From experiencing Africa’s roof to a Feng Shui themed hotel this was a Fam Trip that amazed and chilled.
We started with a VIP Meet & Greet desk just inside passport control organised by Chakib at Across Morocco to provide Penguins and their guests with a faster passage through the airport.
Marrakech is only twenty minutes from the airport – so just long enough for us to appreciate the warm sunshine – 30 degrees was so much better than the UK in October.
Walking into the Sofitel Lounge and Spa is always a delight – the glorious scent used throughout the hotel is a real feel good factor.
Post a most welcome Sofitel cocktail and quick freshen up we started with a show round at the legendary La Mamounia followed by pre-dinner cocktails in The Churchill Bar. So enjoyed two legends in one visit – La Mamounia and The Churchill Bar. Churchill is just one of the many legendary figures who loved Mamounia.
The Mamounia is the grand lady of Marrakech Hotels. Always refined and elegant with just that feel of true class and magical at night. Even my G&T had added class – a special tonic and a twist of cucumber!
La Mamounia ambiance manages to create the feeling that their service will be discrete and exemplary – and it is.
After the elegance of La Mamounia’s Churchill Bar we enjoyed the contrast of Bo-Zin’s trendy atmosphere for dinner.
We ate a la carte – the menu started with eastern influenced appetizers and moved on to Moroccan inspired mains while smooth and soulful sounds complimented the food and decor.
Bo-Zin is a venue for the hip and trendy locals who enjoy the bar, food and music – they arrive late.
Day Two kicked off with a 4X4 Atlas Mountain Experience
Our first stop was Richard Branson’s hotel – a place to escape, chill, relax and enjoy. You can be pampered by over 120 staff to 27 rooms.
You can feel the silence in the tranquil beauty of Kasbah Tamadot’s location. Kasbah Tamadot commands views down the green valleys while also looking up to the stark beauty of the highest Atlas peaks.
Immerse yourself in the Kasbah’s privacy and simply chill or raise the pace with onsite professional tennis coaching, trekking and other offsite activities.
Off road “The Roof of Africa” is a place of space, clean light, beauty and peace. The Atlas Mountains are one of those special places – a place that lowers voices and inspires; leaving one feeling so chilled it is amazing.
And we had already been chilled by the beauty and calm of Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot.
Our 4×4 was chauffeured – had we been on self drive the off-road challenge may have robbed us of the opportunity to relax and enjoy the stunning views.
A lakeside lunch under Berber tents kept the chilled out feeling going.
Beautiful views, fantastically healthy fresh Berber food and warm fresh air made a great outdoor experience. This is a great place to dine at night.
Next stop a great multi space venue on the outskirts of Marrakech. A place where you can turn up the volume if you wish.
The Beldi Country Club is designed for corporate entertaining, dining, partying or celebrating in beautiful settings and until the early hours. The multiple indoor and outdoor spaces cater for groups from tens to fifteen hundred.
Beldi’s location mean that your music does not have to turn down or off before you want it to.
Our group split – some chose the Beldi Spa – a wonderful Hamman treatment at Beldi and the rest to shop in the Souks.
Souk shopping is unlike any other.
Smells of leather, rich scented oils, spices and herbs, the colours and…… The fun of bartering.
Winding alleyways both add mystery to the exotic goods and the need for a guide unless you want to spend more time finding your way out than you do shopping.
If we were offering a prize for the best barter it would have been the large colourful tagine initially offered at 1200 dirham’s but bought at 200!!!
Others bought boots, tagines, saffron and some wonderful bars of amber, sandalwood and other spices.
Post shopping and a walk through El Fna Square it was back to Sofitel to join up with the others and freshen up ahead of dinner.
A 360 degree rooftop bar, Namazake Japanese restaurant, lovely night views, soft lights, music and great company was our venue for pre-dinner cocktails. The Delano hotel was a few minutes’ walk from the Sofitel.
The Delano Hotel (soon to be renamed The Pearl) has a cool sophisticated intimate feel at night. Not surprising as it was designed by the architect responsible for La Mamounia’s refurbishment.
After two not so quick drinks and sushi our carriages for dinner were waiting. This being Marrakech it was horse drawn carriages and they were to take as close to our dinner venue as they could. To shorten our walk through the Medina.
After a few minutes’ walk we walked through the doors of a Moroccan Doctor Who’s Tardis!!!
This seems the best explanation of the surprise to be had on entering the Palais Stylia. There is not anything outside to suggest the interior – narrow streets, endless walls and occasional unremarkable doors but…after the entrance corridor -WOW.
Elegant, ornate, intricate and with ceilings so high the acoustics are wonderful if you are having live music during dinner.
Rose petal strewn tables, handmade cloths and…… The food. Four special courses proposed by Chakib some with slight variations/options to reflect dietary preferences along with great Moroccan wines.
Palais Stylia offers the main dining room and two further rooms able to seat 120 for private dinners.
Day 3 Hotel Visits
Light, space and creativity fill Marrakech’s Four Seasons – you could almost feel the Moroccan sunshine indoors.
Loved the Four Seasons pop up bars – The Speakeasy themed bar was fun and I am looking forward to the Cuban pop up bar opening soon.
Marrakech hotels are blessed with style and the Four Seasons is no exception – a blend of contemporary, art and chic modern Moroccan influences combine to provide a beautiful experience.
The 600 sq m main meeting space offers natural light, height and great access while breakout rooms have daylight to.
Palais Namasker was next on our list but as we received requests to visit the Taj Palace this was a late fit in for a few of our group.
It only took seven years to build this luxury Feng Shui hotel haven – opened six months ago.
Forty one rooms, suites, villas and palaces spread over twelve acres of delightful gardens, pools and lake. Rooms are generous – at least forty four sqms and palaces/villas go up to 3000. All are joined by the spirit of Feng Shui and guests are pampered by over two hundred staff.
This is Palais Namasker - Morocco Feng Shui style.
The other group visited the Taj Palace Hotel, another style and a great 300 room luxury property.
We rejoined and set off for Marrakech’s beautiful palm groves twenty minutes away.
Hotel du Golf, is new, modern & contemporary with 315 rooms. Du Golf is part of Marrakech’s biggest hotels, villas, and conference centre complex. The recently refurbished Palmeraie Golf Palace, with a more modern Moroccan style, offers another 325 rooms.
Two boutique suite hotels, villas and apartments add another 493 units.
All hotels have close access to a 5,000 sq metre conference centre – the largest meeting space host 1,500 pax – and also have access to the golf course and 8 restaurants.
Finally, a twenty five minute drive back to the Sofitel for lunch and our last show round before departing for the airport.
Lunch on the Sofitel terrace close to the pool was our final taste of Marrakech. The buffet lunch was superb, accompanied by poolside entertainment and personal gifts from Chakib.
As we had all seen the Sofitel rooms during our stay we had a quick show round the meetings spaces, all with daylight - and my favourite Sofitel meeting space … the nightclub.
Our thanks to our friends Sally, Holly and Clare from Penguins Events for bringing a fun group of clients and yet more thanks to Chakib from our DMC Across Morocco for a brilliant programme, Sofitel for accommodating us and Noor for being our guide and excellent company.
“If you like your romance dark, Fes is probably the most romantic city on Earth. It might have been dreamed up by Edgar Allen Poe – almost sinister in its secretiveness.” John Gunther
