Le Méridien Marrakech Review
Paul‘s Hotel Review for the
Le Meridien N'fis , Marrakech
Overall Impression: 
Details:
Duration of stay: 7 nights / holiday
Check-in / Check-out:
Check-in Process:
Check-out Process:
Concierge Service:
Staff @ Front Desk:
Bonvoy recognition:
At Check-in:
In General:
Room / Bathroom:
Bed, quality of sleep:
Bathroom, Shower:
Room Atmosphere:
Housekeeping general:
Cleanliness:
Food & Beverage:
Breakfast:
Staff @ Breakfast:
Bar:
Staff Bar: N/A
Restaurants :
Staff @ Restaurants:
Pool-Bar:
Staff @ Pool-Bar:
Lounge: No Lounge
No Lounge
Staff Lounge: N/A
Paul‘s Mix:
Pool:
Spa: N/A
Hotel Location:
Mojito Rating 
:
:
General Customer Care:
Staff attitude, interaction and responsiveness:
Social media interaction:
—-
= bad, a lot of work needs to be done
=not good, you will be busy with corrections
= good & normal, nothing special
= high level, but the icing on the cake is missing
= topnotch, leave me here!
= Half a Point/sheep
—-
This stay was a one week holiday after a long time. To escape the rainy fall weather at home we decided to head to Morocco where in September you can still find a lot of sunshine with around 32 degrees Celsius.
The Le Méridien N'Fis Marrakech is located in the Menara district of Marrakech. Menara is the new town of the city with lots of hotels and right across the street from the Le Méridien there
is a big shopping mall with lots of restaurants and bars.
To get to the Medina (old town) or the famous square Jemaa el-Fna it takes an about 15 minutes walk (easy to find) or a 5 minutes taxi ride. Taxis are a big tourist scam magnet so always ask
the price before you get in. You shouldn't pay more than 30 Moroccan Dirham and that is already the tourist price.
We were able to find one single driver who drove by Taxi meter. For this ride all the others wanted 40 to 50 Dirham and by the taxi meter we ended up paying 12!!!
The international airport is around a 15 minutes drive away from the hotel.
We really liked the area of the hotel as it is outside of the bustling city and you can relax during your stay.
We knew already when be booked our stay that the hotel isn't the newest one anymore. It was build in the early 80's and the last renovation was around the year 2000.
From the outside, the hotel looks a little old but okay. It is build in the Moroccan style and has a huge garden and pool area in the Courtyard. This area is like an oasis to relax from the
bustling streets or simply to hang loose during vacation.
The interior is okay but some places are very dated whilst other still look good.
The lobby and entrance area still look nice and welcoming. They do have a Moroccan / Oriental Touch whilst the rest of the building hasn't.
This hotel has 3 different buildings (the highest one over 6 floors) with a total of 265 rooms and 12 suites.
Four meeting rooms with a total of 270 sqm are also available.
Check-in:
The Check-in overall was good. The agent was a little stressed at the beginning as he was alone and the phone rang constantly. The check-in process was very professional and welcoming. He
interacted with the guests and was chit-chatting. He gave all the necessary information about the property and opening times for breakfast.
In addition he called the head concierge who gave us more information on the property and information on what to do.
Frontdesk:
Otherwise all the staff at the frontdesk as well as the concierge desk was friendly and helpful.
They always interacted with the guests when passing the lobby area.
They also asked several times for feedback if the stay was pleasant and if there is anything they could do.
Check-out:
Check-out was good and friendly. The agent interacted with the guests and made sure everything was okay during our stay.
Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite recognition:
Normal and good recognition at check in, thanking for the loyalty, offering additional points as our rate included breakfast. We didn't ask for late checkout as we had to leave at 9:00AM for
the airport.
Thanks to our Ambassador Elite status we were upgraded to a very nice 2 room Ambassador Suite.
On the first day a very nice handwritten letter from the front office team and some flowers were awaiting us in the room. On the second day a huge fruit platter was put in our room
and they replenished plenty of water bottles every day.
There was even a Meet and Greet cocktail with the Hotel Management for Bonvoy Members and other valuable guests which would be an awesome idea but funny wise none of the management
interacted with the guest. They preferred the nibbles and buffet. This would have been such a great opportunity to pick up additional feedbacks from the customers. This is sad as such
an event would bring so much. It isn't meant to feed the customers for free but to feel the pulse from the customers.
The management is so working blind that they still have promo films throughout the hotel showing Arne Sorensen in his "good" days.
Room:
We got an Ambassador Suite on the 3rd floor in the main building overlooking the pool area. It is a two room suite with 1,5 bathrooms. There is a separate living room with a couch corner and
a dinner table in the first room together with a dayuse toilet. The second room is the bedroom with a king-size bed and a huge bathroom with separate bath tub and shower.
As said the last renovation was back in the early 2000's. The rooms look rather dated in terms of style and interior. They are due for renovation. Nevertheless we liked the suite as it had a
great atmosphere and felt cosy as a home away from home.
Both rooms have floor to ceiling windows which allow lots of natural light hto come in and you can open the windows fully in both rooms.
The furniture is old but for 20 years old still in good shape. There are some deco elements in the room but the Moroccan / Arabic touch is definitely missing. The aircon was working fine.
Both rooms have separate air-condition units which is great as you can make the bedroom cooler than the living room.
The full bathroom was huge in size and for 20 years old it still looks okay.
You have separate buth tub and shower and a double think.
The shower itself only has a regular single shower head but the water pressure is okay.
The bed was comfortable and good, the mattress rather on the hard side. The duvet was fluffy and we had two different types of pillows. We had some really good and restful sleeps.
F&B outlets/ Lounge:
Well that is actually a completely different world at this property. Unfortunately not to the good. We had quite a good discussion with the F&B director as well as the GM. The mind
setting of the F&B Director is old and dusted. Everything which was good 30 years ago is good today and shouldn't be changed. But oh well, how is the saying, the fish always stinks from
its head and with this guy in his position nothing will change for sure.
But let's start from the beginning.
Morocco still has a curfew in place from 21:00 until 5:00 where everything needs to be closed.
All restaurants, bars and street food vendors as well as all shops are open and fully running until 21:00. You have no problem to go to a restaurant for dinner and even all restaurants and
bars are open around the hotel and there are many and good ones. There are also other hotels in the close vicinity with great restaurants which we tried.
And now the big bud... The Le Méridien N'Fis has none!!!!! of its restaurants open for dinner and only the pool restaurant is open for lunch. Dinner can only be ordered as room service. They
basically chase the hotel guests to eat outside of the property. We think that it is done on purpose of the management team to keep the restaurants closed even they would be allowed to open
it. There is simply no other explanation.
In addition the quality of the food at the pool restaurant is super poor.
It is way below any other Marriott hotel we have been and definitely not Le Méridien standard.
Le Panoramique Restaurant :
In this restaurant breakfast is served. The buffet is still in COVID mode. Nevertheless there are lots of hot and cold choices.
They offer a nice buffet of fruits and cold cuts. The hot items is above average with Moroccan items as well as international dishes. They have a live cooking station where you can order you
eggs any stile and the choice of bread, croissants as well as the famous Le Méridien chocolate bread is also available. You can enjoy your breakfast inside or on the terrace.
The staff at breakfast is super friendly and super attentive.
Usually this place would also be open for lunch and dinner buffets but is currently closed.
Le Riad Restaurant :
This would be the Morrocan restaurant open for dinner but closed.
Le Jasmin Restaurant:
This would be an Andalusian restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner but closed.
Le Palmier Restaurant :
This is the restaurant by the pool area and usually open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Currently only open for lunch and max until 18:00.
The food as described above is below any Le Méridien standards and not really tasty. We had mostly (5 days) lunch and tried a lot from the menu but could not tell you anything to recommend.
The meals are made without passion and the food is just splashed on the plate as many items are precooked or pre-prepared. Some convenience food from supermarkets taste better!
We had it twice that the food was faster at the table than our drinks (Pepsi & Icetea).
The staff at this restaurant once again is phenomenal. Super friendly and attebtive. They were actually the reason we went back 5 times.
Pool Bar:
The pool bar is open from around 11:00 until the guests leave from the pool. They serve all kind of drinks by the pool and snacks from the Le Palmier Restaurant.
Overall F&B a disaster. It would be so easy to change even small things which would bring a big change.
Club Lounge:
This Le Méridien has no lounge.
Pool:
The pool and pool area is amazing. Also here some renovations would be necessary but overall a beautiful pool area with enough sun chairs and umbrellas.
The positive about the age of the hotel is the garden and pool area. It is a real oasis with lush green and huge palm trees. It is definitely a place to relax and to unwind from the busy
streets of Marrakech.
The pool staff once again is amazing. They always come to chat and try to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Spa:
The hotel would have a very nice spa with Hammam and massage treatments. Unfortunately due to covid it was closed. The only treatment they offered was a 30 minutes back massage for 450
dirhams which is super expensive as you get 2 hour treatments in a hammam / spa outside for 700-800 dirhams.
Social Media:
All social media does is posting some content on Facebook and Instagram but otherwise no interaction.
COVID Measures:
Last but not least they are following all COVID protocols and we havent met a single associate not wearing a mask.
Completely different with guests unfortunately. I do not understand why it is so difficult for some nationalities to wear a mask inside as it is currently the law in Morocco. The staff always
had to remind people. Disinfection stations and reminders to keep the distance are available throughout the entire property.
Summary:
All in all an okay stay.
The hotel is old and needs a renovation but never the less we felt home away from home and the suite had a great atmosphere.
F&B needs a massive improvement and a new F&B director which will lead the change just to get the property close to the standards of a Le Méridien Hotel. Currently I would recommend
to eat outside.
The hotel has a brand new executive chef but it seems that the F&B director is the proplem as change isn't welcome.
The absolute treasure of this property is its staff. Everyone but absolutely everyone from the regular associates works with pride and passion. They go the extra mile for every customer and
you can't feel anything else than welcome.
For the management team the guest are a burden that create work. They are no lead to the staff and could not care less for staff and guests.
We can not recommend the hotel due to its restaurants and F&B service. This Le Méridien isn't more than a basic bed and breakfast with nice staff and a big pool area.
If they aren't changing lots of things within the F&B department and if they aren't going to renovate the property I don't see this property survive for much longer or being able to keep
the Le Méridien brand.
It could be a real gem once renovated and brought back to LM standards which exist in 2021.
One night we went to check the F&B at the no name hotel opposite to the Le Méridien N'Fis to see if they also go the same way. And guess what... No, they had full house, absolutely
stunning food and well presented. So it is the management who keeps their heads in the sand.
Notes:
- Paul the Sheep does not get any benefits from the Hotels/Airlines etc.
- Paul will always pay for the services in order to be able to rate freely and truly about the experiences.
-If you are interested in more details, please send us a private message and I will be happy to share more information and pictures.