Member Postcards: Exploring Morocco

Indagare member A A. recently traveled with his family to Morocco. Here are his impressions.

Morocco was amazing! La Mamounia (pictured above) is one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in. It is architecturally beautiful and historically fascinating, has excellent service and is in an ideal location. I was enamored.

Our guide was wonderful. He planned our trip around prayer times and the day’s hottest temperatures, so that everything was convenient and efficient, and he stayed constantly mindful of our sons’ interest and patience. I also highly recommend having a private driver. Some favorite sights included Medersa ben Youssef, Majorelle Gardens, the Koutaoubia Mosque, the souks and Djemaa el Fnaa. Desert d’Agafay is incredible. The camel ride followed by an amazing lunch at a fabulous location was one of my favorite things on this trip.

In terms of food, we loved Le Comptoir, Villa des Orangers and Grande Café de la Poste.

The Amanjena was beautiful, and our villa was totally over-the-top, but we found the decor and furnishings to be somewhat dated. We tried both of the resort’s very good restaurants, one serving Moroccan cuisine and the other Thai. Overall, two days were plenty at Amanjena, and I’m glad we didn’t stay longer. It’s super quiet (too much so) and seemed to be empty, although apparently it was fully booked. This could be the Aman aesthetic, which is very different from that at the lively and family-friendly La Mamounia, so I’m glad I experienced it but wouldn’t return.

Kasbah Tamadot and the Berber hospitality blew me away. Our accommodations were choice, and the swimming pool was perfect. The hotel food was just OK, but that was really irrelevant at this property. Activities included a fun cooking/baking class for the boys, a challenging scenic hike in the mountains and a visit to the local Saturday market in town at Asni, which was muddy, loud, dusty, exciting and a blast. It reminded me of visiting India as a kid and created a memory that will stick with the boys.