very nice place with helpful staff and close to a relaxed square near the spice market. The little alley didn't seem promising but once inside the door a serene calm ambiance in the courtyard and a great space on the rooftop made for relaxing.

Had a wonderful weeks stay here in late September.

A fascinating city and people, full of interest and different cultures.

The hosts, Brahim and Simo, could not have done more to make us so very welcome. Their knowledge of Marrakesh and advice regarding good restaurants, places of interest to visit etc etc was invaluable.

Half way through our stay I overhead them say to newly arriving guests...."our home is your home"......how true those words were. Everything we asked for, from a pot of coffee to organising taxis to and from the airport was done with a smile.

Their hosting made our 'holiday' one we will always remember with great affection.

Will we go back there....?....absolutely....!

Our stay in the Riad Dar Crystal was very well. The Riad itself is hard to find but the taxi pickup from the airport made it all easy. Don't expect a frontdoor taxi delivery, the Riad is in an ally and you have to walk for 1 minute.
After the frontdoor there is a tranquil scenery. Although it took a wihile before the staff had some time for tea and an explination of the city and Riad.
The pros of this Riad is the pretty good spot in the city, a walk from everything, design of the room and quiet spot to escape the madness of the city of Marrakech.
The cons are the quality of the bed, needs a refill or something and the loose way the staff walks through the building, they probably miss a little 'real' hotel experience. On the other hand they are willing to help you at costs... The 'swimmingpool' is useless, only 3 by 3 at the most! Breakfast will test your patients, when all rooms are occupied there is not enough space to sit and will take a while before you receive something. They have to find a better way to make breakfasttime shorter...

The location of the Riad is in the Mellah a bohemian (basic/shabby/locals) area.

Although we didn't encounter any problems I would be conscious of safety if I was a lone traveller. This is not the kind of area for austentatious displays (designer clothes, OTT jewellery etc). The locals are warm and say good morning or good evening. Inside our Riad it was quite the opposite to the outside alleyways.

The prices at the Riad are same if not more expensive as the costs in the UK. So do not expect that because this Marrakech Riad and it is not in the euro zone or the similarity it to an English guesthouse it will be reasonable or competitive to UK  prices. We didn't get a chance to eat at the Riad instead we ate at Jemma El Fna square. The Sq is a real dining experience and extremely entertaining.

The home once of a Jewish family the Riad and it's rooms have been renovated with a contemporary touch. The spaces are lovely with hints of moroccan design kept. There is a serene court yard at its heart and a roof terrace. Having air conditioning in the room was a nice extra however surprisingly you don't really need it as design of the Riad means it stays cool.

The staff are extremely helpful and respectful as in top hotels.

You do need to have a little French to get on in Marrakech if you stay at a non-English speaking hotel. We were fortunate that the owner and one member of staff spoke English. The others are making the effort to learn under the instruction of another team member. Still there were times when communication was misunderstood and things we're therefore not as we'd like.

If you want to be part of Marrekech, this Riad's location with its locals on your doorstep is a must. If you prefer large faceless hotels with a big swimming pool then staying outside the city walls is a better idea or Hiverage area.

Would I go again...yes but not until I've visited other destinations on my visit list.


Our top tip to share is to visit the Hamman nearest to Palace Bahia. It costs 270 dirham for a complete package (steam/shower/shampoo/salt scrub/massage/bikin bottoms/towel and robe). You can also break the package down and take individual items. Don't forget your hair conditioner as this is not supplied.

For 130 dirham if you want a day off and a chance to enjoy the scorching  heat go to the water park Oasiria. As you have to buy food and drink onsite use the seated area by the adult pool. It costs around 100 dirham for a small seating area for the day. The seats are white canvas and you chillax.