La Sultana Marrakech

Set around a courtyard, each riad has something to fall in love with. The arched Riad Almohad boasts a large heated pool, whilst Riad Bahia provides sunlit views of the Medina and the Atlas Mountains from its rooftop lounge - make sure to sample the Moroccan Street Food Lunch. Or, surrounded by the fine white stucco of Riad Sabaa, dip your feet in the whirlpool bath over a cup of mint tea. Food-wise, Le Table provides a tasty French or Moroccan menu, best enjoyed on the terrace or poolside, and for a spiced cocktail, head to the Odette Bar, where Marrakesh's high society often partied. And when you're in need of pampering, the ornate hammam fits the bill.

The rooms at La Sultana range from the eye-catching and colourful to the sleek and chic, the most grand being the Exclusive Suite, with a living room and fireplace to be lit on chilly evenings, and two bathrooms (one with a jacuzzi). Every room was refurbished by some of Marrakesh's finest craftspeople, evident in the zellij detailing, antique furnishings and sculpted doors. But some might say the bathrooms are the true stars, with their roman-inspired arched ceilings, marble columns and bathtubs set in a private alcove. The mod cons are all there too - sound-proofed walls, iPod docks and a 24-hour personal host.

Morocco is known as a country of many faces and you may well see most of them in Marrakesh. In the Medina itself, there are sprawling palaces, mosques and markets - the street food is worth a whole tour on its own. Then comes the adventurous side. Not far from the Atlas Mountains, take a hot air balloon ride at dawn, hike to a Berber village and join a mint tea ceremony, or take a camel ride into the Agafay Desert. For something closer to home, take a historical tour of the hotel or join the chef for a lesson in making a delicious tagine.