The Hotel Lawrence of Arabia in Marrakesh is in the new town, also known as Hivernage. The Hotel Lawrence of Arabia has several floors, offering single and double rooms as well as suits, a swimming pool, a restaurant and a cafe.
In the basement there is even a spa where you can get a massage or spend some time in the steam room and Jacuzzi.
I really enjoyed my stay at the Hotel Lawrence of Arabia in Marrakesh as the room was spacious, the public areas clean and tidy and the swimming pool very inviting.
The moment I walked in to the lobby of the Lawrence of Arabia Hotel I felt like it was a different world with a beautiful traditional wooden ceiling, lots of traditional Moroccan items and a great big mirror in front of the armchairs.
In the evening I stayed by the swimming pool and later I watched the sunset from my window. I also had dinner in the restaurant which is also open to the public.
A week after my first night at the Hotel Lawrence of Arabia I decided to come back instead of looking for a new place as it was so nice here. The swimming pool area was my favourite and also the view from the back room during my first stay.
During my second stay I found out that cooked breakfast was also included so I decided to have some fried eggs with vegetables. Again, I had dinner in the cafe downstairs which is part of the hotel but open to the public. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for a nice hotel to stay in Marrakesh.
Finding the Hotel Lawrence of Arabia
The hotel is on Rue Abou Bakr Seddiq, just of Boulevard Mohammed VI, about 2 kilometers from the Medina of Marrakesh. I paid 440 dirhams per night, which is about £34/night.
It is easy to get here on foot or by bicycle although I would recommend a taxi if you are coming from the direction of the Medina or the Airport.
A taxi from the airport should cost no more than 100 dirham and about 50-70 dirham from the old town in Marrakesh.
Entering the Lawrence of Arabia Hotel
The entrance is on the corner of the building, going up three steps and through a metal detector. The reception desk is on the left as you enter and on the right is a table with a hot mug of Moroccan tea on offer all the time.
The moment I walked in I knew it would be a special place: the ceiling was beautifully carved and painted in Moroccan style and they had artwork on every wall and shelf.
I really liked the colors of the place as well: light floor and dark brown ceiling with floral patterns highlighting the traditional aspects of life in Marrakesh.
First Impressions
My first impressions of the hotel were great and it just kept getting better! When I walked in the receptionist offered a cup of tea and asked me to sit in the lobby to fill out the check-in forms. I decided to sit by the swimming pool on the and enjoy the tea and warmth after the miserable winter in the UK.
The Lobby Area of Hotel Laurence d’Arabie
The lobby area had a big mirror, several armchairs and sofa and the lift plus the stairs going upstairs. The entrance to the spa, breakfast area and garden swimming pool were also here.
There were some huge glass windows to the garden which they closed in the evening to keep the colder air outside but during the day they were all open allowing the sun and warmth in.
Checking In at the Hotel Lawrence of Arabia
The check-in process was completely different from Western Europe or the US. Like I said I sat by the pool filling out the papers and once I finished I walked up to the reception to pick up my keys and pay for the room. It took about 15-20 minutes because I was not in a rush to leave.
The Lift and Public Areas
The lift was on the right as I walked in to the lobby from the reception room. The stairs hugged the lift and since my room was only on the second floor I decided not to bother with the lift.
Inside the Room
The doors operate with a plastic key card which you need to place in a box inside to turn the electricity on. At first the room seemed a bit dim but then I turned the lights on which helped. Opening the curtain also made the room much lighter but also much hotter.
Fortunately they had air conditioning but I hardly used it – instead I closed the curtains and kept the windows open at night to let the cold air in.
The Bed
Walking in the room the double bed was on the right with a bedside cabinet on each side. Above the cabinets were two lamps and a plug on each side with the main lamp switch.
The bed was comfortable with two pillows plus a couple of extra decorative pillows. I found the pillows were quite firm and I had a good night sleep both nights I stayed here. I also found the mattress firm enough and not soggy like in some places.
The Rest of the Bedroom
There was a fridge, a big cupboard with an extra blanket, a safe, a big flat screen TV with only Arabic and French channels a desk underneath the TV. In the corner of the room there was also a small chair which I used to keep my hat on.
Wifi in the Room
The wifi in the room was quite fast and I used it to watch youtube and check my mail. I also downloaded a map of central Morocco onto my phone using the wifi.
The Bathroom
The bathroom was on the right as I entered the room with a sink, a shower and a bathtub and a separate toilet. It was nice and clean with instant hot water which I really enjoyed although I felt a bit guilty having a long hot shower in the desert with water shortages.
The toiletries had the hotel’s own label on and my favourite was the green tea smelling soap which I decided to keep two for myself when I went home.
The Swimming Pool and Spa
The swimming pool looked very nice although the water was a bit too cold for me to enter. The spa had a special offer on with the steam room, Jacuzzi and massage all included at 400 dirham.
I thought it was very expensive given I only spent like 15 dirhams on my own spa a couple of days later visiting a traditional Moroccan hammam!
Overall Impressions
The hotel itself, the rooms and the lobby looked great although I thought the spa was a bit overpriced but otherwise I think everything was fine. What I also did not realise is that you can order cooked breakfast so it would be useful to say this at check-in.
On my second morning I notice someone getting scrambled eggs so this is when I noticed they not only had continental breakfast.
The eggs were a bit under cooked so I only ate the edge, otherwise the pancake and yogurt was very delicious. Also, this time I got a room on the street side and it was a bit noisier than the back but I closed the windows, pulled the curtains and let the shutters down so it was fine.
Also, they don’t have English language channels so I was watching youtube, fortunately the speed was fast enough.
Telephone: +212 5244-47595
Address: Rue Abou Bakr Seddiq, Marrakesh 40020, Morocco
