La Mamounia

Visited this iconic hotel, renowned as a retreat for the rich and famous. A smart dress code is required to enter, but the experience is worth the effort. The elegant lobby exudes timeless luxury, the service is impeccable, and the surrounding gardens are perfect for a leisurely stroll after coffee or tea.

Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Hype or the Price As an American traveler, I had high expectations for La Mamounia given its reputation and the steep nightly rate of around $1,500. While the property itself is undeniably beautiful and well-maintained, the overall experience left a lot to be desired — especially for guests who expect hospitality, not hassle. One of the most frustrating aspects of our stay was the hotel’s strict and frankly discriminatory policy on guests. Despite booking rooms that were clearly designated for two people each, we were constantly harassed by staff when we tried to bring visitors — particularly Moroccan friends — to our room. The hotel’s solution was always to force us to purchase an entirely new room, sometimes quoting up to $1,000 per night, which felt more like a money grab than a legitimate policy. On our last night, they even claimed the hotel was fully booked, yet we found availability online — further evidence that they simply didn’t want to accommodate us. Service, for a hotel of this caliber, was also underwhelming. Several staff members made us uncomfortable by directly asking for tips any time we paid with cash — turning every interaction into an awkward negotiation. For the amount of money we spent, we expected to feel welcomed and relaxed — not micromanaged, bullied, or taken advantage of. Ultimately, while La Mamounia may offer a visually stunning backdrop, the hospitality and treatment of guests — especially Americans traveling with local friends — was disappointing. I do not recommend this hotel to fellow travelers from the U.S. or to anyone who expects fair, transparent service. There are better places in Marrakesh that respect their guests and provide a more inclusive, enjoyable experience.

We went me & my friend as a non resident for the inside Pierre Hermé coffee but we were stopped at the entry by a security guy who wouldn’t let us in for not having a reservation, he only talked to us because we were the only Moroccans there and when we said we did he told us to not wander around or we will be kicked out!!! No one ever told me such thing, not only it is so not professional at all but so disrespectful. Then we went inside and the staff was so rude, they would let foreigners take pictures but as we wanted to take pics they said no pictures until we called them out then left us. Food was fine. But service is so bad for such a big hotel.