Circuit De La Palmeraie, Marrakech, Morocco | (888) 635-3814
Activities include tennis, pétanque, volleyball, ping-pong, and archery
Kids' club with games and playground
Spa with small fitness center
Indoor and outdoor pools
Bar, buffet restaurant, and poolside snack bar
Nightly, family-friendly entertainment
Daily shuttle into Marrakech city center
All-inclusive rates
All rooms have private balconies or terraces
No toiletries
Wi-Fi signal is weak
Pushy spa salesperson
Dated decor in rooms
Marrakech shuttle not available with all rates
Located outside Marrakech's historic center, in the Palmeraie area, the 212-room Royal Decameron Issil is an all-inclusive, family-friendly resort predominantly booked on package holidays by European families. The mid-range property has extensive and well-manicured gardens, and the architecture and style are pleasantly classic Moroccan, although the property does feel a bit worn. There is a wide range of amenities, including two pools, a spa, kids' club, and outdoor sports like tennis and volleyball. The buffet restaurant serves a nice assortment of food options, and the bar is popular at night, when family-friendly entertainment is held. The Medina is a 15-minute shuttle or taxi ride away and there's little in the immediate vicinity.
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Scene
Moroccan-inspired all-inclusive aimed at families
The Royal Decameron Issil is set on sprawling desert acres which have been pleasantly manicured into classic Moroccan gardens, filled with palm trees and local plants. The buildings, a dusty red stucco, resemble traditional Moroccan architecture, and the lobby -- with its inlaid tables, muted orange walls, and banquette-style couches -- continues the aesthetic. The bar, restaurant, and snack bar areas all have a similar look, with some traditional artwork and tilework throughout. The outdoor pool area is pleasant, with palm trees and plastic loungers, but the indoor pool deck has old-style turf on the floors for an oddly dated look. The all-inclusive aspect and family-friendly activities, as well as the fact that the hotel is primarily booked through tour operators, mean that most guests are European families looking to hang out at the hotel rather than explore Marrakech. However, some savvier guests take advantage of the affordable rate to use the hotel as a home base for exploring.
Location
In the Palmeraie district, 15 minutes north of the Medina
Located in the Palmeraie district of Marrakech, the Royal Decameron Issil is about 15 minutes north of the historic Medina city center. There's little in the immediate surrounding area, although golf aficionados will find courses within a reasonable distance; Golf Club Palmeraie is a 10-minute drive. The hotel offers a free daily shuttle to the city center, but it's not available with all tour packages; guests can request taxis at the front desk to explore on their own time, and rates are usually reasonable. The airport is approximately 20 minutes away.
Rooms
Clean, basic rooms with Moroccan accents and private balconies
Rooms at the Royal Decameron Issil are large and have enough hints of Moroccan style to feel atmospheric. The large wooden doors are arched and studded, giving an historic impression, and there are carved mirrors and Moroccan artwork on the walls. Furniture is made of dark wood and red and purple blankets lend a pop of color. Each room has a private balcony or terrace with plastic chairs. Bathrooms are tiled colorfully and have combination shower-tubs, but no toiletries. Family rooms have enough beds to sleep up to four; in general, larger beds are two smaller beds pushed together. Rooms vary in how contemporary they are: some feel more dated and worn around the ages, with old-style TVs and the like, while others have flat-screen TVs and feel more modern. There's no in-room Wi-Fi, and there are no mini-fridges.
Features
Loads of activities, a kids' club, and buffet-style restaurant
As an all-inclusive resort, the Royal Decameron Issil has a wide range of facilities, including a number of sports options, such as tennis, volleyball, and pétanque courts, as well as archery and ping-pong. There's a well-equipped kids' club with organized activities, and the evening entertainment is family-friendly, too. There are two pools: the lagoon-style outdoor one, and a smaller indoor one. The main buffet restaurant serves a varied selection of international foods, and the more atmospheric bar is a popular gathering spot. There's also a poolside snack bar, from which food and drinks can be ordered to your lounger. There are a spa with traditional hammam treatments and a small gym with a few machines, but it's worth noting that the spa salesperson can be quite pushy and demand advance payment. Guests can only get Wi-Fi in the lobby area, and it tends to not be very strong or reliable.
