Avenue Mohamed V, Essaouira, Morocco | (888) 240-0568
Private beach across the road with beachside bar and private canopy beds
Spacious guest rooms with balconies and minibars
Large pool with expansive wood deck for lounging
Full-service spa with half-off prices for women on Mondays
Three restaurants and two bars, including Mogador's Club for Moroccan whiskey
Fitness center with wood floors
Just 10 minutes' walk from the old city of Essaouira
Free Wi-Fi in common areas
Occasional poor service in breakfast restaurant Arganier
Sea view rooms can be noisy
In-room Wi-Fi requires a fee and is spotty
The 117-room Le Medina Essaouira Hotel Thalassa Sea & Spa is an upper-mid-range property with a large pool and a private beach about 10 minutes' walk from the old city. The hotel is part of the MGallery Collection, which emphasizes services for women, who get 50 percent off at the spa every Monday. Guests can also lounge in the sun around the massive wood pool deck, or at the beach on private beds with canopies. Guest rooms include balconies, and decor is done with handcrafted Moroccan furniture. With three restaurants and two bars, the hotel offers plenty of choices for eating and drinking. Service in the breakfast room can be disappointing, and rooms facing the sea get noisy. Guests willing to stay farther outside the city could try Villa Gonatouki, which is about the same price.
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Scene
Large resort with relaxing atmosphere but inconsistent service
The hotel offers a private beach, which, despite being across the street, infuses the property with a low-key elegance. The two-story red and beige stone building is fronted by neatly kept lawns and shrubs. Guests are offered mint tea and hot towels on arrival in the lobby, which is bright with white marble floors, Moroccan pottery, and a silver tea set beside a plush red sofa. A small atrium lets sunlight stream into the lobby through balconies with vine-covered railings. The beach has blue-cushioned beds with white curtains for privacy, while the large wood pool deck is lined with simple lounge chairs and a few cabanas. Guests are a mix of couples and families, all ready to relax at the beach and take occasional forays into the old city. While the setting is easygoing, service at the breakfast restaurant is often disappointing.
Location
In a quiet spot near the beach, about 10-minutes from the old city
The hotel is across the street from a private beach in the windy city of Essaouira, within walking distance of restaurants. The Place Moulay el Hassan castle near the waterfront, as well as the old city are each about a 10-minute walk away as is the port and the Mohammed Ben Abdallah Museum. The Essaouira Mogador Airport is a 20-minute drive, and the hotel can arrange a shuttle service for a fee.
Rooms
Furniture by Souiris craftsmen, Moroccan mosaics, and balconies
Guest rooms are airy and simple, with wood furnishings made by Souiris craftsmen, including some bathrooms decorated in colorful Moroccan mosaics. Decor consists of white bedding with red-striped pillows, along with sheer white and thick red brocade curtains. Each room is air-conditioned and has a flat-screen TV, minibar, safe, and balcony -- sea-view balcony rooms can be noisy, while some balconies overlook the medina. Bathrooms have gray tile shower/tub combos and pretty beige walls with carved cutouts, as well as modern basin-style sinks. Suites with separate dressing rooms, espresso machines, and two bathrooms are available. Spotty Wi-Fi is available for a fee.
Features
Large pool, serene beach, and spa with hammam
The beach is the prime feature; it's a peaceful and private setting with canopy beds on the sand. An outdoor pool is spacious and offers lots of lounge chairs on the wood deck. There's a fitness center with wood floors, and a luxurious spa with hammam, hot tub, and massage treatments. There are three restaurants, including Arganier for a Mediterranean-style breakfast, seafood at Cote Plage for lunch and dinner, and regional cuisine at Dar Dada for dinner. The resort also has two bars: La Scala serves Moroccan and French pastries with tea in a small library setting overlooking the lobby, while Mogador's Club offers Moroccan whiskey and wines with live music. Room service is available. Babysitting is available on request, and business services, such as copying and faxing, can be arranged for a fee. Wi-Fi is free in common areas but requires a fee for in-room use.
