Let Your Adventure Begin In Morocco

It is here in Morocco where the colors and scents of this cultural hub awaken your senses. There are treasures that await to be discovered around every corner. It all starts when you touch down at their world class airport, Fez-Saiss, that has a new terminal with great amenities for travelers. So, as you step out of the terminal and begin your journey remember to embrace the moment and cultural treasures you discover!

Marrakech Welcomes Yves St Laurent Museum

Marrakech welcomes the Yves St Laurent museum that celebrates the life of the internationally renowned fashion designer. It was in the sixties when St Laurent first visited Morocco and swiftly fell in love with the Red City, so much so that he bought a house there in 1966 with his then-partner Pierre Bergé. As his fame grew, the pair bought Villa House, a large house connected to the Jardin Majorelle.

Saint Laurent died in 2008, and in the intervening years Bergé has dedicated himself to ensuring the designer’s legacy. In what was his last act before he died in September, he oversaw the construction of the museum that is located on Rue Yves St Laurent.

The museum is 4,000 square metres and has been architecturally designed to reflect the curves of the designer’s work. It is sure to draw fashion fans to Marrakech from across the globe.

Morocco Named Among Lonely Planet's Best Destinations

 

Essaouira has recently been chosen by Lonely Planet as one of its Best Destinations for 2018. The respected travel guide company chose this walled city on the Atlantic coast as its 'narrow alleyways, traditional hammams and medina pile on the sensory delight'. They also mention the superb windsurfing and the sensational food that is on offer every day.

Numerous world-class greens around Essaouira have also contributed to Morocco’s nomination for Africa’s Best Golf Destination in the World Golf Awards 2017. The Golf de Mogador is a spectacular course, with splendid views across the Atlantic. Designer Gary Player,has mixed British links with American desert style to create a playing surface that is challenging and rewarding.

Easyjet flies direct to Essaouira from London Luton twice weekly – ideal for a spot of winter sun. Alternatively, the coastal city provides the perfect contrast to the hustle and bustle of Marrakech - the three-hour journey by road linking the two also offers the ideal opportunity to visit an argan oil cooperative, or even see goats in trees - it's a surprising site to see.

Create Your Casablanca Moment

Can you believe it's been 75 years since the iconic 1942 film Casablanca hit the silver screen for the first time, and it’s virtually impossible to talk about Morocco’s largest city without (mis)quoting the movie - despite it being exclusively filmed almost 5,700 miles away in the US.

Casablanca today is a living, breathing multicultural city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, full of unmissable sights including the Hassan II Mosque, the Royal Palace and the largest shopping mall in Africa. And yes, it is actually possible to eat in Rick’s Café, or at least a replica, and it’s a great place to indulge in a Negroni while listening to the pianist play As Time Goes By.

Touch Down At Fez-Saiss and Let Your Adventure Begin

 

Fez-Saiss welcomes travelers from around the world each day. And, with their new terminal they have increased annual capacity to 2.5 million passengers from 500,000 previously.

The world-class airport includes a new 28,000 m2 terminal building with arrival and departure halls, duty-free shops, children’s playground and food court. Significant investment in systems and infrastructure has also been included to ensure full compliance with international standards for air traffic flow, aviation and airport security and quality of services.

New direct Air Arabia flights from Gatwick twice-weekly in addition to direct flights from Stansted with Ryanair make Fez easier to reach than ever for UK visitors. The addition of thrice-weekly internal connections from Marrakech reduces journey time between the two cities to just one hour. This is much better than the over seven hours it take by road or train.

High Speed Rail Coming To Morocco

 

Morocco’s new high speed rail link, the TGV line, will run between Tangier and Casablanca in 2018. It will be the first high-speed TGV train on the continent and passengers will be able to travel at up to 200 mph between the two cities, halving current journey times and allowing travellers to explore the northern part of the kingdom with greater ease than ever before.

Plan Your Trip To Morocco

To explore current events, attractions, and plan your trip visit the Moroccan National Tourist Office at www.muchmorocco.com.

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Holidays to Marrakech Morocco

Marrakech has stood for close to a thousand years, a city of history and culture.

One of the most evocative places in the world, just the name conjures up images of this cultural melting pot – sandstone buildings, dusty streets and towering minarets against deep blue skies immediately spring to mind.

THE RED CITY

In the heart of Morocco, Marrakech, « the pearl of the north » nestled in a natural setting formed by the Atlantic coast, the Atlas Mountains and the Western Sahara, is an enchanting and sensual city. Its medina, the nerve center and historical area of the city, surrounded by original ramparts, require a visit of at least a few days to immerse oneself in the culture of the local inhabitants, to explore its streets, to taste its gastronomic specialties and to learn how to bargain in the numerous souks. The sumptuous riads, just a few steps from the legendary Place Jemaa-El-Fna and the city’s most important monuments, offer accommodations in an authentic and luxurious décor, with a welcome worthy of Morocco’s reputation for hospitality.

The city was founded in 1062 by Youssef Ibn Tachfin, king of the Amoravides Berbere dynasty.

Beyond the ramparts, the modern quarters of Guéliz and Hivernage also possess numerous luxury palace hotels. After admiring the beauty and the dynamism of this city with, it seems, an abundance of cats, it’s absolutely necessary to relax in one of the upscale complexes of the Palmeraie, an oasis of peace with a superb view of the Atlas.

THE EFFERVESCENCE OF AN AUTHENTIC MEDINA

The Place Jemaa-El-Fna in the heart of the medina is a conglomeration of all the curiosities, charm and especially the atmosphere for which people come to Marrakech. These include snake charmers, henna tattoo artists, dancers, story tellers, marabouts and fire eaters. Just a few steps away, on one of the medina’s oldest streets, there’s a secret site: the Riad Lotus Ambre. This original riad with its refined décor, guarantees visitors of a warm and intimate atmosphere with its four rooms and one suite in the heart of the animated souks. On the way to another haven of peace with refreshing and refined patios, the Villa des Orangers, don’t forget to visit the Koutoubia mosque. Adjacent to the Royal Palace of Marrakech and the ramparts of the medina, the Mamounia, another legendary palace, destined for mere mortals like us, offers a vacation worthy of a king. Equally regal is the Royal Mansour, renowned for its oriental elegance and refinement, which employs all the talents of craftsmen practicing ancestral techniques throughout Morocco.

BEYOND THE WALLS

Le Guéliz, or the new city, beyond the ramparts of the medina, is the business district and the neighborhood for western style shopping. Daily life here is less traditional than it is inside the walls. It’s nevertheless very pleasant to stroll along the streets at night, and ultra design hotels like the Renaissance Marrakech or the BAB Hotel Marrakech flourish here in the effervescence of this dynamic and contemporary part of the city. Not far from there, the Majorelle garden with its vivid colors and exotic vegetation is ideal for a romantic stroll. The chic and residential Hivernage quarter is a haven of greenery and a good compromise for visitors who want something between the frenetic ambiance of the medina and the tranquillity of the Palmeraie. Between the Oliveraie and gardens of the Menara, palace hotels like the Es Saadi Gardens & Resorts, the Hotel Dar Rhizlane and the Four Seasons Hotel Marrakech rival each other in luxury and splendor in order to welcome visitors in search of exoticism and the relaxing benefits of oriental spas.

AN ODE TO LIFE IN THE HEART OF THE DESERT

The Palmeraie of Marrakech, created in the 12th century by the Almoravides Berbere dynasty, stretches over fifteen thousand hectares, just a few kilometers from the city. By establishing the Palmeraie and letting it flourish through the ages, the Moroccan population celebrates fertility and life, in addition to controlling the surrounding desert environment. This oasis of shade and serenity possesses a number of enchanting palace hotels worthy of a thousand and one nights. The pure and luxurious harims of the Ksar Char-Bagh offer guests the traditional setting of a Moorish palace, where lovers of cigars can delight in the boutique hotel’s well stocked cellar. For a blend of the authentic and the contemporary, try the Murano Hotels & Resorts. Greatly inspired by oriental architecture and feng shui concepts, the Palais Namaskar offers its guests private gardens and swimming pools designed to provide a total intimacy in a dream like setting.  Luxury hotels like the Jnane Tamsna propose a variety of sports activities including tennis, golf, bicycling and riding on the back of a camel, not to mention wellness activities like yoga, reflexology and spa treatments. A few steps away from the traditional Moroccan palaces, the Dar Sabra imposes its original Mexican inspired architecture. The hotel exhibits a number of art works in a thoroughly modern setting.

WHEN TO GO TO MARRAKECH

The most pleasant time to explore Marrakech is spring (mid-March to May) when the roses bloom and the days are fresh and sunny. Next best is autumn (September to November), when the summer heat has subsided. Winter can be idyllic in the day time, but nights are chilly enough to warrant booking that bedroom with a fireplace. Don’t underestimate the extreme heat in the summer, when daytime temperatures can hit a sweltering 45C. Also bear in mind that during Ramandan, the traditional month of fasting and purification, some restaurants and cafes close during the day and general business hours are reduced.

PASSION4LUXURY'S SELECTIONS OF HOTELS & RIAD's

1. Palais Namascar

2. The Royal Mansour

3. Mosaic Aziza & Spa

4. La Sultana 

5. Amanjena

6. Kasbah Tamadot

7. La Mamounia

8. Selman Marrakech

9. Mandarin Oriental Marrakech

10. Riad Kheirredine

11. Riad Tarabel

12. Riad Demeures d'Orient

If you have booked your room here, send us an email info@passion4luxury.com
Passion4Luxury will offer you a bottle of champagne at the hotel.

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