Our series on Marrakech concludes with the grandest suite we saw during our four day jaunt to the Moroccan city.

Dar Ayniwen, like Jnane Tamsna, is located in La Palmeraie, providing a sea change in terms of environment when compared to the Medina. The estate-turned-hotel that doesn't shy away from pomp and circumstance: stately excess best describes its decor, from the textured Berber rugs layered and peppered throughout its interior, to walls plastered with vintage travel posters, to the plush gardens surrounding it, with a variety of bird species chirping a natural soundtrack for the villa.]]> Heidi Atwal 2012-01-13T16:00:02-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/12/91530/7703

Removed from the frantic climes of Marrakech's Medina, Jnane Tamsna is located in the city's Palmeraie district, tucked away from other sizeable resorts in the area. We planned an afternoon sojourn to the grounds after learning about on-site cookery classes featuring staples of Moroccan cuisine. Fans of former Gourmet Editor-in-Chief Ruth Reichl may remember Jnane Tamsna's house chef, Bahija, featured on an episode of Adventures With Ruth.]]> Heidi Atwal 2012-01-12T16:03:23-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/11/135215/343

Yesterday we teased today's full review of Riad Joya, a boutique hotel planted squarely in the middle of Marrakech's Medina, the most ancient part of the city. Having made the claim that Joya provided us with the best service ever experienced, it's only fitting that we elaborate on such a bold statement. ]]> Heidi Atwal 2012-01-11T16:00:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/1/10/133115/529

Mint tea and fresh Moroccan pastries: now that's a check-in greeting

Though London's winter has been comparatively mild to previous chillblain-inducing, blustering holiday seasons of years prior, us local Hotel Chatter-ers found ourselves craving a mid-season warm weather getaway nonetheless. Marrakech, Morocco won out over other similarly balmy cities for its proximity to the U.K. capital (it's just a three hour flight away) and the promise of tangines peppered with Ras el Hanout and preserved lemons.]]> Heidi Atwal 2012-01-10T13:44:28-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/6/27/20413/7152 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/lamamounia_006p.jpg" class="top"><p><em>Vintage</em> magazine recently spent six whole pages doting on Marrakech's $500-per-night legendary celebrity haunt, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/LA+MAMOUNIA/local/1617"><b>La Mamounia</b></a> (if you remember, La Mamounia <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/11/30/104514/12/hotels/La_Mamounia_Celebrates_Reopening_With_A_List_Celebs_and_Thankfully_No_Lohans">celebrated an extensive</a> &#128;180 million&#151;that's almost $300 million USD&#151;renovation exactly two years ago).<p> Full of wide-eyed praise for the hotel, the article uses its trademark scrapbook-y design and huge, glossy photos to bring you right inside the ninety-year-old Morroccan architectural masterpiece. Here is a little of what the writer, Kate Winick, had to say: <blockquote><p>"The attention to detail borders on comical: <strong>the nail-heads studding the side of each upholstered chair don't simply terminate, they blossom into a flower</strong>; the art isn't just beautiful, it was commissioned from a series of North African artists capturing the ASchechter 2011-06-28T09:15:01-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/