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مقال الديلي ميل عن فندق رويال منصور الذي الكتب
هيلاي كلينتون و كذا زوجة اوباما و عدد من مليرديرات روسيا
Gold walls, onyx floors, truffle ice cream and underground cinemas: Inside the king of Morocco's five-star hotel .
By India Sturgis for MailOnline
08:20 BST 30 Aug 2015, updated 17:53 BST 30 Aug 2015
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The Royal Mansour was commissioned by King Mohammed VI for an unknown amount and is where presidents stay
It took 1,000 craftsmen three and a half years to piece, carve and weld together. Nothing was too extravagant
There is a network of underground tunnels that staff ride around on golf buggies ferreting things to and fro
Visit Marrakech's Youssef Medersa (a 14th century Islamic school), Jardin Majorelle and the cities' colourful souks
Walking through Marrakech is an experience unlike no other.
Despite having visited Morocco a handful of times before, so forearmed as to what to expect, I left the souks every day feeling disorientated, bewildered and a little turned inside out.
The tangle of narrow streets, dusty stalls and sulphurous tanneries are an assault on the senses.
The Royal Mansour is like stepping into another world with men in black patrolling the hotel’s outskirts like ferocious piranhas +20
The Royal Mansour is like stepping into another world with men in black patrolling the hotel’s outskirts like ferocious piranhas
Here, tourists are cannon fodder for locals. Visitors are relentlessly targeted, hassled and asked for money. They are invariably lost, duped, welcomed and invited into every shop on every corner of every street.
By late afternoon, the main square Djemaa el-Fna morphs into a cacophonous mess of smoke, drums, donkeys, monkeys, snake charmers, belly dancers, henna artists and orange juice sellers. It’s mesmerising, confusing and exciting; but also somewhat draining.
So it’s important to choose a comfortable corner of the medina (old town) to retreat to.
For those seeking total privacy there is the exclusive 1,800 square metre Riad d’Honneur with its own set of staff and underground cinema +20
For those seeking total privacy there is the exclusive 1,800 square metre Riad d’Honneur with its own set of staff and underground cinema
It took more than 1,000 craftsmen three and a half years to piece, carve and weld together. Nothing was deemed too extravagant +20
It took more than 1,000 craftsmen three and a half years to piece, carve and weld together. Nothing was deemed too extravagant
For two nights, either side of hauling our perspiring bodies through the medina, my boyfriend and I booked into the Royal Mansour, a jewel of a hotel commissioned by King Mohammed VI for an undisclosed (but undoubtedly devastating) amount.
Since it opened five years ago it has served as an overspill for his royal and diplomatic guests, as well as those who can afford it. Hilary Clinton, John Legend and Sam Smith all recently stayed and holidaymakers will share breathing space with Russian billionaires, glittery supermodels, statesmen and presidents.
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As five star hotels go, the Royal Mansour is other worldly with men in black patrolling the hotel’s outskirts like ferocious piranhas with headsets.
It took more than 1,000 craftsmen three and a half years to piece, carve and weld together. Nothing was deemed too extravagant. Gold plated walls, green onyx and parquet flooring and polished marble cover every square inch.
Morocco named one of the world's best holiday destinations
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Since it opened five years ago the king has used it as an overspill for his royal and diplomatic guests including Hilary Clinton +20
Since it opened five years ago the king has used it as an overspill for his royal and diplomatic guests including Hilary Clinton
The hotel itself is arranged around 53 riads - traditional houses built about a courtyard - and designed to mirror the nearby medina +20
The hotel itself is arranged around 53 riads - traditional houses built about a courtyard - and designed to mirror the nearby medina
There is intricate zellij mosaics, cordova leather, shells and silk, gold and mother of pearl as far as the eye can see.
The library roof peels back at the touch of a button for stargazing through a telescope and the central main courtyard is open to the sky and feels like stepping through an immaculate kaleidoscope.
The hotel itself is arranged around 53 riads (traditional houses built about a courtyard) and designed to mirror the nearby medina but on a minute scale.
The stunning boutique hotel Riad El Fenn in Morocco
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The spa is open for traditional hammams, hair cutting, coiffing, yoga and pilates and menus are planned by a three Michelin star chef +20
The spa is open for traditional hammams, hair cutting, coiffing, yoga and pilates and menus are planned by a three Michelin star chef
The spa is open for traditional hammams, hair cutting, coiffing, yoga and pilates and menus are planned by a three Michelin star chef +20
The spa is open for traditional hammams, hair cutting, coiffing, yoga and pilates and menus are planned by a three Michelin star chef
Neat gardens and walkways snake in between 800-year-old olive trees (transplanted from the medina’s Agdal gardens), date palms, orange blossom and bubbling fountains. The hotel is built into the city’s ancient 12th century walls and is a fragrant utopia with rich men in expensive jackets passing through like exotic birds.
Unsurprisingly, the rates are not cheap. The cheapest riad here is £730 per night during low season and can rise to £6,640 per night at other times. Each comes with a roof top sun deck and plunge pool where you can have breakfast laid and your home paper printed off on A3 sheets and bound together in gold ribbon. Living quarters are fabulously ornate and the larger riads have galleries and dinning rooms.
For those seeking total privacy there is the exclusive 1,800 square metre Riad d’Honneur with its own set of staff, two pools, a private spa, gym and underground cinema.
The main square Djemaa el-Fna morphs into a cacophonous mess of smoke, drums, donkeys, monkeys, snake charmers and belly dancers +20
The main square Djemaa el-Fna morphs into a cacophonous mess of smoke, drums, donkeys, monkeys, snake charmers and belly dancers
All menus in each of the hotel's three restaurants (Moroccan, French and one designed for all day alfresco eating) are devised by Parisian three Michelin star chef Yannick Alléno and, according a hotel spokesperson, ‘He oversees each and every dish and drink’.
His most gorging menu is a black truffle four-course extravaganza that includes purple artichoke tagine with duck’s meat and truffle ice cream for £200 per person.
We tried fabulous plates of 36-hour cooked lamb shoulder and apple cinnamon cake with jasmine élexir .
The most gorging menu is a black truffle four-course extravaganza that includes truffle ice cream and costs £200 per person +20
The most gorging menu is a black truffle four-course extravaganza that includes truffle ice cream and costs £200 per person
Beneath the hotel is a network of underground tunnels, purpose built for staff to ride around on golf buggies, ferreting things to and fro +20
Beneath the hotel is a network of underground tunnels, purpose built for staff to ride around on golf buggies, ferreting things to and fro
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During our stay I was shown around a large outdoor and indoor pool and an even larger spa, open for traditional hammams, hair cutting, coiffing, yoga and pilates.
Beneath your feet is a network of underground tunnels, purpose built for staff to ride around on golf buggies, ferreting things to and fro without you seeing them.
We wrenched ourselves away from the surreal luxury to see some of Marrakech's less outlandish but equally impressive sites.
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Top of the list is Ben Youssef Medersa, a 14th century Islamic school that housed up to 900 students at one time.
For a small fee we explored it’s tiny rooms and courtyard decorated with beautiful stucco plasterwork, carved cedar and blue and green mosaics and climbed into the old student bedsits.
Landscape painter Jacques Majorelle’s Jardin Majorelle is a marvel too but go early in the morning to beat the busloads of tourists.
Yves Saint Lauren and his partner Pierre Bergé bought the art deco garden in 1980 and poured great resources into preserving it. It's now a serene green sanctuary of palms, exotic plants, cacti and bird life.
Ben Youssef Medersa (left) is a 14th century Islamic school that housed 900 students at one time with beautiful stucco plasterwork (right) +20
Ben Youssef Medersa (left) is a 14th century Islamic school that housed 900 students at one time with beautiful stucco plasterwork (right)
Ben Youssef Medersa (left) is a 14th century Islamic school that housed 900 students at one time with beautiful stucco plasterwork (right) +20
Ben Youssef Medersa (left) is a 14th century Islamic school that housed 900 students at one time with beautiful stucco plasterwork (right)
There is a permanent Berber museum on site at the moment but there are plans are afoot to display some of YSL’s greatest pieces there from next year too.
It's impossible to visit Marrakech and not spend a day getting lost in the souks. Marrkechis will try to convince you of the merits of everything they have on offer but don’t be afraid to hunt out quality. Most leather bags and belts on the well-beaten tourist paths are untreated and will start to rot and smell within months of returning home.
For a really authentic experience, leave behind the tourists and dive into the flea market at Bab el Khmis which is where the locals shop +20
For a really authentic experience, leave behind the tourists and dive into the flea market at Bab el Khmis which is where the locals shop
It's impossible to visit and not spend a day getting lost in the souks. Marrkechis will convince you of the merits of everything they sell +20
It's impossible to visit and not spend a day getting lost in the souks. Marrkechis will convince you of the merits of everything they sell
We stumbled upon Joāo, a talented Portuguese designer who owns the shop Joykech. Hunt him out for handmade kaftans, bags, shoes and beaded necklaces. I brought home a beautiful clutch sewn from an old Moroccan kaftan.
For a really authentic experience, leave behind the tourists and dive into the flea market at Bab el Khmis. Nothing will prepare you for the acres of old furniture, mountains of wing mirrors, mattresses, clothes, sunglasses and bits of tat.
Don’t write anything off as there are some real treasures - paintings, antiques, vases and chairs - to be found.
Morocco's tangle of narrow streets, dusty stalls and sulphurous tanneries are a wonderful assault on the senses +20
Morocco's tangle of narrow streets, dusty stalls and sulphurous tanneries are a wonderful assault on the senses
Lastly, as the sun sets, beat your way to El Fenn. The hotel is owned by Richard Branson’s sister Vanessa and is made up of a collection of seven neighbouring riads.
The walls are brightly coloured and original retro furniture sourced from local markets take up every corner. The roof top restaurant and bar gives unparalleled views of the ancient city as the last rays dip behind the Atlas Mountains and the call for prayer sounds out across the medina.
TRAVEL FACTS
A one-bedroom riad at Royal Mansour starts from £684 per night.
For bookings contact +212 52 98 08080 or royalmansour.com
Flights start at £254 return. Book through Ryanair.com or easyJet.com.
Flight time 3 hours 40 minutes.
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