Instead of a diary entry type of blog post, today I decided to dedicate one to the riad I’m staying in here in Ouarzazate – Le Petit Riad.
Poolside Nap
I just found it from my guide book or an internet search. Maybe one and then the other. Anyway, I get 10 out of 10 for my homework. It has been wonderful. Spending “the holidays” on my own away from home, that was doubly important.
Room 1 – Bedroom
They offer a half board option which I took. Usually I enjoy going out in the evenings to look for different places to eat, but I’m glad I made an exception this time. It’s a fixed menu, but I suspect they’d happily cater for vegetarian and vegan choices.
Room 1 – Berber Facilities
In no particular order of importance, here are some highlights:-
- The dinners. Berber cuisine. I loved all four of them. Three courses for €15.
- The breakfasts. I was offered an omelette on the first day, but I had so much on my table already… Bread, pancakes, fruit (tangerines, dates & strawberries), olives, date jam, apricot jam, honey, goat’s cheese. Breakfast is included in the room price.
- The rooms – I had two. Three nights in one and two in the other. Great comfort and decoration. Spotlessly clean. The first room opens onto a first floor sun terrace. The other is poolside.
- The people. It’s a family business. They care. Then of course they are Berber, with a culture of hospitality. They are friendly with it. They speak French and English.
- Little things – they offered to get a taxi to meet me off my flight arriving at midnight. Small things like that help to create the right first impression.
- Great value. I paid €59 per night (single occupancy double room) for the first room and €50 for the other one. Surprisingly, the end of December is “off peak”.
It’s located away from the town centre, and so in general it is very quiet. It has 7 rooms.
Dinner
The other guests have been from a variety of countries and most have only stayed one night.
ⓒ iain taylor, 2017