Ait Sidi Daoud Holidays

Inside the RIAD a beautiful sanctuary awaits where staff do their very best to make visitors comfortable and knowledgeable in order to make the most of their stay in Marrakesh. However, first impressions of the area are quite a shock because the RIAD is situated in quite a dark, narrow alley not far from the chaos of the Medina. But for visitors like me who want to experience the real Marrakesh I think this property has the right contrast between outside and inside. In January, breakfast outside was a little chilly but the warmth of the staff more than made up for it. This RIAD has a great team of people who clearly enjoy working together and who genuinely take a personal interest in their visitors and value tourism in general. The RIAD is decorated in authentic Moroccan style. An atmosphere of tranquility, relaxation and calm inside prepares the visitor for the startling sensations, sounds and smells that await outside. Be prepared to experience the real Marrakesh!

I was unsure how many stars to give this riad. The service deserves 5 stars - huge thanks to AbdeSalam and Mohamed for being so helpful and welcoming. As for the riad itself, here are the pros and cons: Pros: • Excellent location near Jemaa el-Fnaa (behind Café de France) • Traditional Moroccan style • Friendly customer service • Daily breakfast included • AC and Wi-Fi available • Mint tea and pastries on arrival • Room cleaned and towels changed daily • Walking distance to souks and restaurants Cons: • Very old building • Noisy - thin walls and loud doors • Low doorways (watch your head!) • Outdated bathrooms with a moldy smell • Strong fragrance in the building • Saw cockroaches in the room and pool area There are two buildings: the main one (some rooms and for check-in and breakfast) and a second one called “Terraces” where we stayed. It’s a short, safe walk between them. Our room was basic but had essentials like a safe, shampoo, and tissues. Overall, great staff and location, but the building itself could use updates.

So I will start with the staff. 10/10 absolutely brilliant and caring staff, they were helpful and kind and always had a smile on their face. Initially when we arrived they gave us a room with a king size bed when we requested 2 single beds but upon asking they asked us to wait for an hour and it would be ready which was convenient because we had time to go get dinner as it was late. In terms of the room its was spacious and however there was a few things about the room which we did not like. The shower did not have a door or a net it was like a open shower which meant that water would drip onto the main floor of the bathroom. Also there was no windows in our room or toilet which was not ideal because at night it would get hot and the AC was not great at keeping the room cool but i dont khow if it was because of the temp of the country itself or the AC. The jacuzzi was a nice touch and used it a few times , you have to let the staff know 2 hours in advance to warm it up but even then it did not seem as hot as a jacuzzi could be and it was not the cleanest but that could be because it was on the roof so open to flys and pieces of leafs. Location wise it was extremely ideal, literally a 5 minute walk to the main markets shops and for any excursions we booked externally the meeting points where a 5 minute walk max and compared to the other riads ( morrocon hotels) it was not secluded and felt extremely safe.

I loved my stay here. The staff was over the top and the hospitality was everything. The rooms were big with ac which was much needed with the heat.