Called the "most beautiful place in the world" by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, this property has actually improved with age. The hotel, which opened in 1923, underwent a full renovation and redesign in 2001, and at inspection, it was experiencing its second (more elaborate) remodel of the century, which had completely closed the property. It is scheduled to reopen later in 2008.
As it is perhaps the most famous hotel in the country, spiffy digs are what guests have come to expect. Underneath the Moorish arches, antique furnishings and fine Oriental carpets are 21st-century conveniences fit for the celebrities and well-heeled travelers who bunk here.
Located in the heart of Marrakech, the property is within walking distance of the medina, the souks and Jemaa El Fna Square. It is nestled in romantic gardens that date back nearly 300 years. The city's 12th-century walls are a backdrop with waving palm trees and the harsh sunlight coloring in the seeming artwork. Walking the halls and lobby, guests might easily imagine why historical luminaries such as Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Edith Piaf and the Rockefellers called this vulnerable hotel home. Today, it plays host to diplomats and celebrities such as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and George Clooney, to name but a few.
Entering the vast lobby, framed by Moorish archways and potted palm trees, one is greeted by fez-wearing doormen, turbaned stewards and the well-dressed, smiling reception staff. The scent of roses fills the air from the thousands of fresh petals floating in pools and fountains. Steaming mint tea is ushered out within seconds of guests' arrival, ready to be enjoyed while registration formalities take place.
The restaurants offer tastes from six continents: Marrakech l'Imperiale offers haute French cuisine, and Le Marocain serves traditional Moroccan food and entertainment. At L'Orangeraie, guests find a fusion of Moroccan, French, Asian and American flavors. Italian cuisine is the specialty at L'Italien. Les Trois Palmiers offers a daily poolside buffet.
Four meeting rooms and four ballrooms, all connectable for a total of 4,750 sq ft of space, offer plenty of room for conferences, seminars, banquets and exhibitions. Also on the premises are a casino, tennis and squash courts, a fully equipped gym, a golf course, a spa, shops and an art gallery.
Guest room options range from a modest single to palatial three-bedroom villas. All include minibar, hair dryer, safe, phones with data ports, a desk 
with plenty of working area and good lighting. The 23-inch TVs offer cable channels from across the globe. All rooms afford views—110 overlook either the pool or gardens; 45 face the Koutobia Mosque; and 16 face the courtyard (and a huge balcony). Electric window shutters shield the early-morning sun from view for late sleepers.
A few special rooms are modeled after vintage railroad cars; one re-creates the luxury cabin on an ocean liner. The Churchill Suite is a virtual museum to its namesake. The Orient Express Suite is decorated almost entirely with pieces from the original London-to-Istanbul train. Amazingly, complex drawings or mosaics form the attractive decor providing Moroccan flair in each room (walking down the hallway is more like a stroll through a museum).
The 47 suites range from courtyard or pool junior suites to the deluxe ambassador and Moroccan suites. Junior suites enjoy views of the courtyard or pool, a choice of king, two twins or two double beds, a sitting area with TV, a terrace and a whirlpool tub. Some also include a separate shower stall.
The five duplex suites have an upstairs sitting room with a balcony that faces the pool area and offers access to it. The 16 two-bedroom Ambassador Suites include a 
sitting room with dining area, large dressing room, two double beds, and a 200-sq-ft balcony overlooking the pool or gardens. Baths have a tub with a whirlpool and a separate stall shower.
The four 750-sq-ft Moroccan Suites are like an Arabian Nights fantasy come to life. Entryways and lavish patios have their own fountains. Furnishings made from Moroccan lemonwood give the sitting room a warm glow. Marble columns and Moorish archways frame the bed, which floats on a tiled pedestal. Spacious baths feature a large whirlpool tub.
All rooms are wheelchair accessible, and some are designated this way. This hotel and its luxurious amenities can be a bit overwhelming. But the friendly staffers, most of whom speak English, more than compensate for the sometimes pretentious feel of the hotel. This marvel of architecture has no rival in Marrakech and is worth a visit for tea and pastries if a night's stay will leave too hefty a dent in one's wallet. Following the completion of the refurbishment, there will be no doubt that this hotel still reigns supreme as the finest, most famous hotel in the city, if not the whole country.
