Hotel Review: La Sultana, Marrakech.

It was over two years ago that I was supposed to visit La Sultana in Marrakech. It was all booked in, but unfortunately due to surgery and some medical issues shortly before I moved to Australia, I was unable to go. Thankfully the lovely team at the hotel told me to let them know when I returned, which I did a few months ago. So, was my stay at one of Marrakech’s finest hotels worth the two and a half year wait? You bet it was!

 

Part of Small Luxury Hotels, La Sultana is billed as a romantic hideaway within the walled medina of Marrakech. But despite being there sans boyfriend, and with my long-time friend Jemima as my travelling companion instead, we had the very best time and loved every minute of our stay. Our first evening at the hotel we sat beside the pool sipping on mint tea, and couldn’t quite believe we were finally in Marrakech. It was Jemima who was supposed to come with me over two years ago, and we had finally arrived!

The five-star hotel is as Moroccan as can be, with moorish architecture, stunning tiled courtyards with riad-style rooms surrounding each one, and an Almohad-era-inspired swimming pool with breathtaking open brickwork and arched columns making your entrance to the water.

Each room is individually decorated, with African woodwork and marble bathrooms being the constant in each of the 28 rooms. We were blown away by our suite, which was aptly named, Tiger. The Tiger suite has the tiger as it’s focal point, even going so far as to etch the image of a tiger into the marble wall behind the ginormous scalloped bath tub fit for a queen.

We felt like royalty with a nod to James Bond every time we wandered across the room and spotted another feature we fell in love with; from the intricate woodwork detailing, to the stunning traditional Moroccan lamps. Not to mention what can only be described as a ‘mini Moroccan arched tunnel’, leading you from the shower area to the gold sinks and ornate bath tub with heated marble flooring.

The intimacy of the hotel ensures the staff remember each guest, and breakfast is a fine affair where the staff are on-hand to do everything for you. You literally do not have to lift a finger. Fancy a few buffet items whilst waiting for your a la carte dish? No problem, the staff will have a tray ready for you to place each tiny plate adorned with the most delicious rose baklava, miniature breads, and traditional fruit (think figs, dates, apricots), ready for them to carry to your table for you.

We sat beside the pool each morning and ate our way through the buffet, stopping briefly to snap a photo when our a la carte items arrived of our plates dressed by that dreamy backdrop.

 

Sadly it was a little too chilly to test out the outdoor pool (end of November sees temperatures of around 16-20 degrees C), however we made sure to check out the indoor spa. The jacuzzi jets weren’t working at the time, but we enjoyed the jaw-dropping pink-pearl hued marble room with colonnades flanking the tranquil pool.

 

It was bliss sitting calmly in the pool after a long day of haggling in the souks and pounding the dusty backstreets, and we were only snapped out of our dreamlike-state when a selfish guest decided to use the pool to do her daily (read: noisy) exercises.

Cue, selfish guest splashing like a child for half an hour while the rest of us tried to sit on the submerged seat without getting knocked off by the incoming and outgoing waves made by her forceful kicks and thumps down into the water as she completed her leg exercises. The staff walked past numerous times and didn’t say anything to her, and when my blood pressure was raised sufficiently, I escaped the pool for a lounge bed.

Dear readers, please do not think it is acceptable to do your daily exercises in a quiet and tranquil spa where other guests are enjoying the peace, and relaxing after a long day. Your body will not gain an extra inch of fat for a day or two not exercising. Be selfless.

Anyhow, aside from the spa debacle our stay could not have been more perfect. If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Marrakech that is traditional in style throughout, yet with all the contemporary needs, look no further than La Sultana.