Avenue du 7ieme Art, Zone Touristique Agdal, Marrakech, Morocco | (888) 616-5829
In a quiet residential area, walking distance from nightclubs
Multiple restaurants plus bar with nightly live music
Large outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees
Modern rooms and suites, some with Atlas Mountain views
Free hourly shuttle to the Medina and Jemaa el Fnaa Square
Spa with two Turkish baths and multiple treatments
Free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking
In a removed area away from main attractions
On a flight path so can be noisy outside
Wi-Fi signal weak in some rooms
Rooms lack electric kettles
Palm Plaza Marrakech Hotel & Spa is an upscale hotel with 232 rooms, located in Agdal, a new residential area of Marrakech. The immediate area doesn't offer much in the way of restaurants or attractions, but the hotel provides a handful of services to alleviate that stranded feeling, including an hourly shuttle to the Medina. There's a large swimming pool and gardens that are never crowded along with a small children’s play area. Rooms are modern and some have balconies with Atlas Mountain views. However, the Wi-Fi signal strength can be weak in rooms, rendering it difficult to stream movies or make Skype calls. Those in search of a more traditional and boutique experience may wish to compare rates at Riad Noos Noos, which is directly in the middle of the Medina and has individually styled rooms decorated with local handicrafts.
Scene
A hexagonal lobby with a huge orange urn and delicate metal fretwork lights.
Palm Plaza Marrakech has an impressively tall entrance hall with multiple levels and large arches that connect it to the rest of hotel, giving the entire property a grand and lofty ambience. The outside walls are the same ochre color found throughout the city. The octagonal lobby has bright blue sofas and an orange-colored decorative urn at its center. The space is surrounded by tall archways. The enormous outdoor pool is a popular lounge area surrounded by plenty of lounge chairs and a pretty terrace with a shaded seating area. The gardens have a variety of plants and trees, including a magnificent weeping willow. The hotel is most popular with vacationing couples, but business travelers may want to stay clear due to poor Wi-Fi signal in the rooms.
Location
In a residential suburb near the airport
The hotel is in a residential area outside the Medina, an eight-minute drive from the airport. The area doesn't have a ton going on, but there are two nightclubs a few minutes' walk away: Pacha and the 555 Club. There's a shopping complex a three-minute walk from the front of the hotel, which has plenty of boutiques, fast-food outlets, and a Carrefour supermarket (which sells alcohol). It's under a 10-minute drive to the center of Gueliz, home to the city's major brand-name and chain shops and restaurants. Just beyond Gueliz sits the former home of Yves San Laurent in the Jardin Majorelle, which has hundreds of different species of cactus.The 16th-century Saadian Tombs, celebrated for their gorgeous architecture, are a five-minute drive away. A courtesy shuttle ferries guests to Jemaa El-Fnaa square on the Medina and leaves once an hour throughout the day. Bordering the square is a souk with lots of little shops selling handicraft items, including metalwork, ceramics, leather bags, and carpets.
Rooms
Large, clean, modern rooms and suites, some with excellent views
The hotel offers two room types (Standard and Superior) and three types of suite (Junior, Senior, and Royal). Rooms are modern and most have an orangey-red color scheme, with cream walls and white ceilings that bounce light off the walls and create a bright atmosphere. The beds have soft headboards made out of luxurious fabrics, and there are small desks with plush chairs. Light fixtures feature typically Moroccan metal fretwork that create romantic shadow designs on the walls. All rooms have air-conditioning, mini-fridges, fluffy bathrobes, and flat-screen TVs and most have private balconies overlooking the pool. Some have Atlas Mountain views. Tiled bathrooms have large vanities, shower/tub combos, and bidets.
Features
A children's playground and kids' club
Apart from the large pool, there are plenty of features on-site to keep guests entertained, including a game room, a TV lounge, a playground, and kids' club (for a fee). There are three restaurants serving international, Asian, and Moroccan cuisine as well as a snack shop and a bar that has live music in the evenings. Room service is available and there are five conference rooms, although the weak Wi-Fi might defer some business travelers from staying here. Parking is free. The hotel also has a spa with a range of traditional treatments as well as a fitness center and two Turkish baths.