Tag Archives: Royal Mansour

Best of Marrakech

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My recent trip to Morocco was an experience of polar opposites, dust and diamonds. I was visiting the choatic and leather stinking medina of Marrakech but staying in the most luxurious accommodation I have ever seen. Arriving early on Wednesday morning we had five full days to fit in an itinerary of activities, exploring and relaxation.

Best shopping: venture into the souks and head to the Bloom boutique for brightly coloured handcrafted gifts, clothes and souvenirs. We picked up some especially pretty postcards to send home.

Best cafe for lunch: Cafe des Epices is a favourite with foreigners. Try the simple lamb kefta wrap with salad and a fresh orange juice. If you decide to sit in the sun on the balcony Epices provide straw hats to cool you down and you can watch the souk sellers hustling with the crowds down below.

Best out-of-city adventure: Camel ride in the desert, at Kasbah Le Mirage Marrakech. After wrapping up in our dashing blue robes we mounted a herd of affectionate camels. I thought it would be a short token ten minute walk around, in fact we trekked through the scorching desert for nearly two hours. Not for the faint-hearted, but seriously good fun.
http://www.kasbahlemirage.com/en/excursions_loisirs.html

Best for history: Many historic tourist attractions are long and tiring to see in their entirety. The Saadian Tombs is a manageable and atmospheric site which were sealed up for centuries until their rediscovery in 1917. The tombs show intricate carving and beautiful tiling and blooming orange trees soak up the rays in the courtyard.

Best romantic retreat: La Sultana is a lovers’ lair. The poolside dinners are special and intimate, with a musician strumming in the arches and a menu of Moroccan delicacies to choose from. On a clear night you can see the stars from your seat.

Best authentic spa: Hammam de la Rose is a modest and charming spa in the centre of town. You must try the authentic Moroccan Hammam and massage for a revitalising cleanse and relaxing reboot.

Best magical Moroccan accommodation: La Mamounia has a long and legendary history with celebrity guests ranging from Winston Churchill to Elton John. If you are visiting Marrakech it is the place to stay. Beautiful five star luxury moments away from the medina with traditional decor and fantastic facilities.

Best hidden paradise: Royal Mansour is a palace where no luxury is overlooked. With a network of underground tunnels the personal butler service is amazing and no detail is forgotten. Expect the unbelievable and imagine the unimaginable, this hotel is one you will remember for the rest of your life.

Experience the subtle and the sublime in Marrakech. There aren’t many places four hours from home where you can experience rich heritage and history and indulge in such extravagance.

Royal Mansour Spa, Marrakech

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The spa at Royal Mansour is awe-inspiring, a temple of wonderful white arches and palatial patterns. The building itself is a staggering 27,000 sq ft, an authentic Moroccan spa with its own separate private entrance and driveway, it is reason alone to visit the Mansour property, and many do come for a day of ultimate relaxation.

In a country that is so relentlessly hot this pure and peaceful retreat is much appreciated by guests. Down a serene walkway you reach the main lobby hall, a spacious room to sit and reflect before your chosen treatment. Those guests wishing to use the facilities first have plenty on offer: two hammams, a hairdressing salon, manicure and pedicure suites, Watsu bath area and relaxation area are all available for your perusal. If you get peckish the Salon de thé is a lovely cafe with healthy dishes, herbal teas and fresh fruit juices.

The treatments are numerous and varied, catering to all requirements and needs. I was most interested by the range of products and brands available for the facial therapies. The inclusion of marocMaroc, Sisley, Dr Hauschka and Chanel strongly represent French, German and Moroccan beauty traditions. Each option has a different focus, be it age prevention, moisture, balance, deep cleansing or luxury indulgence. Some of the facials have set layouts, others can be tailored to fit specific skin types and the client’s preferences.

I breezed in, instantly cooled by the icy interiors. A citrus drink was given to me to sip at before my marocMaroc facial. I was keen to try their brand of facials after experiencing the products already in my room. marocMaroc was the first luxury skincare line to combine Moroccan pleasure, comfort and efficiency. It hopes to tell a story of this beautiful country whilst pampering and soothing all your senses. Made from all natural ingredients the products manage to be high quality but low maintenance.

My facial was lovely, not intrusive nor prescriptive, but purely for comfort and indulgence. The therapist layered my skin gradually with different products to remove dirt and to exfoliate – gently freshening and brightening the skin. A mask and thick cream added much needed moisture for my sun-exposed skin.

After the treatment my therapist escorted me to the relaxation room to relax and wake up! I stood on the small balcony and felt amazingly refreshed and clear headed.

The Royal Mansour spa is a paradise waiting to be discovered, once you have entered this white wonderland you will never want to leave. A shelter for the soul and refuge for the body.

More information here.

www.royalmansour.com

Royal Mansour, Marrakech

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“Between mountain and sea, before the imperial cities… Marrakech the sublime.” – Jean Pierre Chaumard

I’d like to say this is a home-away-from-home, but this heavenly property far exceeds my home comforts. At Royal Mansour no expense is spared, it is just how I imagine a palace to be. Every detail illustrates that this accommodation has been designed with the utmost elegance and style, luxurious materials are used inside and out… not just for show but with the sincerest belief in quality and beauty.

Located just inside the old city walls and moments away from the Medina Market, hidden behind a great gated entrance, what you find is the opposite of the chaotic dusty city centre. The property covers over eight acres and is enclosed by its own outer wall, making it feel like a private town itself. Royal Mansour comprises fifty-three private residences (Riads), traditional Moroccan houses with interior courtyards, of varying sizes and characters; no two are the same. Ranging from one to three bedrooms (or four for the extra special Riad d’Honneur), they are suitable for couples or families. I was astounded by the size of our one bedroom superior riad, it took some time to explore our temporary home, let alone observe all the details.

Where do I start describing our riad? It was utterly enchanting. From the imposing heavy door, you could never imagine what awaits you inside. First we passed through the open-air courtyard, tiled patterns beneath our feet, a trickling fountain to our right, and a floral, nostalgic scent in the air. Then to the rooms, of which there were too many to count. I’m sad to say we barely used the sitting room which was exquisitely ornate, with velvet galore and beautiful handcrafted furniture. Up the lantern lit stairs (several flights of them!) our lovely bedroom was waiting for us, thankfully not so huge and cosier in feel, and exuding Moroccan grandeur. Royal Mansour won’t deprive you of your modern necessities, but ensure they are discreetly hidden wherever possible.

We adored our ensuite bathroom, which comes complete with walk-in shower and giant marble bath. I was especially impressed with the marocMaroc toiletries, the first refined skin care line from Morocco. It was the first time in a hotel that I have used products this good. Smelling delicious, and ensuring super-soft skin and hair, they felt healthy and luxurious.

Carrying on up another stairway, we reached our final destination, perhaps the most exciting floor of all. Every riad includes a roof terrace with wonderful views of the city, the gardens or the Atlas Mountains, that allows guests to enjoy the sunshine and warmth from the comfort of their own private sanctuary. Each has its own plunge pool, sunbeds and fireplace, and the larger riads also feature outside dining areas and Moroccan tents. This is where most of the guests spend their time.

Despite the size, there is a charming intimacy and natural peace. The service was far beyond my expectations… with an underground network of tunnels, staff are not seen and not heard, but magically attend to your every need. With service doors on each floor of every riad, whatever you desire is delivered to you no matter where you are. Inspecting the tunnels, I could hardly believe how clever and well thought out the organisation is.

After spending a few hours enjoying all our riad had to offer, we ventured out to explore the rest of the property; we barely spied any other guests indicating just how exclusive Royal Mansour is. For further relaxing there is a spa and pool, with numerous treatment possibilities and relaxing facilities. When it comes to food, if you manage to resist the butler room service, there are several bars, lounges and restaurants to choose between. Open all day, La Table serves Mediterranean cuisine in an airy dining room or on a terrace al fresco. For something smarter, Royal Mansour’s two fine-dining restaurants sit together within their own building. There is French or traditional Moroccan to choose between, both supervised by renowned chef Yannick Alleno. The highlight of our dinner at La Grande Table Marocaine was the creative starters, the perfectly crisp pastillas are still a fond memory.

When we finally rose from our comforting bed, we wandered down to have breakfast on the terrace. Overlooking the turquoise outdoor pool, we feasted on Parisian style breakfast, except that it tasted better than any morning meal I’ve had in Paris. The flakiest croissants, accompanied by the sweetest juice, and French toast that both looked and tasted truly incredible.

Though this palatial property is decorated with the most authentic Moroccan design and decor – this is certainly not a traditional hotel. I promise, there is nowhere quite like it on earth.

More information here.

www.royalmansour.com/