The Capaldi Hotel & Spa, Lalla Takerkoust, Atlas Mountains, Morocco - Explore & Book

"Imagine you have a best friend with a fabulous country home: spacious guest quarters with super-kingsize beds and fireplaces, fresh flowers and a stack of good books by your pillow, landscaped gardens with expansive views, and plenty of places to hide away. That’s exactly what Ed and Tara Lyle envisioned when they created The Capaldi Hotel & Spa, set in the grounds of a 4-hectare former olive farm in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, a 35-minute drive from Marrakech and its airport.Their version comes fully loaded: 23 Moroccan-Zen rooms and suites (plus 2 private villas) in a resort-style oasis, with 2 pools, a spa, a lantern-lit roof terrace, exceptional cuisine from a chef who embraces your preferences - and of course the warm hospitality you’d expect as guests of fortunate friends. Global travellers who fell under Morocco’s spell, the Lyles are fun and attentive hosts, orchestrating activities, fetching blankets on chilly evenings, and sending you off on explorations with a picnic lunch. It’s a wonderfully relaxing and romantic way to experience the Moroccan countryside, and the perfect complement to a few days at their Marrakech riad. Highs Accessible luxury, with rooms and suites to suit all budgets (most with terraces and some with private pools)Charming and unpretentious hosts who bend over backwards to make your stay perfect but also respect your privacyYear-round amenities - one of the pools is heated, and there’s a library, a spa, cosy salons, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, even a cinemaSuperb international cuisine that draws residents of Marrakech out to the restaurantClose to a diverse set of adventures, including watersports on Lake Lalla Takerkoust, dune-buggy excursions and camel rides in the Agafay Desert, and guided treks in the mountains Lows No children under 12 - this is very much a hotel for couples and honeymoonersNo in-room TVs, although the cinema has a big screen for watching films and sportsThere are 3 lakeside restaurants within a 45-minute walking distance, which may be too far for some, but an organic farm serving food is a little closer" - Joyce Copeland