Riad Camilia in Marrakech

My partner and I booked a 3 day stay at this riad on 8th March of 26. We had just spend 4 days travelling across Morocco and were looking forward to our stay as the images looked great and we hadn't stayed in one place for more than 1 night. The day before we booked another hotel, Adhoc based on google reviews found it didn't really reflect the actual experience there, so we checked this riad. We came across another review which in all honesty was terrible. From mould to the fact they are scammers. It worried us. But we had paid upfront so had to commit.

On arrival Youssef greeted us (he was amazing and very helpful despite the outcome, but sadly wasn't the owner/manager). He asked permission to leave to break his fast as it was Ramadan, we had no issues especially as it gave us time to settle in and look around. He gave us a contact number in case we needed him. The second you walked into the room (Matisse room, on the GF) there were white patches on the wall. I suspected rising damp immediately, however upon closer inspection it was apparent it was mould. It was furry/fuzzy and it was everywhere. The lighting is dim and I suspect the manager hopes it will hide it. The plaster had blown in multiple places all around the room, with sections of the wall falling out when touched. I tapped parts of the wall to see puffs of white dust come out of the cracks which I can only assume is mould ingress behind the plaster. The conclusion was that the room is totally inhibited with mould. Also the toilet didn't flush and the bathtub was damaged by the plughole meaning water would seep directly into the concrete beneath. Since I have asthma and my partner had just fallen sick I tried to call Youssef to raise my concerns, I wasn't able to get through. We knew we wouldn't stay there due to the extent of mould growth. not to mention the state of the kitchen.

Bear in mind this riad is deep in the medina and quick tricky to find, there are 2 or 3 very small passages you have to pass through at the end of a dead end street which was difficult to access with luggage as our taxi had to drop us atleast a 10 mins walk away. Since an hour had passed since Youssef left and it was getting dark and we weren't sure when he would return, we made a decision to book an alternative hotel (an actual hotel) outside of the medina. Youssef then returned and I raised my points to him, to be honest he seemed completely aware that this was an issue in that room and was understanding of our issues. He tried to offer an alternative room but we had already booked the hotel. The other room I believe already was reserved for another guest so I think the intention was to swap our rooms. But we declined. Given it was Ramadan and everyone had gone to eat he offered to help us find a taxi, he carried our case 10mins through the medina to find a cab.

However our concerns and problems weren't yet over, the aforementioned review also stated that the manager lied about this guest's attendance and marked him as a no show when infact he stayed 1 night of his stay and consequently hasn't received a refund. Given we were armed with this knowledge we took precautions and photographed specific parts of the riad with its name etc, with the Geo-tag on it. This was even more important as we hadn't officially 'checked in' as this was due to be done upon Youssef's return. I was given a number for 'the responsible' which I believe is Youssef's manager and have followed up with them for a refund, currently I have been ignored, the booking has disappeared from the booking.com account presumably due to a 'no show' from the riad. I've opened a charge back with both Paypal and Amex and still haven't received a refund and consequently had to open a section 75 under the consumer credit act. No indication of a refund to date.

Overall a really disappointing experience, the hotel we later checked into said 'Never trust a Riad' and I see why! Where ever and whomever you book with either pay on arrival or after your stay. Lastly Youssef deserves better even he said he has chest issues!!

We stayed at Riad Meriem for 2 nights. The room was clean, the staff were welcoming and helpful. The breakfast was good, and the Moroccan teas was very nice. Getting to the hotel involved walking through a lot of dark and narrow alleys, which is not the easiest with luggage. We had to walk 15 minutes from where our taxi dropped us off. Although to be fair you can request them to meet you on arrival to help with that. The lobby is run down and the pool was cold.

✅ Pros

Good location, close to the souks and main attractions
Generally quiet despite being in the medina
Nice rooftop terrace
Breakfast is included
Youssef was very kind
WiFi works in the main garden area

❌ Cons

The riad is difficult to find (especially on the first visit)
Photos online are misleading and seem outdated
Overall poor maintenance and lack of renovation
Rooms are extremely dark, with weak or broken lighting
Very hard beds and uncomfortable sleeping conditions
High humidity on walls and ceilings
Drainage and plumbing issues (clogged sink, bad shower pressure)
Dirty shower floor and general lack of attention to cleanliness
No bathroom door, no full-length mirror, broken safe
Pool is always very cold and not really usable
WiFi barely works outside the courtyard
Staff and management are difficult to contact
Nobody was present at check-in time; had to wait about 45 minutes
Overpriced compared to other riads in Marrakech with much better quality

⭐ Overall

Unfortunately, Riad Meriem does not match its online presentation. While the location and rooftop terrace are nice, the lack of maintenance, poor comfort, and weak management make it feel overpriced. With so many better-value riads in Marrakech, this place needs serious improvements to meet expectations.