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From here, it’s a short hop to Dar Si Said, a graceful 19th-century
mansion outfitted in Moroccan master craftsmanship, ranging from
High Atlas carpets to Berber jewelry. More lavish still is the nearby
Bahia Palace, also built in the 19th century, and with a keen eye for
detail — as seen in the marble finishes, calligraphy work, and elabo-
rately painted zouak ceilings that adorn the chambers and courtyards.
Once you’ve finished gawking at the ornate handiwork, follow
your nose to the nearby spice souk where you can buy ingredients
such as ras el hanout, cumin, and saffron to add oomph to
Moroccan dishes back home. Then continue south to Kasbah for
a ramble among the enigmatic ruins of Sultan Ahmed el-Mansour’s
16th-century El Badi Palace, a once-sumptuous 360-room affair.
As day softens into dusk, wander over to the Kosybar for a rooftop
cocktail. Watch as storks flutter down to their nests on the palace
walls opposite, and Koutoubia Mosque lights up in the distance.
Day 3: French Flair in Guéliz
No trip to Marrakech would be complete without admiring
Koutoubia, the city’s most visible icon. You’ll hear the muezzin’s
raspy adhan (call to prayer) drift from the approximately 230-foot
minaret of this 12th-century mosque five times a day. For close-up
views of its keyhole arches and exterior stonework, go for a fragrant
stroll among the roses, orange trees, and palms that grow in the
gardens. Reflective pools mirror the mosque’s perfect symmetry.
Out on Avenue Mohammed V, hop in a petit taxi to Guéliz. French
colonizers laid out this neighborhood in the early 1900s and it shows.
A far cry from the labyrinthine medina, this is a district of easy-to-
navigate boulevards, where chic boutiques sidle up to pavement cafes
and Paris-worthy patisseries. Rue de la Liberté is the go-to street for
everything from Moroccan housewares to prêt-à-porter kaftans, and
if you’re in the market for a top-quality Berber carpet, stop in to Ben
Rahal. Prices are fair, and the shopping experience is hassle-free.
For a leisurely lunch in this part of town, the Moroccan home-style
dishes — such as méchoui (lamb slow-roasted on a fire until meltingly
tender) — at Al Fassia are highly recommended. Spend a refreshingly
peaceful afternoon at Jardin Majorelle — the botanical escape of late
fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent — where a cobalt-blue villa sits
among gardens bristling with Californian palms, bamboo, and cacti.
Complete this day with a decadent night out on the town
around Hivernage, home to the city’s ritziest casinos and lounges.
Begin your evening with an expertly mixed cocktail at the gilded
bar of the truly palatial Royal Mansour, or with a G&T at Le Bar
Churchill, which can be found at La Mamounia. It is named after
former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, one of many dis-
tinguished guests over the years. Round out your Marrakech trip
with a pinch of Arabian Nights fantasy at candlelit dinner club Le
Comptoir Darna, where the soft caramel tart dessert competes for
your attention with the belly dancers.
Kerry Christiani is a freelance travel writer and the author of Frommer’s
Marrakech Day by Day guide. She contributes frequently to Lonely Planet
and bbc.com/travel.
IntervalWorld.com INTERVAL WORLD Spring 2015 41
A No-Haggle Getaway Deal
Getaway price valid from April 1 through August 31, 2015.
RESORT DIRECTORY:
or page 294
CLIMATE: The average
daytime high during
summertime is from the high
70s to the high 90s.
DON’T MISS: The
mesmerizing Saadian Tombs,
where columns of marble and
carved doors enshrine about
160 deceased Saadians.
CURRENCY: Moroccan
dirham
TIPPING: Leave 10% to 15%
of the bill at restaurants.
INTERVAL TRAVEL:
RENTAL CAR: Not
recommended, unless you
want to explore on your own
beyond the city.
VISITOR INFORMATION:
Moroccan National Tourist
Office
212.221.1583
maison mk; Godong/Robert Harding Picture Library/SuperStock
Djemaa el-Fna
Avenue Mohammed V
Rue Riad Zitoun el-Jedid Bahia Palace
Dar Si Said Koutoubia
El Badi Palace
Guéliz
Jardin Majorelle
Marrakech-Medina
Kasbah
Hivernage
Marrakech
fast FACTS