Hotel Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa

The Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa is a modern property that draws its inspiration from the traditional architecture of the region. The resort is housed in salmon-colored block buildings the hue of terra-cotta, with gorgeous white interiors with marble tiled floors and plush velevet royal-blue banquette seats. Four floors of rooms are situated around the interior courtyard, atrium style. Beyond the atrium is a cozier lobby with lower molded ceilings and warmer hues of tan and rust, as well as snug seating areas. Guests are welcomed with a minty cup of Moroccon tea and local pastries. A white foosball table sits at one end, and there's a billiards table in the center, below a low-hanging chandelier. On the other side of the lobby is a white baby grand piano, and there are tablets for guests' use. The exteriors of the hotel are equally charming and include various outdoor seating areas consisting of booth style benches with lots of cushions, and  shaded patios with tables, sofas, and beautiful marble floors. Its wide range of facilities and proximity to both the convention center, historic sights, and night life draws both business and leisure travelers. There are plenty of family and kids' activities, including a kids' club, at the hotel, but  the overall ambience is decidedly adult. Note that The Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa and the adjoining Sofitel Palais Imperial were a single entity until 2008, when they were split into two separate hotels. Each has its own entrance and a different look and feel to rooms, but common areas and amenities are shared. These include the huge pool, multiple conference rooms, restaurants and bars, and kids' club.

The hotel is located in the Hivernage, in the new town, and is especially convenient for business travelers attending events at the Palais de Congres (convention center), which is a five-minute taxi ride away. It's about a 10-minute taxi ride to the medina, or a 20- to 25- minute walk, which includes the Museum of Marrakech, the Tombeaux Saadiens, the Palais El Badii, and the Palais de la Bahia. For convenience a Carrefour supermarket is within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. The area is also popular with golfers, and the hotel is near both mini-golf and an 18-hole golf course. The train station is five minutes away on foot, and the airport is a 15-minute drive west.

There are 163 rooms, including 30 Junior Suites. The 89 Superior Rooms have city-facing balconies, while the 44 Luxury Rooms, which are the same size, have balconies that look onto the pools and gardens. Decor in Superior Rooms is contemporary, with Morrocan touches, including patterned silver-trim borders on mirrors and furniture, as well as coordinating cushions on otherwise plain white beds. Luxury Rooms have a more Moroccan design. All rooms come with minibars, flat-screen TVs, desks, and safes, and Wi-Fi is available for a fee. Suites are unabashedly elegant and have king-size beds and mountain or pool views. They also come with Bose music systems, iPod docks, Hermes lotions, and special lounge areas. Bathrooms in rooms and suites are dominated by marble, and come with shower/tub combos, bathrobes, and free Lanvin toiletries.

The Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa's central feature is its enormous outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, on a patio surrounded by tall palm trees and flanked with gray sofa-style lounge chairs with red umbrellas and cushions. The area gets a lot of sun, and there's not much shade directly over the pool. The hotel has its own spa, So SPA, which offers a sauna, a Turkish bath, and a variety of treatments ranging from customized massages to Berber-style facials with argan oil. The hotel also has a fitness center with weight-training and cardio equipment, and a personal trainer is available. The hotel has extensive conference facilities, including nine function rooms that come with modern technology, including audio-visual equipment and videoconferencing technology. There's also a business center with printers and fax machines. Wi-Fi is free for those who rent meeting rooms, but otherwise is available only at an additional charge. Indoor and outdoor valet and self-parking is available for a fee. Children are welcome, and the hotel offers connecting rooms for families traveling with children, or for groups. There are also  a kids' club, and indoor and outdoor playgrounds;  babysitting is available on request. The hotel lends strollers and carseats for families traveling with children. 

The Sofitel Marrakech is home to four celebrated restaurants, each with its own menu and ambience. Breakfast and lunch are available at Le Jardin, a laid-back terrace cafe near the swimming pool that specializes in global cuisine. Lunch and snacks are available up until the early evening at l'Oasis, where most dishes on the menu are Mediterranean. Meals here are served on grey wicker chairs shaded by huge red umbrellas, although guests who are already at the pool can order cocktails directly to their lounge chairs through the poolside bar service. Palais Darkum also serves drinks in an open-air veranda setting and has its own small library with books and a flat-screen TV. An entire night out can easily be spent at So Good, which serves a French-Moroccan meals and its adjacent So Zen bar or its So Fun live music venue. Fine dining enthusiasts may want to reserve at least one night at l'Orangerie, a fine-dining dinner restaurant that serves gourmet takes on French and Moroccan classics. All restaurants are open seven days a week and room service is available 24/7.