Jaal Riad Resort — Hotel in Marrakesh Prefecture

Stay WELL Away!!!

We have just returned from our holiday in Jaal Riad. The hotel is certainly beautiful both online and in person. We experienced appalling service from start to finish during our recent stay in Marrakech. What was supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable vacation turned into a series of frustrations, disappointments, and utter disbelief at the lack of professionalism displayed by the hotel.

To get straight to the point this was a list of issues we experienced during our 7 days:

• Firstly, we were told the room would be available at 12.00pm, when we returned, we were told we would need to come back later as the room is still not ready. • We were quoted two different prices for the additional all-inclusive package. At 12.00pm, when we returned to check in again at 2.30pm when the room was ready. • We were never shown around or explained about the facilities on arrival, something we noticed was very often provided to French speaking guests. We noticed it every single day, whilst lying by the pool. • We paid £60.00 GBP for tourist tax – on our statement at the end of the stay it had not been removed however it was equal to roughly £31.14. I never got receipt or asked (my fault) so the additional money will most likely of been pocketed. • There was no toilet roll in the public areas on several occasions. • The first night, we went to the main buffet, after going to the garden we struggled to locate a table. Once seated we had to go chasing the waiter for service to get a drink as they were inattentive and quite frankly did not want to be there. • Multiple occasions the tables were left dirty after guests had finished eating – making it difficult to locate a place to dine. • There was a strong favouritism towards French speaking guests – nearly always being served first with a much better-quality service. • The food in the main buffet was very rarely ever labelled – those with food allergies (not us) should be extremely careful. • Two separate occasions we found hair in our food at the main buffet. • We spent the first five mornings at breakfast chasing waiters for glasses, spoons and just basic cutlery. Not what you would expect at a supposed 5 star luxury resort. • The pool bar is only All-Inclusive from 3pm-5pm, which was such a shame as this was the only decent outlet for food. • My partner was unwell on one the evenings through something we presume she has eaten in the hotel (as we had only eaten here by this point) – despite knowing it would cost us additionally to the all-inclusive we ordered Room Service, it was over 30 minutes late, with follow up calls.

We tried our best to enjoy our experience failing to document or take pictures along the way – this is our biggest regret. We tried to keep getting on with it but after facing countless shortcomings by the end our stay we felt aggrieved not to speak up. Despite multiple meetings towards the end of our holiday, we were offered a 30 minutes Spa sessions by the Quality Assurance Manager. (The only assurance that I got from him was that him and the hotel were completely incompetent at how to issue luxury service!!!!!) the spa was something we had already paid for ourselves during the stay. All we received back for the couple of thousand we spent was an un-sincere apology. Guest services advised they would look at removing it from the bill. When we checked out at 6.30am – of course it was still on bill. We paid our way through all of the hotel and feel nothing short of robbed of a luxury experience.

We want to highlight the misleading marketing of the hotel. The images and descriptions on your website paint a picture of luxury and comfort, but what we encountered was far from it. We feel deceived and deeply regret choosing Jaal Riad based on these false representations.

In summary, our stay at Jaal Riad was nothing short of a disaster. The abysmal service, and the general mismanagement of your hotel is totally...

Disappointing Stay – A Hotel with Great Potential but Poor Execution

We arrived at this hotel with high expectations, drawn in by its appealing location and promising amenities. Unfortunately, our experience was more frustrating than relaxing due to several operational shortcomings that overshadowed the positives.

The bar service was one of the most disappointing aspects. Throughout our stay, the hotel frequently ran out of basic drinks like Sprite, beer, and vodka. Bars were poorly stocked and understaffed, resulting in long queues and limited options. One evening, the O2 Bar hosted a dance night but only offered Aperol Spritz at an extra cost—not included in the all-inclusive package. We ended up leaving and heading to the main bar, which itself only opened at 6 PM and served drinks mostly in plastic cups(sometimes you was lucky enough to get a glass), even though it wasn’t by the pool. This felt cheap and out of place for a hotel of this standard.

Food was generally tasty, but the selection was basic and repetitive. Hot dishes, especially proteins, often ran out and weren’t or very slowly replenished, leaving us scraping the bottom of the chafing pans and eating mostly vegetables on several nights. It was clear that the kitchen struggled to keep up with demand.

The facilities also left much to be desired. There were far too few sun loungers, and guests were told to wake up early to secure one by the Management Team —some even resorted to placing towels out as early as 5:30 AM, which is completely unreasonable. There was no iron or ironing board available, so we had to go to Carrefour and buy our own. The WiFi was frequently down and painfully slow when it did work. Cleanliness was another issue: while the hotel appeared clean on the surface, the details were neglected. Corners were dirty, and the shower head in our room was covered in mould and limescale, a legionella breading ground.

Access to bottled water was inconsistent—sometimes available at breakfast, other times only at reception, and once the bar closed, it was impossible to get water at all. Service was inconsistent across the board. While there were plenty of staff, actual service was lacking. Standards varied wildly, and there was no consistency in how drinks were made or served. Restaurant service was hit-or-miss—you were lucky to get a drink with your meal on a couple of occasions. We asked for extra pillows (only two were provided in the room) three times before they finally arrived the next day. Cracked tiles around the pool area and long queues at the pool bar added to the frustration.

That said, there were some positives worth mentioning. The hotel’s public areas are beautifully maintained, clean, and pleasantly scented. The open courtyards are tranquil and inviting, offering a peaceful atmosphere. The pool area is a highlight, featuring a large pool that gets sun all day and offers activities like aqua aerobics. The location is excellent—close to both the airport and the main city. Aviation enthusiasts might enjoy the fact that the hotel is under the flight path for takeoff, though the noise is minimal and not disruptive. The gym is well-equipped and open from 9 AM to 9 PM, and the rooms themselves are spacious with excellent air conditioning.

Overall, this hotel feels like a “half all-inclusive” experience. It has the potential to be a standout destination, but poor management, inconsistent service, and basic operational issues significantly detract from what could have been a fantastic stay. Attempts to raise concerns with staff were met with shrugged shoulders and no resolution. A frustrating experience that could have been...

A Deeply Disappointing Stay – Avoid at All Costs

Our stay at Jaal Riad Resort was, simply put, absolutely abysmal. From rude and unhelpful staff to unhygienic rooms and poorly managed food services, the experience was nothing short of a nightmare.

Upon arrival, there was no warm welcome you’d expect from a five-star resort—no refreshing drink, no real hospitality. We were taken straight to our rooms, which were outdated, dusty, and featured stained curtains and tired furnishings. The overall feel was far from luxury.

The biggest issue, however, was with the food and drink. A member of our group suffered food poisoning due to the poor quality and handling of the food. They were sick for three days and unable to eat. Thankfully, the local pharmacy offered helpful advice and medication, but the resort staff were neither attentive nor apologetic. The food itself was repetitive, often left unreplenished, and dangerously lacking in allergen information. In fact, there were barely any descriptions of what was being served—if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, do not stay here.

The daytime pool bar was the only venue serving drinks, and it was clearly understaffed with just three people working during peak hours. This led to long queues of 15 minutes or more—not exactly the luxury experience you’d expect from an all-inclusive resort. To make matters worse, food was only available during a restricted 90-minute window, with no alternative options between meal times.

Public areas were uncomfortably hot due to the air conditioning being turned off across shared spaces including the reception, spa, dining areas, and evening bar. In the Moroccan heat, this made the indoor experience unbearable.

Our towels were stolen at the pool, and the staff were completely unhelpful—refusing to provide replacements due to a rigid towel policy. There was no apology or attempt to assist us, and the lack of accountability from the staff was incredibly disappointing.

The only highlight of our stay was the lovely woman who hosted the evening entertainment. She was welcoming, warm, and professional—one of the very few bright spots in an otherwise awful experience. Credit also to her for holding the atmosphere together each night.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the evening bar staff, who were cold, dismissive, and at times downright rude. There wasn’t a smile or ounce of friendliness in sight.

In short, this hotel is not deserving of its star rating. From poor hygiene and indifferent staff to inadequate facilities and a general lack of care, Jaal Riad Resort is far from a five-star experience. Do yourself a favour—don’t waste your time or money here. There are far better places to stay...