| From: ML, France |
| Date of Stay: September, 2008 |
| It was our fist stay in a Ryiad, we had a really good time. The atmosphere was relaxing. It was fantastic, the owner Christine gave us a couple of advice, the breakfast was excellent, ant the location is close to the central place (Jema el Fnaa). |
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| From: JS, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: June, 2008 |
| Riad is perfectly placed in the hart of the souks and a few mins walk from the main square. Personal is very welcoming and very customer minded. If I would go back to Marrakech I would stay in Riad Zarka again. Many thanks... |
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| From: YC, Spain |
| Date of Stay: June, 2008 |
| We had a pleasant stay at the Riad. I would recommend that you book airport pick up. The best of the whole stay was our host Assis, who answeared all of our questions. The location is in the middle of the Souks, I got a little scared at the beginning but then when you learn your way out, there´s no problem, everybody in marrakech was very nice. Two things: 1. It´s a little expensive for what they offer: no tv, no air conditioning and poor light in the room, I was expecting marrakech to be a little less expensive than it is, prices are like in europe. And 2. Since location is in the center of the Medina, we were recommended not to leave the Riad after 10pm for security reasons, so nights were little boring. Overall it was ok. |
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| From: LW, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: May, 2008 |
| Marrakech is amazing - highly recomended. Beautiful and tranquil Riad. Very helpful and friendly staff - even met us from the taxi at midnight on an evening we had been out late so that we didnt need to walk back on our own. The Riad is very tucked away through the Souks - great location but probably wouldn't recomend to a single female traveller if going to be out late as it is very quiet walking back in the dark (although seemed perfectly safe). |
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| From: LS, USA |
| Date of Stay: May, 2008 |
| We had a wonderful experience at Riad Zarka. Our room was so quaint!!!! As far as the landmarks for Riad Zarka, there is another riad right near by that we used to get us there. I believe it started with a "M". Other than that, we just retraced ourt steps!!! I would highly recommend this riad!!!! The staff was wonderful and very informative!!! |
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| From: AV, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: May, 2008 |
| We arranged an airport transfer through the Riad at the time of booking and emailed to confirm but no-one turned up. I discovered I had an email from Christine (owner) confirming my airport transfer that was sent 2 days after my arrival! When we arrived at the Riad finally, we were greeted by the cleaner and NO apology was offered re the absence of our airport transfer. Christine turned up on the 3rd day of our stay for 1 hour when the all round handy guy asked us if we wanted to be introduced to Christine. Surely its good customer service to meet the people staying in your Riad and ask them if everything is ok? No not this lady! Breakfast is a joke for the amount you pay - a slice of cheap brioche and a glass of orange juice. Cutlery from China. And don't expect any customer service from the cleaner or the handyman, they're clearly not interested.In fact we were offered a taxi for 1000 dirhams which we eventually paid 200 DH for! Oh and the fiasco with paying the money on our last day - Christine didn't know we were leaving and so we ended up paying the cleaner without a receipt! Oh and there was the American whose airport transfer hadn't been arranged - no surprises there! We met a lovely French couple who were staying in a Riad owned by a Moroccan family and they were treated a lot better than us for half the price. If I was to go again, I would rather give the money to a local Moroccan family. Riad was not welcoming or charming like the Moroccan people. You can find somewhere more welcoming for cheaper. |
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| From: Absalon Fonseca, France |
| Date of Stay: May, 2008 |
| We stayed a couple of nights in this Riad (typical Morocan house) the place is clean and well decorated, it felt like an Oasis in the middle of the noisy market streets of Marrakech. It was a bit difficult to find at first, but just go to the "Place d'epices" (spices square) and ask there. Aziz and Hanna are very friendly, they will help you with any request. You can find cheaper places but this one is worth it. |
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| From: RC, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: April, 2008 |
| Despite having booked with Venere, the staff had no knowledge of us when we arrived. Eventually we did get the room booked, but were told that breakfast (which was included) only started at 8.00am, despite the fact that most flights from Marrakech leave early morning: so we missed breakfast. The central courtyard (which looks so attractive on the photos) was roofed in polythene stretched over a steel framework. The result was that it (& all the rooms that opened off it) were unbearably hot, even though it was a cool April day outside. They may well remove this cover in summer, but it's a real problem in winter. The location and decor of the Riad are good, but the poor management and the heat make it definitely not worth the money. |
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| From: Henri Escola, Switzerland |
| Date of Stay: April, 2008 |
| Location is great. Rooms are VERY small though. The Riad Zarka Hotel Marrakech should be booked by couples without any children. Access is by foot only: so if you have heavy luggage, you better ask for help. The staff is very helpfull. |
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| From: GM, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: March, 2008 |
| Beautiful riad located just 5 minutes walk from Jemaa El Fna. Very peaceful. Staff were very kind and helpful. The only only problem we encountered was the route back to the riad through the souks but once we had mastered that, it was fine. And there is a cash dispenser and a tourist cafe in the adjacent square, one minute away. If you like to stay in the centre of a stunning city, I recommend it. |
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| From: RM, Italy |
| Date of Stay: March, 2008 |
| All was fine, and the riad was very calming. Rooms are small but quite confortable. But the owner make different treatments between guests. |
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| From: TM, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: March, 2008 |
| The welcome and overall quality of staff service at riad zarka was the most appealing part of the stay. Nothing was to much trouble for them. The location maybe isnt the greatest as you need to find your way through the medina to the riad but once your there its a walk you will enjoy. The rooms, the decor, and ambience were top notch and were always clean.It was also nice to have the quiet surroundings at the riad away from the bazaar and the noise outside. Having a free wi-fi service was an excellent addition. Highly recommended. |
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| From: OL, Norway |
| Date of Stay: March, 2008 |
| Easy to find with signs from the souks to the hotel |
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| From: Gerard Redican, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: February, 2008 |
| The rooms were not cleaned at all during our six day stay, and there was a collection of dust by the end of the week. There was constant hammering, though I don't know what they were working on. The owner, Christine, was not on site, but her daughter was representing her. She made no effort to welcome us, or even make herself known to us during our stay. Even when we checked out we were not asked how our stay was. The concierge, Aziz, although friendly, runs his own little scams on the side and takes a cut of any taxi fare you book through the Riad. It must be cheaper to shop around. Marrakesh is a lovely and interesting city, but six days is too long, and the constant hassle to buy something, not, surprisingly in the Souks but more in the square, is tiresome. |
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| From: Robert Enefer, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: January, 2008 |
| For our first ever trip to Marrakech this was an excellent choice of guest house, being located in the heart of the famous Souks markets. It was a beautifully presented, traditionally built and furnished hotel and access was down a series of quaint, atmospheric alley ways that so typified that area of the Medina. My only suggestion would be that perhaps a variety of breakfasts foods might be an idea worth considering. We only stayed there for three nights but had identical (although very tasty)breakfasts served each morning. I could imagine that if you were staying there for a week, or longer, then you might end up yearning for something different. All-in-all though, a beautiful, very pleasant and peaceful guest house with friendly and helpful staff. |
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| From: Michael Vieira, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: January, 2008 |
| aziz met us at the airport as arranged and on arrival riad zarka was as promised very welcoming with a fantastic meal pre oredered and cooked by hannah. my partner and i were in marrakech for his 40th birthday and staying at the riad zarka was perfect. the service from the staff and proprieter was second to none.the viollette room was comfortable with a nice on suite bathroom. breakfasts in the morning was great with the fantastic yogurts that hannah would prepare.overall our stay in marrakech was wonderful all the better by staying at the zarka. centrally located and great service. thank you. |
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| From: John White, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: January, 2008 |
| We found the Zarka to be in complete contrast to its immediate surroundings. Enter the Riad from a dingy dirty little alley into a different world with a delightful courtyard and lounge areas. The bedroom was fairly small but beatifully designed and a wonderful hand painted wood ceiling. The staff were first class and Hannah is a very good chef!We would stay at the Riad Zarka again.Essential that you are met at the airport and guided to the Zarka. |
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| From: Robert Bullard, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: January, 2008 |
| We really enjoyed this Riad. The owner, Christine, has made a lovely home that she shares with guests and she has a wonderful collection of artifacts. It is a beautiful place - so much thought has gone into it all. The staff were great and, at short notice, they made us the most delicious dinner on what was our last night. One reservation: there are a group of rather unpleasant young boys who live nearby - they scared us a little and, a few days later, we also saw them being unkind to one of the younger boys, that was only stopped by a young lady. |
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| From: DZ, Italy |
| Date of Stay: December, 2007 |
| The riad was nice but the brekfast was poor and not satisfying. One morning we found one lonf hair in the bread basket, we pointed out to the emplyees that situation... they laughed of this... but nobody gived us something else to eat. In the 95% of rooms there aren't doors between the room and the bathroom. |
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| From: José Miguel Salinas Robeson, Spain |
| Date of Stay: December, 2007 |
| We loved the riad. Service was very good, location phenomenal and the food was excellent. I'd go back. One caveat: make sure you do get a confirmation from the riad for extra services like a taxi waiting for you at the airport (which you should get) or a meal upon arrival, as there are problems with some internet servers and the riad might not receive your mail. |
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