Romance, beauty, history and luxury combined in one unforgettable experience.
Intoxicating, fabled and exotic, Marrakech has attracted adventurers, explorers, writers and romantics for centuries. And from Charlie Chaplin to the Rolling Stones, Yves Saint Laurent to Cameron Diaz, the ‘Red City’ has cast its enchantment over a host of famous names.
All for good reason. Its markets are crammed with gorgeous jewellery, carpets, carvings, fragrances, oils and collectibles. Its spas (known as hammams) are heavenly. Its people are warm, its cuisine fabulous, its history intriguing, and it even smells gloriously of orange blossoms and spices.
A true feast for the senses, Marrakech has just been voted Number One Destination in the World on Trip Advisor. And, as a huge cherry on top, it’s a wonderful destination for our exchange rate-strapped rand. Marvels, romance, fun and sensuality — what’s not to love?
All of which brings us to a hotel that seems to have come straight out of a fairy tale: the magnificent La Sultana.
You know you’ve arrived somewhere extraordinary the minute you step out of the bustling Kasbah (the ancient, historic zone) and into a lantern-lit, carpet-strewn alleyway that leads to a set of gleaming brass doors. Behind those doors: your chance to live like the queen you were born to be – a true Sultana.
Composed of five interlinked riads (palatial traditional homes) with 28 luxurious rooms and suites overlooking exquisite courtyards, the five-star La Sultana is sheer beauty wherever you look. Marble fountains filled with roses, carved cedar-wood ceilings, crystal chandeliers, graceful arches, vivid tiles and the scent of flower essences floating over from its palatial spa…
Some grand establishments have snooty staff to match, but La Sultana is quite the opposite. Service is a true art here, and the warmth feels absolutely genuine, beginning with a welcoming mint tea and exquisite pastries on the rooftop terrace, which overlooks the 16th-century Saadian Tombs on one side, and the rooftops, ramparts and distant snow-capped Atlas mountains on the other.
The restaurant, which is set around a pool, is one of the city’s most renowned spots for superb cuisine. (The hotel also offers cooking classes.) And it’s time to kiss your diet goodbye – without a single regret – from the minute breakfast rolls around, offering an irresistible array that includes traditional Berber pancakes, almond pastries, and sensational yoghurt.
La Sultana is also fantastically situated – a brief stroll from breathtaking palaces, great shops, the labyrinthian market, and the famous Djemma-el-Fna square with its snake charmers and musicians
Our only words of warning: Prepare to bargain like you were born to it, and bring an empty suitcase! Even the most resolute non-shopper will relent in the face of the handcrafted boxes, embroidered kaftans, skin-beautifying creams, hair-loving Argan oils, fragrant essences, jewellery and carpets.
If you’re in search of a honeymoon hotel, look no further. A fabulous time with your best girlfriends? Ditto! A special celebration? This one will be wildly special.
To learn more about La Sultana, visit their website or slh.com. To book, email [email protected].
Taking a trip to Europe? We’ve got the perfect place for you to stay if you’re planning to visit Paris or Rome.
