Marrakech & Essaouira
We began with three nights in Marrakech. Just a 15 minute drive from the modern and impressive Menara Airport. I was pleasantly surprised by the tree lined avenues and how clean and cosmopolitan the place is.
We stayed at the 5* Movenpick Mansour Hotel, a luxury property with a grand entrance and 3 inviting swimming pools. Rooms were modern with large marble bathrooms. The hotel is in a great location close to restaurants and cafes and just a 10-minute drive from the medina and old town.
After a quick unpack we were off to explore the medina with its labyrinth of souks and traders. Here you will find a colourful mix of everything from lighting, leather goods, spices, shoes, clothing and glassware. We emerged into the vast El Jemaa El-Fna, a huge square filled with street food, stalls, vendors and entertainment such as snake charmers and acrobats. The square is surrounded by restaurants and rooftop cafes. We watched the sunset from a rooftop bar whilst sipping the local mint tea. We then went to a nearby restaurant called Salama. This was a contemporary restaurant offering classic Moroccan cuisine along with entertainment in the form of belly dancers swirling between the tables. It was great fun and the food was delicious. We had baked breads, meze and mouth-watering lamb tagine with potatoes and vegetables. A thoroughly enjoyable evening and I would definitely recommend it to give you a taste of all things Moroccan!
Day two took us out of the city to the lovely Beachcomber Royal Palm Hotel, a stunning golf and spa resort. Set in vast grounds, the resort is perfect for couples or families. The views across the golf course take in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. This luxury resort has a very contemporary feel but still keeping a touch of Morocco. The sports facilities and children’s club looked fantastic! This is an ideal place to stay for those who want to be close enough to Marrakech and the medina but still have a hotel with a relaxed resort feel.
We headed back to the Medina and visited the extremely opulent and luxurious Royal Mansour hotel. This is a unique property with luxurious touches bursting with Moroccan character. All the rooms are individual riads set in the lush grounds. Each riad is like your own private house with central courtyard living room and then bedrooms on the first floor and rooftop terrace. The two-bedroom riads even have rooftop plunge pools and butler service. There is a communal swimming pool and cabanas you can rent for the day. The hotel is within walking distance of Marrakech’s’ medina. This place has hosted royalty and presidents and may not be within everyone’s budget but a really special one-off property! This evening we had dinner at a place called Le Palace. This is a fine dining restaurant mixed with a club. It has its own DJ and cocktail bar and we dined whilst listening to a fantastic singer. There is a dress code of jackets for gentleman but the atmosphere was not stuffy at all, in fact the whole place erupted in people dancing once dinner had finished. A great night out!
On day three we headed out and up to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to visit the newly opened L’Armandier Hotel. Just an hour’s drive from the city so prefect for a two-centre combination, with views over surrounding countryside that are hard to beat. Friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to talk to you about the local area, the flora and fauna and advise on activities that are possible here such as walking, cycling or simply relaxing by the gorgeous pool. The resort is made up of individual villas all in keeping with the local Berber style.
On day four we headed west for two hours to the coastal town of Essaouira. This is a popular spot for kite surfers and windsurfers due to its wind and waves. It has a long sandy stretch of beach with some cafes and overlooked by hotels. A two-minute walk from the beach takes you to the walled medina where you can meander at your own pace through all the little lanes to look at the shops and boutiques. We visited the Sofitel Hotel here which was about a 5-10 minute drive out of the town along the coast. This is an impressive, luxury resort overlooking vast expanses of sand dunes and sea. There were a number of pools, restaurants and a gorgeous spa. Perfect to team up as a two-centre option with Marrakech.
I have to say I loved Morocco. I had visited the beach resort of Agadir years ago so was really looking forward to seeing Marrakech and was so impressed with what I saw and experienced. It’s only a three-hour flight from the UK and perfect for some winter sun on a short break. It has a unique blend of culture and modern. There are 5* luxury hotels but equally there are also the unique riads to stay in within the medina. This trip gave me the appreciation of why a riad would be a good option rather than a resort style hotel. The country felt very safe, with security taken seriously at the airport. The people were very friendly and proud of their country.
I will definitely be recommending Morocco and hope to return again soon!