Al Fassia Aguedal

I stayed at Al Fassia Aguedal for a full week as a solo traveller and by the end of my stay I was genuinely sad to leave. I came to Marrakech wanting somewhere peaceful where I could completely switch off, and Al Fassia delivered that in abundance.

This isn’t a large, flashy resort. It is a small, intimate hotel with the feel and character of a beautiful Moroccan home. The gardens and courtyards are gorgeous, everything is exceptionally well maintained and there are lovely little areas to sit quietly with a book. The heated pool became my favourite place and was remarkably peaceful throughout my stay. There were mornings when I virtually had it to myself.

The real luxury here, however, is the service. The staff are some of the warmest and most attentive I have encountered. Everyone introduced themselves by name and somehow managed to be constantly working while remaining completely unobtrusive. The owner also makes a point of speaking personally to guests throughout the day and checking that everything is okay.

A particular mention has to go to Imad, who seemed to be everywhere! From helping with luggage to serving drinks, preparing the pool area and constantly ensuring everything was immaculate, I don’t think I ever saw him idle. He is an absolute credit to the hotel.

One of my favourite examples of the service was my morning coffee. I am an early riser and after the staff realised I liked coffee before breakfast, a pot simply started arriving at my room at around 7am each morning without me having to order it. That small gesture probably sums up Al Fassia better than anything – thoughtful, personal hospitality without any fuss.

Breakfast is served beside the pool and is generous, with fresh orange juice, fruit, Moroccan breads and pancakes, yoghurt, pastries and various accompaniments, with subtle changes from day to day. Eggs and omelettes are also offered. I tried the daytime pool menu and had an excellent marinated chicken salad, and the Al Fassia restaurant itself serves wonderful Moroccan food.

My room was spacious, spotlessly clean and beautifully traditional. Housekeeping was excellent and the same high standard of cleanliness extends throughout the hotel and grounds. Wi-Fi was reliable throughout my stay.

As a woman travelling alone, I felt completely comfortable and safe here. The entrance is secure, staff are always around without hovering, and returning from an evening out felt like coming home. Reception would ask whether I needed anything and could arrange drinks or ice to be sent to my room. On my final day they also very kindly allowed me to keep my room until 2pm because I had a later flight, which meant I could enjoy a final morning by the pool before showering and getting ready to leave.

There are a few practical things worth knowing. The casual pool food menu finishes at around 5pm. The excellent Al Fassia restaurant is available for dinner, but there isn’t a later light-bites or room-service food menu, so on a longer stay you’ll probably want to explore Marrakech’s many other restaurants too. There are several sockets in the bedroom but none beside the bed, so bring a long charging cable.

Aircraft can occasionally be seen and heard from the pool and terrace because of the hotel’s location. I mention this because I had read comments about it before travelling. In reality I didn’t find it intrusive at all and it never disturbed my sleep.

In fact, the opposite was true. At home I normally average around five to six hours’ sleep. During my week at Al Fassia I averaged more than seven. I haven’t slept or relaxed this well in a very long time. The beautiful surroundings, extraordinary peace and warmth of the people here allowed me to properly switch off.

Al Fassia is one of those places where the luxury isn’t about having hundreds of facilities. It is in the atmosphere, the peace, the immaculate surroundings and, above all, the people who look after you. After seven nights I left feeling genuinely rested and very reluctant to go.

I wouldn’t hesitate to return.

The location was wonderful and as you walk through the door it is like stepping into paradise. The rooms were very large and beautifully decorated. The accommodation was spotlessly clean and the atmosphere was so so relaxing. It was like coming home. I cannot recommend his place enough. The staff were fabulous, the food was exceptional and I will definitely be returning.