LES JARDINS D ARGANE — Hotel in caïdat d'Ounagha

We had a brilliant time in Essaouira the end of June courtesy of Carole and her fantastic team.||The riad is a true retreat and in our 5 day stay we really felt like we were able to relax and recharge our batteries.||We arrived early from London and were delighted to hear that our room was ready for us. We stayed in room 3 which was authentically decorated and surprisingly spacious. We were greeted with traditional mint tea and biscuits which was a nice touch. ||We ate several meals at the riad, all of which were exquisite. Our fish dinner was a particular highlight. All of the food was brilliantly presented and fairly healthy - fruit featured at every meal. Breakfast (which was included in our room rate) was a simple affair, with fresh orange juice, tea/coffee and traditional Moroccan bread, but it was always enough. ||The riad is home to a number of animals, namely a young and vey mischievous donkey (who we adored!), some cats, and a peacock named Romeo. I think there are also some tortoises, although I never saw them. ||The riad is about a 15 minute drive from the centre of Essaouira. The riad conveniently has its own taxi service though, which was really handy. It was €20 for a return journey into Essaouira and we made a lot of use of it - much easier than trying to barter with the taxi drivers outside the medina!||Beautiful decor and ambience aside, one of the riad's best qualities is the wonderful staff who work there. Absolutely everyone we came into contact with was friendly and hospitable. The staff genuinely want you to enjoy your stay and thanks to them we did!||In terms of amenities, the riad has an outdoor pool which was really refreshing during the height of summer. There were plenty of sun loungers which were more like beds and super comfortable. ||We also had some spa treatments during our stay, which were excellent. I enjoyed a neck, back and shoulders massage which truly lifted me into holiday mode.||In conclusion, this was a far better holiday than we ever imagined and we would love to return. Maybe we'll come for some winter sun at some point :)||By the way, the riad sells alcohol and if you like wine, there is an excellent organic vineyard nearby which the riad will be happy to book you a tour of. On some days the vineyard offers a set lunch menu complete with...

Via voyage a prive we booked a 4 night stay, BandB. Our room was clean, well equipped with a very large and comfortable bed. |Breakfast was a delight and catered for my celiac wife. |We enjoyed 3 evening meals and 1 lunch too. Fairly priced the food was always tasty and served by friendly and helpful staff. Carole leads from the front and everybody we spoke too was helpful and polite. |The grounds are charming too, wild tortoises everywhere, a peacock plus the more usual cats and a very friendly dog. The open air pool is well looked after. Clear water and heated to 18-20C when we were there. A little fresh for some but enjoyed by us both and two young girls played happily in the shallows.|A must visit is the market town of Essaouira, the hotel organised our taxi and the nearby vineyard owned by Charles Melier.|Enjoy.|Thanks Carole, we...

Carol the owner makes everyone feel incredibly special. Nothing is too much trouble and her knowledge and suggestions for the area around Essaouira are great. The hotel has it's own driver who drops guests to and from restaurants, local visits etc. The food is very simple but good and the overall vibe is very relaxed. Essaouira is approx 20 minutes away and it is good to come back to the peace and tranquility of Les Jardins after experiencing the hustle and bustle of the busy Moroccan town. We went in June , during Ramadan, which meant we understandably fitted in around the needs of the country to observe their fast. The temperature at this time of year is very pleasant without being too hot and there is a cooling breeze most afternoons. I would recommend Les Jardins D'Argane for people looking for peace and quiet in a...