Arriving to Marrakech's Medina for the first time can be overwhelming. Luckily Riad El Mansour sent us a timely airport transfer that helped us navigate through the labyrinth of narrow streets. Your first impressions can be deceiving as the driver drops you at a busy marketplace with stalls selling everything from motorcycles to cow heads! Then he leads you into more quiet and residential dirt packed alleys. Just as you approach a dead end and start to wonder where the heck you have gotten yourself into you see the large welcoming entrance of the Riad and behind it, a beautiful and peaceful oasis that you'll be happy to escape back to when the busy Medina gets too much.
The staff were all wonderful, and Abdess was very attentive, just what you'd expect of the famed Moroccan hospitality. Upon arrival he sits down with wide-eyed guests who like us are wondering how they will ever find their way on their own, with a well-annotated map and a cup of mint tea to instruct them calmly before setting them free in the wild arenas of the town. Armed with that knowledge you won't feel that lost anymore and soon come to enjoy the walk home through the quiet alleys at the end of a busy day. We were two young women travelling together and we never felt unsafe when walking back to the Riad.
The Riad and its rooms are beautiful and decorated with taste. Online I had read reviews about common issues in Marrakech such as lack of heating or hot water, no toiletries in the rooms and so on. Rest assured, El Mansour is not one of those places: there was more than enough heating to keep us warm on cold nights, with even a radiator in the bathroom encouraging us to jump into a warm morning shower. There was no tv in our room (Room 4), but there is no need for one in Marrakech with so much to see and do- I actually prefer it that way- and there are plenty of nice cozy lounges in the Riad where you can hide away with a book. Breakfast was absolutely delicious: freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit salad and homemade yogurt were my favourite goodies enjoyed on the sunny terrace of the hotel.
We also tried the in-house hamman for the full-on treatment and were very happy with the service. One night we dined at the Riad, and although it might seem more expensive than some other places, the quality (and enormous quantity) of the homemade food are all worth it- especially for those lazy days when you don’t want to go out for dinner. Although for us perhaps it was a bit too much food, we noticed it's a Moroccan thing to have big meals. As for distance to main sites, the Riad is about a 15 min walk to the main plaza, and even closer to the souks. When in the Medina your best bet is to walk everywhere since the narrow alleys, already overcrowded with motorcycles, bicycles, people, donkeys and horses, struggle to fit anything else – just make sure you don’t forget your map! And if it comes to worse, you’ll always find someone ready to help you out (but don’t forget to tip).
El Mansour’s best quality is probably the service – the smiling, welcoming and friendly attitude of the staff makes you feel that whatever you may need, you can rely on them to help you. One such incident involved my watch which was accidentally broken (missing piece) while taking one of the treatments. Abdess offered without me needing to ask to have it fixed while we enjoyed the day. At our return my once again perfect watch was waiting for me. To conclude this long story, I will only say that this Riad deserves the great reviews it has gotten.
- Riad El Mansour Marrakech
- Riad El Mansour Hotel Marrakech
