november-2010

†PER COUNTRY PER CAPITA
*PRICES QUOTED ARE FOR A RETURN TICKET IN B.LIGHT ECONOMY FROM OR TO BRUSSELS, ALL TAXES AND FEES INCLUDED, IF BOOKED ON BRUSSELSAIRLINES.COM. TICKETS ARE NOT CHANGEABLE, NOR REFUNDABLE. PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
MOROCCO Population 31,285,174 Currency Moroccan Dirham (MAD) GDP
MARRAKECH
† €3,390 Dialling code +212
Airport code RAK Flight frequency Weekly Average temp (Nov) 16°C
Despite being one of
the most popular citybreak
destinations for
Europeans, Marrakech
has managed to maintain
its mystique – from its
sand-swept souks to its
beautiful Moorish
architecture, it off ers a
taste of the exotic. Now
combining age-old
tradition with lashings
of modern-day style, it’s
no wonder the city has
become a hangout of
the rich, famous and
downright fabulous. Nick
Clarke is our city guide
THE MEDINA (NORTH)
Otherwise known as the ‘Old City’,
the Medina – enclosed by ancient
walls – is where throngs of people
congregate to shop, sightsee and
soak up some North African style.
SLEEP There’s a slew of chic places to
sleep in this central area, but one of the
best options for rocking the riad is Riad
Farnatchi (2 Derb el Farnatchi, tel.
(0)524 384910, riadfarnatchi.com,
rooms from €275/MAD 3,100).
Combining modern European design with
traditional Marrakech style, the suites
are sumptuous. Alternative awe-inspiring
accommodation can be found at AnaYela
(28 Derb Zerwal, tel. (0)524 386969,
anayela.com, rooms from €290/MAD
3,260) and La Maison Arabe (1 Derb
Assehbé, tel. (0)524 387010, lamaison
arabe.com, rooms from €133/MAD 1,500).
CULTURE The Medina’s two must-see
sights are the Koutoubia Mosque
(Djemaa el Fna) and Ben Youssef
Medersa (Place Ben Youssef), a Koranic
school founded in the 14th century that
boasts stunning Andalucian-Arab
architecture from the 16th century.
EAT Home to a handful of the city’s best
eats, you’ll find menus to suit all palates
IMAGE PHOTOLIBRARY.COM
INFO
Menara
International
Airport is 6km
southwest of
the city centre.
Bus The L19
leaves for Djemaa
el Fna every
20-30 minutes
(this service is
infrequent at
weekends).
A single costs
€1,80/MAD 20.
Taxi The airport
is a 15/20-minute
taxi ride into town.
Be sure to agree
a price before you
get in, and expect
to pay between
€5,30/MAD 60 and
€8,90/MAD 100.
Tourist offi ce
The Offi ce
National Marocain
du Tourisme
(ONMT) can be
found on Avenue
Mohammed
V at Place
Abdelmoumen
Ben Ali (tel. (0)524
436131, visit
morocco.com).
At nearly 70 metres high, the
minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque
is an emblem of the city
in this area. For mouth-watering
Moroccan cuisine, head to Dar Moha
(81 Rue Dar el Bacha, tel. (0)524
386400), or for fabulous French/Italian
fusion drop by Le Foundouk (55 Souk
Hal Fassi, tel. (0)5 24 378190).
SHOP In the northern section of Djemaa
el Fna you can pick up some well-cut
Moroccan clothing from Beldi (9-11
Soukiat Laksour).
GUÉLIZ
Built in 1913, after the French took
over, Guéliz – or the ‘New City’,
as it’s otherwise known – stands
in stark contrast to the ancient
Medina; here it’s all about broad,
European-style avenues and sleek
shops, hotels and bars.
SLEEP The best place to catch 40
flamboyant winks in Guéliz is at the
ever so slightly over-the-top Bab Hotel
(corner of Mansour Eddahbi and Rue
Mohamed El Bequal, tel. (0)524 435250,
babhotelmarrakech.com, rooms from
€107/MAD 1,200). The meticulous
gardens are particularly noteworthy.
EAT Arguably the best place to eat in
the city is Al Fassia (55 Boulevard
alling code +212
Zerktouni, tel. (0)524 434060), a laidback
place that serves piled-high plates
of home-style Moroccan classics.
LATER Theatre-cum-nightclub Theatro
(Hotel Es Saadi, Avenue el Quadissia) is
the place to see and be seen by the city’s
slickest party boys and girls. A slightly
less glamorous option – though still
something of an institution among locals
– is Diamant Noir (Hotel Marrakech,
Place de la Liberte), with no-frills dancing
taking place across two tiers.
TIP Marrakech’s best nightlife options
are found in Guéliz as the licensing
restrictions are much more lenient than
they are in the Medina.
LA PALMERAIE
A short drive from the city
centre, La Palmeraie is famed
for its eponymous palm trees,
lush green golf courses and
mammoth-sized houses.
SLEEP Get some stylish shuteye at
Jnane Tamsna (Douar Abiad, tel. (0)524
328484, jnanetamsna.com, rooms from
€223/MAD 2,500). If it’s good enough
for the likes of Brad Pitt, Giorgio Armani
and David Bowie, then it’s certainly good
enough for us.
LATER The La Palmeraie outpost of
Nikki Beach (Circuit de la Palmeraie) is
every bit as extravagant as you’d expect,
with posh poolside lounging and cocktails
to make your head spin. Go for the day
to sprawl beneath the sun on suitably
oversized sun beds, or drop by at night
for dancing beneath the stars.
TIP There may not be loads to do in La
Palmeraie, but it’s worth taking a drive to
escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Spend a day at Beldi Country Club (Km 6,
Route du Barrage, Cherifia), have a dip
in the pool followed by a languid lunch at
the restaurant.
€139 *
FROM JUST
RETURN ALL-IN
From April 2011, fl y
to Marrakech from just
€139* return all-in.
brusselsairlines.com
Brussels Airlines b.there! magazine November 2010 117