I shared a room with two friends when we were going the "super cheap" route for lodging. I admit I am a wuss when it comes to budget lodging. The rooms were very basic and it took awhile for the hot water to reach a warm state. My two friends used the shower prior to me and couldn't get any hot water, we sort of assumed there was no hot water for the price we were paying!

The beds were okay and it felt so-so clean. No bugs, no hair, what more do you want for a low price? We went out clubbing til' the wee morning hours so only were in the room for a few hours.

The location was fantastic right next to the medina and a few minutes from the ocean. It's an okay spot if you are looking to save money, want a great location and are not going to spend more than a night!

We stayed in May. This is an odd hotel; they do not seem to be much interested in doing business: it has about 60 rooms of which 4 or 5 seemed occupied. No breakfast was available, but that was no hardship as breakfast next door is fine.
This hotel has obviously seen better days and I'd imagine it was once one of the best in town.
We stayed a week. Our first room, theogh spacious had broken windows and some lights did not work. The second room was much better. Very tastefully appointed; TV with 2 movie channels. Shower head was a bit leaky and hot water only at morning and evening; not all the power points worked.
We had a most comfortable stay. Staff were very pleasant.
At 250 DH for a double, we thought it good value. Beats poky, airless riad rooms anytime.
Just be careful to carefully inspect the offered room before accepting it.

Was on a Travemood tour of Morocco ( recommended - brilliant holiday ) who book you and your travel mates into the locations you land up in en route around Morocco. Arrived at Essouira and went straight to hotel reception where we filled out duplicates of personal details on small pieces of white card to register.

Location couldn't be beaten - right on the Medina walls and very near the sea, Moroccan decoration - riad style central courtyard with 6 floors of rooms decorated like little Moroccan bedsits. My boyfriend and I were delighted that the TV in the room played more than the News 24 channel found in other hotels and spent a pleasurable hour watching 'A Few Good Men' subtitled in Arabic before going out to explore.

But ( and this is a big but ) they have to save money somehow and it was obvious with the level of cleanliness and the standard of breakfast that if you scratch Hotel Sahara on the surface you can find why. The bathroom was inside the bedsit room, you stepped through a blue painted door up a step to find a loo, shower and bidet ( tick ) no loo paper ( no tick ), the sink was broken ( no tick ) and the splash tiles were covered in toothpaste stains, the shower wasn't clean and I found a long brown hair in the sheets of my bed. I wasn't convinced they were laundered and had been recycled for the next guests ( thumbs down on all fronts ). I brushed my teeth using bottled water that night.

Answer ? Go out until 4:00 am clubbing above the most delicious restaurant in Essouria and you won't care....share a room with people who can politely ignore the inevitable toilet sounds that come from Moroccan belly and only drink the hot tea and coffee that is provided with the " breakfast " ( small dry cut up pieces of french bread with scrapes of butter and processed slices of cheese - very poor).

Essouira ?- amazing place. Hotel Sahara ?- would have requested a room change if booking on my own or staying longer than one night....

Stayed here as part of the Travel Talk Moroccan Tours

Good Points

1.Fantastic Location
2.Rooms- Spacious and clean

Bad Points

1. Breakfast was very basic bread and jam with tea and coffee
2.Tired old building
3.No Lift