Riad el baze

Review of Riad el Baze, Essaouira, Morocco We were booked for 33 days in Feb - Mar 2025. The only positive things we can say about this apartment are its location in the Medina of Essaouira, it is decorated nicely and the washing machine worked. The following items are the negative issues: When we checked in the first day I told the owner we had several issues like broken lights, no starter for the propane stove and no hot water. He used a translate app on his phone and showed the English translation to me: “you have caused me such a nightmare.” He then left and never returned or offered anything except a small Bic lighter he had brought for the propane stove. The property listing on booking.com that includes the owner's own pictures, stated we would have a full breakfast included. The owner said via WhatsApp the first morning after arrival that we had a “promotional price” and breakfast would not be provided. I complained to booking.com who raised it with the owner who still would not provide it. After a delay, booking.com gave us a partial refund of 10 euros per day to cover the purchase of breakfasts. In the list of the property description provided me by booking.com there are a number of important items missing that, in my opinion, amount to a breach of contract. There is no hot tub. There are no free toiletries. There is no air conditioning and no heating. There is no bathtub. There is no mosquito net. It says 'carpeted' but there is only one small one at the foot of the main bed. There is no soundproofing. The “outdoor furniture” is three very old and dirty plastic chairs, two small plastic tables and one very old and ugly, small wooden table. The drying rack on the roof is broken and lying in a heap. There are no cleaning products other than one broom and a dust pan but no cleansers. There is certainly no executive lounge access! Does the owner even know what an executive lounge is?

The location

Floor with bedroom without electricity, entrance to a construction site and the smell of dust rose up to the bedroom. Without hot water on arrival it is only arranged at 11 am the following day.

The property is over 3 floors including the bathroom upstairs and roof terrace. It has a nice homely feel about it, with nice art on the walls. It’s in a great location plus you can see what’s going on in the street from the lounge terrace. The lady who came to make us breakfast and clean every morning was very sweet. There was a microwave, large fridge freezer and stove. A little bunting bird came every day for a couple of crushed oats and some water - very cute. We could also see 3 seagull babies growing up on the roof next door. The top terrace is a great place for the sunset. There are the usual cats around in the street nearby which need a good fuss!

More charge points could have been useful so that I could have the bedside lamp on as well as charge my phone but this is minor. The shower was quite simple. There was salt there which was great. Would have been good to have some pepper too. Would have been useful to have an electric kettle to boil water or a kettle that whistles when ready. With the gas kettle we’d forget it was on and leave it boiling for 10 minutes, wasting a lot of gas.

We loved staying in the lovely Riad, perfect location, great view from the rooftops, comfortable beds and the contact to the host was also very good. Thanks

Gorgeous house with a perfect location.