Riad Dar Bab Todra

This was a bigger Riad. It had a lovely terrace where you could enjoy breakfast. The pool area was very appreciated! Our room overlooked the pool and to the hill beyond. Fly screens were on the windows which is a big plus for Australian travellers- we love keeping those insects out!! Staff were very cheerful and helpful. The Riad organised a guide for us - Abdullah - who took us to the Todra gorge (spectacular but quite short) showing us the source springs, an abandoned nomad cave dwelling and explained the lifestyle of a shepherd who was calling his goats down from the slopes above. Abdullah took us through the lush Todra Valley gardens meeting and greeting locals tending to their farming plots. Ate dates and were given corn to sample. We visited a Berber school house and home, getting a sense of life in this area. Thank you Abdullah!

The crockery could do with a bit of chucking out. Chipped plates, bowls and cups should be thrown. Interiors a bit tired but clean and comfortable.

Lovely staff. The room was nice, but not special. We enjoyed sitting by the pool and relaxing. The view from the first floor onto the river valley is lovely. The location is a bit off the beaten track, 23 minutes to the Gorge and close to Tinghir town.

The breakfast was fine, but unimaginative.

This is a beautiful hotel. We had a lovely large room with a view although it was too windy to sit on the tiny balcony. The bathroom was modern and clean. The pool is nice and cool with comfortable shaded seating. The staff were lovely and they played some traditional music for us which was fantastic even though we were the only people there. They definitely not expect a tip and were delighted. Breakfast was a buffet which was very good. It is a 20 minute drive to the Todra Gorge so easy reach.

Dinner was ok. The beef tagine was nice but very weird appetizers - noodles with cinnamon and a large spoon of icing sugar and a bowl of plain rice!

The property was very beautiful. The grounds, the decor, the common areas, the pool. It was gorgeous and I wish we could have enjoyed the pool. The lighting was beautiful. Before the laundry issue, the staff were cordial and friendly. We had an enjoyable conversation with one of the employees.

The drive in from the town was not safe and risky, no warning of the road conditions were given in any reviews or communicated by host beforehand. The only way to drive to the riad is though narrow dirt roads just slightly wider than our small car. Many of these roads had debris or massive piles of dirt halfway down them that prevented us passing. The roads were so narrow we couldn't turn around and wasted an hour backing up and trying new roads until we finally made it to the riad. GPS will tell you to turn down roads that are either footpaths, dead ends, or impassable roads. I don't recommend driving in at night. The breakfast was mediocre at best. They served very old msemen that had been microwaved. No eggs, no tea, coffee was bad and no sugar provided. Juice was boxed. The bedding had some stains, not gross but not pristine. The bed was very hard and firm. The room was very cold at night, the heating system did not help improve this. Ultimately these details could have been overlooked by us. However, we asked the manager if we could use their laundry machine as it was in a public space. The manager said yes and gave no further information. He tried to help us with it but ultimately we were the ones washing our clothes. When we had packed up and checked out the manager sent a woman out to charge us $10.00 or 100 dirhams for use of the the washer. This was unexpected as the charge was not communicated when we had asked permission for use, and it was not posted anywhere as an additional charge. Also, this was very expensive for just 1 wash cycle. We were able to negotiate the price down ended up not having to be charged but it was a stressful situation and left a very bad impression. Ruined the experience. I heard this place is more booked out in the summer, and i am assuming (hoping) this riad operates more smoothly in that season. We were the only guests staying that night in December.