T R A V E L
ESCAPE Routes
Long, hot
nights in
Marrakech-
style luxury
Put bluntly, October hasn’t got much going
for it. Summer’s officially over (after lasting
all of three days) and there’s another month
of braving soggy tights before we can declare
it Christmas, binge-eat Quality Streets and
guiltlessly glug jugs of red wine just because
it’s ‘mulled’. Which means now is the perfect
time to slip away for some winter sun.
Enter Marrakech, the polar opposite of
Britain’s dreary gloom. The Moroccan city
is a peaceful oasis of rose-coloured riads,
tinkling fountains, colourful markets and
pungent orange trees. And an average
autumn temperature of 27°C means you can
avoid the traditional winter blue skin hue.
Jetsetters in search of luxury should
head to the Ksar-Char-Bagh. Set in four
hectares of luscious grounds, it has an
almost mystical feel, thanks to a maze of
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hidden alcoves housing a massage parlour,
vaulted library and intricate silver room
keys which feel like they’re stolen from the
Secret Garden. Inside your harem suite,
you’ll find own-blend toiletries in glass
and silver bottles, scented candles with
hand-inked labels and sumptuous silk
sheets. Wander outside for a peek at the
hotel’s herb garden, orchard and farm.
Why it’s hot Marrakech is the first choice
for fashionable winter-sun seekers, thanks
to its dramatic mix of bustling markets
selling everything from spices to Sonia
Rykiel and sheer, guilt-free indulgence.
Eating and drinking Try Al Fassia (alfassia.
com) where an all-female team serve the
very best of Moroccan dishes like tagine
of chicken with caramelised pumpkin. La
Table du March hits the mark for fancy
DAR ONE: A RIAD HOTEL
THAT’S HIGH ON STYLE
BUT LOW ON COST
SWAP GREY SKIES AND RAINY BUS
STOPS FOR THE HUSHED BEAUTY
OF THE KSAR-CHAR-BAGH HOTEL
French (christophe-leroy.com) or La Bab
(babhotelmarrakech.com) for Michelinstarred
fodder. But don’t miss the markets’
street food – rich bean soups, deep-fried sole
and tiny beef sausages served with tomato
chutney. Watch the sunset over mint tea at
Cafe Arabe (cafearabe.com) then head to Le
Comptoir (comptoirdarna.com) for cocktails
– the staircase is littered with rose petals.
Photo opportunity Former Marrakech
resident Yves Saint Laurent owned the
stunning Majorelle Gardens until his death
last year. Unsurprisingly, the colourful
gardens still carry his stylish stamp along
with his art collection, a museum, rare
birds and pools floating with water lilies.
Entrance is a bargainous £3.
Purse-friendly pillow There’s an
abundance of boutique hotels in Marrakech
catering for every bank balance. If you’re
on a budget, try Dar One (riad-dar-one.
com), a traditional riad renovated in a
minimalist style. From £90 a night.
Stay at Ksar Char-Bagh from £550 to £800
for five nights, including breakfast and
transfers (ksarcharbagh.com;
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Exhaustion-defeating
mini-breaks
HOLIDAY INSPIRATION
Not sure where to go on your next
break? New website worldtravel
guide.net/inspiration can help, with
bespoke travel suggestions based
on the time of year and style of
holidays you like.
RELAX LIKE A ROCK STAR
New hotel Sanctum in Soho has
introduced ‘pop and rock’ packages,
so guests can live like their favourite
music icons. Choose the Madonna
package for horse-riding and dance
lessons, or the Girls Aloud package
for cocktails and private screenings
(£420, sanctumsoho.com).
MATERIAL GIRL? THE
SANCTUM IN SOHO GETS
YOU ONE STEP CLOSER
A VIRTUOUS ‘STAYCATION’
New Park Manor Hotel in the New
Forest has launched a nine-day
Ultimate Detox Break, cleansing
your insides with fresh juices and
herbal teas while indulging your
outside at the Bath House Spa
(£1,895, theultimatedetox.co.uk).
THE NEW PARK MANOR HOTEL:
PROVING A DETOX
NEEDN'T BE A CHORE
THE WALDORF, BUT WARMER
The Waldorf Astoria is no longer
exclusively in NYC, so if you find
Manhattan winters too brisk, head
south. It’s just opened a sister hotel
– five star, naturally – in Orlando,
Florida, complete with a Guerlain
spa. It's priced from £888 for seven
nights in October (ba.com/orlando).
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