Riad Semlalia

When we told the staff our room was too hot and that the AC wasn’t working, they did move us to another room with functional air conditioning. We appreciated that accommodation.

We had a very disappointing and uncomfortable stay at Riad Semlalia, and we want to share our honest experience so others can make an informed decision. Upon arrival, the riad’s manager, Abdoul, immediately tried to gain our trust by telling us not to explore Fez alone. He insisted that his “brother,” Adil, could guide us supposedly at no cost. This turned out to be a manipulative scam. Adil is not a licensed tour guide, and Morocco has strict laws about who can act as one. We noticed he kept walking far ahead of us, trying to avoid being seen… something we later learned is a common tactic by unlicensed guides to avoid detection by tourist police, who can issue heavy fines. When we asked about this behavior, he became defensive and rude. He took us to shops where it was clear he had insider arrangements. One was a fabric store with 600% markups, the staff became aggressive when we declined to buy. We told Adil we were done and wanted to return to the riad, but he ignored us and brought us to an argan oil shop, where the owner was also extremely rude. This entire setup felt like a coordinated scam, and when we shared it with our verified tour company, they confirmed our suspicion. At the riad, things weren’t much better. Our first room’s A/C didn’t work, though they did relocate us after we reported it. Still, that kind of issue shouldn’t arise to begin with. After dining at the riad, we both came down with traveler’s diarrhea, which had not happened anywhere else during our Morocco trip. We suspect poor hygiene, especially as the riad seemed to have only two people running it (Abdoul and one other), compared to other riads that had full teams and better cleanliness. On top of all that, the atmosphere throughout the stay was often uncomfortable. We just didn’t feel relaxed or properly cared for as guests. Until there is a complete improvement in staffing, hygiene, and overall professionalism, we would not recommend this place.

The Riad is beautifully maintained, authentically furnished and has attentive staff. The breakfast consisted of a delicious selection of local foods.

I noticed that the bathrooms did not offer any like earbuds and cotton wool.

colazione buona ,

la camera al nostro arrivo era molto fredda poi per fortuna hanno provveduto a riscaldarla

O Riad é belíssimo! Muita bem decorado, cuidado e confortável. Quarto amplo e aconchegante! Atendimento acolhedor. Vivência autêntica em um Riad.

Único ponto foi não ter chuveiro no banheiro.

Beautiful, very comfortable, great staff!