Riad Catalina

My wife, son and myself had a lovely holiday staying at this Riad. All the staff were very helpful, especially Nadia, and we received everything we needed. The rooms are not like a 5-star hotel but if you've chosen a Riad it's for a more authentic Moroccan experience and you certainly get that. The location is fantastic, staying in the Medina is great fun and the staff are scrupulously honest. I totally recommend this Riad to anyone who is considering it.

STAY AWAY! SCAM ATTEMPT AND THREATS TO STOP US LEAVING THE COUNTRY! My grandmother booked this package holiday for my cousins and me (ages 18–27) through a reputable local travel agent using EasyJet as the supplier (ATOL protected). The £5,000 package included flights, accommodation at Riad Catalina, and an excursion. We arrived on Thursday midday and were told our rooms would be ready in 10 minutes. After waiting 90 minutes, we were finally shown to our two rooms (one for men, one for women). The rooms were acceptable, and we were ready to enjoy our trip. On Friday, the hotel manager, Nadia, offered us “the best room” as a free upgrade. We declined since we preferred separate rooms and more privacy. Despite saying no, the staff were oddly persistent, which felt uncomfortable. On Saturday evening (our final night) Nadia suddenly claimed there was an outstanding balance for our stay and demanded payment. I showed her multiple booking confirmations proving full payment and asked why this was only raised now, not at check-in or the day after. We had dinner reservations as it was 8pm, so we said we’d resolve it the next morning. We immediately contacted our travel agent, who confirmed everything had been paid to EasyJet over eight weeks earlier. They told us not to pay anything further and said they’d contact EasyJet directly in the morning. The next day, Nadia again insisted payment was missing. She became aggressive and threatened that under Moroccan law, she could contact the airport and prevent us from leaving the country. It was our departure day, with airport transfer due at 4 p.m., and this threat terrified us. My mother back in the UK was panicking, and hotel staff were even laughing about the situation. Using the manager’s desk phone, we connected her with both our agent and EasyJet. Despite them confirming payment, Nadia continued arguing and changing her story. She then claimed she would have to pay the “missing” balance herself and that her family would suffer, which felt like emotional blackmail. Even with EasyJet and our agent on the phone, she remained aggressive and erratic. By now, we no longer felt safe or comfortable staying there. The entire situation caused huge stress, ruined our last night and day in Marrakech, and made us fear being detained over a false claim. Aside from this nightmare, the hotel itself was poor. Beds were hard, the shower alternated between freezing and scalding, and breakfast was minimal—just pancakes and jam. Despite asking several times, we never received milk for tea or coffee. Service was slow and unhelpful. This ordeal completely ruined what was meant to be a special family trip. Nadia’s behaviour was deceitful, rude, and threatening. If there truly was a payment issue, it should have been addressed through EasyJet directly, not by intimidating paying guests. Waiting until 8 p.m. on the final night (a weekend when agents are closed) makes it clear this was either gross incompetence or a deliberate attempt to extort us. We did nothing wrong—our booking was fully paid and confirmed months in advance. Yet we were treated with hostility, accused falsely, and threatened. I would not stay here again even if you paid me a million pounds. This hotel and Nadia turned what should have been a relaxing trip into one of the most stressful experiences of our lives.

An absolutely incredible place! The food: Delicious. Special mention goes to the pastillas and the beef and apricot tagine. Remember to reserve your table at least an hour in advance. The pool: Perfect for cooling off before a stroll through the souk. Magnificent view of the Koutoubia Mosque, and deckchairs are available. The location: The riad is sublime, very well located: a 20-minute walk from the Majorelle Gardens or Bahia Palace, and a 2-minute walk from Jemaa el-Fnaa Square and the souks. If you book activities (e.g., with Get Your Guide), buses will pick you up on the main street at the exit of the medina (a 5-minute walk). And what about the staff? You couldn't ask for friendlier and more helpful staff. A big plus: as you can see from the photos, the cats are ADORABLE!! We'll be back on our next trip to Marrakech 👌