Riad Dar Saad - Hammam & Spa

This was my third time here, staying for 4-5 nights each time, and it was an indescribable experience. The ambiance was like something out of 1001 Nights, with beautiful suites and rooms that are constantly being expanded; I stayed in three different ones. A huge, leafy terrace with a pool to relax and simply enjoy. The service is second to none; it's like coming home. A large selection for breakfast, and there's also an extensive menu for lunch and dinner, all of excellent quality. Many thanks to Meriem and Susana. As always, you made this stay with five friends a very special experience. I'll definitely be back very soon.

Before booking this riad, I strongly encourage you to read the other negative reviews. Unfortunately, our experience mirrors many of them, particularly regarding the owner’s aggressive and threatening behavior. Our stay started off well, and I want to acknowledge that the general staff were lovely—helpful, polite, and professional. However, the same cannot be said for the owner and his daughter, whose behavior completely overshadowed our experience. Early on, there was a mix-up on my end regarding a charge on my card. I mistakenly thought they had charged me in advance, but when I realised my error, I immediately apologised. There was no hostility, just a simple inquiry. We also encountered minor inconveniences, like the shower requiring a specific technique to work, but we adapted without issue. However, problems escalated when my wife had a terrible experience at the spa—she found the room freezing, the products cheap, and the staff inattentive. Based on her feedback, I went to cancel my own appointment and two others we had booked. I was told they needed to check with the owner due to a 50% cancellation charge. Another issue arose when we changed rooms halfway through our stay. When we went to collect the key for the new room, they attempted to charge us for it again, despite the fact that we had already paid in full upfront upon checking in. When I politely questioned this, they became pushy and aggressive. I showed them my bank statement as proof, but they insisted I hadn’t paid. Only when they went to retrieve their own receipt did they finally confirm that I had, in fact, already paid. Now, mistakes happen, and I can forgive this one—but the way they handled it, with immediate hostility rather than a simple check of their records, was completely unacceptable. The worst moment, however, was when the owner and his daughter came to our room and aggressively confronted us over the spa cancellations. They began shouting at us, making absurd accusations, including calling us “racist” (which made no sense as my wife is Native South American and I am Irish i.e. we are in a mixed race relationship). They also made ignorant generalisations, saying, “you English are all the same.” When I corrected them, explaining I was Irish, they dismissively responded, “same thing.” Their anger was so extreme that my children, while not crying, were clearly distressed and confused as to why a grown man was screaming in our room. I have traveled extensively and have never experienced such unprofessional and intimidating behavior from a hotel owner. No guest should be subjected to this, especially in front of their family. There are so many beautiful riads in Marrakesh with warm, welcoming hosts—this is not one of them. For the sake of your holiday, I strongly recommend choosing a different place to stay.