Morocco

A gorgeous destination, just a hop away from Spain (we like to group them together to cut down travel time), this North African country is bursting with culture (Berber, Arabian and European influences), and bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It offers dizzying diversity, where you’ll find epic mountain ranges, ancient cities, sweeping deserts, and warm hospitality. Be smart, be safe, be dazzled. Time to visit Morocco!

Marrakesh

A former imperial city in western Morocco, Marrakesh is a major economic center and home to mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with mazelike alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry. It’s a City best navigated with the guidance of someone who truly knows the ins-and-outs, so you can better enjoy a shopping trip to the souks at Jamaa el Fna square, a visit to the gilded Saadian Tombs, a dinner at Yacout (the restaurant has one of the most picturesque riads in the city), or ride into the sunset on camelback.

STAY: Four Seasons, Riad Farnatchi,

EAT: Nomad, Le Jardin, Al-Fassia, Yacout, Terraces des Epices

SEE: Shop Jemaa el Fna square (come prepared to buy a lot), walking tour of the medina, Jardins Majorelle, Desert Camel Ride (there are options to sleep in tents under the stars as well)

Casablanca

This port city and commercial hub in western Morocco along the Atlantic Ocean, shows the city’s French colonial legacy is seen in its downtown Mauresque architecture, a blend of Moorish style and European art deco. Casablanca is a city for travelers who like to feel like a local, rather than a tourist, and who want to experience the present as well as learn about the past.

STAY: Hotel Les Saisons, Hotel Transatlantique, Le Royal Mansour Meridien

EAT: Unlike Marrakech, Casablanca has a buzzy restaurant scene fueled by both locals and visitors.  Le Cabestan, Moss & Lam, Bleu are definitely worth a stop.

SEE: Join an architectural tour with Casamémoire, gallery hop from La Villa des Arts  to Le Musée de la Fondation

Watch  “The Kingdom of Morocco” BBC Documentary for some historical background