On a #Travelife to Morocco, I went shopping in souks and climbed hills in the middle of the desert outside of Ouarzazate. I also bought a Moroccan Berber carpet and learned how to make a chicken tagine at the Palais Amani in Fes. On this trip, one of my best memories was a stay at the Palais Amani.

HOW TO GET TO THE PALAIS AMANI IN FES

To say that the Palais Amani underwhelms at the outset is an understatement. I still remember with not a little trepidation our arrival on the first of my two visits to Morocco last year. We’d driven from Rabat, the capital of Morocco, to the edge of the ancient town of Fez. 

We passed by the palace of the King and skirted the walls of the medina before alighting in a parking lot full of wheelbarrows of food and dry goods. There were also vehicles in various states of disrepair, and masses of people – from rambunctious teenagers playing ball games to old ladies hawking homemade sweets.

And then we had to trudge up a narrow alleyway used by donkeys and pockmarked with stones, entering this via a steep staircase sandwiched by a budget hostel with a television blaring on the top floor and an equally cheap-looking café serving the ubiquitous chicken tagine. This was the way to the Palais Amani.

A BEAUTIFUL RIAD IN FES

It wasn’t quite the setting I’d imagined for a stylish boutique hotel in exotic Fez. In fact, my companion had very clearly asked me with unhappy undertones, as we navigated an unpicturesque passageway and walked along an equally spartan corridor towards our destination: “What kind of hotel have you booked?”

WHAT LIES BEHIND

Fortunately, I chose to ignore this rhetorical question and to simply let the hotel I’d booked eventually speak for itself.

Like many of the best experiences of Morocco, the beauty of Palais Amani lies hidden behind its heavy wooden doors. A dozen steps past these doors inside was a lovely 600-square meter garden. 

This was palatial, considering we were inside the medina of Fez. It’s a setting of greenery, dancing fountains and intricately tiled walls. In fact, the entire riad spoke  of a graceful past as the well-loved home of a prosperous family.

Palais Amani is the biggest authentic riad in Fez. But it’s also charming in an intimate way. I was instantly enchanted by the low-key and easy elegance of this hotel.

UNIQUE HOTEL ROOM IN FEZ

Our room was very interesting, as well. I’m sure it was the best suite in the riad because it occupied one whole wing of the second floor. We entered via a living room into a bedroom.

The bedroom had two separate dressing rooms and five large floor-to-ceiling windows with French-style balustrades that overlooked the garden. The bathroom was in a lovely room that was as large as a home in Fez itself.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT IN MOROCCO

It was definitely love at first sight, for me and this suite. We spent many happy days here at Palais Amani, discovering the best attractions in Fez. This is the kind of city one either loves or hates, and I loved it.

A major UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s a busy jumble of dark corners and nearly 10,000 alleyways. Most of the alleys are chaotic by day, and almost deathly quiet at night. There are  no in-betweens. But if you are charmed by this city of contrasts that is still stuck in time somewhere between the 13th and 15th centuries, this feeling about Fez will stay with you forever like an image from a fairytale.

——————————–

Read about the new MGallery in Kyoto

The post A beautiful riad in Fez appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Sofitel recently worked with global marketing research company IPSOS to conduct this global in-depth survey. They wanted to understand the habits and preferences of guests. In particular, what women want to see and experience in hotels. The survey found that 86% of female travelers wanted a hospitality program designed specifically for women.

As a result, MGallery by Sofitel established Inspired by Her. This new program focuses on what women want when they are traveling.

WHAT WOMEN WANT

73% of women surveyed said they often forget to pack an essential item. Then, they don’t realise they’ve left it behind until they get to the hotel. As a result, all MGallery hotels now offer emergency kits. These kits include complimentary beauty items, makeup remover, nail polish remover, hair ties and pins. They also contain moisturizer, sunscreen, and stockings.

Women also want quality hairdryers and good bathroom lighting when staying at a hotel. So now, all MGallery hotels in the Pacific now have quality hairdryers and makeup mirrors.

HEALTHY MENU & SIGNATURE COCKTAILS

As part of the Inspired by Her program, MGallery hotels in Australia have also added light and healthy menu items in their restaurants. In fact, several dishes have been created specifically around inspiring women.

Signature cocktails have also been created with floral creations, champagne and fruit. Also, on request, a staff member will deliver a specially brewed tea in an elegant teapot to the room.

The global survey also found out that wellbeing experiences tops the list of ‘Memorable Moments‘ women want to have. Meanwhile the feminine touches women like in a hotel are fresh flowers, fragrance, quality bedding and materials, and attention to service detail.

 ABOUT MGALLERY BY SOFITEL

MGallery by Sofitel has over 90 boutique hotels around the world. Each MGallery tells a unique story inspired by the destination. MGallery hotels are places where guests can discover the best the world can offer. Well-known properties in the MGallery collection include Hotel Molitor Paris, INK Hotel Amsterdam, Queens Hotel Cheltenham in England, Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro, Hotel Lindrum Melbourne in Australia, Muse Bangkok Langsuan in Thailand, and Hotel des Arts Saigon in Vietnam.

MGallery is part of AccorHotels, a leading travel and lifestyle group with over 4,300 hotels, resorts and residences, along with some 10,000 of the finest private homes around the globe.

The post What Women Want, according to a Sofitel survey appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.