Avoid La Mamounia. Overpriced with the occasional temperamental staff member.

I had a bad experience at the hotel's L'Italien restaurant that, frankly, ruined my experience at La Mamounia. This was my second trip to Morocco. I planned this trip to show my girlfriend the country - her first time to North Africa. The last time I went was 10 years ago and I dreamed since my first visit to come back and stay at La Mamounia. We stayed here for our first day in Morocco, and then we came back for our last day in Morocco (i.e., I stayed there and gave them my business twice in one trip) I WILL NEVER, EVER COME BACK TO LA MAMOUNIA.

What Happened: I was completely disrespected by the wait staff that was serving my section at L'Italien. There was something wrong that day that did not represent the rest of my experience and the high level of service the rest of the staff at other parts of the hotel exhibited.

-First: The hostess told me I had the wrong shoes (I was wearing sandals) for the restaurant - fine, not a big deal. Until I observed there were other male patrons wearing sandals. I thought that was very unfair and it was unclear why they were picking on me. And the hostess had the audacity to go out of her way to look me up and down when I came back. I thought the up and down look was very rude. I went all the way back to my room, it was a long walk, it's not like I'm trying to fool you.

-Second: The bus boy set up my silverware completely backwards. It was really weird and noticeable --- Ok, fine, whatever.

-Third: The waiter then completely ignored me with his back turned to me while serving us. --- Now I'm getting annoyed.

-Fourth: Come dessert, my girlfriend didn't want anything and I just ordered for myself. She and I were being playful, I was teasing her with the sweets, and this a$$hole waiter decides to butt into our time together and gave her dessert because he thought I was excluding her. --- We're both so confused why this is happening to us.

-Fifth - Last straw - I ask for the check and the waiter comes, looks at me, and then hands the check to my girlfriend. Now THIS is very strange, especially in this part of the world. The reservation is under my name, every staff member has handed me a bill, and now this?!?

I regretfully did not say anything and decided that I would write a hand written letter and give it to the management.

The next day when we were checking out I handed the letter the front desk staff. I explained to the manager on duty that I left a letter for him. I had to catch a flight and didn't want to delay going into the experience above. I was hoping to get some acknowledgment from the management, I spent a long time writing my letter to them....NO RESPONSE.

Why I'm so bothered by this: -I just couldn't believe how I could be so disrespected by staff at such an expensive and famous hotel. I've stayed at all sorts of hotels over the years, from hostels to opulent hotels. I've never had this experience at any hotel before, so that's particularly why it's shocking to me.

-I also had been looking forward to staying at La Mamounia for over 10 years. And to have had this experience really disappointed me. The next time I go to Morocco could be over a decade, I have no reason to go back for a third time. Candidly, I never want to go back anyway, the country has become too touristic. So it's really a bummer to have had the last experience I may have there be a negative one.

-Frankly, La Mamounia is WAAAAAY overpriced, and it's that way by design. They want to attract a certain kind of traveler that doesn't mind paying $15 USD for a single scoop of ice cream. So to have paid handsomely to stay there and be disrespected is UNACCEPTABLE.

So to anyone who has made it so far, here are my recommendations for accommodations in Marrakesh: -Either stay at a Riad in the souk -Or stay at one of the other 5-star hotels in Marrakesh where you may not be so disrespected by the staff.