Villa des Orangers

Our recent trip to Morocco was nothing short of surreal. I loved exploring all the sights and smells this marvelous country had to offer. We found ourselves getting lost in the medinas and markets, eating all the different delicious tagines. We marveled at the wondrous architecture (major design inspiration for me). 

While in the city of Marrakesh we had the opportunity to stay at the beautiful Villa Des Orangers hotel, just steps away from the main market in Marrakesh. Villa Des Orangers started out as a personal home to a prominent business man. It was built in the 1930s. The home was converted to a beautiful hotel by the talented new owners. I loved the craftsmanship in every detail. I found myself marveling at arched doors, intimate courtyards, lovely fountains, and glorious tile designs. 

Villa des Orangers is without a doubt one of the most luxurious places I've ever stayed! The staff was available and ready to assist in any way. I especially loved the option of having breakfast brought directly to the room in the morning. It was such a beautiful experience eating breakfast on our private roof deck and watching the Moroccan sunrise. This is definitely something I will never forget. On top of this, the food was simply delicious. It was always extremely fresh and innovative. They mixed up the menu a lot so that it wasn't exclusively Moroccan. The chef added a French flare to many of the dishes, which was actually a welcome treat when you just want to switch things up a little.. Another thing that made the experience so delightful was that they provided free non-alcoholic drinks for all guests. This may not sound like a huge deal, but when it's over 100 degrees outside, you find yourself drinking much more water than normal. Those bottles of water can really start to add up when staying at a resort, so it was nice that we didn't have to think about that here. 

Aaron and I also had one of the greatest massages of our lives at Villa Des Orangers! They have a beautiful spa on premise and a very sweet staff. Aaron was so relaxed that he actually fell asleep in the middle of the massage, which was really cute! I definitely recommend the experience.

Another thing I loved about Villa Des Orangers was its location. It's right in the heart of old Marrakesh, within the old city walls. We were able to walk directly to the local souk/market with ease. The first time we went with a guide (which Orangers helped us set up). The second time we went on our own. 

A word of advice if you're trying to navigate the markets on your own: Bring a map! Getting to the market is very easy, but once you are inside, shops may wind around in every direction and break off into multiple forks in the road. 

It's extremely easy to lose track of where you are in the markets, so beware! One more piece of advice for the markets: if you are purchasing a large item such as a rug or a large lamp, they will help set up shipping to the States. So don't be worried about having to take the rug with you as a carry-on. Venders make it very simple to ship large items. 

Back to Villa Des Orangers! After a long day of shopping in the souks, Orangers was like paradise. Walking into the front entrance felt like walking into a kingdom. Aaron and I would immediately change into our bathing suits and relax by one of their three pools. There was even a rooftop pool which overlooked the city. All pools offered poolside drink service, which totally hit the spot after a long day of walking around in the heat. 

I can't say enough good things about Villa Des Orangers! It is a fantastic spot in Marrakesh. I can't wait to return in my future travels to Morocco! Thanks again to the entire staff!