Hotel Marrakech le Semiramis

The Hotel Semiramis was built in the early 1980s and it shows. The terra cotta-colored building has Moroccan architectural features such as peaked arches, carved window screens, and inlaid wood, and the lobby has a marble Moroccan fountain, but the interior desert garden -- surrounded by several stories of rooms and crowned with a skylight -- feels quite dated in style. The lobby sitting areas, with their inlaid tables and patterned sofas, are nice places to lounge, but the whole atmosphere feels somewhat tired. And, in any case, most guests (budget travelers and families) choose to spend their time in the pleasant, grassy poolside area. The furnishings in the various restaurants and bars also feel like they date from the '80s, including the red leather chairs in the Bar Aladin and the weather-worn outdoor furniture at Bar Palmier. That said, the gardens are lovely and lush, a pleasant place to soak up the sun.

Set on a quiet street in Marrakech's new city, surrounded by other hotels, the Hotel Semiramis is within walking distance of the city's main bus and train stations, but little else. The Medina is a 10-minute cab ride, or 40-minute walk, away. The Jardin Majorelle is a half-hour walk away. The airport is a 15-minute drive away.

Rooms at the Hotel Semiramis are dated in style, but more than cover all the basics. Deep red patterned carpets and arched doorways set the tone, with polished dark wood furniture and a few grey chairs. Some suites have patterned blue carpeting with dark orange textiles on 1980s-style furniture. Bathrooms are tiled, with marble vanities and shower/tub combinations. Most rooms have private balconies with tables and chairs. Rooms have tube TVs, and some have mini-fridges, but not all. Note that some large beds are two singles pushed together, and some guests complain of housekeeping issues, as well as broken features. 

For an affordable hotel within reach of the Medina, the Hotel Semiramis has a wide range of features. The most impressive of these is the lagoon-style pool, lined with grass, palm-trees, and loungers; the poolside bar means drinks and snacks can be ordered to guests' loungers. There are four other eateries, as well, including two restaurants -- serving traditional Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine -- with outdoor terrace dining options, and a bar that turns into a bit of a club with live music at night. There are also a kids' club with a playground, outdoor sports facilities, a spa with a mediocre hammam, and two separate buildings with fitness facilities. There are meeting facilities, and the hotel ostensibly offers free Wi-Fi, although the connection is unreliable.