We ended on a high too, treating ourselves to a final night out at La Mamounia hotel, a beacon of glamour for more than 100 years. Rechristening it ‘La Mumounia’, we began with drinks on the orange blossom-scented terrace of the Majorelle Bar. Dinner was at Le Marocain, a restaurant buried in gardens of soaring palms and delicate roses. Serenaded by its musicians, we were soothed enough to try lamb’s brains, alongside less testing dishes such as tagine and couscous.
After dinner, none of us were in a hurry to get home. We snatched a final group selfie in the flattering light of the hotel bathroom then wandered the quiet streets, skirting the edge of the Djemaa el-Fna where, even after midnight, smoke was rising from stalls catering to late-night diners and Berber musicians played to huddles of revellers. The break had been just what we needed – so much so that we’ve made a pact to return at the same time next year. Until then Marrakech, thanks for the Mumories.
Essentials
Ryanair (ryanair.com), British Airways (ba.com), EasyJet (easyjet.com), Wizz Air (wizzair.com) and Royal Air Maroc (royalairmaroc.com) all fly to Marrakech from airports across the UK. A night at Annex House costs £342 for up to four guests and £513 for up to eight including breakfast (00 212 524 38 58 06, riadbrummell.brummellprojects.com). A day pass for Farasha Farmhouse costs £47, including use of the pool, towels and a three-course lunch (farashafarmhouse.com). Le Marocain and The Majorelle Bar at La Mamounia (mamounia.com) are open to non-residents. A hammam at La Sultana Spa costs £40 (lasultanahotels.com).
Six more mumscapade destinationsNice, France
A raft of hotel openings and an Old Town that’s now on the Unesco World Heritage list mean Nice is no longer just a gateway to the Côte d’Azur. The new Anantara Plaza makes a good place to stay (doubles from £440, room only; 00 33 4 93 16 75 75, anantara.com).
Lana, South Tyrol
Is your group more about brisk walks than booze? The pretty town of Lana is set at the foot of the San Vigilio mountain in the Italian Dolomites: its summit, reached by one of Europe’s oldest cable cars, is threaded with walking trails and ideal for hiking. Stay at 1447 Reichhalter, a historic inn at the centre of town (doubles from £154, room only; 00 39 0473 051 050, 1477reichhalter.com).
Lisbon, Portugal
With atmospheric, rattling trams crisscrossing the city and plenty of easy-to-reach sites, Lisbon has the perfect formula for a few days away. Stay at AlmaLusa Alfama: in a restored 12th-century building, it’s the latest opening from a chic micro hotel group and has a real sense of place (doubles from £195, B&B; 00 351 21 877 0200, almalusahotels.com).
Source link : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africa/morocco/marrakech/marrakech-perfect-mumscapade-pampering-sunbeds-riads/
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Publish date : 2024-03-30 03:00:00
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