Encounter The Best Of Morocco With Hotel Amanjena
By: Robert Murgatroyd
The first time I stayed in Hotel Amanjena on one of my travels in Morocco, it made me think of coming back and staying there the next time I come for a visit. I think this hotel is one of the most exquisite hotels in terms of architecture that I know. It’s the first Aman resort in the African continent and it certainly lives up to its name that means “peaceful paradise”.
It’s pretty obvious that Amanjena made sure that careful selection of materials and interior are upheld to the highest of standards. These combined with the architecture, create a resplendent yet quiet atmosphere that provides the perfect surrounding to loosen up and enjoy being treated like a king.
Hotel Amanjena is a luxury hotel and is just twenty minutes from the airport and ten minutes from the city centre. The great Atlas Mountains stand in the background and a championship golf course is in the hotels foreground. They have 34 rose toned pavilions to offer aside from 6 two story maisons, two story townhouses with fireplaces, guest bedrooms, butler service, and your own private pool.
Amanjena has provided a health centre for their guests that include hammams, spa and gym plus two tennis courts, mountain bikes and their very own boutique if you want to go shopping conveniently. They also have a library and a heated pool. The food served in their Thai and Moroccan restaurants is so wonderful that I ate at the hotel everyday!
The rooms in Amanjena are attached but self contained houses or apartments that are basically Casitas that has a walled enclosure and a pavilion outside. It comes furnished with your own built in lounging furniture. It’s large and clean with large baths with windows that open to small outside gardens. Another thing that I liked about my stay in Amanjena was there were always snacks in our room. There were fruits, dates, almonds and peanuts that never seem to run out. The service is certainly the best!
Your visit to the Red City wouldn’t be complete without a close look at the sights around it. I would recommend taking the guided tour that Hotel Amanjena offers. They can arrange an extensive range of private tours with English speaking guides to take you to the souks and to see the sights of Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains nearby.
The Majorelle Gardens is a botanical garden that I would consider a masterpiece! It used to be owned by Jacques Majorelle, a Frenchman and a plant collector. The place was bought in 1980 by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé who restored the place and is undoubtedly one of the city s most incredible sights to this day and Amanjena could take you there.
You should also check out Djemaa el Fna Square where berber merchants, travelers, peddlers and entertainers such as snake charmers, musicians, fire eaters and fortune tellers abound. It’s a truly unforgettable and remarkable cultural experience. If you like History, you will surely enjoy the countless ancient monuments there are to see. Make sure you don’t miss out on the Koutoubia Mosque, Saadien Tombs, El Badii Palace and the magnificent fountains of Mouassine and Echrab ou Chouf.
Hotel Amanjena sees to it that their guests are always met by one of their representatives and transported by guide and private car to the resort regardless of whether they come to or from the airport or another hotel. Now that’s something that no other luxury hotel can offer.
