Are you looking for a destination where you can easily chose between exploring and relaxing ? Look no further !
Marrakech is the right place for you.
Rose Sultan Hotel
Before everything, I need to advice you not to go between June and August included because the temperature can climb up to 45C which makes the living almost unbearable.
We spent one week in Marrakech in September (14th to 21st) and we've been accompanied by 27C to 30C under a full sunshine from day 1 to day 7.
10 dirhams are more or less equivalent to 1€, to 0,77£ or to 1,10$.
In Morocco, you need to negotiate EVERYTHING you want to purchase. Pay at least 50% less than the price they first told you.
To go from one place another you can take a cab. Taxis are very affordable, inside the city you should pay in between 30 to 50DHS maximum.
We chose to split the stay into two different riads (traditional Moroccan houses) in order to have two distinctive hotels experiences, what we did not regret.
4 first nights :
-Riad Berenssi = 400 DHS/ night for a double room with breakfast.
Very nice place with an indoor pool and a rooftop, the owner is so welcoming and the breakfast by the pool is so appreciable but the area isn’t the best.
3 last nights :
-Riad Dar Beija = 420 DHS/ night for a double room with breakfast.
Charming with an amazing inside decoration, mini pool and wide rooftop, the location is so central and the Jemaa El Fna Place is only 5-10 minutes walking distance. Everything was perfect, but the owner is a bit over-insisting with everything she offers, if I may say so haha (this is only my opinion!)
Riad Berenssi
Our room in Riad Dar Beija
So, as I wrote above, you can devote entire days to relaxing by the pool in a fancy hotel (costing between 200DHS and 800DHS a day according to the hotel and the number of meals you're having there) and this is just paradise. I really like Beldi Country Club, Es Saadi, Rose Sultan, Murano Resort, Mandarin Oriental and many other ones (the full list is written down in the summary section at the bottom of this article).
Beldi Country Club
Beldi Hotel is located in the middle of a rose field (I let you imagine the divine scent) and offers a delicious restaurant as well as two pools in a heaven of tranquillity.
Lunch in Beldi
I fell in love with the fact that almost all the restaurants and tea places we've been to were rooftops (as it is so rare and crowded in Paris!)
Café Àrabe
View from Café des Épices, one of my favourite spot
Café de France at sunset time
I really advice you to devote a day to stroll around in the souk and in the spices market, where you can definitely find everything from natural oils, to handmade leathers pieces and metal craft products.
Souk
We spent a full day chilling in Murano Hotel & Resort easily distinguishable by its overwhelming red (bottom of the pool included!). We were the only ones at the pool and at the restaurant during the whole day, which made this experience very peaceful and amicable.
Murano Hotel & Resort
The ancient Koranic School called Medersa Ben Youssef is a historic monument built in a wonderful Arabic-Andalusian refined architecture.
Medersa Ben-Youssef Koranic School
La Palmeraie (The Palm Grove) is suuuuuch a nice and "tropical" place to visit ! What a heaven of peace far from everything. We just had a mini walk there but long enough to catch a stunning sunset.
Sunset in the Palm Grove
Most probably my favourite spot to relax in Marrakech is La Rose Sultan Hotel. Not only that the service is irreproachable and the food excellent, I just fell in love with this structure entirely made out of red clay in a traditional yet modern architecture that makes the place looking so authentic and pleasant to look at.
La Rose Sultan's Restaurant
Loveliest garden in La Rose Sultan
Jardin Majorelle (Majorelle Garden) well known for being Yves Saint Laurent's garden in Marrakech is a must-see. I unfortunately didn't take much pictures when I was there but this deep blue (Majorelle blue) house and this gorgeous garden will remain in my memory.
Jardin Majorelle
I recommend you not to leave Marrakech before you even visited El Badi Palace and Bahia Palace, both Royal palaces. El Badi owns a ravishing garden and Bahia offers remarkable trims and mosaic on the walls and on the floor.
Bahia Palace
When in Marrakech you obviously won't miss the central place called Jema El Fnaa that is filled with abundant treasures but please DON'T do henna there. This will for sure be a scam. It might be pretty but it will be super expensive and won't stay long on your skin.
Better to do it in L'Ensemble Artisanal which is a group of craftsmen in the district of l'Hivernage, that offers handmade products and services for a very affordable price.
SUMMARY :
Where I slept :
(all the details about prices and conditions are in the beginning of the article)
Where to spend a relaxing day by the pool :
(more or less between 200 and 800 DHS according to the hotel and the number of meals you have there)
Beldi Country Club
Rose Sultan
La Mamounia
Murano Resort Marrakech Hotel
Royal Mansour
Mandarin Oriental
Four Season Resort Marrakech
Selman Marrakech
Es Saadi Marrakech Resort
Sky Lounge
What to do/ see/ visit :
Spending a day in the souk and the spices market in central Marrakech
Having a walk or a ride in La Palmeraie (palm grove, most preferably at sunset time
Medersa Ben Youssef (ancient Koranic school)
Jardin Majorelle (Majorelle Garden)
Bahia Place
El Badi Palace
Marrakech Museum
Bert Flint Museum
Kamel ride and/or quad ride in the desert
Lalla Takerkoust dam in the desert (more or less an hour from Marrakech by car)
Where to eat :
Café des Épices (rooftop)
Nomad Café (rooftop - amazing decoration)
Àrabe Café (rooftop)
Café de France (rooftop - for a mint tea at sunset hour)
La Table du Riad (rooftop)
Beldi Country Club restaurant (delicious)
Taj’in Darna (rooftop)
Kechmara Bar Restaurant
Chez Brahim
Le Salama
Mythe Restaurant
Café Kessabine
Dar Belkabir
Where to do shopping :
Souk
Carré Eden shopping center in Gueliz district
Ensemble Artisanal center
Where to have fun at night :
Comptoir Darna
Point Bar
So Lounge
Dar Soukkar
Bo&Zin
Buddha Bar
Tellement belles photos !! ça fait rêver :)