ACCOMMODATIONS MARRAKECH-RIAD DAR NAJAT

ACCOMMODATIONS MARRAKECH-RIAD DAR NAJAT, a photo by darnajat on Flickr.

“Excellent riad - feels like your own holiday home”
I have stayed at this riad before and no doubt will be staying there again. The experience from start to finish was a positive one.

I had booked directly on the riads website, so I got the airport transfers for free, which is a great help in Marrakech as the taxi drivers at the airport can be a nightmare, they will try to overcharge you by double or more, with the riad taking care of the transfer, it took all of the stress out of the situation as a driver was waiting for me at the airport and took me straight to the riad. The drive from the airport is around 15 minutes, the driver can get to within 100 yards of the riad and when we got there, one of the riads staff members was waiting to take my luggage.

It was 25 degrees in Marrakech when I got there, it felt really hot, but once inside the riad, the heat seems to disappear, the air con was already on in my room which felt really nice. The room itself was very nice, it is tastefully decorated with authentic African artwork. I had a nice double bed which was very comfortable, it was not hard but also not too soft, somewhere in the middle. The pillows were nice and soft and everything was clean. All of the rooms in this riad are en-suite, there was a very powerful shower in the bathroom, with hot water 24/7. There were the usual complimentry toiletries and the towels were changed everyday. There was also a complimentry bottle of mineral water in the room, a nice touch as I found that all of the soft drinks, orange juice and tea/coffee are complimentry in this riad. There was also free WIFI available throughout the riad, it was very fast and I got an instant connection everytime I wanted to use it.

The riad itself is split into 4 floors, the accommodation is on the ground floor and first floor, there is then a terrace where you can relax and have your food, there is a private room where you can sit and relax in your own space. There is a massive heated Jacuzzi on this terrace which was nice after a hard days shopping around the souks. There is also an upper terrace, this also has a private room there, a number of sunbeds to catch the sun and also another area to relax and lounge around in. This upper terrace is wonderful in the evenings as you can take your drink up there and just look at all of the stars shining in the sky, a really relaxing experience.

The staff at this riad are so friendly, they are always there for you, whatever you need they will get it for you. The one day I wanted to go to a shop that was a 10 minute walk away, as I was in a rush, one of the staff members took me there on the back of his moped, another great experience I will never forget. All of the staff at the riad speak good English and the owner Olivier is always at hand to give you his advice. The riad itself is based in a quite area of the old medina of Marrakech, it is a 5 minute walk away from the Jemma el Fna square and only a few minutes away from the souks of Marrakech.

The food at this riad is excellent, the breakfast at this riad is an experience in itself, you get fresh orange juice, omelettes, fresh breads, waffles, pastries, tea/coffee, it is very filling and keeps you going. The staff are very flexible and will cook your breakfast whenever you wake up, this is a great point as if you want to sleep in one day, you dont have to worry about missing breakfast time. The riads restaurant has recently opened up to guests who are not staying at the riad, it was a great experience to meet new people and I found myself chatting away with them about their adventures in Marrakech. The restaurant is called Dar Najat's Kitchen and serves traditional Moroccan food, I would say the best you will find in all of Marrakech. My personal favourite was the chicken tagine, which was cooked to perfection, if you are staying in Marrakech then you must try the food at this riad in the evening, you will be so happy you did as it is an experience not to be forgotten.

I stayed 3 nights at this riad and then another 2 nights at its other riad in Essaouria, which is called Riad Bab Essaouira, all of the transfers were arranged for me and it is a great way of seeing two different places on one holiday.

If you are thinking of staying in a riad in Marrakech, then you cannot go wrong at Riad Dar Najat, have a look at the photos on their website and then book directly with them to get the best offers. Next time I am in Marrakech, I will definitely be staying at this riad again, highly recommended.