How do I choose a good riad?

After placing guests in riads across every major medina, my filter has narrowed to a handful of things that genuinely predict a happy stay. Location first. A riad that is a five-minute walk from the main square sounds convenient, but the last stretch is on foot through the lanes, so what matters is how easy that walk is, whether the riad sends someone to meet you at the drop-off, and whether the surrounding derb is calm or right above a busy souk. Ask for the nearest car-accessible point and how far the walk is from there with luggage.

Read the reviews properly, not just the score. I look for recent ones, and I read specifically for the things photos hide: noise, water pressure, how dark the rooms are, whether the heating actually works in winter and the air conditioning in summer, and how the owner responded to any problem. A riad with a slightly lower rating but a clear pattern of warm, attentive service will give you a far better stay than a higher-rated one where guests mention indifferent staff. The personality of the host is the single biggest variable in a small property.

Then the practical checklist. How many rooms — smaller usually means quieter and more personal. Is there air conditioning AND heating, because Marrakech is brutal in July and genuinely cold on a January night, and many older riads have one but not the other. Is breakfast included and served on the roof. Is there a plunge pool if you want one. Does the room you are booking have an exterior window or face only the courtyard. A good riad answers all of these clearly on its listing; if the information is vague, that vagueness is itself a signal.

Finally, talk to a person before you commit if you can — or have your trip designer do it. A two-line message asking about a quiet room, an early check-in, or a child sometimes tells you more than the entire listing. The riads I return to again and again are the ones that reply quickly, honestly and warmly. That responsiveness almost always carries through to the stay itself, and it is why I trust a curated shortlist over scrolling endlessly through booking sites.