Marrakech conjures up fantasies of ancient catwalks, windblown sand, piles of gold, silk and tagines filled with richly seasoned food.
That’s the dream, but what is the reality?
I was very impressed by staying for seven nights at the Tui Blue Medina Gardens resort, which is on the doorstep of the heady delights of the ancient Moroccan city, but shields guests from the noise.
In addition, its cost is attractively low.
The nearly immaculate Medina Gardens features an indoor bar, an outdoor bar, and a rooftop bar (for a fee), a well-equipped gym, a spa, a pool, and activities such as yoga, shuffleboard, and competitive games of pétanque every afternoon.
Marrakech, where every building must be a striking shade of terracotta
Sophie Foster settled into the Tui Blue Medina Gardens (above), on the doorstep of the delights of Marrakech
Sophie’s standard room had a double bed, TV, hot drinks station and fridge, a separate toilet and shower and a double sink separated from the bed by a divider.
It also has a large garden where you can pick fruit from the branches of orange and lemon trees.
Plus, there’s a colony of tortoises (group noun: a weirdo) living in the lush grass.
This was a highlight.
My standard room had a double bed, TV, hot drinks station and fridge.
There was also a separate bathroom, plus a shower and sink separated from the bed by a divider.
The most luxurious suites at Medina Gardens have the option of pool access.
The room had a Juliet balcony, but the view was not very good: you could see the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque, but also the ugly roof of a restaurant below.
The Tui complex has a large garden where you can pick fruit from the branches of the orange and lemon trees.
Sophie booked a seven-night stay at the Tui Blue Medina Gardens. Sophie said the view from her room was “not great” because it included “an ugly restaurant roof”.
However, indoors, things were more positive, and the surprisingly good food at the all-inclusive buffet was one of the resort’s strong points. Tajines of traditional local food were served every evening alongside international fare, and there were also speciality nights.
We had kebabs one night and lots of fresh seafood another. However, the desserts were generally disappointing.
The a la carte restaurant, the Culinarium, was pleasant and offered table service meals.
A word of warning about the alcohol: fill your stomach because the bar staff at Tui are generous with their servings (and some drinks tasted like paint stripper).
The Bikini Martini is a safe and appetizing option.
Continental options were available for breakfast, with a chef cooking eggs to order, and a variation on the classic fried breakfast (pork sausages, for example, are not on the menu in Muslim Morocco).
Sophie reveals that the hotel protects guests from the noise of the city. Above: the rooftop bar
LEFT: The à la carte restaurant, the Culinarium. RIGHT: The terrace of a luxurious junior suite with direct access to the pool at Medina Gardens
The hotel is a 10-minute walk from Jemaa el-Fna square (above)
At night, a vibrant crowd of artists invades Jemaa el-Fna square.
Sophie reveals that Jemaa el-Fna Square is filled with dancers, musicians, singers, storytellers and players at night
The main attraction of the Gardens of the Medina of Tui? Its central location.
It is well located for walking to the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia Mosque and the mysterious Majorelle Gardens.
And it only takes five minutes to reach the fascinating old quarter, the Medina, and ten to reach Jemaa el-Fna square, situated at the entrance. Here, vendors and tour guides line the walls alongside, disappointingly, caged monkeys and snakes that are being charmed.
At night, a vibrant crowd of performers takes over, with dancers, musicians, singers, storytellers and players calling on locals and tourists alike to join in the fun.
Like the city as a whole: hard to resist.
But when I got tired of the hustle and bustle, I returned to Medina Gardens to relax with the turtles in our walled oasis.