La Roseraie

La Domaine Rosarie – I wanted to love this hotel, I really, really did… but our experience there was not positive I’m afraid.  Firstly, the car sent to pick us up was not ideal with broken seats and seat belts and the driver had typical Moroccan approach to the road which meant I did spend the journey up to mountains somewhat anxious rather than enjoying the scenery particularly about the girls who didn’t have cross-body belts on.

Location of the hotel is amazing and the gardens were beautiful.  We were offered 2 rooms, the 2^nd was larger (I think it was 2 inter-connected rooms) and was in side of the hillside with a balcony, as it was sunny we thought this might be the better option to keep room cool.  Both rooms were very dated – I hadn’t expected this for some reason but thought it wouldn’t matter so much as not expecting to be in them much.  Apart from 2 other families we were the only guests at the hotel which does always feel a bit odd!  One of the other families I believe were friends of the owner/manager.  It certainly seemed to feel after a while they were getting slightly different experience/service to us!  Despite being near empty we seemed to spend quite a bit of time finding someone to get drinks/food from, or the right person – one person was only in charge of food and couldn’t take a drinks order!  Pool area was lovely but everything was just a little bit shabby, towels threadbare, lounger covers dirty, only one swimming pool clean and at threat of rain all the loungers got covered up!  Lunch had to be eaten on terrace although we managed to get some sandwiches at the pool area finally.  On returning to room after day by pool we found it was very musty and covers in rooms were slightly damp, bath water was brown. Our dining experience was not good…the first night we were the only people in the dining room.  Menu was quite limited but that was ok, the girls' food (pasta) was fine.  They got our order wrong (we’d waited 30 mins) and it took 45 mins for replacement to turn up which was inedible – think Gareth had charred lamb and I had meatball tagine (basically was meatballs in the tomato sauce the girls had on their pasta!).  I was really disappointed.  The next day breakfast was dire, some sweating bits of cheese and ham and stale toasted bread from the night before, orange juice with flies in.  The other family definitely received something different – pastries and mint tea from recollection!  I was on the verge of calling Souad to see if we could transfer back to Les Deux Tours but we decided to see it out for one more night and Gareth made a strong complaint.  We decided to go out for a walk around nearby circuit which we absolutely loved, what an incredible place, walked for nearly 3 hours and we all enjoyed every minute.  On return to hotel we had slightly better lunch and they made more of an effort with dinner, whole new menu with fresh fish and chicken tagine, service had also improved.  We had a better breakfast on morning of departure out on the terrace overlooking the pool.  Was also disappointed the spa wasn’t open.  Had another crazy transfer back to Morocco holding on for dear life – however we were back with plenty of time to catch the plane!  It was the only blip – loved Atlas mountains but we left wishing we’d chosen another venue.  Such a beautiful place and hotel just really let down by service, food and very, very dated and tired surroundings and rooms.  Perhaps would have been more understandable had the hotel been at capacity but it was nearly empty!

La Roseraie was lovely and the staff were extremely helpful in every way.

We had a wonderfully relaxing time at The Roseraie too but were disappointed that none of the spa facilities were available.  It is the most extraordinary place really as it is huge and I think it must once have been a really vibrant place with lots of guests but there were only two other guests staying there for the three nights we were there and just the occasional visitor for lunch.  We just couldn’t imagine how they will be able to continue with more staff than guests.  The gardens are beautiful and well tended and there is so much potential but it seems as if the energy has gone from the place and that the staff seem a little worried about the lack of guests.  The manager at reception was very welcoming but he didn’t really have any advice/leaflets about the local area or suggestions of where we might go walking/running etc.  There is so much evidence of The Roseraie having once been very successful and we felt rather sad that it might be on its last  legs.  Having said all this, we really enjoyed staying there!  There is just a sadness about the place.  Oddly though, they seem to be doing some building work there so perhaps they have a plan!  The food is also very hit and miss but the charm with which it was served in front of a blazing fire was lovely!

La Roseraie – I really enjoyed the location and think out of all 3 I would like to explore more the Atlas mountains, beautiful and fascinating. The hotel was great and our rooms were perfect for us. Pools were freezing but the kids liked the challenge and it was refreshing. I chose the hotel in the hope that I could go riding with the children, I’m a good rider and all the children have ridden before and been on treks in the UK.  However it seemed hard to organise and the notice board did say you had to be expert So as a result we didn’t go, not only did we miss the experience but the hotel missed the sale! Instead we went walking and thoroughly enjoyed it, to the extent that I think we should do a trekking holiday next time. Our accommodation was perfect, adjoining rooms with a seating area inside and out.  Beds comfy and bathrooms lovely. Only negative was the fruit basket contained several rotten fruit! As for food; Breakfast was very comprehensive and fresh and the setting nice.  Lunch we passed on after the first day as they seemed only to offer a 2/3 course meal (which I later realised was the dinner from the night before).  We would have wanted a salad or sandwich type snack with maybe a fresh fruit smoothy, there was no drinks menu so had no idea what was available.  The choices for dinner were good and we enjoyed the food but the service was hilarious as well as very slow!  The restaurant décor was very sumptuous. 

La Roseraie is probably the nearest I'll ever come to Caribbean paradise. We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw our apartment so close by the pool.

Although it was very cold I swam twice each day and again freshened one amazingly.

Our guide Ali for the trek was also good and he taught us berber! We went out for a second half day to the salt mines.

The Roseraie did find my vegetarianism very challenging and couldn't comprehend no chicken or fish but they did, eventually rise to the challenge! In Moucharabeih it wasn't a problem as the local food is very vegetarian friendly.

We defiantly plan on going again. We found the local people kind friendly and very generous. 

We loved La Roseraie, it was gorgeous and perfect for sitting in their stunning gardens watching the butterflies and birds after a good day out.

The food was excellent most of the time and the service excellent. My Dad fell and cracked three ribs and Mohammed was so helpful getting a doctor and helping wherever possible.

Sharif our guide for our Berber trek gave us lots of information and was charming.

Summing up - totally charming , wonderful location , really excellent tour with a fabulous tagine , and staff made us feel as if we were staying at a friends home.

La Roseraie was a place a bit too simple for us at first but we fell in love with it after one night. The birds, plants and the layout really worked well and I loved the food and service even if it is slow but one gets used to the pace and it calms you down.  Hiking in the Atlas Mountains was great.

La Roseraie is essentially a very nice hotel. Our only criticism is that the food is OK but not really better than that.

I also enjoyed the riding at La Roseraie - I had also been there before - I stayed there over millennium new year and Hassan, the stable manager remembered me from back then.  I had a marginally hilarious lunch in a Berber village where I was ensconced in solitary splendour in a little room, decked with slightly gaudy, faux-lux cushions and drapes.  I was served a huge tagine, couscous and, bizarrely, an omelet - all of which I had to eat without knife or fork...........

La Roseraie - really lovely - we had a fantastic suite (with probably the biggest bed in the world!).  The gardens, grounds and pool were wonderful and the whole place became magical at night.  Food was simple but there was plenty of choice and we really enjoyed the dinners - breakfasts tended to be a little chaotic as either nothing came for a while or everything came at once - wasn't a particular problem, but a full buffet style would probably work better and mean less waste

La Roseraie is a gem, though of a very different kind. At first we weren't too sure, it's a bit like the Faulty Towers of Morocco but I say that in the nicest possible way. It is quirky, but by the end of our stay we almost liked it more than Les Deux Tours. The visit to the market in Asni was certainly much more enjoyable than the souk in Marrakesh and I am very glad we ventured away from the city.

La Roseraie was good but the pools were too cold for swimming. I thought that they were meant to be heated but we enjoyed just sitting & looking after a very quick dip the first day. Transport all went to plan & we found everyone friendly.

La Roseraie - We loved our rooms and the hotel in general. We went horse riding. it was magical, and my son went too ( I know the owner said under 12's not allowed for health and safety reasons, but Hassan who owns the horses was excellent) The owner also drove us to Marrakech and he was really interesting and added to our understanding of the area enormously.

The food was a bit hit and miss. Either very good or inedible! They could definitely work on that.

If the pools were warmer it would have improved the holiday for the children a lot. Most importantly though, the trek we went on was not suitable for us. The language barrier meant that we could not ascertain how far or how long we were going for. Don't get me wrong, it was very interesting, but 4 hours and 15 kilometers is too far for children without mule support ( especially when they're only 5). 

We enjoyed La Roseraie and the mountains very much, but could have done with a little more sun. The staff were charming. The gardens were superb.

Lovely setting, fab garden, good food in the evenings. We enjoyed the day horse riding but, as good riders ourselves, would say it would be pretty challenging (ie steep) for a beginner/novice rider. We did not do the full day walk as we felt it would cover much of the same ground, and I was tempted by the pool!  Service was a little haphazard especially at lunchtimes, and I was rather surprised to find two full-size raw leeks, two large potatos and an iceberg lettuce in my 'assiette du crudities'! Those of us raised on Fawlty Towers could laugh it off; other nationalities might be more grumpy. To be fair, there were only four other guests in the entire place, so atmosphere/concentration were a bit lacking. On reflection, one night two days would have been enough - but, a lovely spot to be after the Marrakech madness.

• Very few guests – almost our own private hotel
• Amazing grounds, lovely bedroom, great staff
• Breakfast OK – plentiful home-made breads
• Salads at lunchtime superb and enormous
• Dinner a bit variable but good overall – the odd strange combination, e.g. chips + rice + pasta with meat
• Not always possible to change money (if person i/c not there) * but bill payable in sterling
• No information in room.  There should be details of local walks, birdlife etc.  The schematic diagram of the walks, available at Reception, was of little use and it was almost impossible not to get lost. 

The Roseraie was a wonderful setting and the walking guide provided was lovely - we had a really good whole day's trek.  Although the breakfasts there were good, we didn't feel the dinners lived up to their reputation - also, there was nothing vegetarian on the main course menu - they were happy to make something on request although it did make me feel a bit of a nuisance.  (I wasn't the only vegetarian staying there at the time.) 

My wife and I are keen to return to the La Roseriae.  Next time we will build an itinerary with a car and include the desert.   I have processed my photos and added them to my website.

The rooms and the food were very good in la Roseriae and the staff very friendly. The gardens were spectacular and the pool great - if still a bit cold!  I certainly hope to go back and will recommned Lawrence of Morroco to my friends.

We really had a wonderful time, everyone was so helpful, and the locations were amazing. Patsy really enjoyed riding with Hassan and the stables were beautifully looked after. Many thanks for a wonderful trip, and we will be back to book again later this year.

La Roseraie was peaceful and good quality. We got upgraded when we asked for a room with a fireplace, which was nice because it was a little cold in the evenings,as we expected. The manager didn't make his presence felt much which didn't bother us much, but might be important to less seasoned travellers. The evening meals were very good, plenty to eat and quite varied. The breakfast was minimal i.e. continental style with fresh breads, jams etc. but they also put out processed cheeses and meats under cellophane (a slight downer we thought). The staff were attentive and friendly and we really enjoyed our trips out in the hire car….the drive from Amizmiz back to Ouirgane was absolutely hair-raising and unforgettable!

Regarding La Roseraie, I would add all of the following remarks which are all positive:
1. The standard was excellent.
2. All of the service from the food, accommodation, service, price of food were good and faultless.

The single aspect which separates the La Roseraie from any other hotel that I have ever stayed at during my 70 years on this earth ( and one that almost every hotel could benefit learning from), was the attitude and general temperament of the staff from cook's washer through to house maid, gardener, stablehand, waiters, cook, manager and even the proprietor who welcomed us. In short, everyone who worked at La Roseraie were always happy in whatever situation one observed them in (both within and outside the presence of the guest). This of itself was the single-most-important memory that will stay with me when I recall Morocco and our stay there. If Nabil the owner could bottle that magic and sell it to every other hotel in the world, he would benefit the travelling world greatly.