Booking guide
How to Book a Riad in Marrakech Directly (No Commission)
Booking directly with My Kasbah is straightforward: browse the collection, message us on WhatsApp with your dates and number of guests, receive the exact rate and confirmation. No platform service fee, no online payment. A reply usually comes within a few hours. Platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com add service fees to every booking, between 10 and 20% depending on the platform and direction (host or guest). Booking direct removes that layer. My Kasbah manages its own properties with a local team in Marrakech: the rate you receive is the real rate, with no hidden platform margin.
- →Book 100% by WhatsApp (+212 711 529 349), no online form.
- →No online payment on the site: direct booking model, terms agreed with the team.
- →Direct rate ≈ 20% less than via a platform (service fees removed, depending on the property and season).
- →Every property is inspected on-site by the local team before being listed.
- →24/7 concierge included: airport transfer, private chef, excursions, arranged straight from WhatsApp.
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Why book direct rather than through a platform?
When you book via Airbnb or Booking.com, the platform takes fees on the transaction, on the host side and sometimes on the guest side too. The Airbnb host-only model, rolled out progressively in late 2025, charges the host approximately 15.5%; Booking.com charges between 10 and 25% commission depending on the contract (source: official help pages, consulted June 2026). These fees feed into the rate displayed to the guest.
Booking direct with My Kasbah removes that layer. The rate you receive on WhatsApp is the net property rate, no additional service fees. On a week-long stay, the difference can amount to several hundred euros depending on the property and season.
The other advantage: direct human contact. No algorithm-filtered asynchronous messaging. Our local team in Marrakech replies directly, knows every property inside out and can tailor the proposal to your stay (flexible dates, bespoke services, practical questions about the neighbourhood).
What do we need to start the booking?
To send you the exact rate and check availability, we need three things: your check-in and check-out dates, the number of guests (adults and children if applicable), and the property or type of property you are interested in (riad in the Medina, apartment, preferred neighbourhood).
If you haven't chosen a specific property yet, no problem, tell us the type of stay (couple, family, small group) and the neighbourhood or atmosphere you want: our team can point you to the matching addresses in the collection.
The My Kasbah collection brings together properties inspected on-site in the Medina and nearby neighbourhoods. Every address has been physically verified by the team before being offered for rental.
How do payment and confirmation work?
There is no online payment on the My Kasbah site, intentionally. The model is direct: once the rate and availability are confirmed on WhatsApp, payment terms (potential deposit, balance on arrival) are agreed directly with our team, depending on the property and season.
Payment is made in cash on arrival or by bank transfer as agreed, without going through a third-party platform. No service fee is added on top of the rate communicated.
Your booking confirmation is sent in writing on WhatsApp with a summary of the dates, property and rate. Simple, traceable, no intermediary.
Booking direct or through a platform (OTA): what changes?
Both paths lead to the same property, but not to the same rate or service level.
| Criterion | Direct (My Kasbah) | Via platform (Airbnb / Booking) |
|---|---|---|
| Service fees | None, net property rate | 10 to ~20% depending on platform and direction |
| Contact | Local team directly on WhatsApp | Messaging filtered by the platform |
| Flexibility | Flexible dates, bespoke services, fast response | Platform rules and calendar |
| Concierge | Included: transfer, chef, excursions via WhatsApp | Not included, self-organised |
| Payment | Agreed directly (cash / bank transfer) | Via the platform, under its own conditions |
| Transparency | Single rate communicated upfront | Base rate + fees displayed separately |
Service fees vary by each platform's terms and are subject to change. Sources: Airbnb and Booking.com help pages, consulted June 2026.
How do you book a riad in Marrakech directly, step by step?
- 1
Browse the Collection (or a neighbourhood / occasion page)
Explore the My Kasbah collection or the neighbourhood pages (Medina, Gueliz) and occasion pages (couple, family, group). Note the property or the criteria that match your trip.
- 2
Tap "Book on WhatsApp" and send your dates and number of guests
From any property or guide page, the button opens a WhatsApp conversation with a pre-filled message. Complete it with your check-in and check-out dates and the number of people.
- 3
Receive the exact rate (no platform fee) and availability
Usually within a few hours, our team replies with the net property rate for your dates and availability confirmation. No service fees added.
- 4
Confirm and agree on payment terms directly with the team
A quick WhatsApp exchange to finalise details (arrival time, desired services) and agree on payment terms, potential deposit and balance, depending on the property and season. Everything is in writing in the conversation.
- 5
Enjoy 24/7 concierge service throughout your stay
Before and during your stay, the team remains available on WhatsApp: airport transfer, restaurant recommendations, private chef, excursions to the Atlas or Essaouira. You have a local contact, not a call centre.
Useful pages for your search
Évasion Chic, Appartement au Cœur de la Ville
📍 Hivernage, Marrakech 40000
Chic, comfortable one-bedroom in a central pool residence, ideal for couples, city breaks and business stays
Vue d'Exception & Jacuzzi, Majorelle
📍 Quartier Majorelle, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Top-floor 130m² apartment with private terrace jacuzzi and uninterrupted views over the Majorelle gardens
⭐ Top pick Riad Dar Maureen
📍 Medina, Marrakech 40000
Private-pool riad deep in the Medina, Superhost rated 4.92
⭐ Top pick Spacious Modern Apartment
📍 Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Luxury rooftop-pool apartment in central Gueliz, modern comfort with real Marrakech character
Dar Mar'Ouka
📍 Derb Sidi Bouloukat, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Budget family riad in the Medina, free parking, heated jacuzzi and rooftop, 15 min walk from Jemaa el-Fna
Cosy, Appartement Moderne & Piscine, Hivernage
📍 Hivernage, Marrakech 40000
Cosy one-bedroom with espresso machine in a secure pool residence in Hivernage, 300m from the TGV station
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay online to book? +
No. There is no online payment on the My Kasbah site. The booking is done via WhatsApp, and payment terms (potential deposit, balance on arrival in cash or by bank transfer) are agreed directly with the team.
Is there a deposit? How much do I need to pay in advance? +
Terms vary depending on the property and the season: they are agreed directly during the WhatsApp exchange. We do not apply a fixed deposit rule, that is one of the benefits of direct booking without an automated platform system.
Is it really cheaper than Airbnb or Booking? +
Generally yes, because platforms charge service fees on every transaction, approximately 15.5% on the host side for Airbnb (host-only model, late 2025), and between 10 and 25% commission for Booking.com (source: official help pages, consulted June 2026). Booking direct removes that layer. On a week-long stay, the difference can be significant depending on the property and season.
How can I be sure the property is real and as described? +
Every property in the My Kasbah collection has been physically inspected on-site by our local team in Marrakech. You can also check reviews on the corresponding OTA profiles (Airbnb, Booking), ratings and comments are public and independent.
Can I cancel or modify my booking? +
Cancellation conditions are agreed directly at the time of booking and appear in the written WhatsApp exchange. They vary by property and season. If needed, the team is reachable directly, no form to fill in, no platform response delay.
Sources
- Airbnb, host service fee structure (host-only ~15.5%) Consulted June 2026. The host-only model (host bears almost all fees) was progressively rolled out in late 2025.
- Booking.com, host commission (10-25% depending on the contract) Consulted June 2026. Commission varies by property type and registration country.
Ready to book? Message us on WhatsApp
Send your dates, number of guests and the property (or type of stay) on WhatsApp: you'll receive the exact platform-fee-free rate within a few hours.
💬 Book on WhatsApp