91Èȱ¬

Giles and Monica arrive at Royal Mansour, one of the world’s most discreet hotels, hidden deep in the heart of Marrakech’s ancient Medina. In stark contrast to the developing country it inhabits, the ‘jewel of the city’ was built with a limitless budget, by royal decree to showcase the kingdom to world leaders and to billionaire and celebrity guests. Its network of luxurious riads, built by the nation’s finest artisans, are kitted out with suede and silk carpets, extravagant chandeliers and open fireplaces lit by personal butlers. The hotel prides itself on its incredible attention to detail, creating an absolutely flawless guest experience.

Monica works with executive housekeeper Laurence, who intriguingly teaches her to how to ‘show love to curtains’. There are 350 pairs of them at Royal Mansour, and each set must be caressed by hand to create the most perfect pleats. Giles dons the uniform of the hotel butlers, like Mohammed, who introduces him to the hotel’s 1km of underground tunnels, which ensure absolute discretion - to the guests, it looks as though every whim is fulfilled as if by magic.

Beyond the hotel walls, Monica visits a farm where Berber women pick the precious saffron used in the hotel’s two fine-dining restaurants. And chauffeur Akram bravely lets Giles test-drive a custom-built Bentley, one of the hotel’s fleet of ten luxury cars. This car alone is worth 60 times more than a year’s wages for many Moroccans.