Typical of many hotels in Marrakech’s medina (old city), Riad Joya is an old mansion that has been converted to a boutique hotel. However, Riad Joya is not typical. Extra care has been taken in almost every aspect of service and the design of the hotel.
I’m driven from the airport to the edge of the medina, and then walk through the twisting alleyways to Riad Joya. Upon arrival, I’m served delicious mint tea and tiers of Moroccan sweets. Upon returning from a stroll and enjoying golden hour on the rooftop terrace, more mint tea and cookies arrive.
As is traditional, the riad’s seven rooms look out onto an inner courtyard with a fountain. The area is surprisingly quiet and the only sounds the water can’t mask are the birds singing on the roof.
Each of Riad Joya’s rooms is different, but all have unique handmade furniture and fixtures and beautiful stone or copper sinks. Bathrooms feature separate shower areas, and one room has a spectacular claw-footed tub made out of a shiny golden copper. Moroccan potions like beldi black soap await to beautify your skin. If you’d like further pampering, Riad Joya has a small hammam and massage room which you can book.
Rooms are spacious with very high ceilings, a divan or couch, a table area and a closet area (no television, if that is important to you, but the wifi is excellent). Windows are glassed, providing good sound protection. Decor is elegant. Lighting sets the mood, but the large handmade mirrors and white marble everywhere brighten.
The service at Road Joya is excellent. Almost every time I leave my room someone tends to it in my absence, neatening my towels, replenishing my water, lighting candles, or replacing the banana I snacked on. Everyone is kind and helpful, ensuring that I have everything I need. At dinner, there’s no menu. You simply tell the chef what you’d like to eat, and he spends the afternoon shopping and preparing it for you.
Riad Joya is extremely popular with western guests. Book early to avoid disappointment!
From US$250, inclusive of breakfast and airport transfer
– Convenient location for the key sites: I didn’t get lost either on the way to or, more importantly, from Place Jemaa el-Fna (though the concierge lends me a local phone, just in case)
– Breakfast is served when you’d like it, no time limits at Riad Joya
– A lovely thick conditioner revitalized my long hair
– Though beautiful to be in, the bathroom lighting is a bit dim
The Peninsula sits on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, and each of its elegant 370 rooms and suites has a full river view. Many of the rooms have balconies, allowing you to sit and take in the view of the traffic on this busy river, from hotel boats zipping back and forth to barge and dinner cruises. Taking the hotel’s pagoda-shaped boat across the river is a highlight of a stay here.
Our deluxe room was spacious with a walk-in dressing area and dual vanity bathroom with separate shower and tub. The large desk was unhelpfully positioned so that light from the lovely floor to ceiling windows hit my laptop screen and necessitated working with the curtains closed for much of the day.
The gym was small but adequately outfitted to work up a bit of a holiday sweat and the long three-tiered swimming pool a very pleasant environment to relax in afterwards. The hotel does movies by the pool where you can sink into a bean bag and sip a drink while recovering from a busy day of site-seeing.
Unfortunately, the Peninsula’s service standards simply don’t live up to expectations. The staff appear distracted and poorly trained, and from restaurant staff to housekeeping and more senior staff, most we came into contact with didn’t appreciate the concept of basic customer service. The hotel has the potential to be very good, it’s a very nice property, but let down by poor service, it doesn’t deserve its five stars.
From US$365 including breakfast
– Full river view from the room;
– The charming boat across the river;
– Beautiful spa rooms;
– Very poor service;
– No tea and coffee in the room;
– Sloppy airport pick-up arrangements
+66 2 861 2888 
pbk@peninsula.com
Steve and Candice
Review Team
The New Inchcolm Hotel in Brisbane’s city centre is where colonial Australian style meets modern comforts. It feels more like a private resident than a boutique hotel. The design and details draw heavily from the past. The New Inchcolm is named for the original residence built in the 1880s, home to Dr Thomson, a Scottish immigrant. In the 1920s the building became a medical practice, and was converted to a hotel in the 1990s. The final refurbishment in November 2014, when the Inchcom became part of M Gallery by Accor, makes use of the original features and style. Silky oak wood paneling and herringbone floors sit beautifully alongside the lush art deco style carpets.
The hotel’s pride and joy is the heritage listed 1928 Otis elevator, which was imported from New York. A new door and buttons have been added but the original weights still help move the lift and the gated door and lift handle are still there to imagine yourself back to a golden era.
Soft jazz and lounge tunes playing in the common areas add to the ambience and I found myself humming along to Nora Jones as I browsed the books in the reception area library.
The rooms are lovely and afford every convenience. The 50 rooms each have a different layout. The large bed was the perfect way to sleep off jet lag (with a solid 11 hours!) and somehow worked out every kink in my back. The desk area and tables and chairs meant that Barry and I both had a place from which to work.
I also loved the large bathroom with a steady supply of big, fluffy towels, full length lighted wall mirror and organic toiletries from Appelles. My skin says thank you! My tastebuds say thank you for the Nespresso Coffee machine and delicious chocolates (my favourite part of the turn down service).
Reception and concierge are at your fingertips, via the iPad mini or the more traditional telephone method. Browsing around the iPad gave me information about the hotel, inspired me on walking tours of Brisbane and ideas of other attractions to visit. The 55 inch flat screen TV will satisfy movie lovers.
We enjoyed the great selection of Scottish whiskys and Australian wines in the bar. The bar and dining area, being accessible directly from the street, is also popular with outside guests. Inchcolm also offers private dining, catering from 10 people to 100.
From US$195 per night
– The privacy you have at Inchcolm is like nothing we’ve experienced before
– Delicious chocolates with the turn down service
– Luxuriously thick, fluffy white towels
– 2mbs ‘Premium’ internet ($10 for 24 hour access) might not be adequate for some business travellers, though it worked fine for an audio Skype call.
+61 7 3226 8888
stay@inchcolm.com.au
Simone
Review Team
I love Lima — the food here is incredible! Casa Inca is a charming boutique hotel in which to base yourself to eat up the delights of the world’s second largest desert city. From Casa Inca, you can walk to some of Lima’s most popular destinations (and to an abundance of restaurants), yet you’re on a quiet street away from the traffic noise.
Casa Inca is in the affluent Miraflores neighbourhood, just a block in from the Malecón de la Reserva and its lovely views 260 feet above the sea. Make sure you take a stroll along here in the evenings, or rent a bike from the hotel to go further afield.
Case Inca has 16 rooms (another six are on their way). Choose carefully — each room is sized and decorated differently, some have views and some do not, and the decor in some is a little tired. The website helpfully shows the layout and photos of each. You’ll be more than content with one of the Premium rooms. All rooms are equipped with flat-screen cable tv, mini-fridge, safe, and phone; beds have luscious down comforters. Wifi (included) is available throughout the hotel.
The building has historical significance: it was the last home of Julio C. Tello, a world authority on Peruvian archeology, founder of Peru’s national museum of archeology, and friend of philanthropist Nelson Rockefeller. Mr Tello is known as the Americas’ first indigenous archaeologist (he was Quechua). Books and artefacts from his time decorate the main building and there are several public rooms in which you can sit and soak up the atmosphere.
There are also three outdoor areas — the large second-floor terrace with views toward the cliffs and the ocean, and a front and back patio — to relax. They are all (as is the house) protected behind a high wall and a gate to which you need to be buzzed in. You do not have to worry about security here.
The hotel can arrange transfer from the airport (but double check the price if your plane is late; they charge extra if the driver has to wait and don’t seem to double check arrival times with the airline before setting out).
From US$129 Classic, US$159 Premium
– Fantastic breakfasts (worth the extra cost)
– Great location in the easy-for-tourists Miraflores neighbourhood
– You’ll need a Flash-enabled device to access their webpage (i.e. not your iPad)