As a family of five we booked two rooms for the four days we were spending in Marrakech, we wanted to stay in a traditional riad to feel the full sense of the Moroccan culture and, the medina. We were picked up from the airport by a very friendly driver which they had arranged for us and we were driven to the medina...the riad is very close to one of the gates (bab) to the medina, bab ailen....the staff were very friendly and spoke good english although we did try to use our limited french...we were shown a map and told about the area and what we would need. The staff were very helpful and kind and we opted to eat there every night at about £10 a head and it was definately worth it..the homemade moroccan cuisine was top class and the service was outstanding too. The riad were also able to arrange a say trip of all the main tourist attractions in the medina with the driver we had met before...for a small cost this trip was very helpful and we stopped at each place to enter and visit with the driver ready for us afterwards. The rooms wee very tidy and well furnished and had a lovely feel to it. There was also a terrace for sitting and relaxing on hot afternoons.
Our stay was very enjoyable.

It's true what every other comment says : this is really a wonderful place to stay and discover Marrakech and the surrounds. From the first welcoming mint tea through the delicious home-baked tajines everything in Riad Alien is what you'd get only if you were staying at a friends house. We were looked after wonderfully by Hasna , Naima and Younes ; always disrete but willing to help , guide and advise us : a mine of information on local habits, traditions and culture........so a big thanks to them for making our stay so memorable.We'll certainly be back !!

This was EXCELLENT in every sense of the word. You couldn't expect more from a place like this. We were 12 friends staying over for a week and we had the riad just for us. Very warm staff, helpful, friendly and highly professional. The owner has had an great rapport with us throughout the process. The city is delightfully crazy but we'd always find our peace and quality time when back at the riad. Great terrace and rooms. Delicious pancakes and orange juice. Cosy pateo with pool. Properly decorated and great location, not so touristic but close enough to the main attractions.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
jld, viii/11

We were looking at spending a few nights in a traditional riad in the medina in Marrakech and heard about riad Ailen from relatives. It is conveniently located not far from a medina entrance so you don't have to drag your heavy bags a long way through the tiny and dusty streets of that old city! We had a great and fun time staying in that newly renovated riad, the owners and staff are extremely friendly and we had a couscous cooking demo by the chef on our request! Our room was very clean and comfortable and we got priceless information on restaurants, places to buy pottery, how to bargain, how much we should pay for a cab fare (read how not to pay the tourist price!) etc.
The riad is about 15 minute walk to the famous place and to get there you have to go through the last berber market in the medina, it is very exciting and a big culture shock!
We saw on websites and guides lots of riads charging ridiculous prices, we think they want to take us for a ride, we must not forget we are in Morocco not in Paris, London or New York! Riad Ailen offered the perfect budget for us (we paid around 60 euros/night if I remember correctly ) and I have to say this is great value for money and we definitely recomment it. During our stay we saw other guests staying at the riad following word of mouth recommendations.