Riad Al Madina in Essaouira

The Riad Location is great, but the service is bad. When we arrived, we had to wait so long to get our keys. The room didn't contain any towels shampoo or slippers. Until we asked for it we only get shampoo and towels after waiting again. For this price no breakfast included and service was bad overall I don't recommend this riad.

We arrived late after a long day of travel to a very unfriendly reception. Terrible room with frayed curtains that didn't cover door window. No shower curtain, no toiletries, no hairdryer (had checked that detail & could have taken own travel dryer!), no extractor fan so bathroom was damp & moldy, high step up to bed which for the less active or elderly is a big problem, no bedside lights, hard mattress & brick-like pillows. Window looked onto dark corridor which meant lights were left on out there shining through the very thin curtains. No TV as advertised & no internet connection. Very angry & disappointed. I asked for a different room & told no. Woken at 5.50 with loud call to prayers. Take earplugs - mosque is just a stone's throw away. Spoke to a different receptionist in the morning & was given a far better room with natural light as the window looked down into a little alleyway. Only problem was being even nearer the loudspeaker for the mosque! But I was brought a hairdryer & a safe which was not much use as it didn't work and it wasn't fixed down so I could have walked out with it in my arms. This room felt cleaner but still wore my flip flops at all times & took outdoor shoes off at the door. Once you see the dirty streets & amount of cat poo around you will understand. If you are not fit the stairs/steps will be a problem. Lots of them, many are uneven & there are gaps in where the handrails are positioned. Positive points are the breakfasts which although the same every day are more than adequate. I saw fresh croissants delivered about 7ish & food already out was covered. There was fresh juice brought to the table with 2 different types of pancakes, & choice of black tea, mint tea or coffee. Help yourself to fresh fruit, butter, jam, honey etc. WiFi connection was possible when sitting at the table once the rush had died down so not everyone was trying for a connection. Serving staff quite pleasant. Very central to get out & explore. Lovely setting. Friendly ladies who cleaned the rooms. Lovely thick blankets provided for cooler nights & oil filled radiators to plug in when needed. Nice roof terrace but you have to like noisy seagulls! Take wet wipes to clean off their droppings from the chairs. Overall description of this Riad needs updating to reflect facts. At the moment the description is misleading. I only saw one room with aircon & TV on my floor. I can't comment on the rooms in main part but I heard TVs on. Perhaps some of those had balconies or terraces too but our rooms certainly did not. Take earplugs if you want sleep. Doors are metal so closing them quietly seems to be problematic, especially for those returning to rooms very late at night & the mosque is very close by. If you value sleep & want to lie in do not stay here. If you like old fashioned vibes & are not fussed about comfort or cleanliness then please do stay here. It is an experience to embrace. One can imagine the hippies staying here just hanging out, eating,

This was a bit of a shocker. 1. The rooms absolutely stink of the drains. It was enough to disturb your sleep. 2. The security is really worrying. We had a room on the first floor that had a privacy trellis just leaning against it so we couldn't see what was outside. It was only when I woke up one night to a phone torch sweeping the room that I realised the window opened onto the walkway of the next floor up. Genuinely terrifying. 3. We were half board, and the food was like school dinners, no hint of any seasoning and you weren't allowed to order from the same menu as other guests. You get a handwritten either/or menu that's boring and repetitive- either soup or salad, either tagine or pasta, either fruit salad or pastries. Really underwhelming. 4. Hidden charges- we had water, tea or Coke eith our meals. You'd think this was included in half board. Wrong. At the end of the week they presented us with an entirely random £50 bill for the drinks. 5. Keep receipts for everything. We paid £50 city tax on the first day. They insisted we hadn't paid it on the last day. It was only when I said I'd paid it on my card and could pull up my transaction history that the bratty girl on the desk suddenly said "OK you can go" and let us leave. 6. Utterly disinterested in guests. You're just an occupational inconvenience.

I would like to express my disappointment with the situation. Upon my arrival and throughout my stay, I repeatedly confirmed with the reception staff that I had only one room booked, and they assured me each time. This miscommunication caused significant frustration, and I believe it reflects a lack of professionalism.
be carefull with this hotel