Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Assistant Editor Marie-Claire sets off on a dream trip to Morocco to uncover the delights of North Africa and sample the quality of stay at Sofitel, the leading hotel brand which will shortly be opening up in Bahrain.
Having not left Bahrain in over three years, I think it's safe to say that cabin fever had reached fever pitch by the time the opportunity to spend a few days in Morocco presented itself and it didn't take long for my friends and colleagues to sweep away any doubts or excuses I might have had and twist my rubber arm into submission.
I packed my bags, took out the rubbish and called a taxi to catch me to my 'stupid o'clock in the morning' flight and after sitting through hours of screaming children kicking the back of my seat I quickly remembered why it is that I haven't gone away anywhere for such a long time; I hate travelling.
Fourteen hours from door to hotel entrance and I was just about ready to pull my hair out but the second my foot hit the ground outside the Sofitel Marrakech and I caught a glimpse of the grand entrance all my misgivings vanished into the warm gentle breeze surrounding me.
Welcoming smiles and choruses of 'bonjours Madame' soon put a beaming smile of my own on my face as I was presented with a pretty bunch of pink roses and a glass of traditional Moroccan mint tea to enjoy in the elegant but infinitely welcoming reception before being escorted to my room.
If I'd been asked to describe my ideal holiday destination it would be hard to come up with a place more perfect!
Going into my room my first thought was at how very Moroccan it all felt - well at least my imagined version of how Morocco would feel - with wooden carved moulding and warm Moroccan terracotta colours surrounding a 'My Bed' bed (more on that later). I went straight out onto the balcony and was greeted with stunning views overlooking one of the pool areas, with oversized bean pillows, hammocks and four poster bed-like loungers dotted around the gardens.
After a quick freshening up it was time to go and have a look around the hotel and spa, with a Moroccan bath (hammam) and massage thrown in for good measure. After being steamed with eucalyptus oils, rubbed and scrubbed with black soap and a scrubbing mitt to within an inch of my life, my skin felt as soft as a baby's bottom ... and it wasn't over yet. It was time to lie down and feel every muscle in my body relax as my masseuse worked all the stress and strain of my journey out of my body. BLISS.
Walking back to my room in a daze of relaxed wonder, it took all the little power left inside me to resist the temptation of entering the chic boutiques and Louis Vuitton shop that filled the lobbies - something my bank balance is now thanking me for!
That night, after a sumptuous feast of roast duck, smoked salmon pasta and tricolour chocolate mousse at the hotel's L'Orangerie restaurant, I had the best night's sleep I can ever remember having. It wasn't that I slept longer than normal or that I was exhausted from a long day of travel and pampering, it was quite simply the 'My Bed' experience. Slipping between the sheets I had the sensation of climbing onto a big fluffy cloud that wrapped itself around me and had lulled me into a deep and peaceful sleep.
The 'Red City', as Marrakech is known due to all the buildings being red, is an amazing sight to behold and the souq is exactly as you'd imagine it to be, complete with winding street filled with brightly coloured traditional clothing, antics, jewellery, spices, pottery and souvenirs that allow you while away hours of your time as you explore its treasures.
And when the sun goes down, the nightlife teems with a multitude of things to do. On my second night I went to 'Chez Ali', an outdoor restaurant that can hold over a thousand people, where the traditional Moroccan fare of harisa, tagine and couscous are brought to your table one after another until you can't possibly eat any more, while Moroccan singers and dancers perform from table to table, after which the main event of the evening takes place: a display of swordsmen on horseback.
Back at the hotel it was time sit back and enjoy a delicious cocktail or two before heading to my room for another night of heavenly sleep.
The Sofitel Marrakech is quit simply a pleasure to all your senses, blending French elegance, which is the trademark of the Sofitel chain of hotels with all the romance and rustic charms of exotic Morocco. It's a place I, for one, would go to anytime.
