Grand Hotel Villa de France

The staff were very welcoming and friendly. The pool was lovely. The whole hotel was very clean. The location was excellent and I enjoyed using the gym at the El Minzah hotel. I enjoyed having no loud music at the poolside, silence allows people to relax and have conversation or read a book.

This hotel is in the best location! It's easily walkable to the main plaza and the old Kasbah. The petit taxis seem to all know it very well by just the name. We really loved the staff for the most part. The older gentleman checking us in at the front desk very grouchy and unpleasant but other than him, everyone was so amazing. From our housekeepers to the hotel porters to everyone who served us at breakfast, they were all so kind and approachable! Everyone seemed very fluent in English, French and Spanish. The pool is fantastic, I don't think you can get such great amenities anywhere else and still be so close to the centre. The view of the Atlantic ocean from the terraces is very lovely and on a really clear day you could probably see Spain. They had of course their own restaurant and bars but we did not use these amenities and cannot comment on them. They looked very pretty. Our room was divine. The windows opened out to a terrace which was beautiful. The bed was very large, and the seating area too. Comes with a fridge and a kettle for tea/coffee. Fantastic breakfast. Freshly made mssemen and a great selection of fruits every morning. Lots of protein as well such as eggs and sausages, harira soup, different cheeses. I literally had 3 plates every morning: one for sweet like mssemen with honey, cereals, etc; another for savoury things and lastly a big plate of fruits. We felt very spoiled for breakfast.

Location location location... and the character of the hotel

This was a last minute booking, as we had not originally planned to visit Tangier. We chose Villa de France on the basis of online reviews, and especially its location. Our welcome by the young woman receptionist, and the young doorman was flawless, and we were very pleased to receive a room upgrade. Our room was airy and spacious, Matisse motifs in the decor and furnishings (reflecting a famous former resident) were much appreciated (my wife is an artist). The only disappointment was that the finishes to woodwork in the room were "tired" and could do with some future tlc. Staying two nights, we decided to dine inhouse on our first night. Service in the bar for pre-dinner drinks was a bit hit and miss, and explanation as to what the dining options were had to be sought rather than being proffered. The dining room was as one would expect for a hotel with this pedigree and reputation, and the service was attentive and professional without being effusive. The menu was not too extensive and there were chef's recommendations. We were both very pleased with our entrees, but saddened that both main courses lacked a certain amount of culinary flair, as well as being under-seasoned. Breakfasts on both mornings were well presented and varied.

Beautiful old style hotel in an excellent location. An impressive building with very friendly and helpful staff throughout. Our room was big and bright and very clean and comfortable. The bar was open until midnight serving a good selection of drinks. Beautiful gardens.