Hôtel Dar Zitoune

A village of bungalows on the edge of town

Dar Zitoune ("house of the olive tree") has held a 4-star rating since 2005. The hotel stands at the entrance to Taroudant, about 2 km from town on the Agadir road, and 61 km from Agadir Al Massira airport, around 55 minutes' drive. Place Assarag, at the heart of the medina, is under 3 km away: take a taxi.

You enter through a large gateway into a domed lobby. Behind it, the hotel spreads out like a small village in a 1.5-hectare garden planted with olive, lemon, orange, palm and papaya trees. The bungalows are on one level, which makes it an easy choice for families with young children and for anyone avoiding stairs.

Bungalow, suite or tent

The hotel has three kinds of accommodation, all air-conditioned, with bathroom and terrace.

• The 14 bungalows, in Berber style, have a private terrace over the gardens. The simplest choice for a stopover for two.
• The 10 suites are divided into junior suites, spacious, with minibar, and senior suites, the largest in the house, with a private sitting room and fireplace; a senior suite takes up to two extra beds, which makes it the one for families.
• The 10 caidal tents, the newest addition, are modelled on the great tents of the caids (local notables of the south): 35 m², next to the pool, with bathroom, sitting area and air conditioning. They suit anyone who wants the feel of a camp with the comfort of a room.

Garden, pool and spa

Days revolve around the large pool, heated in winter, and its jacuzzi. The spa, open daily from 9 am to 10 pm local time, offers a hammam, massages, a sauna on request and beauty treatments; there is also a gym.

The restaurant serves Moroccan and continental cooking, with vegetarian or light menus. Meals are served in the traditional Moroccan dining room, on the veranda overlooking the garden, on the terrace or in the lounges.

Sabaro's view

Who it suits: families, thanks to the single-storey bungalows, the suites that take extra beds and the garden; travellers stopping between Agadir, the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas.

Strengths: the garden and the heated pool, welcome in winter; the choice between bungalow, suite and tent; free parking for those travelling by car; a 4.9/5 rating on Tripadvisor.

Good to know: this is a classic garden hotel, less intimate than a guesthouse; the medina is a short taxi ride away. For a longer, quieter stay, Dar al Hossoun, the other Sabaro selection in Taroudant, puts more emphasis on architecture and botany.