Palais Ronsard

Whatever you do, do NOT stay at the Palais Ronsard. Super expensive and the staff is extremely rude. We politely said we couldn’t eat a specific food and they started yelling at us out of nowhere! Then instead of apologizing, the staff member came back to “explain” and started yelling AGAIN, saying that I wasn’t crying in the moment (she had made me tear up before), as though that meant my husband was lying when he complained. Then a third person came up to us during the same dinner, not to apologize but to say it was a misunderstanding (aka our fault). After this experience I looked at their tripadvisor reviews and realized it’s a common experience - stay away!!!!

Extremely distressing and humiliating New Year’s Eve experience We attended the New Year’s Eve gala dinner at Palais Ronsard expecting a refined and respectful experience. Unfortunately, what we encountered was one of the most uncomfortable and humiliating dining experiences we have ever had at a luxury property. Despite clearly communicating that one of us is vegetarian, non-vegetarian food was served to the vegetarian guest. When this was pointed out politely, the situation escalated in a completely unacceptable manner. A hostess raised her voice and screamed at us, apparently because she had mistaken us for another table. There was no attempt to calmly verify the situation before addressing us in this way. Instead of resolving the issue discreetly, multiple staff members repeatedly came to our table, drawing unnecessary attention and making the situation increasingly embarrassing. At no point did anyone stop to properly understand what had gone wrong or how humiliating this was becoming in a public setting. Most disappointing was the response from senior management. Karima Sahraoui, along with others, came to the table not to listen or show empathy, but primarily to defend the hostess, repeatedly stating that she was “not rude” and that it was a “misunderstanding.” This was done while we were still visibly distressed. There was no genuine attempt at understanding, no accountability, and no sincere apology. Being served food that goes against dietary requirements is serious enough; being spoken to aggressively and then publicly invalidated by staff and management is unacceptable. Luxury hospitality is defined not by aesthetics alone, but by grace, discretion, empathy, and accountability—especially when mistakes occur. Sadly, on this night, Palais Ronsard failed on all counts. We left the evening feeling disrespected, humiliated, and deeply disappointed, and this is not the standard one expects from a Relais & Châteaux property.

Very poor value for money. We paid for the exceptional decoration. The service was kind but incompetent. We were far from everything (10 km from the medina) and the breakfast stops at 10:30 — ridiculous. The protein choices were limited and the homemade yogurt portion was like a thimble.

Our stay at Palais Ronsard was unfortunately far below what one expects from an establishment of this supposed level. The spa was the first major disappointment. Instead of a relaxing moment, I was met with an unpleasant therapist who was nothing but rude and disrespectful. Her behavior felt completely out of place. The room did not make up for this initial impression. The bedding was uncomfortable, the mattress seemed worn out, indeed looking under the bed I noticed it was torn. The cleanliness was also far from impeccable, which is surprising for a property claiming such standards. The service around the pool was equally disappointing: the waiting times were excessively long, and the staff member in charge seemed completely uninterested in the guests—no attention, no initiative, not even a glance. The only redeeming element of this stay was Sara at breakfast. She alone managed to provide warmth, attentiveness, and genuine professionalism, truly standing out compared to the rest of the experience. In summary, a stay well below expectations: inadequate service, a room unworthy of a Relais & Châteaux property, and an overall feeling of neglect. Without Sarah’s presence, the stay would have had no value at all. I don’t recommend staying in this hotel.

Beautiful Hotel, but Serious Issues with Service, Food Safety & Management The hotel itself is undeniably beautiful. Unfortunately, the service and management fall far below the standards expected from a property affiliated with Relais & Châteaux. We had planned to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday and ordered a birthday cake in advance. We have received written confirmation from the hotel regarding the cake delivery. Upon arrival, we ordered a bottle of champagne to enjoy in our room together with the cake. The cake, however, never arrived. After mentioning it twice at the front desk, a small pastry shop cake was finally delivered—at midnight. It was a meaningful occasion, and the lack of attention was deeply disappointing. The next day, at the pool, we ordered two beers. Instead of placing them in the ice bucket on our table, the waiter left them out in the sun, and they were already warm by the time we touched them. A small detail? Perhaps. But it was indicative of the careless, lazy service that persisted throughout our stay. The worst part: For lunch we have order Gnocchi and Linguine alle Vongole. Not only the service has forgotten about my Gnocchi in the first place, my girlfriend became violently ill after the Linguine within two hours. Her condition was so severe that a medical professional had to be called to our room. Management showed zero concern—no follow-up, no inquiry, no empathy. It was disturbing. When we checked out, the Linguine alle Vongole was still on our bill. It took a lengthy discussion at the front desk before someone finally contacted the management—who refused to speak with us directly. Only after further back and forth was the meal removed. The cost of medical assistance, however, remained entirely ours to bear. To make matters worse, they offered implausible excuses for the illness, including the suggestion that she may have swallowed pool water. This kind of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable, especially from a hotel under the Relais & Châteaux banner. I fully agree with other reviewers who have pointed out the poor quality of the management. Their complete lack of professionalism, accountability, and guest care does not reflect the standards one expects at this level of hospitality. We will not return, and we do not recommend this hotel to anyone expecting even the basics of care, service, or responsibility.