Riad El Mansour had been given a very high rating by previous reviews so it was interesting to see first hand how it lived up to this reputation.

We can assure all that the impressive reviews are absolutely accurate.

Riad El Mansour provides a calm oasis in the intriguing and charming mayhem that is Marrakech. All the excellent staff provide a first class, attentive but unobtrusive service which made for a superb relaxing experience in the beautifully appointed riad.

Marrakech is a working city and can be overwhelming. However we were provided with advice, taxis and guides to assist us. The staff could not have been more helpful.

The food at the riad is on a par with the best that Marrakech can offer. We can also recommend the original Al Fassia restaurant In the New Town.

Many thanks to Stephen, Robert and all the staff who made our break very special.

We had 4 nights at the Riad el Mansour at the start of April. It is quite simply the best hotel we've ever stayed in (although the size and atmosphere of the riad means it's more like a home, or small palace, than a hotel).

The riad itself is stunning - immaculately clean, beautifully built and decorated, and luxuriously furnished. We ate there one night and it was the best meal (among many good ones) we had in Marrakech - Moroccan classics, expertly cooked with fresh local ingredients = exactly what we wanted. We also booked a hammam and massage at the riad, and that was wonderful too.

But above all else, the main reason we had such a good time was because of the absolute (but completely unobtrusive) determination of Mustafa, Abdess and Rashid to anticipate, arrange and excel at providing everything we could possibly have wanted.

Thanks to these guys, we lived like royalty for 4 nights and we'll never forget it.

I just can't recommend this place highly enough - even if (as it was for us) it's a little more than you'd normally pay for a hotel, it is worth every dirham and you will have an experience to remember for ever. Book it, you'll have a fantastic time.

What sets a great hotel experience from a good one? For me that is Service, followed by more service and continues with fine furnishings, such as linins, towels and amenities, thought to detail and food. Riad El Mansour qualifies in all these areas.

Abdess and Mustapha were so very helpful. When an answer was not at hand, it was quickly found out. Restaurant reservations and tours were quickly and conveniently arranged for me, as was for the use of their hamman and massage. Massages are so much less expensive than in the UK that we each had one every day of our stay. I only wished we were there a bit longer, if only for this daily ritual. We heard so much about the Riad’s dinners that we chose to eat there one. It was as everyone says, fantastic. You simply must give a try is no exaggeration.

Our room was well furnished (with all the amenities you come to expect) and spacious enough, although I must admit not very large. It had air conditioning, which believe it or not we used in March.

Our flight home left from Casablanca and Mustapha even arranged for the Riad to drive us there.

Highly recommend this Riad if you want good service and attention to details.

The Riad El Mansour deserves every bit of its excellent reputation on TripAdvisor. From first email correspondence to departure, they have customer service that many of the big 5 star chains would learn a thing or two from. We had room 5, the blue room, for 5 nights over Easter and when we entered the room, the thought that had gone into the extras was evident. There was a little bag with a candle, welcome note and little trinket. Fresh flowers in the room, fresh fruit and dried fruit/nuts (which was topped up each day) and some cookies, a UK converter plug in the wall, ipod station, radio alarm, slippers, safe, and in the bathroom there were cotton buds, wonderful shower accessories, cotton wool, cotton buds, hairdryer. Even a magnifying mirror with a light.

We were shown around the Riad and made to feel totally at home. We could use their laptop for internet connection, borrow a portable DVD player and DVDs, use a gym and there were some great seating areas. Breakfast, we were told, could be served anywhere we wanted at any time of the morning we wanted and the quality of the breakfast was excellent .

We did have trouble changing up travellers cheques - I don't like using a credit card abroad anywhere and rather prefer the now old fashioned way of travellers cheques. The riad didn't accept TCs, but offered to loan us some money until we could change some up, which we accepted (and they offered us a better rate than the banks). If you don't wish to use cards in ATMs, it's a bit more difficult to change money up in Marrakech banks. We were unfortunate in that the bank were closed the day we arrived due to a public holiday and then didn't open again until the Monday. Although they were supposed to be open on the Friday, they didn't and we ended up changing money in the souk. There is a tourist bank in the main square, but this seems to open when it feels like it and we only ever caught it open once.

The main square is about a 25 minute walk from the Riad. It seems quite a maze to start with but the Riad provides maps and Mustapha showed us the route by car, it was easy. You have to haggle with taxis a bit, should only be 10 dirhams to the square and then we paid about 20 after dark, when the taxi prices go up. But we were asked for 50 dirhams, or 20 dirhams per person, so do check before you get in. There is also taxi sharing out there, so don't be surprised if someone jumps in the front and joins your journey, and no, you don't get a discount!

We went a cooking day with Souk Cuisine and this was a wonderful day. Gemma, who runs Souk Cuisine, took us around the souk and markets and told us about local produce and we shopped for some of the things we needed for the cooking. She took us to a bakery and introduced us to some foods that we wouldn't have ordinarily tried. Then back to do some morrocan cooking and after much chopping, simmering, frying, we ended up with a lunch of various salads, dips, couscous, a fish dish and some very nice cookies, which we ate with some wine and bread. It's a day well worth doing and I would highly recommend this being part of your Marrakech experience.

The weather is perfect mid March, lovely and warm during the days with cool mornings and evenings, so take some layers. The Riad provides utter peace of mind and worth every penny. It's the only place I've stayed in where they had decreased the price from last year (when I booked) and passed this decrease through to me. The food there is excellent and the place is spotless. On the day we left, a painter was busily painting and I thought it already looked perfectly okay!

You won't go wrong, please stay in this Riad and give yourselves a treat.