My family stayed at the Jnane Tamsna in April last year and I have to say that it was beautiful. Set quite some way outside Marrakesh within an enormous walled and guarded area of lush organic gardens, this place is in many ways its own island of paradise. Do not expect extensive lawns - this is only a stone's throw from the Sarah desert; however, every form of flowering plant, tree and vegetable suited to hotter climes seems to flourish in the intensely well-tended organic gardens within which the hotel is set. The main building is a low-lying, elegant and tranquil affair and eating is al-fresco. The villas are set quite far apart from each other, with good privacy, at some distance from the main reception building. Each has a separate pool shared with no more than two other sets of guests. The villas are very elegantly decorated in individual styles with considerable taste. The whole place has an air of unhurried tranquil beauty which is in complete contrast with the dust and bustle of the nearby city. Unfortunately, there are a number of drawbacks. Because of the very spread-out nature of the hotel and the laid-back attitude, service is VERY slow. The rooms open directly into the gardens and have no real seals around the doors, so local wildlife can wander in (the family who had the cockroach problems were our neighbours and I can sympathise). The extreme eco-friendly/organic ideals of the owners seriously hamper their ability to keep the rooms up to the hygene/bug-free standards one expects of a top-flight hotel (it might be an idea to sneak some Raid into your room and zap the window frames, doorframes and drains on the quiet). The shower room/toilet was woefully inadquate and truly primitive. Indeed, it feels a bit like five star camping. However, if you accept this and accept the fact that you are in a very hot country, you will love this place (that said, its probably not the best for really tiny children). Next: the pools. Our pool was the only one in the whole compound which was heated - and you do need them to be heated, as the night is often very cold. Also, the pool is OK in size for one family, but rapidly becomes crowded when others arrive. Dinner is poor value by the standards of the nearby city and is great if you're on a diet, but I was left starving (and I like nouvelle cuisine!). They don't really understand wine lists here at all, so don't bother on that front. Personally, I was not a fan of the chef - the deliciously flavoured organic vegetables were consistently cooked to sotter and everything was a bit mediocre, though very healthy and fresh (my wife and children preferred the food); consequently, we ate out quite a bit in restaurants which, I have to say were much better. Breakfast is very laid-back (as is the service) and the setting is very pleasant. We found the owner/management very pleasant and generally accommodating but the real underlying problem here is that the super-eco-friendly ideals behind the place and the requirements of a deluxe hotel simply do not meet. Best to regard this place as somewhere quite unique and enjoy it - despite the shortcomings, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would return.
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