Avoid at All Costs – Do Not Stay Here
Our stay at this riad was, unfortunately, one of the worst travel experiences we’ve ever had—and we strongly advise others to avoid it.
To begin with, the hotel failed to arrange the airport transfer we had booked. We spent around 30 minutes searching for a driver who never arrived, before eventually taking a taxi ourselves. We were then dropped at the edge of a maze of narrow alleyways and had to navigate through dirty, intimidating surroundings. A man offered to guide us to the riad, only to demand money aggressively once we arrived—an unsettling start to the trip. Although the hotel apologised for the missed transfer, it felt insincere, and their solution (offering a return transfer) did little to make up for the experience.
Our first breakfast set the tone—it was incredibly alarming, as we witnessed a member of the staff being wheeled out on a stretcher while screaming and in visible distress, with a police officer present. We were later told by another staff member that this was due to an argument that had occurred in the kitchen with the manager. This was deeply unsettling to witness, especially so early in our stay, and we hoped things might improve—but they didn’t.
Our room was extremely disappointing—dark, dingy, and poorly maintained. Even with the lights on, visibility was poor. The television was broken, plug sockets were scarce, and privacy was limited due to the room being overlooked from the courtyard. Accessing the room required climbing a very narrow, poorly lit staircase where you could barely see to unlock the door. Towels were grey, worn, and unpleasant-smelling, and many items in the room were in disrepair—holes in mats, broken curtains, and a neglected fireplace filled with debris rather than logs.
Cleanliness and maintenance across the property were clearly lacking. Public areas felt neglected, with damaged furniture, stains, and even broken glass in some places. During rainfall, the roof leaked into the dining area, leaving guests with water dripping on them while eating.
The restaurant itself was another letdown. Food was overpriced and very average, with limited menu options. The wine list appeared extensive, but many options were unavailable, and prices were excessive—particularly when compared to significantly better dining experiences we had elsewhere, including at a five-star hotel.
Safety was also a major concern. We saw no evidence of fire safety measures—no extinguishers, no visible escape routes, and no information provided in the room. Given the layout of the building, this was particularly worrying.
The most disturbing part of our stay occurred on the second night. We entered the bar to find a group of people—apparently friends of the manager—occupying the space, behaving inappropriately, smoking heavily, and helping themselves behind the bar. The atmosphere was uncomfortable, with staring and laughter directed at us.
Shortly after, we witnessed the manager having her hair blow-dried at reception, which was surprising enough—but when my wife later passed through the area, the manager followed her and confronted her aggressively. She shouted, pointed her finger close to her face, and behaved in an extremely unprofessional and intimidating manner, insisting it was “her place” and she could do as she pleased.
At that point, we no longer felt safe or welcome. We chose to leave early and booked a flight home rather than stay another night.
We have travelled extensively and rarely write negative reviews, but this experience was unacceptable on multiple levels—service, cleanliness, safety, and basic professionalism. The riad bears no resemblance whatsoever to the photos presented on TripAdvisor, which we found to be completely misleading. In our view, the positive reviews also do not reflect the reality of our experience.
That said, the majority of the staff were kind and helpful, and we could see they were embarrassed by how the hotel is managed and understood our concerns. Unfortunately, this could not make up for the overall experience. We would strongly recommend avoiding this riad entirely.
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