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Old Oct 23, 2009 | 8:51 pm
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Groombridge
10 Countries Visited20 Countries Visited30 Countries Visited15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New York City
Posts: 408
Dar Ahlam

Yes, I stayed at their property in Morocco, Dar Ahlam, in September 2007, and had a great experience. Some reactions: the location is great, in an oasis/palmery, most of the rooms are in a restored kasbah, and it is incredibly atmospheric and beautifully decorated--you can only get there by four-wheeling across a dry riverbed that's only wet a few times per year when it rains. The guest rooms themselves are somewhat spartan, and the air conditioning wasn't powerful enough to cool the room well in September, so October-April would probably be better. It's all-inclusive, and they ask you your dining preferences in advance. For each meal, you are guided from the living room to a different location within the property: the rooftop, a courtyard, a secluded corner of the garden, where lamps, candles, etc. create a magical ambience. Musicians discreetly playing in the distance. Guided tours are also included, and you can discuss what you'd like to do each evening, for the next day. They were superb: cocktails and sunset from an abandoned fortress high above the desert; a walk through the oasis. Daily massages are also included, but they're only average, given that they use local girls. Food was uneven: some items terrific, others not. Service was mostly very good. We also added on the optional night in the Sahara, which was expensive, but an amazing experience. They have an arrangement with nomads, who allow access through their camel herding terrain to get to a part of the Sahara where no other tourists have access, and they erect tents in the dunes for you. They aren't full-blown luxury tents like you'd find at Aman-i-khas or Four Seasons Tented Camp or Amanwana, so you need to set your expectations accordingly. They have beds in them, and lounging areas, but not full-blown bathrooms. But it was magical: candles in Moroccan lamps placed atop the crest of dunes leading you from your tent to rugs and aperitifs, then dinner in a hollow within the dunes, a bonfire nearby. Very, very long drive--and quite grueling--to get there from the hotel, however. But we felt it was worth it. So all in all, much of it has the feel of an Aman resort, which I loved, but most elements were at a lower quality than Aman: the rooms, the service, the food . . . don't expect the same that you'd have at an Aman. But I don't believe there's a better experience to be had in Morocco outside of Marrakech's atmospheric riads and hotels. I hope this is helpful--let me know if you have specific questions.
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