We have just returned from a family trip to Morocco and a highlight was certainly our stay at the Riad Almoulouk. We were two families, each with two young children, and we spent five nights initially at the Riad. Allal, the wonderfully efficient and friendly manager, met us at the airport and sped alongside the taxi by motorbike, helping us weave our way through the medina to the rather unpromising entrance to the riad. However as soon as the door opened, we were whisked away from the hustle and bustle of the medina and into, quite literally, an oasis of tranquility.

The photographs only hint at how beautiful the courtyard and bedrooms are, The level of workmanship is superb and both our room and the one of our friends were beautiful. I never knew how many different types of pancakes there are and we sampled them all during our breakfasts, even trying our hand at cooking some of them under Soumia's laughing guidance. Soumia is a superb chef and she and Aicha cooked up a storm, again and again. We did try going out to dinner one night, while they babysat for us, but soon decided that we would much rather be eating sublime home cooked food on 'our' roof terrace. Nothing was too much trouble for Allal, Soumia and Aicha, and the children adored them as much as we did.

The location was perfect for exploring the medina and the market square, and it was always lovely to be welcomed back at the riad with copious quantities of mint tea and biscuits.

We were sad to say our goodbyes and head to the mountains and then on to Essaouira. However, unfortunately while in the mountains our daughter was taken ill and after a few days we decided to go back to the Riad for a night en route to the sea so we could see a doctor and enjoy a stolen day back in Marrakech. Allal was great, and within an hour of arriving back he was accompanying us to the doctor while our friends were being fed lunch at the riad! It really felt like coming home.

A heartfelt thankyou to Allal, Soumia and Aicha for a magical stay at the Riad Almoulouk.