If you went by what the travel press says you’d think Marrakech and Morocco were different names for the same place. But there are other cities in Morocco — one of them, Rabat, even happens to be the capital. It’s less a pure holiday spot than Marrakech or Essaouira, of course, but its seaside location is charming enough, and like any capital, it’s got a need for some decent hotels: quite a bit more than decent, in fact, judging by the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses.
Sofitel can typically be counted on to raise the stakes wherever they go; their Parisian-influenced style is sexier than the typical luxury hotel, and they’ll match up to many a boutique in the looks department. This one is suitably North African–influenced as well, with mashrabiya-style wooden screens and ornately carved headboards. Underneath it all, however, it’s an utterly contemporary luxury hotel, with all the bells and whistles that entails.
Plus a few extras. A pool is probably to be expected, but an Andalusian garden, an orange grove, and a driving range are a bit above and beyond. As for the location, it’s anything but standard business-district fare — here you’re in the heart of the historic city, near both the Royal Palace and the Mausoleum.
author watson@mouselink.net, source www.tablethotels.com
