My husband and I got back a week ago from a wonderful six day trip to Marrakech to celebrate 20 years together. Lisa and Michael could not have done more to help us arrange our trip in advance, or to make the most of it whilst we were there. You will be greeted with an orientation meeting, and a highly annotated map! It lists clean toilets too, because, you know, these things are important!

You can see from the pictures on Tripadvisor that the riad is stunning. It's very tranquil - and we expected Marrakesh to be manic - but inside the riad, you can hear very little. Even the early prayer calls are pretty muffled, and I only heard them on mornings I was already awake.

Breakfast was a tasty, leisurely affair every morning, and always different, always fresh. My husband really enjoyed the roasted veg terrine, and the cheese and tomato salad. That left the pastries free for me! But there's an abundance of food - juice, coffee, fresh baguette, pastries, yoghurt with fruit, something savoury... And, although there aren't tea and coffee making facilities in the room, you can stick your head in the kitchen any time, and fresh tea and coffee will be supplied free of charge. Or, if you happen to have a stinking cold like I did, fresh lemon and ginger tea.

That brings me nicely on to the staff. Lisa and Michael are fortunate to have a really great team working for them, and Samira especially deserves particular praise. Not only does she speak flawless English, but nothing is too much trouble. The rest of the staff are also lovely, though a bit of French comes in handy sometimes! In fact, a bit of French comes in handy (and goes down well) everywhere, so you might want to brush up on a few basics. If you are nervous about finding your way anywhere, especially on the first night, ask for Otman to take you! He got us to Pepe Nero, then even came back for us, all for a few quid.

The location of Dar Charkia is perfect- two or three minutes into the souk in one direction, or, if you are still getting your bearings, 10-15 minutes round the palace wall to the main square, and you can walk to the new town in the other direction in about half an hour. It is really safe - we had *no* trouble whatsoever when there. A smile and a 'non merci' is quite sufficient.

Lisa arranged a lot for us in advance, and we are so glad we took her advice - it was great getting picked up and dropped off without having to arrange anything. The hammam at Palais El Miria was pretty empty, but a very *ahem* thorough experience! Leave your inhibitions at the door... Faim d'Epices cookery school was brilliant - learned so much, but be warned - it runs at a very French pace... And Najib, our local guide on day one was so knowledgeable and interesting, it was the perfect beginning to the trip. Make sure he takes you to Bahia Palace! In terms of food, we can particularly recommend Pepe Nero for a special dinner, and also Salama, just on the other side of Djemaa el Fna main square, and Terrasse des Epices in the souk.

All in all, we came back refreshed and revived, and I can't wait to go back. There may be more sumptuous riads, but where I think Dar Charkia excels is in the level of quality you get for the very reasonable price. Do go, you won't regret it.

Dar Charkia is a truly beautiful and peaceful Riad that absolutely deserves its status at the very top end of the TripAdvisor hotel recommendations for Marrakech. A really great location, just a minute from a main drop off point and very close to the palace. The riad is only 5 minutes from the souks and about 15 minutes from Jemma el Fna and easy walking distance to Gueliz and Hivernage as well, yet once you are inside the hussle and bustle fades quickly and the peace and tranquility of the courtyard or the roof terrace is a great place to re-charge with a mint tea or glass of wine. Lisa and Michael (the owners) and their staff go above and beyond to ensure that every guest feels special and has an amazing visit to Marrakech. Lisa and Michael's love of Marrakech is infectious and is clear in the beautiful riad and the time and attention they spend making sure you have all the information you could need. The personalised map that they prepared for us, restaurant and shop recommendations and tips which they customise to the interests of each guest goes beyond any high end concierge service. The service starts from the moment you contact Lisa and Michael to book your trip, ensuring that by the time you arrive special trips and restaurants are booked to ensure the perfect visit. Each room is individually decorated and very comfortable, feeling both like an exclusive boutique hotel but also like staying with friends. Marrakech is a crazy, chaotic city and having Lisa, Michael and their staff on hand to guide, answer questions and where necessary chaperone us was invaluable. Breakfast is included in the room rate and was always extremely generous with fresh french bread and pastries every day plus fruit, yoghurt and a variety of other delicacies to tempt us each day. The "any time, any place" attitude of the staff was lovely - no need to worry about missing breakfast if you sleep in. We ate dinner at the Riad on our first night and it was one of the best meals we had in Marrakech - delicious food and very generous portions so the only "problem" was that we could not possibly finish! We had a wonderful time at Dar Charkia and highly recommend it!

We spent four wonderful days in this excellent Riad. The courtyard and facilities are of an excellent standard tastefully decorated and well maintained and the staff cannot do enough to make your stay as comfortable as possible. On arrival we were met by one of the owners Michael sat us down and provided us with 2 maps of the local area and some invaluable information and helpful tips about Marrakesh. One of the best places I have stayed anywhere in the world and would thoroughly recommend ! Indeed, I loved it so much that I proposed to my girlfriend (now fiancée) on the roof terrace under the stars!

Dar Charkia is a beautiful Riad. The courtyard and bedrooms are tranquil. The roof terrace is very comfortable. A lot of effort has gone into the tasteful and comfy decoration, which is a blend of modern convenience and simple tradition. As past reviews say, its been done to a high standard. The beds are quite hard, but also massive. There are effectively two duvets on the bed so we just slept on top of one.

The owners and staff of the Riad are incredibly friendly and helpful. There was always someone on hand when we had a question and nothing was too much bother. Almost all of the staff other than the owners speak good English. Every question was answered quickly and solutions found. We were given fantastic advice by the owners, Lisa and Michael, (tailored to us) on where to go and what to do. We were treated like friends not customers. In a chaotic and hard-to-follow city this was reassuring and invaluable in not being overwhelmed.

The food and drink in the Riad is excellent. The breakfast isn't to order, but there was lots of it and all of it fresh and beautifully prepared. We had dinner in the Riad one night, which was superb. And we enjoyed numerous drinks on the roof terrace. Mint tea and coffee are complementry. Alcohol isn't cheap, but is of a good quality.

We can't recommend Dar Charkia highly enough. Its fairly priced - the boutique service is the best we've expeirenced and well worth every penny. We would be happy to go back time and time again.