Hotel Royal Atlas

The Royal Atlas is located at the north of Agadir's bay and is one of the front row of hotels meaning it is located right on the beach with just the pedestrianised promenade to cross in order to get to the water. The main drag of the tourist centre is not far away at all either meaning pretty much everything Agadir has to offer as on your doorstep. The hotel is half an hour from the airport by taxi and the journey costs around 200MAD.

The hotel is owned and operated by Atlas Hospitality which has numerous hotels around Morocco as well as a few others in Agadir. While the hotel does provide an animation programme, it is not the full blown, energetic type that is found in other, less formal hotels. The Royal Atlas is a calmer, more civilised affair so if you are looking to really let yourself go then you should consider another property. The hotel offers several rooms adapted for those guests in wheelchairs.

You can tell just from looking at the exterior of the hotel that not only is the Royal Atlas one of the better properties in Agadir but that it prides itself on service, appearance and presentation. The long welcome hall is one of the best introductions to any hotel we saw with stylish, contemporary art and furniture married with traditional works and décor such as the hefty wooden plant pots and the intricate tables, chairs and lamps. Not only is the space bright and spotless, but there is a great ocean view out back with the beautiful gardens and pool in the foreground. If you look down from the balcony at the back of the hall you will see the smart lobby bar with its leitmotiv orange and brown colour scheme, each table with its small vase of flowers. Leading off from the lobby are lengthly, wide corridors with a funky carpet and more art and impressive pieces of furniture.

The heart of the hotel is its gorgeous swimming pool area with a semi-circular pool complete with palm tree islands, impeccably kept gardens and heaps of space in which to relax and sunbathe on the good quality loungers of which there are plenty for everyone. With good exposure and an absolutely peaceful atmosphere this is one of the most pleasant pool areas of any hotel. And what's more, there is a direct access to the beach! Between the hours of 10am and 6pm the pool's snack bar serves beverages and snacks while throughout the day the animation team makes sure that no one gets bored by staging a host of activities such as ping pong, dance and aquagym and they also look after children during the day whilst mum and dad have some time to themselves. Then, in the evening, a show, such as oriental dance, is put on for guests before it is time for a last few drinks in the reposed setting of the hotel at night.

Wherever you are in the hotel you will find it to be clean, tidy and well maintained with staff being especially friendly and helpful at all times. Despite there being an animation programme, an air of calm seems to reign over the place at most times and there is something more sophisticated about this hotel than most others. The hotel has both a wifi network (fee applicable) and a futuristic-looking cyber café.

While not the most complete spa of all the hotels we saw in Agadir, that at the Royal Atlas has arguably the finest décor and best ambiance. The large facility, which bears the name of top French brand Daniel Jouvance, has excellent mood lighting, chill out music, fabulous smelling odours wafting throughout and sweeping curtains separating its different parts. It boasts six treatment rooms, another for manicures and pedicures, a great indoor pool with jacuzzi and a relaxation area with tisanerie. As well as a hammam the centre also has a top-of-the-range fitness room with all the possible machines you could wish for to give a complete workout. And what's more, with a brand such as Daniel Jouvance behind it, you can be sure that the spa uses top quality products for all its treatments.

More intimate and civilised than its 328 guestrooms and suites would suggest, the Royal Atlas boasts spacious and well appointed accommodation with a contemporary Moroccan twist. Every room has a private balcony or terrace and give either on to the hotel's grounds or to the ocean. The standard rooms feature a large double bed with plaid and plenty of cushions and pillows against a tall wooden headboard carved with swirls. A long desk, with an equally lengthly mirror above it, hugs the opposite wall with a fully-stocked minibar (no alcohol) with snacks integrated into it. Other amenities include a flatscreen television, telephone, safe and air conditioning. A splash of colour is present in the modern paintings and in the curtains while there is plenty of natural light coming in through the large sliding doors leading to the balcony. All surfaces and furniture are in excellent condition and the quality of the fittings is relatively high. The same goes for the bathrooms which have a bathtub/shower combination, make-up mirror, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers and personalised toiletries on a sleek marble-topped vanity. If you need more space or there are more than a couple of people in your party then opt for one of the impressive suites which boast smart, carpeted living spaces and dining areas with traditional furniture and ocean views. These are some of the finest accommodation you will find in Agadir.

Guests at the Royal Atlas have several choices for their daily meals. The main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a buffet form and runs on a one-week cycle. Each afternoon and evening brings a different theme in terms of the food on offer: one night you could be presented with Moroccan specialities, the next Italian and the one after Spanish. The space itself is smart enough with well laid tables, chandeliers and red and white stripes along the walls supported by stone columns. Two alternatives to the buffet format come in the form of Alyacout and Andiamo. The former is a Moroccan restaurant with an Arabian Nights theme while the latter specialises in Italian cuisine. Those staying at the hotel on an all-inclusive basis can try each of these restaurants with no extra charge once during your stay while those on full- or half-board must pay a supplement. All three options offer a good quality of food in a relaxed and esthetically pleasing context.

The hotel also has several bars including one in the lower part of the lobby and another by the pool. A piano bar is a third option for taking a drink to the background of light music while for something a little heavier head to the bar/club for late night entertainment for adults.