Hotel El Andalous Lounges & Spa — Hotel in Marrakesh Prefecture

During my recent stay in Marrakech, I had the pleasure of staying at Hotel El Andalous, located in the Hivernage District, which is conveniently close to Menara Mall. Before delving into the details of my experience at the hotel, let me provide some insight into what the Hivernage District represents. One of my favorite hotels in the city.

The Hivernage District is a prestigious neighborhood in Marrakech, known for its upscale hotels, restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. It is a popular choice for tourists due to its proximity to attractions like Menara Mall and the famous Menara Gardens. The district offers a more tranquil and sophisticated atmosphere compared to the bustling Medina.

Now, let's discuss my stay at Hotel El Andalous. Upon entering the hotel, I noticed that the facilities had a somewhat old-fashioned and Classique vibe and appeared a bit run down. However, what impressed me was the hotel's commitment to cleanliness and maintenance. Despite its dated appearance, the cleanliness of the premises was commendable, and the hotel seemed well-kept.

The staff at Hotel El Andalous were undoubtedly one of its strongest assets. They were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout my stay. Their helpfulness and professionalism added a personal touch to the overall experience, making me feel valued as a guest.

One of the standout features of the hotel was its amazing pool area. Whether you're looking to take a refreshing swim or simply relax under the sun, the pool provided a serene and inviting setting. It offered a pleasant escape from the heat of Marrakech and was a fantastic spot to unwind after a day of exploration.

In terms of dining, the breakfast buffet at Hotel El Andalous was satisfying. There was a good variety of options, ensuring that every guest could find something to their liking. It provided a solid start to the day and set the tone for further exploration of the city.

While Hotel El Andalous may have slightly outdated facilities, the cleanliness, maintenance, friendly staff, and enjoyable amenities made it a worthwhile choice. The hotel's proximity to Menara Mall and its location in the Hivernage District offered convenience and access to a more sophisticated side of Marrakech.

In conclusion, if you are willing to overlook the slightly old-fashioned decor, and like Classique ambiance like I personally do, Hotel El Andalous provides a comfortable and pleasant stay. The staff's friendliness, cleanliness of the premises, delightful pool area, and satisfying breakfast buffet make it a good value for your money. Whether you are a leisure traveler or on a business trip, this hotel can serve as a suitable base for your stay...

Reluctantly rating this hotel 4 stars — though it barely earns it.||This is a family-friendly hotel that covers only the bare essentials. While advertised as a 4-star hotel, the offerings felt more basic and limited.||🔹 Inclusions & Amenities:| • “Fully inclusive” only covers breakfast and dinner — drinks are not included throughout the day, which is quite misleading.| • Even with breakfast, water is not provided — only juice and tea. A 4-star hotel should at least offer bottled water to guests.| • No iron provided in rooms (you’ll need to bring your own).| • Pool towels must be hired for 100 dirhams deposit each.| • Outside food is only allowed in your room — not elsewhere in the hotel.||⚠️ Poor Service Experiences:|| • Air conditioning leaked in my room — something I later discovered had also happened to other guests based on reviews. I reported it to reception, but it was never resolved.|| • Room service was inconsistent — one day, both of my rooms weren’t cleaned. When I raised this, the same receptionist claimed it was because I didn’t put the room service card out — which wasn’t true. I’ve traveled widely and understand how hotel housekeeping works, so this felt like a poor excuse.|| • Towel requests were ignored — despite asking for fresh towels after a full day out with my children, we received nothing. My kids had to use their used towels again before bed.|| • The receptionist in question was uncooperative, dismissive, and repeatedly failed to follow through on promises. He refused to give his name, which was concerning.|| • Similarly, the poolside bar staff (particularly a tall man) was arrogant and rude — he even made comments in his language assuming I wouldn’t understand. Very unprofessional and disrespectful.||These two male staff members seriously undermined the hotel experience. Their attitudes were a stark contrast to the warmth of Moroccan hospitality and the other staff members.||✅ Positives:| • Restaurant staff were fantastic — polite, attentive, and genuinely welcoming.| • Breakfast was okay, though a bit repetitive.| • The excursion coordinator (Women) at the reception desk was friendly, respectful, and extremely helpful — she gave me excellent day-by-day guidance for excursions. Much appreciated!||✨ Final Thoughts:||While my time in Marrakesh overall was lovely thanks to the welcoming nature of Moroccan people, this hotel needs serious improvement in staff training and basic service delivery. I’ve tried to be fair — singling out the two problematic individuals rather than generalising the entire team.||If you choose to stay here, come with patience and low expectations — and bring your own water,...

This is the worst hotel I have stayed in. We faced countless issues however I will only list a few as I will likely reach the word limit for this review. The staff have no manners or people skills at all. The staff just watch you walking past, can't even say hello or good morning- basic people skills. The rooms had stains everywhere and looked worn out. They could really do with a deep clean or renovation. We also located a spider crawling on the bathroom curtain. The walls are extremely thin and we could hear the smallest movements from the neighbouring rooms. It sounded like we could hear furniture being moved in the rooms above us every night. We were requested by staff on two occasions to pay city tax even though we had paid this when checking in. We clearly informed the staff members that we had already paid, however it appeared they did not believe us. Don't the staff keep a record of when payments are made? This was really embarrassing for us, as though the hotel staff were accusing us of trying to avoid making the payment. We also had a similar experience to one of the guests below. When Morocco were playing, we were sent to several locations within the hotel where it was clear the staff were wanting to charge us to watch the game. Why should hotel guests have to make a payment to watch a football match in the bar/restaurant? It seemed like everyone in the hotel just wanted our money. There are no tea/coffee facilities in the rooms. How can a four star hotel in this day and age not provide these facilities. Again is this so we can be charged extortionate rates in the cafe? The hotel charge 100 dirham an hour to use the gym. Probably explains why I didn't see the gym being used on a single occasion during our stay. It is cheaper in many countries to purchase a monthly gym pass. The WiFi is extremely slow in most areas of the hotel, especially the rooms. This is a basic commodity and an upgrade of the internet is needed. We requested an iron from reception however we were informed this could not be provided and that we should consider the ironing service which the hotel provide. The rates for this service again are extortionate. How could a four star hotel not provide an iron? We have requested an iron at several hotels previously and we have always been provided one. The breakfast is really average, and the same items were provided every single day during our eight day stay. I have read several reviews below and the hotel have responded promising changes will be made, however having just stayed at the hotel for eight days I cannot see any...