Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakesh Review

The ancient city of Marrakech is Morocco’s oldest city, stretching back almost one thousand years. It has no shortage of fabulous restaurants, cafés and markets, plus a vibrant nightlife and many exquisite and luxurious riads to stay in.

But if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the old Medina, a high-walled labyrinth packed with history and culture, perhaps consider the spacious green setting of Fairmont Royal Palm, a fabulous year-round destination offering luxury, calm and tranquillity.

The bustling Medina isn’t unique when it comes to crowds. Due to increased traffic at Marrakech airport, I pre-booked ‘fast track’ to avoid the long lines at immigration. It’s then just a 20-minute transfer to the resort.

The Fairmont Royal Palm’s modern architecture remains true to its rich Moroccan roots. It isn’t a boutique riad, but a large, exotic and modern resort with two Olympic-sized swimming pools — the largest in Marrakech, a golf course, as well as padel and tennis courts. However, for me, the world-class 3,500m² Le Spa is the shining star, where marocMaroc and Natura Bissé products are used to nurture your soul.

Le Spa alone is reason to stay here. On entering the spa, built to resemble a modern riad, the scent of orange blossom and rose envelops you. The many features include indoor and outdoor pools, a huge hammam area with seven single and double cabins, a private hammam area with two saunas, a thirteen-roomed massage area (some with jacuzzi), inside and outside relaxation areas, a beauty space for facials, manicures and pedicures, as well as a barber shop and a boutique.

Choose a massage with pouches of herbs or the legendary Moroccan argan oil, hot stone therapy, hammam rituals with the fabled Ghassoul wraps infused with musk clay and natural plant extracts, specific treatments for golfers, reflexology, or signature facials. The highly trained spa technicians listen to your specific requests to personalise every single treatment.

I asked for a toned-down traditional hammam, with the heat lowered slightly – the locals can tolerate blood-boiling temperatures. That’s the beauty of Le Spa, they cater to your needs to make you as comfortable and relaxed as possible. I left my dignity at the hammam door as I was lathered in black soap from head to toe while lying on a tiled bench, flipping over from one side to the other like a slippery fish. I was doused in warm water, then exfoliated to the very last layer… at least it felt that way. It was intimate, but I was in a safe space. I hadn’t been bathed like that since childhood when scrubbed by my mother! Any inhibitions were washed away, and I can truly say that my skin had never felt so soft and clean. This baby was not thrown out with the bathwater and I slept like an infant that night.

At the resort, you may indulge in fine food at the many internationally inspired restaurants serving Moroccan, Japanese and Italian food. Whichever restaurant you choose, the food will be excellent. Moroccan restaurant Al Aïn also entertains with traditional singers and masterful musicians providing tableside performances.

The Bar (with its own cigar lounge) is the place to sip cooling drinks and imaginatively named cocktails in stunning surroundings with live DJ performances. It’s all just a short walk from your room, along quiet pathways lined with swaying palms and olive trees. You’re unlikely to bump into anyone apart from gardeners and staff, who provide a high level of care in keeping the resort so aesthetically appealing.

Le Caravane serves international breakfast, lunch and dinner, contemporary L’Olivier serves Mediterranean food by the pool, while terraced Sabre at the golf course is perfectly situated under the shade of olive trees.

The Farm, which grows herbs and vegetables for the resort’s many kitchens, is also used as an idyllic picnic-style lunch spot, where food is served on low tables while guests sit on traditional poufs surrounded by olive trees and musicians perform soothing songs.

The rooms at the Fairmont Royal Palm are vast, with high ceilings that create a spacious domain, and superb views across the pool and golf course to the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains.

If you don’t want to walk in the heat, golf carts can be called upon to take you anywhere within the confines of the resort, or take a resort bicycle to cycle around the extensive grounds.

Evenings offer a welcome coolness, as do early mornings, so packing a light layer is advisable. Generally, March to May is the busiest time to visit Morocco; the weather is pleasantly warm with sunny days in the 70^os inland, while the coast offers slightly cooler weather. July and August bring intense heat, but during September to November the weather is most agreeable, and from December to March is cooler.

The local currency is the dirham, which is broken down into 100 santimat. However, being a closed currency, it can only be bought on arrival in Morocco. Having local cash in your pocket is handy for purchasing trinkets from the Medina, or for cafés and taxi fares. 

The resort can arrange a transfer to Marrakech’s world-famous Medina, where getting lost is part of the appeal; just follow your nose, ducking and diving, dodging donkey carts, wheelbarrows, bicycles and scooters as they zip along the narrow walled alleyways. The heavy scent of spices draws you towards the spice market, then the pungent smell of leather leads you to the stalls of shoes and bags. You can also find a quiet café to sit and watch the organised chaos of Marrakech Medina. 

The Fairmont Royal Palm is the perfect spot for either a long, pampering stay or, from Europe, a luxurious weekend experience at a tranquil oasis, where minimum effort brings maximum enjoyment. 

This property is included in our guide to the best hotels in Marrakesh