Hot List Hotels 2006
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Richard Branson's latest property sits atop a bluff in the High Atlas Mountains, and so thrilling is the 45-minute drive from Marrakesh—on a narrowing road which switchbacks into the clouds—that your arrival is both a disappointment and a relief. The 18-room Kasbah was once the property of an antiquarian and artist, and items from his collections decorate the rooms, most of which have their own terrace or patio but no television. The hotel promotes itself as a home base for adventurers, but its DNA is closer to that of an old-fashioned European sanatorium, the kind in which days are whiled away wandering the gardens and inhaling the fresh air. Credit must be given for its graceful integration into the surrounding landscape and culture: The sweet staff are largely drawn from two Berber villages that bracket the property, and management seems genuinely proud of the employees and their heritage.
When to go: April and May, when there's still snow on the mountains but the days are mild.
Which room to book: The freestanding duplex Master Suite has its own plunge pool (doubles, $410–$540).
Amenities:
24-hour Room Service,
Gym,
Pool,
Spa
Information may have changed since date of publication. Please confirm details with individual establishments before planning your trip.
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