Review: Mandarin Oriental Marrakech

_Location: The Mandarin is a 10-acre oasis on the outskirts of Marrakech. It’s a 15-minute drive to both the airport and the medina. The property has golf courses and the Museum of African Contemporary Art as its neighbours, as well as a number of high-end hotels.

_{First impressions:} The property lies within sprawling, perfectly pruned and beautifully smelling gardens – the latter of which is due to the 100,000 roses planted throughout the grounds, as well as the bounty of orange trees and jasmine plants.

With a backdrop of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, the property feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of central Marrakech.

My shoulders dropped as soon as I arrived – staff swept in and took care of my many bags and I was offered a welcome drink on a terrace overlooking a huge ‘reflection pool’ surrounded by weeping willows and bougainvillea.

I was impressed by the personal touches, which were evident throughout my stay and started as soon as I arrived in my villa, where a framed photo of my icon Barbra Streisand stood proudly next to a QR code linking to a playlist of her hits. I’d arrived in paradise!

_{The facts:} The property features 54 humungous one and two-bedroom villas – all of which feature a private pool, hot tub and outdoor shower.

Perfect for clients seeking privacy and seclusion, the villas are completely enclosed in walls with a huge courtyard boasting an outdoor fireplace and relaxation area. There are also nine suites, seven of which have their own rooftop plunge pools.

On the food front, the offering is exceptional. Ling Ling by Hakkasan serves exquisite Chinese sharing plates, while Shirvan Cafe Métisse offers a unique culinary journey through the Silk Road countries with dishes such as black houmous-roasted aubergine, 12 spice oven-roasted marinated seabream, dukkah seabass and crispy Iranian rice.

Food is also served by the pool during the day. The spa is housed in another building, with exposed brickwork, separate male and female marble hammams, a yoga studio and gym.

_{Ideal for:} This hotel is a dream come true for parents, particularly those with small children. When we arrived at our villa with our nine-month-old in tow, we were delighted to find everything we could need had been provided by the hotel – a baby bath, food and bottle warmer, a walker, toys, pureed food, a highchair, cot… I could go on.

Each evening we’d return to our room and find a different surprise for Theo – one night it was a tipi, another cuddly toys and on our last night, a framed photo from the trip that we’d posted on social media.

_Explore: Make use of the hotel’s bikes to fully explore the grounds which include a kids’ club, a farm and vegetable garden.

Bikes are available for all ages and some adult bikes even have child seats on the back. Recommend clients head into the medina to explore the souks, while a visit to Jardin Majorelle is also worthwhile.

For those who have time on their side, suggest they venture to the Atlas Mountains to experience traditional Berber life.

_Wow: The villas are incredible – opulent and beautifully decorated, but also incredibly comfortable and homely. The service was outstanding.

My butler, Ahmed, was on hand day or night, contactable through WhatsApp but always close by with a bright smile on his face.

He even messaged after we’d departed to say how much he had enjoyed having us stay at the property. I couldn’t fault the Mandarin Oriental – everything was perfect.

_{Book it:} A night in a Mandarin Pool Villa leads in at €1,250.
mandarinoriental.com/marrakech