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Anyone stayed at either of the 2 Hilton properties that show up as being gin Marrakesh? They’re both SLH branded properties – one the Nobu hotel, which seems pretty central, and the other, the Tsar Char-Bagh, which is a bit more isolated and further out….
Leaning towards the Nobu as it’s a 3 night stay, and I should be able to fund it on HH points…..
Don’t stay in a Hilton. There are so many amazing Riads there, the thought of a sterile 5* room in a Hilton makes me cringe at all the experience you would miss. I’ve had a drink at the Nobu. It’s a bit out of town, exceptionally expensive, and compared to the other parts of town exceptionally soulless. By all means go for a drink at their rooftop bar, which has great views, but I really wouldn’t stay there.
For less cost than a meal at the rooftop bar, you could stay at Riad Monceau which is very high quality, in the middle of things, and has amazing jazz. Save your points for somewhere else.
We stayed in the Medina in a lovely Riad. Don’t waste your time in a soulless chain hotel.
We had a drink in La Mamounia – glitzy, very nice but could have been a posh hotel anywhere.I’m struggling to conceive why anyone might wish to visit Nobu in Marrakesh! Why bother travelling to Morocco for that?
These days Nobu is just another almost 100 strong chain hotel and restaurant outlet. The best quality thing it offers is great marketing to persuade people it’s better than the reality and because of the name few dare say the emperor is wearing no clothes for fear of appearing to lack taste.
Matsuhisa, the restaurant in LA where it all started was great but really quite low key and not expensive or glitzy but has unfortunately morphed into an expensive chain where glitz is prized over quality and where you are more likely to find lesser ‘celebs’ and footballers than foodies.
Nowadays Nobu is as exclusive as M&S and unsurprisingly joins the Ivy chain on the Amex dining list.
Like films, the sequel is rarely as good as the original.
Ksar Char Bagh is certainly not a chain hotel (the OP is discussing booking an SLH property with Hilton points, not an actual Hilton property).
I haven’t stayed at either mentioned, so can’t help with details unfortunately.
Completely agree with the comments about staying in a riad. We travelled by train
up through Morocco as part of our honeymoon and stayed in riads for all but one night when we stayed in the Sofitel in Casablanca in the middle of our trip due a train schedule issue. It was quite jarring staying there after the wonderful riads we stayed in and the warm hospitality we received.I do understand the ease/familiarity of the chains (am staying in mostly IHG for my upcoming SA trip with a few indies where I’ve had recommendations) but Morocco is definitely one place where I’d swerve a chain hotel – staying in a riad is a unique experience (even in the mid-range ones we stayed in)
On your first visit, stay in a Riad in the Medina.
Be prepared for all the madness and shenanigans that this location carries with it.
On subsequent visits, stay at the Radisson Blu in Gueliz.Thanks – appreciate the suggestions! By the way, the only reason I’m staying Hilton on this trip is because I need to use the points as a redemption to be able to afford it – I’ve never been…..
…We travelled by train up through Morocco as part of our honeymoon…
When I took the overnight sleeper to Marrakesh in 1989, the lady of the night in the next compartment was visited by a steady stream of German soldiers (fortunately not in uniform), and the train conductor was her final client. I have always found it a little strange that he didn’t choose to go first.
Our immaculate hotel just off the Djemma El Fna didn’t have en-suite rooms, but, at 12 Dirhams/£0.81 per night, I wasn’t complaining. However, the repercussions of an ill-advised indulgence on a street vendor’s pitta with grilled lamb ensured that I made more noise on the return journey than the solders had made on the outbound leg.
I suspect times have changed.
@jj – was that a Nobu train then?
More like 1889
…We travelled by train up through Morocco as part of our honeymoon…
When I took the overnight sleeper to Marrakesh in 1989, the lady of the night in the next compartment was visited by a steady stream of German soldiers (fortunately not in uniform), and the train conductor was her final client. I have always found it a little strange that he didn’t choose to go first.
Our immaculate hotel just off the Djemma El Fna didn’t have en-suite rooms, but, at 12 Dirhams/£0.81 per night, I wasn’t complaining. However, the repercussions of an ill-advised indulgence on a street vendor’s pitta with grilled lamb ensured that I made more noise on the return journey than the solders had made on the outbound leg.
I suspect times have changed.
We are both fans sleeper trains/international trains and have taken many over the years (hence why our honeymoon wasn’t going to be lounging on a tropical beach), but thankfully have never been aware of that sort of activity on board!
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