La Sultana Oualidia in Essaouira (2 others) – Morocco (7 others)

the hotel: La Sultana is a place of luxury in the style of A Thousand and One Arabian Nights.
the room: The ambience is open and spacious and the detailing is authentically Moroccan. It’s an exotic variant on the idea of a beach hotel.
the bar: Set in its own round thatched pavilion, the bar is halfway between the hotel and the beach.
the restaurant: Adjacent to the lagoon, the restaurant has a sweeping, view of the lagoon, the surrounding dunes and the Atlantic Ocean.
the location: This tiny fishing village is possibly the most engagingly beautiful spot on Morocco’s entire Atlantic coast.
the pool: The turquoise infinity pool has an enviable position overlooking the langoon and out towards the ocean.
the spa: The spa, made out of carved stone, is like an immense cathedral with a swimming pool at the centre.
the view: It is one of the most spectacular lagoons on the Atlantic coast; a massive basin of ocean blue water surrounded by high dunes and headland that opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

You absolutely must…

Must eat:
Oualidia’s own restaurant is the best in town.

Must haggle:
Since you will probably be driving from Marrakesh, perhaps it’s best to save the shopping until you get back to this city’s souks-but make sure you haggle-the locals expect you to!

Must see:
Venture out on to the hotel’s own jetty, or command a small boat, cross the lagoon, climb the sand dunes, and roll down to the Atlantic on the other side-watch out for pink flamingos too.

About La Sultana Oualidia

The Whole Story

An exotic hideaway situated on one of North Africa’s most beautiful and least known beaches. La Sultana is a palace on the coast – an imposing structure of arches, terraces, domes and private spaces that cascade down a steep hillside to a splendid lagoon. It is a place of luxury in the style of A Thousand and One Arabian Nights.

This tiny fishing village is possibly the most engagingly beautiful spot on Morocco’s entire Atlantic coast. It is blessed with a sandy lagoon, imposing dunes, crashing surf and no tourists.

Despite its imposing size, the hotel has only eleven guest suites which are better described as apartments rather than rooms. The ambience is open and spacious and the detailing is authentically Moroccan. The ceilings are lined in Oleander, the walls are of stone and tadelakt and the wooden furniture is painted in traditional fashion.

It’s an exotic variant on the idea of a beach hotel. Directly adjacent to the lagoon, the restaurant has a sweeping, uninterrupted view of the lagoon, the surrounding dunes and the crashing Atlantic Ocean. There is a space with a fireplace for the colder winter months and an extensive terrace for alfresco breakfast, lunch or diner.

The Rooms

Each room has been carefully designed with natural materials to reinforce an at home feeling. The ceiling is made from rows of Oleander, the walls are of stone and tadelakt, while the painted wooden furniture and the ancient marble floor provide an air of natural elegance.

Room or suite, each one profits from its own decoration offering luxurious environment and elegance sophisticated with a panoramic sight on the lagoon.

Prestige Deluxe Room, Junior Suite, Suite or Deluxe Suite all come with Sound-proofing, reversible air-conditioning, dehumidification, satellite TV with screen plasma, audio reader DVD/CD, telephone, access internet, gracious nonalcoholic mini-bar, strong trunk, bathroom out of marble with shower and bath-tub as standard.