Review of L Mansion Guest Palace, by Kayt Sukel

You may feel as though you've walked into a museum upon entering the L Mansion Guest Palace. This splendid Andalucian-style house, decorated with over 500 square metres of handcrafted mosaics, Iraqi stained glass windows and stunning antiques looks a bit more like a monument than a guest house.

But once welcomed by L Mansion's gracious staff in one of the magnificent (yet comfortable) lounges, you'll soon feel right at home. Taking over 25 years to build, with painstaking attention paid to even the smallest decorative detail, L Mansion was originally conceived as a private family getaway by General Manager Lamya El Manjra's father. Perhaps that accounts for the fact that those who stay at L Mansion quickly feel more like company visiting friends than mere hotel patrons.

Several kilometers outside the city of Marrakech, L Mansion resides in a beautiful 5 hectare private park, filled with orange trees, olive groves and lovely rose gardens. But the true beauty is in the palace itself - styled after fabled Alhambra, you can easily lose yourself in the incredible aesthetic flourishes. Sitting in one of the house's several lavish lounges, you may start to think of yourself as a Sultan, enjoying all the opulence that Oriental tradition has to offer.

In terms of facilities, L Mansion has a small restaurant where traditional Moroccan fare can be served upon request. Each dish uses fresh ingredients from the L Mansion grounds - the vegetable couscous should not be missed! The staff is available 24 hours a day and can assist you in planning excursions, tailored to your specific desires, plus there is a large outdoor pool and a deluxe spa with traditional hammam, sauna, indoor pool and fitness area. Though you should take your time at L Mansion to completely unwind, wireless internet is available in common areas free of charge if you need to charge up the laptop.

L Mansion offers guests the choice of seven suites as well as a private villa. Each guest suite has also been decorated in incredible Oriental style - you will revel in the traditional painted doors, hand-carved wainscoting and lavish linens. But while the décor may have you feeling as if you've stepped back in time, the luxurious, modern bathrooms with all the expected amenities are straight from the best of present day.

The smallest room, the Standard Suite, has twin beds and a view of the orange grove. Slightly larger, with a small sitting area, the Junior Suite has a king-sized bed and doors that open directly to the pool terrace. Just next door, the Senior Suite has plenty of room to maneuver, with a king-sized bed and large Moroccan lounge area. For families, L Mansion offers three executive apartments, each with two separate bedrooms connected by a shared bath. And for those who seek truly opulent lodgings, the romantic Royal Suite and the private villa are available.