Riad Meriem, Marrakech, Morocco

Riad Meriem is the best luxury riad in for discerning, sociable Brits who want an authentic experience from their trip to Marrakech. Cyrus, the charming host and manager of Riad Meriem, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the best restaurants, bars and spas in Marrakech and will tailor an itinerary to the taste and budget of every individual guest over breakfast. The winding souks of the ancient medina are literally on the doorstep, but the option of lolling about on a sunlounger with a novel on the rooftop terrace is an equally alluring option.

Owner and interior designer Thomas Hays, whose work has graced a plethora of glossy magazines in his native New York, has transformed Riad Meriem into an elegant retreat that mixes traditional Moroccan architectural flourishes with modern artwork. When he first bought the wrecked property, Hays instructed a small army of Moroccan artisans to restore the original mosaics or zilij and commissioned the king of Morocco's personal lantern-maker to fill the luxury riad with traditional lighting that transforms it into a scene from 1001 Arabian Nights after dark.

The facilities

But aside from the beautiful interiors, this is a luxury riad with real character. As it is on the bijou side, guests tend to get to know each other quickly by catching up on the day's adventures in the cosy courtyard with its cascading bougainvillea and small plunge-pool, on the roof terrace at breakfast or at dinner (which is communal) in the small dining salon. In fact, there's such a home-from-home vibe to Riad Meriem that the five suites don't even have locks on the doors.

The Suites

Hays painted the luxury riad's five suites in contemporary tones of grey and aubergine and then added his own fine art photography and a range of pan-global prints and paintings. Bathrooms are clad in traditional Moroccan plasterwork (or Taklakt) and all the bedrooms have hand-made beds, Egyptian cotton sheets, telephones and stereos with iPod docks and Bose speakers.