Zone Touristique Agdal, Marrakech, Morocco | (888) 616-5829
Large outdoor pool with loungers and kids' splash pool
Spa with sauna,
steam room, and massage treatments
Small fitness center with a handful of weight and cardio machines
Regular free
shuttle service to the medina
Rooms open to
furnished balconies
Free shuttle service to the medina
Free Wi-Fi (though
mostly limited to reception area)
Not within walking distance of most tourist attractions
Near the airport with air traffic noise
Some rooms show
signs of wear
No in-room Wi-Fi
Pool isn't heated and water gets cold
Room decor is a bit generic
Doesn't serve alcohol (a pro for some)
The Ryad Mogador Agdal
is a large, mid-range resort-style hotel located south of the medina adjacent to the Agdal Gardens, but it's a distance from most attractions, about a 10-minute drive to Djemaa el Fna square. The rooms are tidy, if a bit generic, with furnished balconies, though there's no Wi-Fi or in-room refreshments. The large outdoor pool has plenty of loungers, but it's unheated, and the water can be cold. There's also a fair amount of air traffic from nearby Marrakech Menara Airport. But for those who want a pool, spa, and fitness facilities -- and prefer to stay outside the medina -- rates are a real bargain. Travelers looking for accommodations with more personality and closer to the medina's attractions should look at the Riad La Porte Rouge.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Modern resort-style hotel with impressively ornate Moroccan lobby and lounge
Fronted by a pretty, green-tiled fountain, the Ryad Mogador Kasbah follows a familiar
pattern of the brand -- a modern hotel built in the style of a traditional Moroccan kasbah with a reddish-pink facade and Arabian-style
arches. Inside, the lobby is a fabulous explosion of Moroccan decor, with the
ubiquitous geometric "zellige" tiling
reflected in marble floors and traditional "tadelakt" polished
limestone plaster -- all illuminated by a superb tiered chandelier hanging
through a patterned dome ceiling. A lobby lounge continues the impressive decor with
more intricate tiling and beautifully carved plasterwork. The hotel's long corridors can feel dreary and bland in comparison. There's
little in the way of green outdoor spaces beyond some patches of lawn that
surround the swimming pool, though with the property directly under a flight path, guests can expect to hear a fair
amount of air traffic passing overhead.
Location
South of the medina near the Adgal Gardens -- within a 10-minute drive of medina attractions
The hotel is
located off a main road south of the medina near the Adgal Gardens. While
there's a mall about a five-minute walk away with shops and restaurants, there's no tourist attractions nearby, aside from the gardens. It's about a 10-minute drive to the bustling souks of the medina -- the hotel provides regular, free shuttle
service to the city center -- while Marrakech Menara Airport is within a 10-minute drive.
Rooms
Furnished balconies, but generic, uninspired decor
The hotel has 176
air-conditioned rooms, all of which are decorated in a simple style with
neutral tones, and antique-style furnishings -- but there's little in the way of
Moroccan decor besides patterned rugs, and some rooms show signs of wear
and tear. Furnished balconies
overlooking the pool or nearby road are a highlight of the room. There's little or no Wi-Fi or tea- and coffee-making facilities, though there are mini-fridges,
safes, and a mixture of old-style tube and flat-screen TVs that have a couple of English-speaking channels. Beige-tile bathrooms come with wall-mounted
hairdryers, sunken tubs, and powerful showers, though some of the plasterwork needs refurbishing. Note: Noise from passing airplanes can be disturbing early in the morning.
Features
Large outdoor pool and traditional hammam steam bath and treatments
The hotel serves an
extensive breakfast buffet each morning (not included in the standard rate) consisting of pastries, scrambled eggs, freshly squeezed orange juice, and Moroccan
pancakes -- though its quality can be inconsistent. The restaurant also serves
a menu of Moroccan and international favorites throughout the day. Alcohol
is not served anywhere on the property (but it can be purchased at a local
supermarket). Behind the hotel sits the large outdoor swimming pool with
plenty of sun loungers and a separate kids' splash pool. The water can get chilly, as the pool isn't heated. The on-site spa also provides a traditional hammam steam bath, and sauna, and body scrubs and massage treatments. There's also a small fitness center on-site.
