Atlantic Palace Hotel Agadir

With a beautiful Moroccan-inspired exterior design, grand green gardens, and thoughtfully placed palm trees, Atlantic Palace Agadir could pass for a luxury hotel from the outside. Stepping inside, however, is a bit of a disappointment. That’s not to say that it isn’t beautiful in some ways. There’s a dizzying amount of colors and patterns to the decor and it’s hard not to be impressed by the carefully etched and painted ceiling, pink columns, and golden chandeliers in the lobby. But at a closer look, the furniture is tired and old-fashioned in the restaurants and lobby. Despite all of that, it’s a busy, upbeat vibe thanks to a casino and nightclub that draws locals and the main clientele of the hotel: couples. The strict security checkpoints at the front door to ensure that no outside food and drink enters the property is a bit much. 

As far as location goes, Atlantic Palace Agadir is decently placed about an eight-minute walk from a public beach. It sits in the tourist sector, about a nine-minute drive from the city center. There are some restaurants within a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Atlantic Palace Agadir provides a free shuttle to Ocean Golf, which takes 15 minutes to reach by car. The Sunday Market is an eight-minute drive away, while it’s a 24-minute drive to Crocoparc Agadir, a conservation area for Nile crocodiles. It takes 17 minutes by car to reach the Agadir-Inezgane Airport. 

The rooms at the Atlantic Palace Agadir are colorful and diverse in style. The design is Moroccan-themed and many have colorful zigzag designs around the ceiling and doors with crown molding. Decor in the Suites feel a bit over-the-top, as some have turquoise and purple color schemes with purple pleather armchairs to match. On the other hand, standard rooms feel a bit more contemporary with white-and-blue color schemes and dark furniture, or a soft striped and floral design. Regardless, the rooms and bathrooms feel a bit tired in decor and could use an update. Amenities here include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, safes, and balconies with garden or pool views. Bottled water and coffee- and tea-making facilities aren't provided. Like the rooms, bathroom designs vary as some have colorful tile and others have a more neutral color scheme. However, all bathrooms have brown marble countertops, shower/tub combos with deep tubs, wall-mounted hairdryers, bidets, and toiletries. 

Surprisingly, the hotel's greatest asset isn’t associated with the beach. The hotel provides a small roped off section on the nearby public beach with loungers and umbrellas, but as the beach is crowded here, visitors can rarely see the ocean. The lovely on-site pool with a children’s section, all of which is serviced by a pool bar, is a better bet than the beach for relaxation. A large spa offers massages, a hair salon, beauty treatments, and two indoor pools. It costs a fee to use the spa facilities. The fitness center is modest in size and equipped with outdated weight and cardio machines. Tennis and petanque courts are alternative active activities at this property. The resort has six restaurants and bars that range from Moroccan cuisine served at the Taj Mahal to international buffets at Restaurant Le Pacha. Guests note that the prices are pretty high for food and drink here, even for breakfast -- which isn’t included in rates. Reviews on food quality vary. In the evening, there’s a nightclub and casino for guests to enjoy.Business guests can take advantage of nine fully-equipped meeting rooms and free Wi-Fi throughout. Pets are welcome for a fee. Paid parking on-site is available.