Douar Sidi Yassine - Ida Oueguerd, Essaouira, Morocco | (618) 248-8274
Ample, apartment-style rooms with lounge areas, air-conditioning, and argan-oil bath products
Stunning setting of a Moroccan castle set amongst magnificently maintained gardens
Restaurant offers locally focused food and a frequently changing menu
Breakfast included in room rate
Family pool as well as adult-only pool, both surrounded by palms and other plants
Traditional hammam and massage services available
Wi-Fi in common areas
Under-12 menu and babysitting services
Shuttle to Essaouira and a nearby golf course
No TV, phones, or Wi-Fi in rooms (pro for some)
Far from Essaouira
Presence of children can sometimes be pronounced; soundproofing not up to par
This hotel oasis is situated literally in the middle of scrub-brush fields, about a 15-minute drive from Essaouira. In the setting of a North African ksar, or castle, it provides luxurious gardens filled with tall palms and other arid-landscape plants, interspersed with swaths of decorative tile, bricks, and local stones and surrounded by views of the brush-dotted hills. The 26 rooms, sans TV or Wi-Fi, are dark, handsome spaces set with traditional textiles and wood furniture, each with air-conditioning and a large shower; rooms above the Luxe level also have tubs, and many rooms have outdoor space. The hotel is welcoming of families and offers a pool with shallow end for children, as well as children’s menu; there is also an adult-only pool, a spa, and a traditional hammam.
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Scene
A handsomely updated palace among foothills, with elegant pools and traditional textiles throughout
This ksar, perfectly isolated in the foothills outside Essaouira, has open-air hallways decoratively tiled and set with small pools, supported by pink marble columns and roughly hewn wood beams, and hung with traditional textiles. The sprawling terraced gardens are set throughout with sitting nooks and crannies, as well as chairs and parasols. The combination of soft-clay-colored buildings, winding stone trails, and an endless array of green plants is remarkably soothing. Guests, who include many couples and families, can stroll around small ponds filled with lily pads, and curl up inside brightly colored hammocks strung up between the trees. The gorgeous adult-only infinity-style pool, with its aquamarine tiling and clay-colored deck, is surrounded by sunbeds from which guests can gaze out upon the serene landscape. Inside, the richly hued walls are decorated with small metal-framed mirrors and colorful paintings, providing much to gaze upon while dining on fresh dishes from the oft-changing restaurant menu.
Location
A 15-minute drive outside of the walls of Essaouira along a dirt road in the desert
The hotel is situated in the scrub brush-covered hills about 15 minutes outside of Essaouira, along a river. It is accessible via a dirt road that branches off the N1. The hotel runs shuttles to and from Essaouira, as well as a nearby golf course. The Mogador airport is a 12-minute drive from the property. There are no businesses or other buildings in the immediate surroundings.
Rooms
Apartment-style rooms with air-conditioning and argan oil beauty products
These large, slightly dark apartment-style rooms have terra-cotta tile floors, slatted-wood lathe ceilings, traditional textile wall-hangings, and handsome, traditional carved-wood furniture. Multiple room configurations are possible, accommodating groups of up to four people, and each has a separate living area; most have some sort of terrace, which consists either of a small seating section built into the carved rock of the exterior and furnished with cushions, or a more extensive patio with tables, chairs, and some potted plants. Bathrooms have walk-in tiled showers with rainfall showerhead fixtures; rooms at the Luxe level on upwards have bathtubs in addition to showers. Locally made argan oil products are stocked in bathrooms, as well.
Features
Pools, garden, and restaurant open to the public, plus a spa and hammam
The gardens alone at this property are a huge draw, and are open to those wishing to come have a meal and a dip in the pool. Set among the luxuriant greenery are two pools, a family one with a shallow end specifically for children, and a separate adult-only pool. There is an attractive spa whose waiting room is carved into the pink mud walls, with small craft wares and luxury toiletries for sale, and a full array of massage and beauty services. In addition to indoor and outdoor patio seating, the main restaurant -- which serves fresh North African-French dishes that change daily, as well as a large Sunday barbecue lunch -- offers indoor and outdoor lounge areas, with low-lying, cushioned couches meant for relaxing. More private dining areas are to be had immediately around the interior courtyard’s fountain. There is also a private dining room with a separate menu best suited to couples -- babysitting is available. The included breakfast is an enticing spread of Moroccan pastries and breads with cooked eggs, fruits, fresh juice, jams, and hot drinks.
