Mogador Palace Agdal

Similar to others in the Mogador chain, the architecture of the Ryad Mogador Agdal mixes the style of a North African kasbah with that of a traditional Moroccan riad. Stepping through its elegant stone arches, visitors enter a vast circular reception area finished in a blend of shimmering marble, polished limestone plaster ("tadelakt"), and traditional geometric Arabian tiling ("zellige"), all crowned with a cavernous intricately patterned domed ceiling and illuminated by an enormous centerpiece chandelier. One of Marrakech's largest hotels, the property is spread over a series of interconnected buildings circling large landscaped gardens full of palm trees, expanses of manicured lawns, and plenty of wild bird life, but the hotel sits under the airport's flight path, so a fair share of planes pass overhead during the day, too. 

The hotel is located just off a highway south of the old-city ramparts opposite the vast Agdal Gardens. While there's a mall within a five-minute walk with shops and restaurants, there's little in the way of nearby tourist attractions besides the Agdal Gardens. It's a 10- to 15-minute drive of the bustling souks of the medina -- the hotel operates a free shuttle service to the area -- and a 10-minute drive to Marrakech Menara International Airport. 

The hotel is massive, with 610 rooms, most of which are decorated in a simple style with neutral tones, antique-style furnishings, and patterned rugs. Suites are a bit more deluxe. Rooms are spacious with large beds and sliding doors leading out to large furnished balconies overlooking the gardens and pools -- some have views of the Atlas Mountains or the Agdal Gardens. Rooms come with mini-fridges, writing desks, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs (with a few English-speaking channels), and free Wi-Fi -- though it can be patchy at times. Bathrooms have beige-rose tiles, sunken tubs and walk-in showers, bidets, bathrobes, and wall-mounted hairdryers.

The hotel serves an extensive breakfast buffet each morning (not included in all room rates) consisting of pastries, fresh fruit, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and cooked-to-order eggs -- though the dining room can get a little overcrowded. The restaurant also serves a menu of international favorites and Moroccan specialties for lunch and dinner, which is a bit pricey by Marrakech standards. No alcohol is served, although it can be purchased at a nearby supermarket. The hotel has two large outdoor swimming pools with plenty of loungers and light background music, a fully equipped fitness center open 24 hours a day, and two spas with two indoor pools, hammams, steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs. A massive theater, complete with rows of red-velvet seats, and formal meeting rooms provide space for events.