Hotel Es Saadi Review

In my younger years, when I lived in England, I travelled a lot – typically a couple of foreign holidays a year.

These used to be to far-off places, such as India or China, but as I got older, I found I was increasingly less able to cope with those long flights – 14 hours in the air, non-stop, is tough.

So, in my 40s, I preferred to go to familiar places, such as Paris (my all-time favourite city), or to places that weren’t too far away (five hours’ flying time was my limit) where I could hole up in comfort and relax.

And boy, did I find such a place!

In 1985, I’d done a tour of Morocco (Rabat, Marrakech, Fez, Tangier), and thoroughly enjoyed it, so when looking for a destination that met my criteria, Morocco certainly sprang to mind.

A scan of a few holiday brochures led me to Marrakech, and there were a few hotels there that seemed like they would do the trick.

The first is perhaps the most famous in this ancient city, the Mamounia, but that was out of my price range.

But the next one I found was just what I was looking for, and it’s called the Es Saadi.

Here’s what I really like about this hotel, in no particular order:

• It’s a relatively small hotel, which is good, as I don’t like those super-massive ones, because they’re too impersonal
• It’s family-owned, and not part of some huge corporate chain
• The general manager, Madame Elisabeth Bauchet-Bouhlal, is frequently see walking the hotel and talking to the guests, as is her husband
• One third of the guests are regulars, which means they keep going back (as I used to), again and again
• The main restaurant offers some really superb food, including both Moroccan and international cuisine
• The staff are really friendly and will remember you from one year to the next, when you return
• It’s set in some beautiful gardens
• It’s in the Hivernage district, which is only a ten-minute walk from the city centre, where you’ll find the famous Place Jamaa el Fna and the fascinating souk, which is like walking into a whole other world
• From the south side of the hotel, you get a beautiful view of the Atlas Mountains, which are often snow-capped
• It has a genteel atmosphere from days gone by, but without feeling or looking archaic and out-dated
• The suites are absolutely superb
• The Oriental Spa offers some very relaxing massage services
• The pool is well-maintained and never that busy
• The pool-side snacks are very tasty
• The staff all speak English and French, as a minimum

In addition, if you enjoy gambling, there is the famous Casino De Marrakech, which is part of the hotel complex. There, you can also enjoy a dinner and cabaret show, where the food is first class, and the show is entertaining and varied.

So, are there any downsides?

Yes, of course there are.

Firstly, I have to confess that I only ever stayed in suites, on the top floor, so I can’t say for certain what the regular rooms are like. However, I do know that they keep the place in tip-top condition, and I know they are a reasonable size, so I wouldn’t have any qualms about staying in one.

They also have some pool-side cabanas, which look very nice, albeit a lot smaller, of course.

Secondly, it’s not cheap, especially in a suite, but there again, it is a five star hotel, so you should expect to pay more for that.

Thirdly, although Morocco is one of the easier Arabic / African countries to deal with, first-timers may find it a bit of a shock to the system. Having said that, they do have tourist police who are there to help, and to make sure you’re not hassled by the locals, and this system works very well.

Since I was last there, in December 2005, they have opened a new complex on the grounds, which I understand, from talking to Madame Bauchet-Bouhlal, either is aimed more at corporate clients or offers yet more suites, but I have no personal experience of this.

In summary, if you’re looking for somewhere to hole up in Morocco, then I can’t think of a better place – it’s a first class hotel (five stars), with great food, friendly staff, and if you want to explore that little corner of North Africa, then the city of Marrakech is only a few minutes‘ walk away, and you can also easily get tours into the Atlas Mountains if you fancy a day out – the Ourika valley is really very beautiful (and there are also ski resorts there, believe it or not).

Check out the Es Saadi Hotel – you won’t be disappointed!

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