamman of 1001 Nights). Follow the alley, take the first left and it's on the end on the right. Easy Peasy!

Comparison: about average

Directions: See above - not enough room here.

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.riadesarts.com

Dar Dallah: ...'when a watermelon is transformed into Riad'... Riad Dar Dallah Review

Cracking little dar to the north east of the souks.

Good breakfasts comprising: home-made yoghurt, m'semen (square, fried folded pancakes), breads, jams, eggs (French or Moroccan omelette), tea or coffee.

Friendly resident owner by the name of Patrick.
Much of the interior is salvage from the gutting of La Mamounia so there's an unselfconscious homage to Marrakech's past as the playground of the world's movers and shakers. Instead, however, of being a slave to the past, Patrick has inserted some rather fun and appropriate modern touches mainly to be found in the photography that scattters the property and in his choice of plants for the plunge pool garden - papyrus and margherites. Plain and simple.

The only point of complaint I would have is that, despite two separate correspondances and affirmations there was not, after all, a baby cot for Archie. Luckily Archie-poo is somewhat bomb-proof and quite happy to sleep of firm flat pillows. However, I appreciate many parents might be aghast at the idea - as conditioned in our fear of SIDS as we are. If you plan to take small people jump up and down a bit more than I did - perhaps he'll get the cot sorted (it seems he shares it with another riad and forgot to say he needed it). Either way it might be sensible to do what I did and take your own baby bedding anyway...

Unique Qualities: There's a rather snazzy black marble plunge pool in the garden area. I didn't use it myself but on a day that reached 39oC it was handy for 3 1/2 month old Archie to dangle his feet in. Which brings us rather neatly to child care: as super hot days aren't the best for very very small people and I had business to which I needed to attend in Gueliz I arranged to leave Poo (Archie) with the ladies at the riad. I returned some hours later to find a washed, fed and changed baby asleep in a bhous and ready to be taken to his bed. This cost me about 200dh for the services of two ladies who occupied and entertained him until he could keep his lil' eyes open not a moment longer.

On the whole pretty darned happy with the stay.

This riad does NOT TAKE PAYMENT BY CARD.

Nor does it have its name on the front door. Handy that...

Address: Dar Dallah - 107, derb El Cadi, Azbest - Médina - Marrakesh - MOROCCO

Comparison: about average

Directions: To the north-east of the Medina

Phone: 00212 24 38 38 87

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Website: http://www.dardallah.com