Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial & Spa

We only stopped at the outside bar for a few beers, and had a pleasant time. The young woman who served us was kind and professional. One small thought about the uniforms: they could be more modern and better suited to Marrakech's heat. I don't mean shorter or more revealing clothes, just lighter, more comfortable options. Vests seem impractical in such high temperatures, and suitable fabrics and designs could still look elegant.

The hotel's location close to the city center made sightseeing and getting around much easier. Check-in was smooth and pleasant, and the receptionist offered us an upgrade to a room with a view. It was large and spacious, but the view of the Atlas Mountains we expected was mostly blocked by a hall or building under construction on the other side of the hotel. Construction noise also made it practically impossible to open the window, which really cut into our comfort. Paying the deposit with a contactless card wasn't possible, which felt unusually inconvenient. At checkout, we were charged for minibar items we hadn't used. Staff removed the charge without a problem when we pointed it out, but when we returned to the room, those items were in fact missing. It was unsettling and left us wondering whether staff remove items first and then try to charge guests for them. The hotel has clear strengths: a very good location, friendly check-in staff, and a big comfortable room. But for the price, the blocked view, construction noise, and unpleasant minibar situation left us with mixed feelings.

The people made a real difference during our stay. Ms Raouia, the manager by the pool, was wonderful, and Mohammed was quick and helpful whenever we needed him. Mr Hisham arranged our events, while the spa team, including the lady guest service manager at reception, Aasma, and Ekram, were all amazing.

We had a lovely stay in a pleasant area, and the hotel is well placed. The spacious rooms and attentive service were great, and breakfast had a standout selection of Moroccan and Lebanese dishes. There are plenty of hotel restaurants serving fresh, healthy food, with live music at dinner. I also had a wonderful traditional Moroccan hammam at the spa, where ASMA treated me with real kindness, skill, and efficiency. I’ll definitely return.