When you hear a hotel has the largest wellness area in the whole continent of Africa, that is the kind of luxury 5-star hotel where you have to sit up and take notice. However, that is unsurprising for a hotel like Vichy Célestins Spa Hôtel in Bouznika, Morocco given they are owned by the Vichy Spa International Group, which is one of the most well-known and respected spa brands in the world.
The hotel is 45 minutes from Casablanca International Airport and has 130 luxurious rooms that are both modern and refined that have either glorious views of the Atlantic Ocean or the 18-hole Golf Course Bahia Golf Resort. The exquisitely designed Philippe Starck hotel is all about sleek, visually-stunning architecture married with consummate functionality and frequently you will observe wellness/spa imagery throughout the hotel even if you are not physically inside the wellness centre. It is by far the most fragrant hotel I've ever stayed in, with diffusers strategically dotted throughout the building.
The world-class 3,000 squared metre global health spa offers a myriad of treatment which is often unique to Vichy and is a magnet for the rich and famous not only in Morocco but all over Europe including the likes of the national Moroccan football team and people like Zinedine Zidane. Highlights include thalassotherapy care treatments, a hydrothermal area, and a Cryotherapy® room. Having a massage under water with a Vichy shower is one of those bucket list experiences not to be missed.
They have 2 outdoor pools along with a heated indoor pool that uses seawater that is beneficial for skin health. There are tennis courts available as well as plenty of green spaces for guests to relax and have some alone time. Golf lovers just need to take a short golf buggy ride to the nearby Bahia Golf Beach club to enjoy a sublime 18-hole golf course or even just to enjoy a tasty Italian pasta lunch.
Staying at Vichy Célestins is an all-encompassing experience, so it isn't just about treatments and exercising but your diet is just as important. You are offered a dietary consultation on arrival and if your aim is to lose weight for example, they will make sure to come up with menus that are suitable for your needs. They have a dietetic restaurant in Le Sense, where local products are showcased along with cooking methods that are healthy and well-balanced. They tend to use low-temperature cooking methods and plenty of Vichy Célestins water bicarbonate, which reduces the salt content of the food.
The fine-dining restaurant at the hotel is restaurant Le V; they often have famous chef pop-ups from Michelin-starred restaurants in France to add a sense of occasion to the dining experience. During our stay, we had the talented owner of La Chaumière Dole, Joel Cesari cooking for us along with the in-house team. We had dishes like langoustine tartare and escargots with a Parmesan emulsion, which are dishes you rarely come across on a daily basis.
Finally, the hotel is situated half-way between Casablanca and Rabat making day trips to both destinations an ideal option. Rabat is a city with a very much Bohemian, relaxed lifestyle with a fascinating souk where you can discover many art pieces from local artists. Whilst, Casablanca is the thriving business capital of the country and has some of the most modern restaurants you will find in the country. And the city also contains one of the most impressive architectural structure anywhere in the world in the form of the Hassan II mosque; it is the largest mosque in Africa and certainly one of the most impressive you will see in the world.
Whether you are looking for a wellness break, a cultural experience, an opportunity to sample healthy yet great tasting food, Vichy Célestins Spa Hôtel has it all.
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