Marrakech

Marrakech is a three hour flight from most of Europe and feels much further. In the medina, riads with six to twelve rooms open onto courtyards with a pool and orange trees, and the noise of the souk disappears the moment the door closes. In the Palmeraie, larger estates offer gardens, tennis courts and the space families need. We recommend a night or two in the Atlas Mountains, ninety minutes away, for anyone with more than four nights. Spring and autumn are ideal; July and August are hot enough that we suggest the coast at Essaouira or Taghazout instead.