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My trip to Marrakech
by katie
Day 1 – Wed 01st October 2014
After a very swift 3 hour flight with British Airways from Gatwick, I arrived into the fabulous Beachcomber Royal Palm Hotel at dusk with a lovely greeting from the well presented staff.
As soon as I stepped foot inside the lobby of this luxurious hotel I instantly felt relaxed, at ease and very much like royalty. It was dark at this point so unfortunately I could not see the stunning scenery but it made me even more excited about what I would wake up to in the morning.
After a brief introduction from the staff I was shown to my beautiful Palm Suite.
At 86m2 this room definitely has the wow factor. The modern interior offers Moroccan Style with a huge luxurious bathroom offering a huge bath and walk in shower, big enough for 2 people! The walk in wardrobe is any woman’s dream as is the beautiful terrace with ample space overlooking the golf course and stunning Atlas Mountains.
After 10 minutes of jaw dropping discoveries, I freshened up for our Moroccan cuisine at the brand new Al Ain Restaurant… What a mouth watering experience that was!
Of course no evening can end without a night cap and a good opportunity to have a look around the evening scene at the bar. So with my G&T in hand I listened to the soft music being played on the piano and found myself in a world of relaxation.
Day 2 – Thu 02nd October 2014
As I woke up this morning my first thought was to open my curtains and see the beautiful view awaiting me so I leaped out of bed, tripped over the 9 pillows I had knocked off the bed in the night and threw back the curtains to reveal the lovely gardens, 18 hole golf course and the hundreds of ancient olive trees surrounding the 231 hectares that this property sits on. Unfortunately as the weather was in its mid-thirties, the haze meant that the Atlas Mountains were hidden so I will have to return another time!
Breakfast was located in the La Caravane Restaurant outside in the beautiful shaded gardens amongst the birds, orange and olive trees. Your eggs are cooked to order how you like them and the buffet station inside offers plenty of fresh fruit, breads and pastries, cereals and hot food.
After the delicious breakfast and the best omelette I have ever tasted, I headed to reception for our guided tour of this 5 star plus hotel.
It was quite clear from the moment I left my room this morning that this hotel offers a peaceful and tranquil escape from the buzzing city of Marrakech and this feeling was again experienced on the guided tour. The hotel offers various different room types catering for couples, families and groups including interconnecting suites and stunning villas with private pools.
The grounds are simply beautiful and are very well maintained and looked after.
If sitting by the inviting, spacious and quiet pool is not enough relaxation for you then the hotel offers a Spa by Clarins which is designed around a Moroccan Palace and has many different treatments tailored for your different needs. It offers private Hamman and Sauna areas and an area reserved for woman only.
As for the little ones they will have the time of their lives in the children’s club. If ever I wanted to be a child for the day it would be in here! The children have ample activities to expand their imagination and creative play including their very own fully functional kitchen where they can bake their own cakes and make their own candyfloss. They even have their own swimming pool and space to have a silver service lunch.
After a tour of the hotel we retreated to the L’Olivier Restaurant where a delicious lunch was served.
After lunch it was time to head into the Red City of Marrakech! I have never been to Marrakech and knew very little about it. As we drove further and further into the city it was apparent at how crazy, hectic and buzzing this spectacular place was. Steeped in history, our first stop was the Bahia Palace which is a 19th-century Palace that still functions as a royal residence where the king entertains, but dozens of rooms are open to the public to see how the royals lived.
Our second stop was a visit to the Souks and thank goodness we had a guide for our limited time because it would have taken me a day to find my way out through the labyrinth of these chaotic streets! If anywhere is appropriate to wear my ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ t-shirt it’s here. These souks are like nothing I have ever seen before, an array of spectacular colours, vibrant and a certain energy that hits you as soon as you step foot inside this crazy maze. There isn’t anything you can’t buy from here, spices, bags and lanterns to baskets, shoes, carpets and scarfs galore. After dodging numerous motorcycles, carts and donkeys, we visited an apothecary which was very interesting and gave a great insight into how the natural products of Morocco are used in medicine and of course stocked up on the very popular Moroccan Argan Oil. Next we entered the workers part of the souk where we watched the local carpenters and blacksmiths crafting their products in the smallest of places to stock up the shelves of the souks shops. Even if you are not into shopping, you need to experience the all kinds of crazy Marrakech souks have to offer.
Once we made our way out of the endless tunnels we found ourselves in the main central area of Jemaa el Fna Square. I thought I’d seen every shade of crazy but oh no, there is nowhere on earth like this place! Everywhere you turn there are monkeys leaping on shoulders, snake charmers playing their flutes to King Cobras, teeth pullers, fortune tellers and so much more. Marrakech is a fascinating, fast paced, wild and out of this world destination that leaves you wanting more and feeling that you need to return. I must say however, I was very glad to get back to the peace and tranquillity of the Royal Palm Hotel.
This evening we headed back to the city just 15 minutes’ drive away for dinner but to the up and coming new town just outside the ancient city walls of the old medina. What a difference between old and new, there is much more of a westernised vibe in the new town and a vast amount of varied restaurants and nightclubs including the Comptoir Darna Restaurant which is a must for anyone. This is THE place to be and offers fantastic food in a traditional Moroccan setting with a great buzzing atmosphere.
After our beautiful meal we were entertained by belly dancers, a DJ and a few Kiwi Mojito’s to end what has been a very exciting and overwhelming day.
Day 3 – Friday 03rd October 2014
After yesterday’s crazy adventures, a morning relaxing at the stunning Royal Palm was by far the best way to end this fantastic trip. After a wonderful 45 minute massage in the sensational spa, a little swim and sunbathe, it was time for a spot of lunch at L’Olivier restaurant before heading back to Marrakech airport for the journey home.
I am so grateful for the fantastic experience at the Royal Palm Hotel and cannot recommend it enough. Everything about this hotel oozes luxury and quality and the attention to detail is incredible.
So if you want to experience the colourful, historical and mesmerising city of Marrakech but in tranquil and luxurious surroundings then the Royal Palm Hotel is a must.
Thank you for listening