Casablanca Le Lido Thalasso & Spa

Casablanca Le Lido Thalasso & Spa is housed in a contemporary white building with distinctive Moroccan arched doorways. The attractively landscaped grounds feature lawns, gardens, flowers, palm trees, and stone pathways. Inside, there are dark woods and lots of natural light streaming in through windows and skylights. Hotel interiors are thoroughly modern, with Moroccan accents like Moorish arches, mosaic tile, and latticework screens. The spacious, airy lobby has a chandelier and circular sofa, while the Moroccan restaurant features a wall-mounted ceremonial sword and chairs in rich Moroccan blue. The hotel tends to draw tourists and families who appreciate the oceanfront La Corniche location and wealth of facilities. Guests tend to gather around the two excellent pools, one a rectangle-shaped lap pool and the other a large and winding freeform pool.

Set a short stroll west of the beach, the oceanfront Casablanca Le Lido Thalasso & Spa is in the Ain Diab overlooking the La Corniche promenade. The vibrant La Corniche area has a high concentration of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. The Cinema Megarama movie theater is a five-minute walk away, and the AnfaPlace shopping center is an eight-minute walk east of the hotel. Billed as the largest mall in Africa, the Morocco Mall can be reached in a 12-minute drive. The Terminus Ain Diab tramway station is a 20-minute walk southwest. The Hassan II Mosque is a 10-minute drive away, and the entrance to the Old Medina marketplace is located a 12-minute drive east of the hotel. Casa Port Railway Station and the Port of Casablanca are a 15-minute drive away. And Mohammed V International Airport is a 43-minute drive away. Self-parking is free at the hotel.

The 187 rooms at Casablanca Le Lido Thalasso & Spa are arrayed in a sprawling building with wings of one, two, and three floors. Rooms come in Single, Double, Executive Studio Apartments, and Royal Suite categories. Each has a contemporary feel but are not terribly inspiring in their decor, with a white, beige, and brown color palette, largely bare white walls, little Moroccan character, and few pieces of art. Rooms are fairly spacious and quiet, and with the hotel's oceanfront location they get good air and natural light. The white cotton bedding is fairly comfortable, especially for Moroccan hotels which often don't have great mattresses. All rooms have balconies or patios, and some overlook the ocean, pools, and gardens. Air-conditioning, hairdryers, in-room safes, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels are standard. The TVs do not get many English channels and reception is occasionally spotty. Bathrooms are well lighted and spacious, with good counter space. Rooms are generally clean, but some could use renovation and better maintenance. Particular issues include peeling paint and rust around the bathtub. Non-smoking rooms are available.

Casablanca Le Lido has a good selection of features. The highlight is the two excellent outdoor pools. One is a lengthy rectangular pool, good for a genuine lap swim. It's bordered by a deck with lounge chairs. The other is a large freeform pool, set in landscaped grounds with lawns, palm trees, and fountains. Guests can relax on the deck with lounge chairs or in one of several gazebos with a sofa. The hotel features a seawater-based thalassotherapy spa with massages, facials, beauty salon, sauna, and Turkish hammam steam room (all for a fee). The high-quality fitness center overlooks the lap pool and houses several treadmills, recumbent bikes, stair-steppers, and weight machines. 

Guests wishing to dine on-site can choose from the Moroccan restaurant, Mediterranean restaurant, and international restaurant with poolside seating. A breakfast buffet (for a fee), special diet menus, and room service are available. A bar and club with live music are on-site, and occasional live music is performed by the pool. The hotel also has a concierge, business center, and conference rooms. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.