La Mamounia

MOROCCO

Marrakech
La Mamounia
www.mamounia.com

When La Mamounia closed its doors for three years' worth of renovations, lovers of this sumptuous landmark mourned — and worried. Would the integrity of this quintessential Moroccan oasis receive the care it deserved? At the hand of French interior designer Jacques Garcia, the answer is "yes." With a creative, elegant touch, Garcia updated the intricate Arabesque details, from the mosaics to the reflecting pools to the arcades. The hotel now has fewer rooms — 209, to be exact — which means more space in those that remain. Our favorites are the private riads, each with three bedrooms, a private pool and terrace. The grounds were an eighteenth-century wedding gift from a Sultan to his son, and it is a pleasure to walk among the bougainvillea, Barbary figs and 100-year-old olive trees. Along with four restaurants and a permanent art collection, La Mamounia features a glamorous spa with an ozone-heated pool, nine treatment rooms, six outdoor massage cabins and three hammams.