Hotel Lalla Mira

Felicitas de Christ's hotel is Morocco's foremost environmentally responsible establishment, and is also one of Essaouira's friendliest and most comfortable. Felicitas built the hotel above the town's oldest hammam, and the freedom of not having to renovate an existing building allowed her, along with her German designer and Moroccan architect, to construct Hotel Lalla Mira as true to her environmental beliefs as possible. This hotel boasts a sophisticated solar-powered underfloor heating system, which subsequently nullifies the humidity (and moldy smell) that many of Essaouira's other hotels constantly suffer from. This system also heats the renovated hammam, whose water is then pumped into the hotel's toilet cisterns. The walls were constructed from handmade clay bricks, and the bathrooms are rendered in different colors of hand-polished tadelakt. The rooms are of varying sizes and configurations, with allergy-friendly furnishings such as pure wool curtains, organic cotton linens, and firm mattresses (which take a bit of getting used to) filled with a locally made, nonabsorbent, mite-free natural fiber called kapok. Some of the smaller rooms are for single travelers only, while the suites offer separate lounges or a private terrace, and are recommended if you can afford it. A small split-level rooftop terrace allows for some quality sunbathing, while the restaurant sources as much local, organic produce as possible, some of it from the hotel's own plot in the countryside. Led by manager Khalid Saadi, the very friendly and attentive English-speaking staff includes a private wheelbarrow porter who will meet guests at a preorganized time and place outside the small medina to transport luggage to the hotel.

Tip: Request an inward-facing room, as those looking outwards sometimes suffer from late-night street noise below.

Facilities:
Restaurant; hammam; free Internet

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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