Words by Yousif Nur
With a day to spare in Marrakech and wanting a little bit of pampering in the time I had left in Morocco, I checked myself in at the Movenpick Mansour Eddahbi. I’d heard great things via word of mouth from friends and acquaintances, so thought to check it out for myself to see what it was all about.
The fact that it’s also a 15-minute walk from the famous Jemaa el Fnaa and its many souks, as well as only being 4km away from Marrakech Menara Airport also makes this an ideal location of getting around without a great deal of hassle.
My first impression upon its exterior glance was an impressive, red building in keeping with Marrakech stylings of matching up in colour. Walking in through the foyer was a maze of trying to find the concierge and reception, but whilst on the way, the ground floor is partly an art gallery, part restaurant and part Moroccan riad.
In the main circular foyer area, itself stands an impressive chandelier shaped like a teardrop. I looked above in awe of just how grand it was, often stopping and staring on multiple occasions taking photos.
Once I was checked in, it’s a bit of a walk through the various outdoor pools and restaurants, but a pleasant one to get a feel of the hotel’s vibe and surroundings underneath the shade of palm trees. And on a day where it was 35c in the dry desert heat, the sooner I could jump into the pool and cool myself off, the better.
I was given a standard room, overlooking the hotel grounds and a small pool. Being conveniently located one floor underneath the yoga studio and the wellness spa areas was a bonus. The room itself was spacious, with an extremely comfy double bed. So much so, that I found it very difficult to get up and leave.
A particularly nice touch was the walk-in shower, in a neat black tiled bathroom, always a must for someone like me who likes to unwind and relax with some nice water therapy during a hot afternoon.
The gallery exhibition spaces had some pretty neat artworks on display, which included a large white opened palm in the middle of a circular room. Another had scrawlings and graffiti randomly placed across the ground floor of the hotel.
On the following morning, I headed for the breakfast bar situated in one of the restaurants and had an omelette freshly prepared in front of me by the chef, with a mint tea to wash it down. There’s also a wide range of cold meats, yoghurts, cereals, freshly baked bread and pastries and juices to satisfy all.
Afterwards, I immediately headed for a top-up to my already tanned bronze skin by lounging by one of the pools, before going for a quick dip. With not much time left and with check out looming closer, I quickly headed for the sauna and steam rooms to unwind and chill just before my flight in a few hours.
In all, though my stay at the Movenpick Mansour Eddahbi was less than 24 hours, I packed a lot into it. Whether it’s culture, relaxation with some luxury here and there, Movenpick ensures there’s something for everyone.
Address: Boulevard Mohamed VI, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
Phone: +212 (0)524 33 91 00
Website: movenpick.com
