Morocco Gateway
With an exciting choice of privately owned and unique riads and hotels in cities, towns and resorts such as Marrakech, Fez, Essaouira, Oualida, Agadir, Tangiers, and Rabat, Morocco is only 2 hours from the UK and Europe – so no jet-lag to spoil a romantic dinner on the first night of arrival!
Romantic, high-end riads and hotels in Marrakech include Maison MK, a chic guesthouse riad, the hotel AnaYela that seeks to offer a “cultural, sensual and mental” experience and Le Palais Rhoul with its fine Romanesque styling in its lush out-of-town palm-grove location.
For those looking for a more mid-priced hotel or riad in Marrakech, La Maison Arabe, Riad el Mezouar, Riad El Cadi and Riad L’Orangeraie all offer high standards of service, cleanliness, facilities, a central location, and double rooms for under €150 a night. And for those on more of a budget, Riad Villa El Arsa is a quiet and peaceful riad with a romantic roof-top terrace offering rooms at €70-80 per night, while Dar Attajmil, a peaceful, hidden riad with a beautiful patio courtyard, and its own library which offers room for €90 a night.
Outside central Marrakech, hotel retreats such as Tigmi are offering discounts for stays of over 4 nights as well as discounts from all spa treatments. Dar Ihlam, also on the outskirts of the city, a riad hotel with pool, lounging area and air-conditioning throughout, is also currently offering a discount to its list prices.
An hour’s drive in Morocco’s second city, Fez, Riad Mabrouka, a guesthouse of 6 suites and 2 rooms, complete with a small swimming pool and restaurant. Renovated and restored in 2000, Riad Mabrouka is ideal for guests looking for a romantic stay and to explore Fez and its surrounding attractions.
Alternatively Riad Fes is a larger hotel offering twenty-one rooms where guests has the option of room in a modern style or the standard rooms which provide more of a traditional Moroccan authenticity. Riad Fes also serves a complimentary breakfast on the patio outside daily, surrounding the pool and garden, perfect for lovers.
Morocco’s Atlantic coast, 2 hours from Marrakech, is also perfect for a short Valentine’s visit, with the crowds yet to arrive but the African sun already shining. The hotel Villa Allun in Essaouira offering discounts of all room rates while Madada Mogador is a modern and stylish hotel with a zen ambiance theme, will provide guests with a free lunch and other refreshments during their stay. In the same town, the hotel Ocean Vagabond offers free nights’ accommodation as well as oriental massage for guests.
For all these Morocco hotels and riads, and for many other ideas on accommodation and advice on getting the most out of a romantic trip to, and hotels in Essaouira, Marrakech or Fes and other destinations in Morocco, visit www.morocco-
