I am standing on the balcony of Palais Faraj Suites & Spa, in Fez, Morocco. It is sunrise, and I am gazing out at one of the most majestic views of the stunning medina. The Palais Faraj Suites & Spa is perched on the ZIAT hill, scaling above the ancient city, removed but not unattached.
Built in the 19th century, its history is engrained in the palace. It has been restored by world-renowned artists, creating a luxurious, authentic feel.
I step into the main area and am invited to relax and sip on mint tea, a local favorite and staple to Moroccan culture. The palace has 25 suites designed in Moorish tradition. Tall ceilings with painted texture and contrasting vibrant colors cover the grounds. Beautiful artwork, not just on the walls tucked into frames but the tile floor, the elaborate doors and the detailed painted ceilings. I feel as if I have stepped into an ancient art gallery of the royal, but here I am, one with all the beauty and part of the gallery itself.
My Instagram feed is overstuffed with gorgeous photos of the Palais Faraj Suites & Spa. Everything is strikingly beautiful.
There are 25 suites at the Palace, all decorated with elaborate textures and finishing Moorish touches. As I enter my Royal Suite, I am welcomed with fresh fruit and bottled water. The windows are open, and the Northern African breeze is blowing in. I feel calm and relaxed, as everything on property seems to cater to this feeling.
My room has a separate living space and bedroom. The suites are adorned with the purest Moroccan tradition in noble materials: carved and painted cedarwood, zellige, stucco, and marble, all shaped by the greatest artists of Fez.
After munching on some fresh fruit and figs, a local favorite in Morocco, I head to the spa for a special treatment. As a treat for my soul, I opt to do the traditional hammam.
This is one of the best and most popular signature spa treatments, as it will detoxify, steam and purify. The Hammam is an incredibly important part of Moroccan culture and life. Men, women, and children will visit their local Hammam at least once a week and spend two or three hours there.
The public Hammam experience is much different than a traditional spa version. Instead of a public bathhouse, it is a treatment room, and my experience came with gentle spa music and a personal escort from the steam room to the massage table.
I started with 20 minute of sitting in the steam room. The steam room is a special experience in itself, with a huge tiled room with a domed ceiling and a fountain that pours out cool running water. There are lights in the ceiling that feel like stars. This is the best steam room experience I have ever had.
After twenty minutes, the spa therapist escorts me down the hall to a treatment room. She instructs me to lie face down on the large cement bed.
She covers me with argian oil and clay, a thick mud texture. Once the clay comes off, the black soap goes on and is left to penetrate my skin. She washes it off and I melt into oblivion. This is how babies must feel before they can even remember their first thoughts. Pure relaxation, no care in the world, and completely nurtured and loved.
The treatment is gentle, absorbing and nurturing. After the soap is washed off, the vigorous exfoliation begins. Every part of my body is brushed with the exfoliating glove. Between my toes, behind my ears, and all the regular spots you would assume. I am lying naked as she rubs dead skin away. I can’t help but imagine all my limiting beliefs and fears wash away too. I let go of the worry that I am naked and surrender to the experience. I finish with a semi-cold shower to re-close the pores, and then I am escorted to the relaxing room, where she cocoons me in a warm blanket and brings mint lemonade and fresh water. She tells me to relax and just enjoy the moment – absolute bliss!
After my spa time, I head to the swimming pool on property to soak up the last part of the day’s sun. It is calm, quiet, and serene here. Down below in the medina, people shop and live in the bustling streets, but perched on this hill I feel protected, as if I am in my own retreat, a sanctuary for the body, mind, and soul.
After my relaxing afternoon, my stomach tells me it is time to eat. I head to the restaurant on site for a traditional Moroccan meal. It is Friday; in Morocco that means couscous.
Similar to the Sunday roast tradition for Christian families in the West, families throughout Morocco gather on Fridays to join together in prayer at their neighborhood mosque and return home to enjoy a hearty meal of couscous. While “couscous” in the United States and other Western countries typically refers to pre-packaged “instant” grains, in Morocco couscous is an institution unto itself.
Semolina grains are steamed and fluffed several times over a broth-based stew, each time handled with care and receiving different treatment, such as additional water, salt, oil and/or “smen” (clarified and aged butter). The end result is tender, individual grains that serve as a delicate base for a delicious stew. The feast is wonderful.
I finish my meal with mint tea, the national drink of Morocco, and feel satisfied for a meal that hits all the right taste buds. Fez is the gastroboy capital of Morocco; some of the best chefs in the country live here, and this restaurant has some of the best food in all of Morocco.
I head back to my room for an excellent night’s sleep. The Palais Faraj Suites & Spa caters to your every need. I feel like a princess and have been rejuvenated from my time at the Palais Faraj Suites & Spa.
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Palais Faraj Suites & Spa
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Palais Faraj Suites & Spa
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She is best-selling author of three books about happiness, including Find Your Happy and Adventures for Your Soul. She appears regularly as a happiness expert on AM Northwest and Huff Post Live, and was named among the “Top 100 Women to Watch in Wellness” by the Mind Body Green. Shannon's the founder of Playwiththeworld.com, an award-winning self-help and personal development website. She's an author, international life coach, teacher, travel writer and inspirational speaker who left her job in advertising several years ago to follow her heart and become a writer.
Her work has been recognized in media outlets across the globe such as HuffPost Live, Health Magazine, Australian Vogue, Women’s Health, Spirituality & Health and Entrepreneur magazine. Everything Shannon does is to help you connect to your true self and unapologetically live your authentic purpose.
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