Hi, thought Id add a review as no one has yet. If youre expecting european standards of accomodation, or a village enviroment where you can interact with the locals, I would guess you may be dissappointed. If you want a base to explore the atlas mountains, with no traffic noise, a nice pool, and enough space to accomodate a large family very easily - Villa Zara is a good choice. Brahim, who looks after the place, is a lovely guy who is a phone call away and very accomodating. The main lounge is huge and has good air conditioning, a must in mid-summer. The bedrooms are all a good size, with fans to keep you cool. The kitchin is also a good size, though there is no oven, just a two ring gas stove.
The village itself is pretty baron, mid-summer people are indoors during the day, and there are no shops. Theres quite a lot of rubbish lying around and the occasional dog for company ! The local town has a couple of places to eat and has some basic supplies, but for a supermarket youll need to travel into Marrakech, around 45 minutes away. I would strongly advise you to avoid this villa without the use of a hire car to get around in.
If youre looking for a more tourist orientated enviroment Id suggest you head to Essaouira, where we spent a couple of nights. The sea breeze and cooler temperatures were a great relief, as was the chance to meet and interact with the locals.
If you are going to arrive at Villa Zara in the dark, youll struggle to find the place - make sure you have the right number for Brahim and good directions. If I can help with directions or more details I will, if the site will provide my contact details youre free to email.