Summer stay 2018

A resort hotel on the outskirts of Marrakech including golf coure.

Most of the rooms in the hotel are suites or villas.

Check in not that impressive, unnecessarily slow.

Luggage taken away on arrival.

Usual Moroccan process of taking all passports for photocopying, request for credit card etc. Checked room allocated, advised it was as booked, queried upgrade as Platinum. Few seconds of typing and looking at screen then advised would need to check with Supervisor. Shown to hotel bar where after 10 minutes Moroccan tea was served.

Reception agent returned to say a upgrade was unavailable but he had a proposal. Would grant 800 MAD (approx 80 Euro) per room credit for length of stay which was apparently the daily price difference for a non family suite (the next category down). I was aware before checkin the hotel wasn't full and upgrade suites were still available for sale. However the original suite booked was what I was already happy with so agreed to the "proposal" being worth circa 500 Euro for the 6 night stay.

Informed suite was ready and reception member would escort us to the room. There followed several minutes standing around in the heat waiting for hotel to find a second Club Car driver (Club cars can only car 3 guests so 2 required for 4 or more guests).

Short drive to the room (would have been quicker overall to walk the 300 metres to the room which is what we usually did thereafter rather than wait for buggies).

No welcome drink offered on arrival. Queried whilst being shown room, receptionist said he would arrange. Didn't arrive. Asked same memeber of staff next day and he said he would sent to room. Three drinks vouchers were delivered (4 guests). Spoke to staff member again to ask why 3. Told it should be only one for the card holder (he had given 2 extra). Despite it being baffling if wishing to be generous why you give 3 vouchers for 4 guests (which guest isn't deserving of a welcome drink)? this is wrong. When challenged a fourth voucher was provided. 

Advised hotel before arrival and at check in late check out requested. Checked day before for 5pm check out and initially told 2pm maximum is what they offer guests. Reminded Platinum benefit and then told 3.30pm. Asked if best he could do and then told he would swap another checkin into another avaialble room and grant me 5pm. Satisfactory outcome in the end just round about way of getting it.

Family Suite approximately 125 m sq consisting of master bedroom with king bed, bathroom with large bath, double sink and wardrobe space, separate large walk in shower room with rainfall shower and separate toilet.

Second bedroom small with two single beds, separate wardroom area and own bathroom with single sink, walk in rainfall shower and toilet (no bath).

Two balconies, one for the second bedroom small with two chairs and small table. The second balcony large with 4 seater sofa, large coffee table and and dining table with 4 chairs.

Entrance to suite via a small hallway with leading into the master bedroom. The corridor off the hall containing minibar and Nespresso machine and kettle leading to the second bedroom storage area before reaching the second bedroom. Minibar containing only soft drinks (2 x Coke, Coke zero, tonic water, orange juice, still water and sparkling water, housekeeping happy to swap items to meet guest preferences ) which is complimentary and replenished daily.

On arrival large bottle of Moroccan red wine in room. Plate of fruit and plate of small cakes. The Fruit and cake plate is replaced daily.

Evening turndown includes bottled water by each bed although this was forgotten on one evening.

Room wifi coverage is patchy.

Hotel is contained in its own gated complex which contains the Fairmont, several private villas and the golf course with its own club house (closed for the summer). Once you leave the road and security permit you to enter there is a 400 to 500 meter drive to the hotel entrance itself.

The hotel is about 15km from downtown Marrakech.

The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service every 2 hours from 9am to 10pm  which needs to be booked in advance. The shuttle bus is a modern, comfortable vehicle for the 30 minute drive into town. The shuttle operates a round trips calling at the new town, then the Mdina before returning to the hotel. Due to the round trip nature it is slower than a taxi. A taxi is about 15 to 20 Euro each way although some drivers are reluctant to go out as far as the Fairmont.

For a trip into the mountains you are 20/25 minute nearer than a downtown hotel. Journey time from the airport is 25 minutes. 30 minutes from the station. 

For Morocco service standards are high although not perfect. 

Pool food delivered on one occasion without any cutlery. Cutlery requested arrived 20 minutes later by which time food cold and had to be replaced.

House keeping generally good but silly errors. Forgetting to wash glasses in room. Water forgotten on one occasion at turndown. Minibar not replenished one day.

The hotel F & B is high quality but prices are high even allowing for the fact it is a 5* hotel.

The buffet breakfast is good although variety not as wide as in some locations. Usual selection of fresh fruit, cereals, cold meats, pastries and a hot cooking station for eggs, pancakes etc. Although there is no menu the chefs are open to preparing pretty much what you want. Hot drink orders taken by staff offering full range of coffees and teas. Breakfast can be taken inside or out. The outside patio is very nice. Price is high 400MAD walk up price (or a still high 320 MAD if booked at time of checkin).

Lunch options include a short pool menu offering 4 salads, Club sandwich, house burger, fish and chips all priced around 150 to 280 MAD. Alternatively  alfresco dining overlooking the pool which offered a wider menu including pasta, westernised Indian options and salads. Food was high quality, a one course lunch for 4 with soft drinks 1200 MAD.

During the summer only 2 restaurants open in the evening. One offering a mixed asian inspired menu which was a mix of Japanese, Thai, Indonesian themed items with a westernised twist. Food was very good but again expensive especially for Morocco.

The second evening restaurant open was the same one used for breakfast which offered a French/International menu plus Moroccan items. The hotel usually has it own Moroccan restaurant but this was closed for July and August. 

The hotel has a large freeform pool between the lobby and the golf course. A separate childrens pool adjoining although the main pool is available for children also (no adult only pool).

Ample sun-beds although shade is limited.

Pool attendant service usually good with staff proactively finding and setting up beds, moving sunshades around on request etc. Complimentary water with ice bucket provided and replenished on request.

Most of the pool area doesn't have wifi coverage. GM informed me hotel is aware of this and is in process of upgrading wifi across the hotel.

There is a second swimming pool located in the Sport Centre. 25 metre pool  keep at a cooler temperature than the main pool.

Hotel has it own Sport Centre consisting of  changing rooms, 25 metre pool, modern cardio room overlooking the pool, separate weights and circuits rooms, a boxing room, table tennis, squash court, 4 clay tennis courts (maybe more). 

Wifi coverage in the Sports Centre was good.

The hotel has it own Spa building which looked very nice but didn't use.

Concierge was helpful arranging car hire, recovering luggage lost by airline etc. 

Typically with deluxe hotels recommendation for restaurants tend to be overpriced when equally good options exist at half the price.

Very good stay. Will compare to Sofitel Marrakech which I stayed at earlier this year.

Modern property (4 or 5 years old) which is spread out so getting from room to pool, lobby or restaurants involves a fair bit of walking (hotel does offer a free buggy service). Hotel is a lot newer and more luxurious than the Sofitel.  Rooms are a step up from the Sofitel.

For Morocco service is very good. Again superior to Sofitel Marrakech

Food and Beverage prices are high even allowing for type of hotel but extremely high compared to what is charged outside even in tourist focused restaurants. The Sofitel Marrakech isn't cheap either but Fairmont prices are a significant step up again.

Le Club benefits aren't currently being proactively offered and need to be requested which is poor for a deluxe hotel. 

Wifi in a hotel of this standard is not good. Often not available and there are parts of the hotel with no wifi coverage at all. 

The Fairmont besides price looses out only through its location. If you're happy staying within the property or playing golf it is excellent and area is quiet. A trip to the Mdina is a 1 hour + round trip and that is the only area where the Sofitel wins. There are no restaurants or shops close by. Nearest restaurents 10 to 15 minutes as is the nearest mall.

Returning I would consider 2 or 3 days in central Marrakech before moving here to relax and enjoy the facilities.

For a August stay the climate was a lot better than I expected. Although it was hot is was pleasant with low humidity.