The Weekender: Royal Mansour Marrakech

The only one of its kind.  Morocco’s best of the best were called for this project which took about two years to come to life. The finest architects, carpenters, masons, cabinetmakers and artisans took pride on building a manor that the king could share with his guests atop the remains of a municipal swimming pool inside the Medina wall. Up until now, no one actually knows the actual cost of the build, never mind the furnishings. But who’s counting?  Because when it came to the cost, His Highness Mohammed VI, king of Morocco demands for the built of the hotel was quite simple. Money is to be no object. One of his many objectives was to abolish the gypsy feel that one usual associates Morocco with, and to build a hotel like none the world had ever seen before.  A magical city in and of itself, with lily ponds and red-clay walls. This is the place where instead of rooms and suites, what you’ll get are riads (traditional Moroccan open-courtyard residences), individual courtyards, your personal butler, and yes, what you probably dreamed of but didn’t have the audacity to think you’ll ever find – champagne shoe polish.