Sofitel, Marrakech

...Brakfast for an Easter holiday this was not a cheap holiday, but I regard it as money well spent. I was treated to a holiday that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Thank you Sofitel, I will be back....but I'll bring my own gin next time  ... more

Where do I begin?
Following a drive of nearly 5 hours across the Atlas mountains from Agadir - don't ask - we were told it was an hour and a half and flying to Agadir saved hundreds of pounds on the holiday - any flea pit would have been welcome.
But flea pit this was not!
Impressive exterior with security guards at the exterior gate, beautiful driveway with lighted fountain, and carefully tended flower beds.
Truly a 5* introduction!
The entrance to the hotel was even more stunning with a large tiled lobby and yet more security guards.
The front doors were opened for me by uniformed porters - I never opened the door myself throughout my stay.
The reception area of the hotel was most impressive, large airy with loads of seating and tables and a central sculpture in a petal strewn fountain.

CHECK IN

Smooth and trouble free we were presented with 2 electronic keys and our cases were whisked away - we hadn't touched them from the moment we left the airport!
THE LIFTS
It was worth staying at the hotel just for the pleasure of travelling up and down in these ornately decorated carriges. A wonder of moorish decoration.
ROOM SERVICE
Arriving very late at night starving and in a strange town we decided to order a couple of meals and some wine.
This was delivered promptly on a beautifully laid out table complete with an immaculte white cloth. The meal lived up to its appearance and was delicious.
As an added bonus it was reasonably priced too.

With no coffee or tea making facilities we also ordered coffee from room service most mornings. This arrived strewn with rose petals hot and strong to be enjoyed at our leisure. Again reasonably priced.

THE ROOM
On a square landing overlooking the reception area for the conference facilities the view was again most impressive - I think I will be using that word a lot in this review.

Inside the room had all the little touches we expected - Beautiful clean crisp cotton sheets, fluffy towels, slippers and dressing gowns - with a rosebud in the pocket of each one.
Toileteries that smelt heavenly and rose petals in the sink and bath and also on the bathmat on the floor.

The only downside was the view overlooking the street and building work at the hotel opposite.

The room was equipped with a mini bar, television, writing desk in fact everything you could possibly want apart from tea and coffee making facilities.

Towels and bedding were changed daily and each evening our beds were turned down ready for us to get into without any effort.

We did not need the air conditioning as we stayed in April and the evenings and nights were very cool.

FOOD

I can feel superlatives coming on - so I'll start the day with breakfast - Oh wow! I ate so much that lunch was an unthinkable event.. What to choose there was so much choice in the buffet style breakfast.
Every possible taste was catered for - You could have freshly prepared omlettes or pancakes, a full english breakfast with baked beans or spiced lentils as an alternative. Fresh fruit - cold meats and cheeses, scrummy pastries and to compliment the food there was superb service.

Lunch was not sampled due to overindulgence at the breakfast table.

In the evening there was a choice of restaurants and bars - reasonably priced with a good menu choice although we only ate in the hotel on one evening choosing to sample the delights of Marrakech instead.

THE BARS

Morocco is a Muslim country and although alcohol is available it tends to be rather expensive. We found the cost of our large G&T's to be as much as a basic meal. Drinks in the downstairs bar were served with bowls of assorted nuts and nibbles by ever attentive staff.

The upstairs bar next to the restaurant was even more upmarket and as well as nuts and nibbles there appeared to be a minor buffet to go with drinks. Very swish and i believe there was a disco later up there but we didn't stay for this.

THE POOL
Freezing cold in April but absolutely beautiful. Poolside attendants helped you to find one in the position you wanted, moved sunbeds and umbrellas when you wanted and provided you with huge fluffy towels.
At regular intervals through the day someone came round to see if you needed anything - mint tea definitely to be recommended and as cheap as chips.

Should hunger overtake you the poolside restaurant provided cheap tasty meals from an extensive menu at reasonable cost.

THE GROUNDS

Well maintained with pretty flowerbeds and shrubs and plants in pots and unexpected sculptures dotted about. The herb garden next to the pool was well laid out and provided seating so you could rest a while to view the plants.

THE SERVICE

11/10 Nothing was too much trouble for the hotel staff. Everyone from the chambermaid to the manager did everything possible to make our stay as memorable as possible.

THE FACILITIES

Several small shops selling everything you could possibly want at prices about the same as those outside the hotel. Again the staff in the shops were all friendly and helpful.

It was possible to have maggages, turkish baths and a full compliment of beauty treatments, but as we are perfect anyway we did not indulge!

During the day you sit in the reception area and be served mint tea by a lady surrounded by a variety of rugs and ethnic decorations whilst listening to gentle music - what a treat!

THE ACCIDENT
During the holiday my friend slipped and badly bruised her leg in the bathroom. We didn't make a lot of fuss about this but told our holiday rep the next day....Well...In no time at all we had offers of a private doctor at the hotel's expense baskets of fruit, baskets of nuts and sweetmeats and enough roses to open a florist's shop. This for a bruised leg.

GENERAL OVERVIEW

For sheer luxury and personal attention this holiday would take something to better. Everything in the hotel was designed to make you feel special and to ensure a memorable stay. Flowers were everywhere, paintings adorned the walls in the corridors everything was perfect.
Even our basic standard package holiday room was better than anything I had stayed in previously or since not the furnishings or the view but the attention to detail provided for guests.
The general ambience of the hotel left nothing to be desired. If there was one complaint it would be the beds left me with backache, but then most beds apart from my own at home are liable to do this. It is the fault of my back not the beds.

At around £600 each Bed and Brakfast for an Easter holiday this was not a cheap holiday, but I regard it as money well spent. I was treated to a holiday that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Thank you Sofitel, I will be back....but I'll bring my own gin next time 

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