Marrakech is an assault on your every sense. The sound, the smells, the heat, the movement, the colour. It is a fascinating place, but one from which you need a haven. The Riad Maison Do, provides this - in the heart of the Medina. Once you step through the elaborately decorated door, you are in peaceful courtyard, so beautifully Moorish in style, yet a world away from the hectic souks.

The rooms on the ground floor are situated around a central courtyard, whilst on the upper stories they exit onto the balconies that look down through the natural atrium to the courtyard below. Brightly coloured tiles and intricate stone work decorate the columns floors and walls. The bedrooms, individually decorated with local textiles and cushions, make you feel like you are lost in another time and place. Yet you have all the modern comforts you need - including wifi and beautiful bathrooms.

Breakfast is served in the courtyard at the communal table. It gives you time to think about your day whilst meeting other visitors, all with their own tales to tell of Morocco and Marrakech. Breakfast is fresh fruit, locally baked breads and flat cakes, coffee and juices. Simple fresh food.

The staff are exceptional - nothing is too much trouble. The French proprietor Yollande is superb. Incredibly hospitable and full of knowledge of the city and of further afield. She shared with us the Riad's books and maps for our trek over the Atlas mountains and beyond. She also helped arranged local car hire at a much better rate than through the multi-nationals. Her recommendations made our unplanned trip so memorable.

Don't forget to end your day on the rooftop of the Riad. The views extend 360 degrees across the Medina and up to the Mountains. Seeing the crescent moon at dusk alongside the tower of the Il Koutoubia mosque is something I will never forget.

We spent three happy nights at Riad Maison Do in October and were delighted with the choice. It is an elegant retreat from the noise, dirt and chaos of the medina. It is also within easy walking distance to most of the sights and museums. Beautifully restored, the riad features exquisite mosaics, plaster work, elegant arches and a restful central courtyard. Our rooms were spacious, colorful, comfortable and well-appointed. The en suite bathroom had an excellent shower and everything was clean, attractive and well-maintained. The Dar, located across the street, had a wonderful pool on its roof deck, that was a welcome refuge after a hot day of touring.

Breakfasts on the roof featured fresh fruit, Moroccan breads, lovely jams and freshly squeezed orange juice. Yolande, the owner, was extremely knowledgeable about all things Marrakech, and outlined excellent touring plans for us in the mornings. She was also extremely accommodating, and graciously welcomed our daughter, who joined us at the last minute. The house manager, Ali, was also terrific. He was unobtrusive but ever-available--and no request was too trifling or unreasonable.

We had two very tasty dinners at the riad, cooked by the staff and served by Ali. We would happily return for another stay.

We had a great stay at the Maison Do back in September, Marrakesh gets quite hot so it was nice to come back to the riad and relax in the rooftop pool. Our room was a great size and had all the amenities we needed to have an enjoyable stay, breakfasts were served at a time that you choose so you could start the day as early or late as you wanted.

The location of the riad is away from the main square but there are some lovely places to see in the vicinity such as the photography gallery, this wasn't listed on the other tourist maps. Highly recommend this Riad to anyone heading to Marrakesh, its a fantastic place to relax after a long day sightseeing!

We met the owners of Riad Maison Do through some mutual friends and stayed there towards the end of our trip. The Riad was stunning, big spacious rooms, comfortable beds and a 10 minute walk from the Jamal Al-Finah. After a hard day of walking through the souks, there is nothing better than coming back to Maison Do's swimming pool on the roof. With exceptionally friendly staff and hosts, I cannot suggest staying here highly enough.