Lonely Planet Review

Rising like a fortress of luxury above Bab Marrakech, L'Heure Bleue is a bastion of 21st-century comfort. Commandeered by the Relais & Chateaux hotel chain it runs with battleship efficiency, bringing unimaginable extravagances to what is still essentially a poor fishing village.

There's an Internet connection in every room, a colonial bar, rooftop pool, cinema lounge, and a billiard room with such deep pile carpets that you feel like throwing yourself down and rolling around. Rooms have expensive, printed French fabrics, slatted window blinds, freestanding fireplaces and dozens of plump pillows. In the bathrooms, halogen bulbs beam down on chrome fittings and marble so highly polished you can fix your hair in the reflection. And we hardly have room to mention the restaurant with its Lyonnaise chef, and the utterly romantic spa. Due to such fabulousness, Essaouira itself is in danger of disappointing.