Pros
- Huge rooms and suites with separate living areas and terraces with day beds
- Free shuttle service to the medina
- A huge outdoor pool with oversized day beds
- A sprawling spa with hammams and ayurvedic treatments
- Guests are welcomed with mint tea and pastries
- Check-in is organized in the room
- Rooms are stocked with free coffee, water, fruit, and tea
- Free Wi-Fi
Cons
- The hotel is located 30 minutes from the city
- Large property means lots of walking
- No shops or restaurants within walking distance
- The outdoor pool is not heated
- The hotel has experienced low occupancy, which gives it a deserted feel
- The hotel offers a free Wi-Fi but it is weak
Bottom Line
Originally opened as a Taj Hotel in 2013, the Sahara Palace is a 161-room luxury resort with elegantly grand Indian-Moroccan style. Prior to receiving guests, the hotel served as the film setting for the "Sex in the City 2" and fans will recognize the opulent interiors, which are saturated in bright colors and adorned with floral-patterned coffered ceilings and glittering crystal and glass chandeliers. The resort is located in the upscale La Palmeraie, a quiet enclave with the Atlas Mountains in view, 30 minutes from the bustle of Marrakech’s old city. The hotel's quiet (and sometimes deserted) atmosphere appeals to guests seeking privacy and relaxation. Travelers who prefer a more intimate vibe may consider the similarly luxurious Palais Namaskar while those looking to be closer to the medina might enjoy the Four Seasons.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Pets Allowed
- Pool
- Spa
Scene
Moroccan and Indian style converges in a palatial resort setting that pampers guests and encourages relaxation
Indian and Moroccan style merges in American architect Stuart Church’s design of Sahara Palace. A domed Palace and four riads hold the hotel’s rooms, suites, restaurants, lounges, and spa. At the center of the 131-acre property is an enormous green marble pool with surrounding grounds impeccably landscaped with towering palm trees, groves of olive trees, cascading hot-pink bougainvillea, and intersecting paths lined with Moroccan lamps.
The hotel’s scene is both dreamy and elegantly grand. Guests come to Sahara Palace to relax and luxuriate, spending time lounging on day beds within their rooms or around the pool. The hotel is a 30-minute trip from the haggling buzz of the medina’s souks and historic tourist attractions but travelers checking in at Sahara Palace typically don’t mind trading the convenience of location for the retreat-like, away-from-it-all scene.
The oversized rooms and suites were designed for relishing, finished with rich colors, plenty of seating for reading and working, tubs ideal for leisurely soaks, and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass that open to private terraces with inviting day beds. Two opulent restaurants, a casual pool bar with evening an hookah menu, and three lounges (including one with a billiards table) keep guests occupied. Additional pampering can be found at the palatial spa.
Location
In the quiet, upscale La Palmeraie, 30 minutes to the medina
The hotel is located in the upscale Palmeraie region, a 30-minute drive from the city center. The immediate area is quiet, surrounded by other resorts with no shopping, sights, or restaurants within walking distance.
- Six-minute drive to Palmeraie Golf Club
- 10-minute drive to Garden Majorelle
- 12-minute drive to Bahia Palace
- 12-minute drive to Koutoubia Mosque
- 15-minute drive to the Royal Golf Club
- 20-minute drive to Menara Gardens
- 20-minute drive to the Marrakech Menara Airport
- 2-hour, 15-minute drive to Casablanca
- 2-hour, 15-minute drive to Essaouria
Rooms
Spacious and colorful with fireplaces and private terraces with day beds
The hotel's 161 guest rooms and suites are located within the four riads or in the main Palace of the hotel. They feature views of the Atlas Mountains, the desert landscape, or the pool and gardens. The rooms (860 square feet), suites, grand salon suites, and the 5,382-square-foot Royal Suite (featured in "Sex in the City 2") are some of the largest in Marrakech. They feature large balconies or terraces with oversized day beds, keyhole doors, floral patterned coffered ceilings, fireplaces, mauve walls, and richly appointed furnishings such as tufted purple velvet benches, rose-colored Moroccan carpets, and accents of fuchsia red, and emerald green. Modern amenities include espresso makers, well-stocked minibars, and flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are equally luxurious, finished with white marble tiles, separate tubs, walk-in showers, vanities with gold sinks, and lots of gold fixtures.
Features
An expansive spa, two pools, and multiple dining and cocktail options
The expansive Jiva Grande Spa features 14 treatment rooms, two large hammams, a menu of ayurvedic treatments, an indoor pool, and a state of the art fitness center staffed by a team of personal trainers. The hotel also offers a yoga temple, a jogging track, and biking trails. Golfers will find three courses within a 15-minute drive.
The hotel offers several dining choices including an elegant Moroccan restaurant, a Pan-Asian restaurant with an open kitchen, and poolside dining (with a hookah-pipe menu in the evenings). The elaborate jade-colored lobby lounge with its soaring ceilings and multi-tiered crystal chandeliers serves high tea and cocktails while the clubby Bombay bar offers small bites, cigars, and billiards. For those with a sweeter palette, the hotel also has a patisserie that specializes in cakes and assorted baked treats.
This Hotel Also Featured In
Oyster Checks Out The "Sex and the City 2" Hotel
The reaction of Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte upon checking into their suite in “Sex and the City 2” Fans of “Sex and the City 2” will almost certainly remember the opulent, over-the-top hotel the girls stayed at in Abu Dhabi. Turns out, the hotel is actually in Marrakech, Morocco, and Oyster recently visited to…
Things You Should Know About Sahara Palace Marrakech
Also Known As
- Taj Palace Marrakech
Address
12440 Annakhil, Palmeraie, Annakhil, Palmeraie, Marrakech 40016, Morocco
Website
Scene
Moroccan and Indian style converges in a palatial resort setting that pampers guests and encourages relaxation
Indian and Moroccan style merges in American architect Stuart Church’s design of Sahara Palace. A domed Palace and four riads hold the hotel’s rooms, suites, restaurants, lounges, and spa. At the center of the 131-acre property is an enormous green marble pool with surrounding grounds impeccably landscaped with towering palm trees, groves of olive trees, cascading hot-pink bougainvillea, and intersecting paths lined with Moroccan lamps.
The hotel’s scene is both dreamy and elegantly grand. Guests come to Sahara Palace to relax and luxuriate, spending time lounging on day beds within their rooms or around the pool. The hotel is a 30-minute trip from the haggling buzz of the medina’s souks and historic tourist attractions but travelers checking in at Sahara Palace typically don’t mind trading the convenience of location for the retreat-like, away-from-it-all scene.
The oversized rooms and suites were designed for relishing, finished with rich colors, plenty of seating for reading and working, tubs ideal for leisurely soaks, and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass that open to private terraces with inviting day beds. Two opulent restaurants, a casual pool bar with evening an hookah menu, and three lounges (including one with a billiards table) keep guests occupied. Additional pampering can be found at the palatial spa.
Location
In the quiet, upscale La Palmeraie, 30 minutes to the medina
The hotel is located in the upscale Palmeraie region, a 30-minute drive from the city center. The immediate area is quiet, surrounded by other resorts with no shopping, sights, or restaurants within walking distance.
- Six-minute drive to Palmeraie Golf Club
- 10-minute drive to Garden Majorelle
- 12-minute drive to Bahia Palace
- 12-minute drive to Koutoubia Mosque
- 15-minute drive to the Royal Golf Club
- 20-minute drive to Menara Gardens
- 20-minute drive to the Marrakech Menara Airport
- 2-hour, 15-minute drive to Casablanca
- 2-hour, 15-minute drive to Essaouria
Rooms
Spacious and colorful with fireplaces and private terraces with day beds
The hotel's 161 guest rooms and suites are located within the four riads or in the main Palace of the hotel. They feature views of the Atlas Mountains, the desert landscape, or the pool and gardens. The rooms (860 square feet), suites, grand salon suites, and the 5,382-square-foot Royal Suite (featured in "Sex in the City 2") are some of the largest in Marrakech. They feature large balconies or terraces with oversized day beds, keyhole doors, floral patterned coffered ceilings, fireplaces, mauve walls, and richly appointed furnishings such as tufted purple velvet benches, rose-colored Moroccan carpets, and accents of fuchsia red, and emerald green. Modern amenities include espresso makers, well-stocked minibars, and flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are equally luxurious, finished with white marble tiles, separate tubs, walk-in showers, vanities with gold sinks, and lots of gold fixtures.
Features
An expansive spa, two pools, and multiple dining and cocktail options
The expansive Jiva Grande Spa features 14 treatment rooms, two large hammams, a menu of ayurvedic treatments, an indoor pool, and a state of the art fitness center staffed by a team of personal trainers. The hotel also offers a yoga temple, a jogging track, and biking trails. Golfers will find three courses within a 15-minute drive.
The hotel offers several dining choices including an elegant Moroccan restaurant, a Pan-Asian restaurant with an open kitchen, and poolside dining (with a hookah-pipe menu in the evenings). The elaborate jade-colored lobby lounge with its soaring ceilings and multi-tiered crystal chandeliers serves high tea and cocktails while the clubby Bombay bar offers small bites, cigars, and billiards. For those with a sweeter palette, the hotel also has a patisserie that specializes in cakes and assorted baked treats.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
-
Air Conditioner
-
Airport Transportation
-
Babysitting Services
-
Balcony / Terrace / Patio
-
Business Center
-
Cabanas
-
Children's Pool
-
Concierge
-
Dry Cleaning
-
Fitness Center
-
Full Kitchen
-
Internet
-
Kids Allowed
-
Laundry
-
Meeting / Conference Rooms
-
Mini Bar (with liquor)
-
Pets Allowed
-
Pool
-
Poolside Drink Service
-
Room Service
-
Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
-
Smoking Rooms Available
-
Spa
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.