Being a loyal SPG platinum member, my obvious choice when visiting Marrakech was to stay at the Le Meridien N’fis. I had 2 stays booked on the 9th June and 12th June, and being a Category 1 hotel, I had the option of redeeming 3,000 star points. But the value per point of the cash plus point option was too great I did just that.
I landed at Marrakech airport in the afternoon and hailed a taxi to the hotel, which cost 10 euros. It was quite a rip-off considering Google map showed the distance to be 2.5km, but as it was sweltering hot, I did not stick too long to bargain for a lower rate. The drive to the hotel was roughly 10 minutes and the view was nothing spectacular. Upon arrival at Le Meridien, there was a security guard who checked the underneath and the trunk of the cab. Subsequently, we were made to pass through a metal detector to enter the lobby. On first impression, I thought security was tight, but after entering and exiting the property a few times, it was really just for formality sake and I figured it was more for deterrence.
The lobby was gorgeous and that was probability the highlight of the entire property. Check in was prompt and I was glad that I had been pre upgraded to an ambassador suite. This is the first time that I have been upgraded to a suite with my Platinum status and I was glad that the recognition was great.
We were escorted to the room by a bellboy and on the way we passed by the garden and the pool. The property has done a good job maintaining the common areas of the compound, however as we approached the lift landing I realize why the property constantly gets bad reviews on TripAdvisor. The lifts were extremely worn out with it making jerky movements. The carpets that led to the room were in need of severe replacement. They were not even sticking to the floor anymore. Tons of used cutlery and china were left along the corridor, which made it smell stale. The door that led to our room was paper-thin and it looked like it could be broken in with a kick.
At this point I did not have high expectations of the room already, but thankfully the room was decent. Coming in at roughly 60sqm, the room was on the fifth floor, which gave it a nice view of the greenery amidst all the brown. The suite felt a lot like the Luxor in Las Vegas with the use of warm brown hues and wooden furniture, which felt just about right in Marrakech. Upon entering the suite the guest toilet could be found immediately to the right. In front of the toilet was a 4-person dining table and right beside it was the sofa. The floors were non-carpeted considering the entire city was extremely sandy. Air conditioning was amazing considering and it cooled the room quickly.
The bedroom featured a California king size bed and a wardrobe area. I could not help but check the bed sheets for bloodstains, considering it was a common gripe on TripAdvisor. Thankfully I found none and the bed granted me a good sleep.
The toilet was huge with a shower area, a bathtub and double sink. Toiletries were provided by Malin+Goetz, which is typical for Le Meridien properties. Again my paranoia from reading TripAdvisor reviews made me check the towels and although there were no stains that were frequently reported by other guest, the towels were not white at all (more beige). This I thought was unacceptable of a self proclaimed 5 star SPG hotel. Wifi was surprisingly good though and I had no problem streaming movies on Netflix and downloading attachments.
Facilities wise, there were some visible upgrading works that are in progress throughout. There were a few restaurants in the hotel but I did not get the chance to try any of them out. The gym was surprisingly well equipped but was not air-conditioned at all.
I enjoyed free breakfast in the morning thanks to my platinum status and it was surprisingly decent. There was an omelet station, as well as tons of fruits, pastries, etc. Very continental and nothing like those in Asia, but still a nice buffet.
Overall the hotel was quite a disappointment. While it was branded a Le Meridien, it was nothing like the amazing Le Meridiens I have stayed in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Location wise, this property is very convenient, being only a 5min drive away from the train station and the Medina. I doubt I will ever stay here again if I come back. I would rather pay a bit more to try out the La Mamounia.