Review of La Sultana, by The TI Review Team

In the southern stretches of the medina, close to the Royal and Bahia Palaces, lies one of the most infamous of Marrakechi riads: La Sultana. The house itself is actually a complex of five riads, dating back to the 18th-century, each with a different sense of style and atmosphere. The Saadia is traditional to its core, decked out in old Moroccan grandeur. The turquiosetiled Brickwork houses the swimming pool and is dotted with palms and banana trees. Then there's the Mexican-inspired Sabah, Sherazade which conjours up an African savannah and Bahia, the 'kingdom of white'.

The facilities

Unlike the majority of riads in this city, La Sultana has a serious array of top-notch facilities on offer. The swimming pool is an obvious draw, but there's also a spa and open-air massage cabin. The restaurant dishes up delectable Moroccan cuisine, whilst the sizable roof terrace offers stunning views over the medina, and out to the Atlas Mountains .

The rooms

The 28 guest rooms and suites are individually decorated. The Crocodile Room features carved antique wooden panels, while the Camel Room is caramel-coloured, with bronze camel statues and a bathroom hidden behind immense golden doors. All rooms have air conditioning, DVD/CD player, flatscreen televisions and internet access. Some rooms offer a balcony and the contents of the (non-alcoholic) mini bars is complimentary.