Tangier is the port city of Morroco and is the interchange whereby buses to Chefchaouen depart from. Since buses to Chefchaouen only departed in the afternoons and I arrived by train in the evening, I decided to stay a night here to try out the newest Hilton property in Africa.
Located right across the street from the train station, the hotel was attached to the new Tanger City mall and just five minutes away by foot. It was also steps away from Tanga Playa where I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life. I relished in the fact that I did not have to deal with taxi drivers right after a 5 hours train ride because Moroccan taxi drivers are not known to be very honest. (In fact they are outright huge touts.) This is especially so since ridesharing apps like Uber do not work here.
Upon reaching the Hilton, there was a metal detector right at the entrance, which is typical of most of the hotels I have stayed in, in Africa. This was tended by 3 staffs who made sure all bags were screened and guests were not bringing in anything dangerous. They were very professional and welcoming. After clearing the security check, I was ushered to the check in desk and that was the beginning of a very amazing stay. The Hilton felt like a perfect retreat after a long journey, like an oasis of comfort in the blazing sun. The décor was classic, timeless and very well appointed. One could tell that the furnitures were of exceptional quality and craftsmanship. What made me even happier was the fact that the property smelt extremely new, having opened barely two weeks ago. After acknowledging my diamond status, I was escorted to the executive lounge to complete my check in procedures.
I was attended promptly by Mr Adil Ait Lazrak, who actually took the effort to have a conversation with me whilst checking me in, something that I have not had in a long time. He was very genuine and it felt as if I was talking to a friend that I had knew for quite some time. I was offered a welcome drink as well as some really tasty macaroons. While there were no suites available, (something that I still have my doubts about, since the hotel seemed very empty, and they were still selling suites on the app) the room that I got was decently sized and looked modern.
The executive room that I was allocated was very minimal yet did not feel cold. There was a proper working desk, HDTV, sitting area with a sofa and two very comfortable beds. Space was utilized very well and the room had everything one would need for a comfortable night.
The oversized windows provided natural light and a not very impressive view of the city. Shortly after settling down, a member of the staff delivered my welcome amenities, which consisted of fruits, some local snacks and a welcome letter by the GM.
The bathroom was spacious and featured a separate section for the toilet, shower and the tub. I loved the generous use of green marble tilings because it made the personal space feel refined. Toiletries were Peter Thomas Roth brand as usual.
After taking enough photos in the room, it was time to head up to the rooftop where the pool and bar was located. Having seen renderings of the pool on the website, I was so excited to see it in real life and it definitely did not disappoint. Located on the 16th floor, the pool was on the side facing the city while the lounging area was on the side facing the ocean. There were plenty of sitting available, which provided an unobstructed view of the Atlantic ocean that could easily rival that of the W Barcelona and the hotels in South Beach Miami. I was in awe of Mother Nature and it felt so surreal that I was there. The place felt so chill and relax, I could see myself spending an entire day here. This was a gem in the Hilton portfolio and considering the rates that I paid; it was such value for money. I then took a quick dip in the pool before heading off to the lounge for evening cocktails. The pool was somewhat an infinity pool and there were quite a number of guests posing for photos when I was there.
The executive lounge was very inviting with decoration similar to that of the lobby. Tons of statement art pieces littered around. The spread was really bare though with finger bites and the usual wine and hard liquor selection, so do not expect a dinner replacement here.
After an extremely great sleep, I woke up for breakfast at the restaurant and it was completely empty. It was an experience to be dining in a restaurant with 10 servers and no other guests. Talk about VIP service. I had every single whims and fancies tended to and felt like royalty. The spread was mainly continental but with the killer view, everything tasted exceptional.
All the staffs I interacted with were friendly and helpful, I was so pampered. It felt like I had a personal butler who could anticipate all my needs before I actually need them. And I thought that only Asian hotels were capable of delivering such extraordinary service. Coupled with the killer view and amazing hardware, this is probably the best Hilton property I have ever stayed in, comparable to the likes of St Regises, Conrads and Ritzs. I cannot wait to retun.