Heading south from Essaouira we travelled through rugged arid terrain, catching glimpses of snow-capped Atlas mountains, goats in trees and small bustling market towns. The road follows the coast for last part of the journey, the Atlantic a mesmerising sapphire blue. From afar our destination, a linear sandstone-coloured resort, shone out between a shimmering golden beach and weathered slopes above.
Purpose-built, with proven eco-credentials, Paradis Plage strives and succeeds in delivering all things to all people. If you're here for romance, there's fine dining and couples' massages, and those superb sunsets. If you're travelling en famille you get a complimentary kids club, family suites, a playground and kids menus. For fitness fanatics, there are thrice-daily yoga classes and a well-equipped gym. For those keen to fly and flop, how about a sumptuous spa ritual then a snooze poolside before tucking into a delicious lunch? Groups of friends often end their surfing day stargazing round the firepit with cocktails. Suites are spacious, comfortable and well-kept; there are also a few bungalows and villas closer to the water. Whatever your reason for staying, you're guaranteed a good time, as we can testify.
Highs
- Wonderful beachfront setting; all 103 suites have ocean or garden views and private balconies
- Superb activities, including surfing (there's a surf school on-site with great instructors), yoga (the shala is beautifully positioned on the shore), and the excellent Paradise Ecospa
- A choice of food outlets, with healthy options (and it's not overly expensive)
- Charming helpful staff
- Under an hour from Agadir airport, and two hours from Essaouira, so access is straightforward. If you're planning to explore you'll need a car, but otherwise you can easily travel by taxi transfer (book travel and excursions at reception)
Lows
- We found the heated pools a bit chilly when we stayed in February, we are assured they are now heated to 24ºC
- A bit larger than the usual i-escape hotel
- The camel and horse rides on the beach are politely proffered by locals once you step outside the resort confines
- This stretch of coast, including the adjacent workaday village Immi Ouaddar, is slated for more tourist development
- We have had recent reports of some maintenance and service issues
Best time to go
Any time of year is perfect at Paradis Plage. The summer heat is tempered by the Atlantic winds and there is an amazing quality to the light in the winter months (though there's more chance of rain). Many prefer spring and autumn stays when the temperatures are warm yet not scorching. Couples may prefer to avoid the school holidays.
Our top tips
My two-hour Oriental spa ritual was absolute heaven: an hour in the hammam being slathered and scrubbed with rose-scented black soap followed by an hour-long deep-tissue massage with orange blossom oils.
- Boutique Hotel
- 103 rooms
- Restaurants open daily, walk to restaurants
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Heated Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
Rooms
Spread throughout the resort in a linear stacking fashion, the immaculate suites come in three categories. Junior Suites consist of a spacious bedroom and ensuite bathroom. Larger Premium Suites have a separate living area, too, while Prestige Suites (where we stayed in great comfort) have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a living room apiece. All have ocean views and a private terrace or balcony. In the interiors expect a light contemporary palette, sofabeds in the living rooms, white walls and marine-coloured cushions.
Well-designed bathrooms are shower only as a water-saving measure. A minibar is only provided on request, but you get bottled water and a kitchenette with fridge in each suite.
For larger families or parties of friends, there are four duplex one-bedroom Bungalows on the beachside of the resort, with small private gardens. Four Villas have three bedrooms each, plus a large kitchen-living area, and a terrace and garden. Both categories have direct beach access.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast is a buffet affair in poolside Ocean restaurant, which, pleasingly, has exotic North African fare as well as a big continental spread. Pancakes and eggs are cooked to order. We were underwhelmed by coffee from a machine, otherwise we loved it all.
We enjoyed lunches at Le Lounge, a casual canopy-shrouded space by the pool, which serves all-day snacks such as club sandwiches, salads and bruschetta. There's bar food (think calamari, guacamole, burgers, pasta, pizza, salads, steak, fish) at The Chiringuito, the Surf House by the beach.
There are plenty of healthy options on dedicated menus, with vegan and gluten-free dishes: fresh-sounding meals include quinoa, broccoli, cherry tomato, tofu, chickpeas, sesame dressing, fresh coriander and chia seeds; and plenty of fruity desserts.
For dinner head to more upscale The 27 for beautifully presented Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on freshly-caught fish (think sea bream ceviche for starter or herb-crusted sea bass with cauliflower in a buerre blanc sauce). During high season, Ocean offers a delicious dinner buffet (we had a colourful chicken tagine one night).
All accommodation has a basic kitchenette with a fridge; pots and pans are provided on request. There's a small grocery store just outside the resort walls.
Features include:
- Bar
- Coffee maker
- Hob or stove
- Kids' meals
- Kitchenette
- Microwave
- Organic produce
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Toaster
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Many are here for the surfing, and if so, you'll not be disappointed. Book a lesson, hire wetsuits and boards on-site. Or head round the corner to famous surf beach Taghazout
- The daily ritual of an hour and 15 mins of yoga in the ocean-facing shala before breakfast was truly one of the highlights of my stay. There are scheduled classes three times a day plus you can book private lessons in the studio
- The Paradise Ecospa is akin to a shrine: wonderful treatments using traditional locally sourced Moroccan products deployed expertly by super practitioners; a beautiful hammam; a colour-therapy relaxation room
- There's a very well-equipped gym specialising in Crossfit equipment. To relax afterwards, head to the Zen area with daybeds, a hammock and a bonfire
- Go pony-, horse- and camel-riding along the beach
- Day trips include to Agadir, Paradise Valley for waterfalls and rock pools, Taroudant (little Marrakech), Oued Massa Nature Reserve for excellent birding, and Essaouira
- Round off the day with a film in the outdoor cinema behind The Surf House bar or stargaze by the firepit
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Camel rides
- Hammam
- Horse riding
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Yoga
Kids
Kids under 12 stay for free and all accommodation has a kitchenette - useful for whipping up snacks and easy meals. We stayed here as a family of 4 and thought it was terrific; there was plenty of room for us all in our Prestige Suite. The kids enjoyed the child-friendly options at the restaurants, playing on the golden beach and in the playground, and our family surf lesson.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
Both Junior and Premium Suites can sleep a child, as can the duplex Bungalow Plage units. For families with 2 children, Prestige Suites have 2 bedrooms (1 kingsize, 1 twin). The 3-bedrooms villas with private terraces work best for larger families.
Cots Available
Babysitting:
With some advance notice, see Rates
Baby equipment:
- High chairs
- Baby cots and bedding
- Baby monitors
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Creche/Kid's Club:
The complimentary Kids Club for 4-11yo is open daily year-round 1030-1300, and 1400-1830, and has its own dedicated space near the beach.
Children's meals:
Extensive buffet breakfasts are served in The Ocean (our kids loved the pancakes cooked to order). The 27, Le Lounge and The Chiringuito all have kids menus (chicken nuggets, pasta, fish and chips), the latter two serve child-friendly snacks too. There are healthy menu choices on a dedicated menu, including a butternut, coconut and cinnamon soup; a warm caprese pasta salad and an oven-baked fresh fish fillet of the day (sweet treats include avocado chocolate mouse, and oat and banana pancakes).
Kids Activities on site:
- Heated kids pool
- Playground
- Surf lessons for over 8s at the surf school
- Dedicated kids spa treatments including chocolate massages (for those aged 4+)
- Table tennis
- Yoga for over 10s (must be teacher-approved)
Families Should Know:
The surf can be very strong. There are steps from the upper tier of the resort to the lower.
Distances:
- Airport: 50 minutes (Agadir)
- Hospital: 25 minutes' drive
- Shops: 5 minutes' walk
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Paradis Plage Resort is on the beach in the small town of Immi Ouaddar, on Morocco's Surf Coast, an hour north of Agadir.
By Air:
Fly to Agadir (30 minutes) or to Essaouira (2.5 hrs away). It is a 20 minute flight from Essaouira to Agadir.
From the Airport:
The resort can arrange a transfer, see Rates. Or you can hire a car if you want to see more of the region, here are our rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Morocco and getting around
Airports:
- Agadir 55.0 km AGA
- Essaouira 130.0 km ESU
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 6 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape