Thanks to instagram, pinterest, and a plethora of travel articles, I knew when planning our trip to Marrakech that we wanted to stay in a Riad. I didn’t really know what that meant but the photos alone had me sold.
Walking into our riad – L’Oriental Medina Riad & Spa, the host immediately informed us “this is your home while you are in Marrakech.” How little did we know just how true that was! By the time our trip was over, we were all convinced that riads are the only way to stay when traveling!
Here are the 5 Reasons why you have to stay in a Riad in Marrakech.
1. The Service
We have stayed in almost 40 countries, in everything from an AirBnB to the Ritz Carlton and no-where has had service as attentive as the staff at L’Oriental. When we were looking for dinner locations, instead of calling, our host walked us to one of our choices and even though they said they were booked at first, he made sure they opened a spot for us. That same dinner, it began pouring rain and the staff from the restaurant began walking us back to the riad with their umbrellas — we weren’t half-way down the street before our riad host was running down towards us with umbrellas to ensure we made it back dry! They walked us to every taxi we took, and when they booked a taxi for our return from the next night’s dinner the driver knew exactly who we were and came to our table to let us know he would be there whenever we were finished. Even beyond the insanely attentive service is the fact that they weren’t doing it hoping for extra tips or anything, they genuinely cared about making our experience as incredible as possible, it was refreshing.
2. The Spa
Most riads also have their own spa, or bring someone in for you. You can have a traditional Moroccan Hammam, a Turkish bath which is a bit like a sauna and a really aggressive salt scrub followed by a massage or any range of different options like Swedish massages or facials. We were able to book massages and pedicures starting at 830pm after returning from dinner – something that would never be available at most hotels and spas whose services have set closing times.
3. The Tea
This is partially part of “the service” but this “moroccan whiskey” as they call it is an essential part of the experience. There is nothing alcoholic about it, just a delicious blend of mint & green tea with probably more sugar than one would add themselves, yet perfect for vacation. The moment we walked into the riad, before discussing payment or excursions, or even rooms, we were ushered into the “living room” to have fresh tea and pastries. This became part of our daily ritual as well. We had tea with breakfast as well as tea upon arrival back after our touristing.
4. The Courtyard
What makes a “riad” a “riad” is the garden or pool in the middle of the courtyard. If there is no pool or garden, it is called a “dar.” There is something magical and relaxing about this area in every riad. Because there are no outward facing windows in the building (dating back to construction during the times of harems when women could not be visable to men outside of their family), everything faced into the courtyard. There are often chairs and beds around this area for you to relax in
5. The Tours
We were able to book private tours each day through our riad for a fraction of the price they would have been through any travel company. The first day we had a driver pick us up and take us to Ourika Valley at the base of the Atlas mountains to visit the Berber villages and see something outside of the city. Along the ride he would pull over and let us out to take whatever photos we wanted, and even ones we didn’t think of!
The second day we had our own private guide for a walking tour of Marrakech and Medina. Our guide spoke perfect english and took us for miles around the city, to Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, and finally into the souks (or markets) where he expertly negotiated all of our purchases in the market. It was amazing because we were never harassed or ripped off once! The riad knew each of our guides by name and were incredibly concerned in hour our guides and tours were! This was such a huge relief for us to have someone take us around and help us through the city, and a fraction of what we would have paid for this quality of service!
The truth is, there isn’t just one thing about a riad that makes it worth staying in, it is everything about it. All 5 of the details combined make it something outside of a hotel or air bnb experience. It’s not just the home feeling of a bnb, or the service of a hotel, it’s both of those, combined with true hospitality, fabulous Moroccan architecture and delicious food & drinks. You may never get another chance to stay in a place like this, so don’t miss your chance!
Xx
Kali
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