Why Morocco is my new go-to winter sun break
As soon as the clocks change in October and the days become far too short, my annual hankering for a winter sun break really kicks in. I scour my options for something reliably warm for my last blast of sunshine of the year—somewhere where I can feel pampered and return to the UK eased into the season, ready to embrace Christmas shopping and get stuck into the festivities of December.
Morocco was on my radar, with tempting November temperatures in the mid to high-20s and the promise of gloriously sunny skies. The flight time to Marrakech is just a touch over three hours – less than half the time it takes to fly to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for winter sun and a mere quarter of the flight time to St Lucia, making Morocco a seriously tempting option for a short break in the sunshine.
It's not just great weather and a doable flight time, though. Morocco is having a moment in the spotlight. New hotel openings are gathering pace, including the luxury Park Hyatt Marrakech, which had been ten years in the making before it opened in July 2024.
What's more, it’s relatively inexpensive to get to with more direct daily flights from London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Birmingham than ever before. And so, to escape the UK's November gloom, I checked in to see whether the newest luxury hotel in Marrakech could lift me from my early winter slump…
The setting
The Park Hyatt Marrakech is a 25-minute drive from Marrakech airport along tree-lined boulevards that skirt around the terracotta walls of the Red City.
Surrounded by the Al Maaden golf course and a (not yet complete) residential development, Park Hyatt Marrakech is in a tranquil spot. And while you don’t have the energy of the Medina at your fingertips, nor the boutique feel of the fabulous Moroccan riads you’ll find in the middle of Marrakech, you’re not forgoing a sense of place by choosing a hotel outside the city. At Park Hyatt Marrakech, the architecture remains distinctly Moroccan, with the same distinctively boxy buildings painted in russet, ochre, and terracotta. And as I was soon to discover, the local influences ran deeper than merely the hotel's facade.
The first impressions
As arrival experiences go, this one is pretty special. As I stepped inside the Park Hyatt Marrakech, vast ceilings loomed above me, and local marble gleamed underfoot. A remarkable 600-piece ceramic chandelier (designed by a female artist from Casablanca) would have stolen the show if not for the view: a sensationally symmetrical framing of an al fresco restaurant overlooking a sun-dappled infinity pool with the golf course beyond. And there, in the distance, were the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains.
Instantly, the Park Hyatt Marrakech bore the hallmarks of the luxury hotel brand I was already familiar with, having stayed at the Park Hyatt Aviara in California in the summer. Impressively high ceilings, an abundance of grand windows, statement lighting, and a wow-factor arrival experience are go-to design signatures.
Despite these brand flourishes, Park Hyatt Marrakech is unmistakably Moroccan, thanks to the design reins being handed to a Marrakech-based architect. It was instantly clear that Imaad Rahmouni had drawn on inspiration from Arab-Berber traditions to create the overall look and feel. Local art adorns the walls, and Moroccan marble and stone are abundantly used throughout. A signature scent wasn't overlooked. A bespoke creation was developed to evoke the intoxicating aromas of Morocco. All in all, Park Hyatt Marrakech envelopes you in a luxurious bubble from the moment you arrive.
As masterful as the craftsmanship and design are, the genuine warmth of the staff was even more striking—impeccable at every touch point. Everyone I encountered was friendly and helpful yet unobtrusive.
On arrival, I was invited to take a seat in the plush armchair, ready to sip on peach iced tea with a selection of exquisite Moroccan pastries, setting the scene and soothing me into what would transpire to be a wholly pampering stay.
The rooms
On my way to the room, the magnificent and mature gardens made me forget the hotel only opened in the summer, with knarly olive trees and spiky palms juxtaposed with delicate bougainvillaea, soft grasses and jacaranda trees, all carefully tended to and equally splendid at night when the walkways are beautifully lit to create a magical atmosphere.
Although the Park Hyatt Marrakech is a relatively large hotel with 130 rooms and suites, it’s cleverly laid out to feel more intimate. The rooms are arranged in small clusters within low-level terracotta-painted buildings, honouring traditional pisé-walled Moroccan architecture and tucked into beautiful gardens. I wound my way around the paths that link the dwellings, arriving at 1206, one of the superb and spacious first-floor guestrooms.
Inside, a fabulous bedroom with a large walk-in wardrobe awaited. Each guestroom features a traditional Berber rug woven in pure wool, sumptuously soft underfoot. The beautifully carved headboards are said to represent the Tataoui motif, a local roofing technique from laurel branches.
While the local heritage nods were undoubtedly lovely, they’re not at the expense of contemporary flourishes and well-thought-through mood lighting.
A statement bathroom almost matched the bedroom in floor space, with a double vanity, capacious standalone tub and centrepiece shower, stocked with Le Labo Bergamot 22 products. There’s a dedicated place for hair and make-up with a large back-lit mirror – frustratingly so often an oversight, even in some of the world’s best hotels.
The generously proportioned balcony (or terrace, if you're in a ground-floor room) isn’t an afterthought, with comfy seating and well-considered lighting. Privacy and shade curtains make it a perfect spot to enjoy Moroccan mint tea at any time of the day. Mine had a view over the vegetable garden with a glimpse of the Atlas Mountains in the distance.
The bar and restaurants
In November, the sun sets early in Morocco, at around 6.30 pm, and the air cools quickly, so be sure to pack layers. Thankfully, The Living Room, the hotel's opulent bar, proved a cosy and atmospheric spot for a pre-dinner drink.
After neglecting the impressive cocktail list for a chilled glass of Moroccan white wine, the elegant TAFAYA was my next stop. Helmed by an acclaimed Moroccan chef, Issam Rhachi, his menu was a tempting selection of traditional, unmistakably local flavours with skilful and contemporary presentation.
The dishes were delicious and were served by those keen to share their enthusiasm, pride, and recommendations for their local cuisine. I feasted on briouates, fabulously smoked aubergine, and delicate cous cous dishes. Sharing the chhiwates also comes highly recommended to get a better sense of all the local flavours.
For lunch the next day, I dined outdoors at Pavilion, the more informal, al fresco restaurant close to the pool. You've got the option to order lunch to your sunlounger if you (forgivably) can’t bear to tear yourself away.
Pavilion serves a broader, internationally inspired menu, with classic Mediterranean dishes and Nikkei cuisine. Beneath flower-draped pergolas, I chose the colourful quinoa salad with crunchy vegetables and feta drizzled with lemon olive oil.
The spa
If the whole set-up of Park Hyatt Marrakech wasn’t escapist enough, Le Spa takes things to a whole other level. It's beautifully appointed, a cocoon of hush and calm, decked out in soothing pastel shades. Le Spa’s centrepiece is a sparkling turquoise infinity pool reflecting a magnificent star-studded arched ceiling with private cabanas around the edge.
I booked in for a hammam, which turned out to be a fabulous decision. If you’ve experienced a hammam before, you’ll already know this should be your go-to treatment in Morocco. At Park Hyatt Marrakech, it’s an almost hour-long, multi-step ritual in a black marble steam room, a business-like experience delivered with thoroughness and expert efficiency with incredible skin-smoothing results thanks. Post-treatment, as I sat in the powder-pink lounge, I was left wondering whether I felt more relaxed or invigorated.
If you’re a spa aficionado and have a shortlist of your favourite spa hotels in the UK, you’ll also appreciate the excellent value of the spa treatments here. It made me think what a fabulous option this would make for a pampering girls' trip, especially if you share one of the three-bedroom suites that sleep six adults, which comes with a private ensuite hammam.
What else?
For a blast of heat during the UK’s gloomiest months, a weekend at the Park Hyatt Marrakech is a dream of a winter sunshine break. There’s excellent golf if you’re one of an ever-growing number of women getting involved in the sport, or the hotel can arrange an incredible array of adventures, including hot air ballooning over the Agafay Desert, treasure hunts around the Medina or venturing through the verdant Yves Saint-Laurent Majorelle Garden.
Frankly though, it’s all too easy to stay put in the oasis-like surroundings that the Park Hyatt Marrakech has created here. After lazy lunches in the sunshine, lazier afternoons beckon to be spent in a blissful bubble of solitude. Choose a quiet spot on a comfy double lounger around the oasis pool or a cabana beside the infinity pool to bask in the Moroccan sunshine with a view of snow-capped mountains. It won't be too long before you're handed a refreshing sorbet to cool off in the warm sunshine.
I reluctantly departed the luxurious trappings of Park Hyatt Marrakech and waved farewell to the hospitable team, whose service had impressed me throughout.
Unlike winter sun breaks in the Caribbean or the Middle East, I returned home free of jet lag or travel fatigue (and my skin was still decadently smooth from that gorgeous Hammam experience), leaving me with no doubt that Marrakech makes the ultimate winter sun escape.
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