Riad Lalla Khadija Moulaty & Spa

"We booked to stay at the Riad Lalla Khadija hotel for 5 nights. We stayed in room 1 - the base of the hotel by the pool. It was pretty, cosy and clean with areas outside the room to sit. The staff at the hotel from the front desk, to the restaurant could not be kinder and more attentive. They spent time planning with us and offering very helpful advice about the city, where to visit and how to feel confident in an unknown area. Thank you so much to Hamid and Yassin especially. Breakfasts were delicious and very generous with a choice of tea or coffee. The location was central in the Medina and everywhere was walkable. Taxi's were easy and plentiful with prices agreed before travel. Our tip would be to go out and find the trips rather than use the hotel ones. We paid 70 Dirham each for an evening in Agafey (described as the desert - it is sandstone type desert) with a meal and music - sold to us as a 'spectacular'. As we sat in a gravel car park at a women's cooperative of producers of Argan Oil drinking a tea and then being invited into the shop, we began to question the merits of the trip we had been sold. Sure enough we ended up in a large, half constructed complex left to buy our drinks (soft) at the bar for about an hour and sit round a pool. Then had some delicious food with some traditional music and a fire performer did a 10 min (impressive) stint - the spectacular?. On the plane on our return, a couple behind us had done the exact same trip for about £12 each. Do your research and ask around. For the half the price of the hotel's day trip to Essaouira, we got a return on the public bus and an overnight lovely hotel stay with breakfast from booking.com, which meant we were not rushing back. Such an interesting place and the people are very kind. The weather was about 20 degrees C with a mixture of sun, cloud and rain at the end of Jan beginning of Feb."

"Simple Riad. By no means 4 stars. Small well cleaned room but quite worn down and very impractical furnishing. A small open wardrobe with a few flimsy coat hangers but very few shelves or hooks to hang clothes or things. The floor space was not big enough to have to open suit cases. Old bathroom with a toilet with loose plastic seat. Took ages to get hot water in the shower. Simple boring breakfast on the roof terrace. Nice staff. When we settled the bill the reception claimed that the credit card transaction had failed even though my credit card app clearly stated a complete transaction. The reception and manager insisted that I pay again which I was stupid enough to do. We flew home and then saw that there were double identical charges. No answer from the hotel manager. I filed a fraud complaint with my credit card company and they have made a claim towards the hotel owner. Clearly fraudulent behaviour. Warning!"

"Friendly staff, clean rooms although basic, pleasant breakfast, situated in the Medina so very busy. However appears to be a possible fraudulent scheme. Booked a balloon trip which was postponed to another date due to weather conditions. Subsequently learned that other balloon trips went ahead that morning. On leaving to pay bill the balance was to be refunded on the credit card but after several weeks this was not refunded. Initially, the manager was most helpful via WhatsApp (using this on his request) initially stating he would refund the money and was most apologetic and sent a receipt suggesting the money has been refunded. Despite numerous attempts to resolve this the manger refused to answer any messages and blocked the WhatsApp contact and todate the money has not been refunded. We are currently in dialogue with the credit card company."