I stayed at a luxurious Moroccan hotel with my 2 kids for only $280 a night, and we felt totally pampered

I visited AnaYela for three nights during the busy holiday season, and my room still only cost 260 euros, or about $282, a night.

I appreciated that it was more reasonably priced than some of the other riads I researched.

The rate included transportation to and from the airport or train station and daily breakfast. Since I was traveling with two children, it also included a small upcharge for having three people in a room instead of two.

When we arrived, our luggage was taken up to the riad in a cart pulled by a donkey.

From the outside, AnaYela looked like an unassuming, unmarked building with an old door. But when we stepped inside, the small entryway was filled with the scent of fresh roses.

The riad is a 300-year-old palace on the edge of Marrakesh's 11th-century Medina — the walled settlement that marks the boundaries of the original city.

It has a small tower on its rooftop with a "flying carpet" terrace that offers a panoramic view of the Medina.

I also liked that the surrounding area is car-free since the Medina is made up of a labyrinth of narrow alleyways.

My family was welcomed with fresh Moroccan mint tea and cookies sweetened with dates. The small staff introduced themselves and readily offered advice to make my stay in Marakkesh as comfortable as possible.

They even offered to lend me a phone that I could use throughout my visit to communicate with the hotel and navigate the confusing Medina.

Traveling alone as a woman with two children can come with some risks, and I immediately felt at ease.

Like most riads, AnaYela is small, with just five guest rooms. But it had a great pool and plenty of spots for us to lounge around during our stay.

As far as I could tell, the only difference between AnaYela and more expensive riads was that it didn't have an on-site spa or restaurants. But I could still arrange in-room spa treatments and meals, so that didn't seem like a problem to me.

Some of the pricier riads are also more centrally located in Marrakesh, but I saw being in a quieter, car-free part of the city as an advantage.

I was surprised to see our hotel room had been decorated with rose petals, a lavish touch I'd only seen in movies.

Although it wasn't large by any standard, the room had intricate carvings and a deep stone soaking tub that left me in awe.

The overall vibe made for an intimate, relaxing, and high-end experience.

The staff was always available throughout my stay.

In true Moroccan style, mint tea flowed freely all day and night, and it was served with traditional flourishes.

The complimentary breakfast was decadent, with multiple courses and a beautiful presentation.

I could never finish it all, even though it was delicious.

All three nights, I spent time winding down on the highly decorative terrace enjoying the quiet, starry sky with a cup of tea.

It was the perfect refuge from days spent exploring a big, chaotic city.

It would've been hard to justify paying to stay in a riad for every night of our longer trip to Morocco. But when it was time to leave after our three-night stay, it was hard to walk away from the comfort and familiarity of AnaYela.

From the incredible service to the beautiful design details, AnaYela is well worth the little splurge if you're traveling with a small group.