We were pleased to discover this excellent hotel at short notice for a one week break at the end of March – looking for a restful time in 70-plus degrees sunshine. Having done the colourful ‘sights and sounds’ of the city, and the Atlas mountains trip, on a previous visit to Marrakech, we were there just to relax and enjoy the facilities. However, for the more adventurous there is a free shuttle bus service from the hotel twice a day into the city centre (about 15-minutes drive) or taxis with guides for sightseeing, or for the 5-minute trip to the nearby golf club.
Les Deux Tours is in the Palmeraie suburb, originally built as a traditional Arabic/Andalusian ‘village’ among the palm groves in the 1960’s, but converted into an attractive 37-room hotel complex. The main building houses the restaurant, bar, reception, games rooms and a variety of comfortable areas just for relaxation. All the rooms and suites, and the well-equipped spa, are in the smaller buildings spread around the extensive gardens; at the centre is the pool area with the outdoor La Pergola restaurant and bar; and there is a large kitchen garden with poultry and goats.
The accommodation ranges from the “Classic” rooms and Junior Suites – all en suite with a private terrace – to the eight “Private Residences” each with its own private swimming pool or jacuzzi! The breakfast buffet, served on the terrace, provides for all tastes; and the dinner menu offers a wide range of creatively prepared dishes, with international and Moroccan choices.
The enjoyment of Les Deux Tours is enhanced by the wonderfully warm, friendly and welcoming staff. – mostly bi-lingual. It is reassuring to find the manager and his deputy almost always visible around the hotel, setting the example to those working in reception, in the dining rooms and in the grounds, and ready to answer questions or just chat!
Just one word of caution for other ‘silver travellers’ – unless you are agile, we would recommend you ask for a ground floor room to avoid some of the stone staircases which are not well lit. Our late booking meant we were assigned to one of the first floor rooms – excellent in every other respect – but after two nights, the understanding management kindly moved us to a ground floor suite! Similarly the many sets of steps around the buildings and along the footpaths linking the facilities have traditional lanterns at night which contribute to the overall atmosphere but require care (especially if you are unlucky enough to have a rainy evening!).
But do not let this detract from all the delights of Les Deux Tours. There is exotic character in every corner and it is well worth considering as a more relaxing alternative to the numerous major hotels in this ever-growing city, or the more traditional riads.
