Hotel of the Week: Lalla Mira
If you’re a bit of an eco warrior, or even just an eco enthusiast, finding an exotic holiday destination that meets your green credentials can sometimes be a bit of challenge. That’s why, for this week’s Moroccan riad of the week we look at Morocco’s first ‘Bio hotel’ – an Essaouria haven for green travellers.
Hotel: Lalla Mira
Region: Essaouira
Address: 14 rue d’Algérie, 44000 Essaouira Medina
Rating: **
Although Lalla Mira is a new hotel by Essaouira’s standards, being built in 2002, it incorporates the oldest bath house in the city.
Sustainable development is the focus of this riad, which serves organic local produce in its restaurant and dresses its beds in organic bed linen. The underfloor heating inside the hotel comes from solar power and much of the fruit and vegetables served are grown by the hotel itself.
The hotel’s owners want their guests to have an authentic Moroccan experience, without missing out on any comfort.
There are 13 rooms in total, from single rooms to large suites. meaning that there’s something to suit all budgets. Because of the location on the Atlantic coast, the rooms don’t have air conditioning, as the natural cool air from the sea keeps them at an ambient temperature.
There is a wide range of vegetarian cuisine available in the restaurant, and for this reason it is popular with vegetarian travellers. For those who enjoy seafood, fish served in the restaurant is freshly caught from the Atlantic. There are also several quality restaurants and cafes on the nearby harbour that are well worth a visit.
The town centre location of Lalla Mira makes it ideal for older travellers and those not keen to do too much walking. It’s only a short trip to the city walls and the Blue Flag certified beach.
Lalla Mira’s staff can also arrange trips to Marrakesh, the Atlas mountains and the desert. For something a little different, the hotel manager can even arrange a marriage service for guests, so long as they inform the hotel at least a month in advance.
