My husband and I had an amazing time in Morocco! The upfront planning was easy with Louis Shannon, his communication was clear and timely, and he has a great personality. I am a planner so I had done research before contacting kimkim which I found helpful, but you could easily leave it to them to plan. Our driver and guide, Younes Bouaid, was fantastic from start to finish! Younes was professional, fun, and became a friend during our travels. He had great tips and advice for each area we visited, the car was always clean, very comfortable, had great Wi-Fi, and he was a very safe driver. We tried to do 2-3 nights in each location so we could experience areas and not rush, we visited Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Boumalne Dades, Merzouga (Sahara Desert), Fes, and Rabat. We enjoyed all the places we stayed, and the breakfast included was always delicious.
In Marrakesh we stayed at 72 Riad Living, loved it! Amazing Riad in the old town with a beautiful rooftop area and pool, the courtyard was really nice and very relaxing, the breakfast was always good and the dinner we had there was possibly our best meal of the trip, and the staff was friendly and helpful. The tours we did in Marrakesh were fun and very educational from a historic and cultural perspective. We did a 2-hour food tour with Moulay Rachid and an all-day tour with another wonderful guide. Definitely do a cooking class, we did ours at Cafe Clock and had a wonderful time. 4 nights.
In Ouarzazate we stayed at Kasbah Isfoula. Smaller boutique hotel with lovely rooms, nice bar and restaurant, fun artwork, and a pretty rooftop excellent for relaxing and enjoying view. I would not recommend the movie studio tour, the sets were not great, it is not like Universal Studios or other experience we have done. Also, the staff was very disinterested and bored. 1 night.
In Boumalne Dades we stayed at Auberge Chez Pierre. Beautiful area to visit, I wish we had more time there. The hotel is lovely and has a beautiful pool. The room was spacious and very comfortable. The dinner and breakfast we had at the restaurant was delicious. 1 night
In Merzouga (Sahara Desert) we stayed at the Luxury Camp Chebbi. The camel ride in was fun, tents were really nice, and the food was good. The staff was friendly, and we enjoyed the music by the fire. By doing the 2 nights we were able to do an interesting tour to see how the Amazigh live, look for fossils, explore the geography, and visit the Gwana and hear a maalem group perform. One tip, if you would like wine at the camp I would recommend buying at the hotel and taking it in with you, half the price, or checking what the price is before going to the camp so you are not overcharged like we were (we did get a refund).
In Fes we stayed at Palais Amani, beautiful Riad on the outskirts of the old city. The courtyard was stunning, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Loved the breakfast and enjoyed our dinner there. The room was spacious, and the rooftop area was very relaxing and has great views of the city and mountains. We also did the Hamam and a massage at the hotel and loved it! There is a cooking school that looked really nice as well. The tour we did with Fatima Zahra Hanafi was excellent and a real treat to have a female guide which is rare. We also had a delicious dinner at Riad Fes which also looked nice to stay at. The only thing we did not like on the tour was the tannery because of the smells. 3 nights.
In Rabat we stayed at Riad Kalaa, smaller Riad with a nice courtyard and rooftop with a small pool. The food was nice, and the room was spacious and comfortable. I also really liked the artwork and ambiance of the shared spaces. The sunset in Rabat was beautiful and enjoyed our brief time there. 2 nights.
Hotel Reviews
Kasbah Isfoula
Ait Ben Haddou
In Ouarzazate we stayed at Kasbah Isfoula. Small boutique hotel with lovely rooms, nice bar and restaurant, fun artwork, and a pretty rooftop excellent for relaxing and enjoying view.
Authenticity & Character
Not a Riad but decorated nicely and had some fun artwork.
Location
On its own so not a lot to do but great for one or two nights to explore the area
Staff
Very nice and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable
In Marrakesh we stayed at 72 Riad Living, loved it! Amazing Riad in the old town with a beautiful rooftop area and pool, the courtyard was really nice and very relaxing, the breakfast was always good and the dinner we had there was possibly our best meal of the trip, and the staff was friendly and helpful. We stayed here for one night in a back courtyard room and the other 3 nights on the 2nd floor. Both rooms were very spacious, super comfortable beds, very quiet, and nice bathrooms. Conveniently located to explore the old town and markets. Would highly recommend staying here.
Authenticity & Character
Beautiful courtyard and interior design
Location
If you want to stay in the old town but not right in the middle of it this is where to stay. Down a nice quiet street out of the busy part of town but still close enough to walk everywhere.
Staff
Always friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms and the shared spaces were always clean and well maintained
Auberge Chez Pierre
Boumalne Dades
In Boumalne Dades we stayed at Auberge Chez Pierre. Beautiful area and hotel, I wish we had more time there. The hotel is lovely with its gardens and beautiful pool. The room was spacious and very comfortable, really liked the decor. The dinner and breakfast we had at the restaurant was delicious!
Authenticity & Character
Beautiful hotel with lots of character and a lovely ambiance
Location
Felt like we were perfectly situated to explore the gorge and the other areas around.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean and comfy