Riad & Spa Esprit du Maroc is one of the best places I've ever stayed. I have been travelling over 40 countries all around the world from normal to luxurious hotels; here, I truly have to say that it's one of my favorites. First, the place itself has its charm, it is well-decorated throughout, the rooms are gorgeous, the smiling staff, it has all the composite of it being definitely a 5 star hotel quality. In addition with the great spa, it's just "WOW". There are many things to discover around, the culture, the market - being well-guided with professional staff. The staff are really nice - I don't see how some people are saying they control you. If you ask a question, they answer you, if you ask a service, they do it, if you need a taxi, they call for you, what more can someone ask? I find that they don't just do it 100%, but 1000% more then what was asked. When I was staying, the breakfast changes everyday, the dinner is good, the room is clean each time I return from outside visits; it's a proof of quality and care. I think complainers are grabbing from details - they are NEVER happy and I'm sure wherever they go, they'll complain - with negative minds and intention so that people will suffer like them. It's true that you can have a bad experience, but to criticize every single thing, every person, it's too exaggerated.

My friend and I just left the Riad owned my Ms Sylvie. Our 3 day stay there was the worst experience I have ever had in all my years of traveling. The review by another guest is absolutely right on. Ms Sylvie tries to control your entire stay, and if you choose to leave the Hotel she threatens you. She went so far as to accuse us of not paying our bills and to call the airport and having our passage out of the country denied. She threatened to call the police and have us arrested. When we chose an excursions on our own, she called our guide constantly yelling at him, telling him we owed her money and to bring us back to her Riad. This was like a bad nightmare. Our lovely Holiday was ruined by her rage and anger. Not only had we paid, we prepaid and the money was already paid to her which she denied to our guide. We paid all the drivers she arranged and then she accused us of not paying them, which we had paid plus generous gratuity. We have later learned she charged us more than we could book the room right now. She also overcharged us on many services. The worst part was the extortion she was trying, by telling us if we did not pay we would not leave the country. We have all this is writing if anyone would need proof, she constantly sent us emails at least 5 a day, while we were trying to enjoy a desert camel ride( we arranged) she harrassed our guide constantly saying he was her staff and she controlled him. She sets up guides to take you shopping and he takes you to specific businesses he has connections with. We found out the prices were the most expensive and we were trapped in showrooms until we talked or bought our way out, all the time being grueled by the store owners. Our guide was in complete cahoots with the store owners and the guides are staff of Sylvie's from her own words. She told us when we wanted to book this excursion we could not, that it was impossible so we did it on our own, cutting her out the kickback. She did not want us to leave her Riad for dinner and only leave with her guides, and when we did she would not get out of our face. We had a short time in Marrakesh and wanted to see the beautiful country and meet the people, not live with Ms. Sylvie. If you are planning a trip to Marrakesh please contact us and we will give you the name of a great driver and guide. I could go on and on, but threatening two woman from America that they would not leave the country should speak for itself, and others will be notified of these threats to our safety. Buyer beware, this is a very scarry and dangerous operation motivated by greed and control. She will probably respond but please consider the source, my friend is an attorney and we have the facts.

Fantastic localization in the middle of the Medina. Very well organized the support for transportation to the Hotel since there is no car traffic nearby. Complete surprise because we must go through a labyrinth “tunnel” before the arrival to the small entrance of the Riad. After we pass the door we enter a beautiful, astonishing and charming palace of The Arabian Nights. The Hotel is very well decorated, the personnel extremely delicate and friendly. The rooms are fantastic, and there are small charming corners and spots to rest as the roof esplanade or the interior patios. Sherazade didn’t appear but the ambiance was very warm. There is one problem for people with mobilization difficulties there are no lifts and the stairs are narrow with high steps. Is the price to pay for the experience of living in a traditional old Marrakesh palace.

We went for 5 days to this RIAD via a touroperator in Belgium. First of all, the arrival. The transferts were organised by our touroperator, and were quite a disaster. Nobody seems to know the riad, as there are so many of them. The owner of the riad told us ( we were completely soaked at our arrival ) that it was not his job to send somebody to pick us up at the entrance of the medina. Strangely enough, somebody accompanied us when we left! No services were given if no monetary compensation was foreseen, as we understood later.
First of all, the positive things. All the lovely people ( and this does exclude the owners most definitely ) working at this riad. Excellent contacts and service, congratulations guys. But then, let me come straight to the business, the lady ( if you can really speak about a lady ) of the house. As the number of occupied rooms were rather limited, we were continuously bombarded with their services, going from eating there, taking a guide, book the hammam, book a restaurant ( of course, if they book, they receive a fee too ). I got the feeling I was less bothered in the souks then by this Sylvie, somebody who tought she really had the right commercial approach. The whole approach was based upon sacking as much as possible revenus on your stay in this riad. The second day I kindly let her know that I was not at work here, so it was certainly not up to here to organise my days. If you were not dining there, you were rather unpleasantly submitted to a hearing, in which you were more or less obliged to state the name of the restaurant you were going to. She propsosed to book, as again there is a fee flowing back to the riad if they book in their name.
I would only recommend this riad for people being quite happy to stay in the riad, taking all the services, eating there all the time, then you will be certainly considered by Miss Sylvie de Paris as an excellent client. Because don't forget: YOU ARE THERE TO MAKE THE OWNERS HAPPY, AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
PS The lovely blue swimming pool you see in the pictures was rather green in these days and could not be used. Just in case!