Come discover 100 of the most romantic small hotels and places in the world.
Roman ruins, Kasbahs, towering Atlas mountains, fortified seaside villages, and a ferociously beautiful Saharan desert.
Traditional Moorish-style mansions built around a tranquil courtyard; home to wealthy merchants and prmminent families. Often riads are located in the Medina, the historic old section of town. The medinas of Fez, Marrakech and Essaouira are all world heritage sites.
Includes the cities of Casablanca and Fez. Fez – the soul of Morocco – is the oldest and most historic of Morocco’s imperial cities.
Carved doors and blue mosaics reflect the Andulusian heritage of this old-town riad. Built in 1915 for Morocco’s royal Astrologer, it is still home to his descendants.
T: +212 55 636052. US$ 260-
www.maisonbleue.com
Includes the fashionable imperial city of Marrakech and the Sahara desert.
The legendary Marrakech hotel. With 281bedrooms and lavish public rooms, more exotic grande dame than cozy romantic. Rooms were designed by maximalist designer Jacques Grange.
T: +21 244 48981. 281 rooms. US$ 321-
www.mamounia.com
This colorfully chic riad is popular with the fashion crowd and within walking distance of the Jemaa el Fna Square.
T: +212 524 44 1210. US$ 245-
www.el-fenn.com
An expertly restored romantic riad, located in the heart of old Marrakech.
T: +212 44 387010. 10 rooms. US$ 190-
www.lamaisonarabe.com
Colorful rooms built around a pretty garden courtyard.
T: +212 44 440926. 9 rooms. US$ 225-
www.riadenija.com
Weathly Moroccans and foreigners built vacation mansions in this vast palm oasis, located fifteen minutes from Marrakech’s Medina.
This antique and kilim-filled former private residence sits in 5 acres of pools, fountains, orange groves and a two-acre walled palm garden.
T: +212 44 32 96 84. 7 rooms. US$ 300-
www.dar-ayniwen.com
Towering mountains where strong Berber tribal traditions are still flourishing. The Atlas mountains separate the Mediterranean coastline from the Sahara Desert and are a favorite destination for trekking, riding and skiing.
Located in the Atlas foothills, this romantic hotel retreat overlooks a river valley and is a one hour’s drive from Marrakech. On a clear day you see Atlas’ highest peak. Kasbah Tamadot is one of Sir Richard Branson’s collection of retreats.
T: +44 (0)208 600 0430. 27 bedrooms. US$ 620-
www.kasbahtamadot.virgin.com
Coming down from the High Atlas mountains, the 125 km long Draa Valley contains date-palmed oases and crumbling Kasbahs. It is known as the “Valley of the Kasbahs” and merges into the Sahara desert at M’Hamid.
At the end of the dirt road in M’Hamid, take a 2.5 hour four wheel drive (or a five day camel ride) to this desert camp created by Nick, a British hotelier, and a Berber desert guide and genial host named Moustafa (“Bobo”). This traditional tent camp offers a campfire and good food along with a magical, once-in-a-lifetime romantic experience of camping under starry skies among the beautiful Erg Chigaga sand dunes.
T: +212 5244 49526. 8 tents. US$ 600+, meals inclusive
www.desertcampmorocco.com
Features whitewashed fortified villages, including the former Portugese fishing village of Essaouria, a tiny Atlantic Coast beach city once home to Orson Welles, Cat Stevens and Jimi Hendrix. Its relaxed, clean medina is car-free.
Coastal Morocco also includes Dakhla, an arty remote desert town located on a 30 mile spit of land between the Atlantic Ocean and a lagoon, 600 miles south of Marrakech. Popular with backpackers and kiteboard surfers, the water is 80 degrees, the sun nonstop, and the desert only a short trek away. Fly in from Cassablanca.
Open fires and excellent food.
T: +212 44 473147. 22 rooms. US$ 100-
www.villa-maroc.com
Modern riad with private beach and seawater pool.
T: +212 6 61 19 16 34. 43 rooms. US$ 160-
www.dakhla-hotel-sahara.com
