Inside Morocco’s Four Seasons Collection: A Honeymooner’s Dream

The Four Seasons is a brand trusted in excellence. Travellers experience the same meticulous service, plush amenities, and local commitment no matter which of the globe’s properties they enter. In a similar vein to honeymooners going on an Aman hotels hop across Indonesia, or dipping their toes in multiple Anantaras in Thailand, the opening of the brand new Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr in autumn 2024 has created a holy trinity of properties in Morocco. That means the perfect chance for a wildly romantic and adventurous occasion in the North African hot spot. One that couples will pin on their bucket list, to realise in the shape of a honeymoon, an anniversary, or any other golden celebration. Beginning in the Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, moving onto the coast for Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca, and finishing at the capital city of Rabat for the brand new edition, we uncover what it’s like to make an itinerary of the Four Seasons Collection in Morocco. Here’s what happened day by day.

While the stays were complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own

Three truly unique stays: we review the Four Seasons Collection in Morocco

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech and checking into a villa

Marrakech Menara Airport is an easy direct flight from London, with a flight time of around three and a half hours. Pulling up to the Four Seasons Resort Marrakech is unlike pulling up at just any metropolis hotel. Sitting on 40 acres means this is a retreat, our car rolling through Moorish gardens lined with palm trees, right up to a grand entrance where a team awaited our arrival.

Sensing our fatigue, they sped us through check-in and right into a large patio suite with a private plunge pool. Though it was within a two-storied block (which can be connected for those in a larger party), it had the seclusion, height and space of a private villa.

We had our first taste of slow-cooked veal tagine in-room and a sweet date treat on the welcome table, basked in Guerlain bath amenities, and sunk into the signature Four Seasons King bed. A swirling air of sweet orange acted almost as an aromatherapy to sleep, which we did, for eight blissful hours.

Day 2: Exploring historic Marrakech and pampering at Le Spa

Marrakech is a cradle of many things; historic landmarks, bustling souks, and hedonistic nightlife, but as a traveller, you pluck what you will to make of it. We decided on an early start, taking a cultural tour of the greats; El Badi Palace, a monumental piece of architecture dating back to 1578; Le Jardin Secret, lined with those sweet fruit trees of which our room scent nods; and the beautiful Bahia Palace, where every angle’s a photo opp.

Tourists far and wide had caught on too, and though it all was on watch with camera shutters, we knew better to save our Fez hats and Kaftans for the mosaics back at the hotel. After lunch at the oh-so-chic Terrasse des Épices, we returned for an Argania Massage at the Spa, a treatment that fuses Middle Eastern and Western techniques using lush argan and aromatic oils in the process. 

At sunset, we did cocktails at Zest, a lively rooftop bar with views of the city gardens and the Atlas Mountains, then lined our stomachs at Quattro. Here, Chef Roberto Dal Seno reimagines Italian classics with local ingredients, and we liked that there was a large plant-based list of dishes. In Morocco, where everything can be rather meat-heavy, dipping in and out with fresh veg was our way to strike a balance.

Day 3: Journey to Casablanca

Sporting our traditional Moroccan garms (all of which are available for purchase from the on-site Maarifa Boutique, FYI) for an on-resort photoshoot and then cooling off with a dip in the adults-only pool (at our time of visit in November, temperatures reached a high of 33 degrees celsius by the afternoon), it was time to head to the middle city of the trip: Casablanca.

Tourists are in luck: the train system is high-speed, affordable, and comfortable, and first-class train tickets are a steal at just £26. With Morocco’s new Four Seasons Collection itinerary, the hotel also offers private transportation service between the three, ideal for travellers seeking the most luxurious method.

We arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca in the evening, taking an early dinner at Kyub before retiring to our Signature Suite to catch up on some work. Casablanca, after all, is the country’s commercial powerhouse and business capital. Kyub provided fuel for brain power, a poolside glasshouse specialising in coastal and Latin-inspired cuisine. Think grilled Octopus, tuna ceviche, garnished with a pop—chilli-spiced chocolate dessert, anyone? No alcohol is served at this property due to its proximity to the Hassan II Mosque, so we decided to save the Moroccan wine tasting for the city tomorrow and detoxed with juice.

Day 4: The city of Casablanca, Moroccan wine, and watching the oceanfront

As the largest city in Morocco busting with a metro population of 3.95 million, we cleared a full day to explore. Hassan II Mosque is a mere nine minutes away. It’s the largest mosque in Africa, adorned with zellige tiles, wood carvings, and textured stucco, and is quite the masterpiece in Islamic and Moroccan craftsmanship.

Other nearby points of interest include La Sqala, overlooking the port of Casablanca; Mohammed V Square, the administrative hub of Casablanca; and Rick’s Café, which featured in the famed war movie, Casablanca. We stopped by for lunch at Dar Dada, a riad restaurant serving upscale Moroccan classics such as tender lamb tagine beautifully slow-cooked with prunes, apricots, and almonds. Of course, it was washed down with Moroccan wine, specifically of Chateau Roslane. 

After stops at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, The Arab League Park, and an olive market (we told you there was a lot to cover!) we retreated back to watch the Atlantic Ocean from the suite’s terrace.

As the property cascades down a hillside, toward the ocean, the rooms and public spaces, including the Mint lobby lounge and Bleu breakfast buffet, drip with postcard vistas.  We popped tasty Moroccan baked treats like Chebakia, Feqqas, and Kaab El Ghazal then sipped mint teas before a Diptyque bath and movie night. No prizes for guessing what we watched in Casablanca?

Day 5: Rabat, the City of Lights and a honeymoon hideout

A traditional hammam ritual incorporating steam, scrub, bath and clay mask in the spa and we were glowing by the time we reached the Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr Al Bahr, an hour’s drive from the Casablanca property.

Our third and final destination was a stark contrast from the first two; verdant with plantlife lining its pristine streets and soothed by the sound of ocean waves surrounding the gigantic 12-acre property.

The hotel was previously the Sultan’s summer residence, later a military hospital, and now, a decade in the making, the region’s most luxurious escape. Indeed, whilst checking in, Moroccan royalty was seen strolling through the lobby, already cementing a majestic seal of approval.

There’s a Santorini-esque romance about the whole place, minus the crowds. Perhaps it’s the clean white walls and intricate gold motifs, the airy open spaces to claim a private nook, or the flowing Andalusian flora that evokes a fairytale palace in Morocco’s City of Lights’

Our pick of boudoir for intimacy? The top-floor Turquoise Ocean-View Suite should float any honeymoon boat. This one-bedroom suite is big enough to hide out for a trip duration, thanks to mesmerising ocean- and garden-views from the wrap-around terrace, a marble bathroom with a window-side tub, and Diptyque goodies to soak in for hours, plus a grand dining area for every in-room dining indulgence. Most likely, you won’t want to leave.

But if you do, then we highly recommend Brasserie Marie, the hotel’s French fine-dining concept and an homage to the country’s French connection. Since we were by the sea, we craved as much fresh catch as we could handle, including a towering seafood platter comprising oysters and steamed octopus; pan-roasted sea bass and turbot; and to finish, profiteroles, with a heavenly hazelnut cream that left us licking our lips all the way back to room 6433.

Day 6: Rabat’s gardens and poolside treats

Rabat may be the capital of Morocco but as a tourist, it still feels like a hidden gem. We headed into town, just a five-minute taxi away (or walkable) to discover the old Medina. Adjacent, the Andalusian Gardens offered a gorgeous respite from the heat, full of citrus trees and palms, and free to enter. We recommend also visiting The Oudayas Museum, small but mighty, it details the history of Moroccan art and culture, including some brilliant exhibits of jewellery.

For our final afternoon, we spent time by the main pool, opting for a lunch of healthy soups and salads at Flamme before dipping in the heated waters steps from our orange umbrellas.

As sunset loomed, we retired to the suite to pack our bags of newly purchased Maghrebi scripts and argan oils. We bid farewell with a drink on our private terrace, this time with a leftover bottle of Syrah, a Moroccan red from last night’s dinner. A dance of orange hues illuminated the whites of the palatial property. Our last day was a perfect ten.

Day 7: Farewell, Moroccan dream and see you in 2025?

Our flight was pulled two hours forward the following day, robbing us of a lie-in. Alas, a direct three-hour trip back to London means Rabat is all but far from reach. There’s plenty of reason to return.

By 2025, this particular hotel will fully complete its lengthy step-by-step launch, with an elegant spa complex, numerous boutiques, additional restaurant concepts, and a lavish two-floor Sultan’s Riad.

The region too, is on the tip of international growth, especially if the Four Seasons Collection route catches on. Guests seeking an itinerary like this will discover three distinct properties and destinations, each showcasing an alternative facet to Morocco, and conveniently connected by both private and public transit. This is only the beginning of the Four Seasons Collection, the itinerary of Moroccan dreams. Watch this space.

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