We absolutely loved our trip to Morocco, it ...

Morocco | Oct 13 - Oct 26, 2022

Tranquille and peaceful, modern with amazing views of the ocean. It was perfect for our two-night stop-over. The hotel is located quite far from the town centre and you would need a car to commute to restaurant's etc

This Riad is absolutely stunning. The architecture is authentically Moroccan, the symmetry, mosaic tiles, traditional carved wooden doors, lamps etc show off the sophisticated artistry of the Moroccan craftsmen. It's richly and beautifully decorated, it felt as though we were staying in a Moroccan palace. It was a very special experience. Unfortunately, it had no welcoming reception area. If you need to speak to a staff member you had to go hunting for them. The staff were very friendly and obliging but in general there was insufficient staff especially at mealtimes. During the breakfast period, we felt very sorry for the two staff members who were trying to serve breakfast, reset tables, plus checkout guests. (The credit card machine wasn't working,) They also had to get the departing guests' suitcases to the parking area. The food was good, but we did find the dinner menu very limiting and would've preferred an al a cart menu. No internet in the bedroom. Renovation was going on all over, so it was quite noisy. The roof top terrace was also closed. Very sad, as this Hotel has great potential, just needs to be managed correctly.

We wouldn't recommend the Radisson Blu. When we arrived, we were told, they'd moved us to the Best Western, as they were full. We'd not had any prior notification thereof. (We think, they had a large group of more important guests to accommodate.) Our driver then took us to the Best Western where we spent the night, very pleasant. Radison Blu sent us, a bottle of wine, a tray of nuts and raisins and a note, apologizing for the inconvenience. (We weren't the only couple moved, luckily for us it was a one-night stopover.)

We thoroughly enjoyed this excellent hotel, the location was great, the staff are friendly, obliging and helpful. It's situated on the beach front and within easy walking distance of the medina and the harbour. The hotel is designed around a large outdoor pool, which is very pretty and well protected. We enjoyed our excellent breakfasts, outside, next to the pool. The hotel's restaurant and bar are on the beach, it was a good place to relax after a day of walking and exploring. We can recommend a visit to beautiful Essaouira and this well managed hotel.

This hotel really lives up to its name, "Riad Wow." As we walked into the reception, we both said, WOW! We received a very warm welcome and were offered mint tea and biscuits. I couldn't stop my eyes wondering around the reception area, as there were so many interesting decor items. There was definitely a wow factor to the deco, in all of areas of the hotel; bright, bold, colourful with interesting artefacts. It certainly looked and felt Moroccan, with a modern touch. Our room was large, richly decorated and we were welcomed with rose petals everywhere, a lovely romantic touch. The wooden window shutters and doors were exquisite. Loved the huge, golden, tassel tie backs, very majestic. The courtyard had lovely pool and the surrounding area was interesting and colourful. The roof top terrace was where Moroccan breakfasts and dinners were a served, it was also a wonderful place to put your feet up and relax. We spent 4 nights in this special Riad and would do so again, in a heartbeat. We very got very friendly with the staff, nothing was too much trouble for them, they only wanted us to be satisfied and happy. I'm gluten intolerant and at breakfast I said another, wow! as I was presented with a plate of gluten free breads, a crepe and huge slice of breakfast cake, much more than I could consume. They said, I had to have a choice. A big thank you to the chef as our couple of dinners were also delicious. Our evening waiter was very knowledgeable, interesting and we were impressed with his language skills. We certainly had an amazing, memorable experience. We can highly recommend Riad Wow.

We had a fabulous stay; the atmosphere was great it was attractively decorated; we certainly knew we were in Morocco. The staff were very welcoming, helpful and friendly. Location was perfect, just off the main square, within easy walking distance to lots of restaurants the medina and various attractions. Our room was spacious and comfortable. The Riad Hicham Restaurant, was excellent we enjoyed the breakfast, ate a lunch in pretty little alcove in the courtyard, very romantic. The waiters were chatty and helpful re our menu choices; had a delicious dinner on the terrace. We can certainly recommend staying in Riad Hicham.

Our Guide, Abdul Salam, was a very fit elderly gentleman who spoke rather loudly. He was a traditionalist, extremely passionate about Chefchaouen and a very proud Muslim. He was informative and engaging re the history of his city, and he gave us a better understanding of his culture. He also helped us familiarize ourselves with the medina.

We liked our private local guide, Morda, he was chatty, informative and knowledgeable about Tangier's history which was very interesting. We enjoyed exploring the medina with and seeing the art murals of Asilah. It was our first time in Morocco, so we asked a lot of questions which Morda happily answered. We're very glad we had the opportunity to spend time in Tangier, it's charming and definitely worth visiting, and doing a guided tour makes it more meaningful.

We found visiting Volubilis, this ancient Roman/Berber, partially excavated settlement fascinating. Our local guide was very knowledgeable, he captivated us with the history and the importance of this archaeological site. He made the ruins come alive for us, explaining just how this settlement worked, with its large merchant homes, water and heating systems etc. We loved his telling of the mythological stories explaining the beautiful mosaic floors etc. Definitely worth visiting. Next stop was the Imperial City of Meknes. Unfortunately, many of the historical sites are being extensively renovated, but our happy, friendly, interesting local guide Rashid, answered all of our questions and we did get an idea of the vastness an importance of these sites. He helped us explore the medina, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail with its magnificent architecture and Dar Jamai, which was beautiful and interesting, gave us a good idea of a residence in 1882.

Our local guide, Mohammed Agali, gave us a wonderful insight into the amazing Imperial City of Fes. He introduced us to its history, its architecture explaining the significance of the intricate decor elements. He guided us through the maze of lanes and alleyways and told us about life in the medina. We would never have been able see and experience what we did without our local guide. He took us to the best spice souk ever and a hidden gem of a restaurant for lunch. We were interested in the various local crafts, which are a living tradition, but did find some of them to be a bit touristy. Thank you, to Mohammed, for enhancing our experience in Fes.

Hassen II Mosque, is an absolute architectural marvel, it was awe-inspiring, very elaborately decorated and amazing. Our local guide was very good, interesting and entertaining as she was humorous, BUT our group was far too large couldn't always hear. We were supposed to be English speaking group only, but we were joined with an Israeli speaking group, we had to continually wait for everything to be interpreted and we'd be rushed to the next talking spot.

Our local Essaouira guide introduced us to the harbour which was bustling with fishermen and tourists. While we strolled around the well laid out the medina, he informed us of the 18th century ramparts and the town's interesting history. It has a little bit of a hip vibe and easy to shop and browse, as you don't get hassled. Our guide recommended a lovely, terraced restaurant overlooking the ramparts and the ocean. We so enjoyed visiting this relaxed resort town with its beautiful long beach and promenade.

Marrakech is a busy city, and we were so thankful we'd organized a guide and driver who help us to experience so much in one day. Our local guide asked us what our interests were, and from then on, he was very informative and engaging re the history, architecture, the Koutoubia Mosque, medina and the various other attractions we explored. We would never have seen and experienced as much as we did without our guide who helped navigate through the buzzing medina, you were continually getting out of the way people, mopeds, and huge carts filled with all manner of goods. We enjoyed the workshop area. What an experience!

We changed our activity to a Berber Village Tour. It was great to get away from the bustle of Marrakech. Our excellent driver, Hmad fetched us, and we wound our way up into the Atlas Mountains, enjoying the beautiful scenic landscapes, and small 16th and 17th Century Berber villages along the way. We stopped at Setti Fatma where we met our young, local guide Mohammed. He led us further up the road to his small village, which was clinging to the side of the hill, all the while informing us of their way of life, their families, homes, culture and terraced farming. We explored the village, met Mohammed's uncle who invited us to have mint tea with him in his little home. We loved the interaction and it felt spontaneous. Mohammed recommended having lunch at a restaurant, alongside the Ourika River, Hmad joined us, the atmosphere was wonderful and the traditional meal delicious. We had an amazing experience, thanks to Mohammed.