Sangho Club Privilege Marrakech

This large, resort-style property is set back from the main road and features a circular layout with main buildings and a dozen detached suites that sit centered around a large outdoor pool. The outdoor entrance features a grand stairway finished with mosaic tiling and a cascade of archways. Building architecture is classic Moroccan, with flat rose-colored facades featuring traditional horseshoe-shaped windows. A two-story lobby offers elegant details, like a star-shaped mosaic tile fountain, detailed archways with mosaic tile columns, colored windows that catch the light, and a beautiful painted ceiling finished with an elegant candelabra-style chandelier. Still, the lobby and many of the common areas throughout the hotel feel dated, showing signs of wear-and-tear and suggesting a grandeur of what once was more than of what is. The exterior is well kept, though, and manicured lawns are dotted in palm trees and stone paths leading to the hotel's most appealing feature: a huge lagoon-style outdoor pool, featuring rock waterfalls and small caves, a bridge leading to a small faux island with palm trees, a waterslide, and a large stone terrace with loungers and umbrellas. Other areas of the hotel are more dated -- the indoor pool, for example, and the rather sparse spa treatment rooms. Wear-and-tear seems to be reflected in the price though, which is pretty good for a hotel with this many property features. Dedicated kids' activities make this an ideal place for families to relax, especially if they hope to take advantage of the outdoor pool, but guests might be disappointed in the distance to popular tourist attractions. 

The resort is located in rural surroundings on the outskirts of Marrakech, with no restaurants or shops within walking distance. Guests are about a 30-minute drive from the medina and its popular Jemaa El Fnaa square. The hotel offers shuttle service to and from the medina several times a day, but it costs an extra fee. Palmeraie Golf Palace is a 10- to 15-minute drive southeast, while other popular attractions like Souk Kafé, Palais de la Bahia, and the Marrakech Museum are about a 20- to 30-minute drive. Marrakech Menara Airport is about a 30- to 40-minute drive. Free parking is available on-site. 

Rooms tend to be neutral and functional with simple, somewhat dated blond-wood furniture and floral drapes. Neutral tiled floors and bare walls are paired with white bedding, while floral drapes and blue window trim add a bit of color. All units have air-conditioning, desks, flat-screen TVs, and furnished balconies or patios with views of the pool or garden. Standard Rooms are advertised as having mini-fridges, though not all seem to contain these. And there is no in-room Wi-Fi. There is no coffee/tea facilities, but rooms have wood wardrobes and safes. Bathrooms tend to be simple, with beige or gray tiling and shower/tub combos. They're equipped with soap dispensers and towels, and hairdryers are available upon request. 

Family rooms contain a curtained-off alcove with bunk beds for children. The hotel also has 12 suites, which are situated in detached units that encircle the pool. These suites are more stylish than the rooms, with mosaic tiled floors and bathrooms. They include living rooms, two bathrooms, and extra amenities like mini-fridges, hairdryers, and bathrobes.

This resort has a host of amenities aimed at relaxation. There are several on-site eateries and watering holes, including La Koutoubia, which serves buffet breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; La Caleche, which serves French cuisine for dinner; and L'Orangeraie, a poolside snack bar and grill. Cafe Maure is a casual lounge serving classic Moroccan mint tea, and the hotel also has a bar and nightclub with a dance floor. Breakfast is included in the room rate and offers a decent, if not totally healthy, selection of breads, pastries, omelets, cheese, and meat. Room service is available during limited hours.

The hotel has a full-service spa with a spa tub, a hammam, and three (somewhat sparsely decorated) treatment rooms for massages and body treatments. There's also a beauty parlor, a small fitness area, and outdoor sporting facilities such as squash and tennis courts. The hotel has an indoor pool that's functional but could use refurbishment, but the outdoor pool is a real standout. The spacious, lagoon-style pool features rock waterfalls, a waterslide, and a terrace surrounded by loungers and umbrellas. There's also a children's pool. The pools are not heated, so they can be chilly in the off season. The hotel also has an entertainment team that organizes dancing and singing, kids' disco nights, and sporting tournaments.

There are two meeting and event rooms that can host up to 500 guests. Audiovisual equipment is available and Wi-Fi in the common areas is free. (Wi-Fi doesn't extend into the rooms.) This property has a 24-hour front desk and can offer concierge services including laundry service, ticket assistance, etc. The staff gets mixed reviews, though guests tend to enjoy the entertainment team. Some staff speak English, though French is the prevailing European language. The hotel offers shuttle service to the city center. The shuttle runs six times a day to and from the hotel (for a fee), and booking is required. Free parking is available on-site.