We recently stayed at the newest gem in the Royal Mansour Collection and it’s time to tell you all about it … After the enchanting riads of Marrakech and the urban-chic address in Casablanca, the latest addition to the Royal Mansour family is a seaside resort located, as its name suggests, in Tamuda Bay. It’s also a showcase of Moroccan excellence and luxury, conceived and envisioned by King Mohammed VI himself. No wonder one feels such a sense of opulence at the Royal Mansour… More than a palace experience, it’s almost a taste of royal life!
As you know, we only write about hotels that are truly exceptional. So, no suspense here: we absolutely loved our stay. And there’s no suspense either about the fact that this property ranks among the most beautiful hotels we’ve ever visited.
What stood out most were the extraordinary quality of the materials and finishes used throughout the rooms and common areas, the spectacular spa, the beauty of the quiet pool, and the dazzling kids club. To this day, La Plage de Lila remains the most impressive hotel kids club we have ever seen. Absolutely incredible!
Why this hotel?
Normally, I choose the hotel after choosing the destination. This time, I chose the destination because of the hotel!
When I saw that Royal Mansour was opening its third address in the north of Morocco, right by the sea, I knew we had to go and try it. The spa at the Royal Mansour Marrakech remains, to this day, the most extraordinary one I have ever seen in terms of facilities and refinement. So I was eager to see how this level of luxury would translate into a seaside setting.
Second reason: the hotel is still in its soft-opening phase. I’ll admit — I love discovering new luxury hotels before everyone else.
Advantages:
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You still have that rare feeling of exclusivity — few guests, lots of space.
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Opening rates are often more attractive.
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Everything is brand new.
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The staff is incredibly motivated.
Disadvantages:
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Not everything is yet perfectly fine-tuned.
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Some services are still being put in place.
Third reason: as soon as it opened, it became a Leading Hotel of the World! That was all the encouragement we needed to take the plunge.
Finally, discovering Northern Morocco in spring was a delightful prospect…
Let me pause here to clarify that this article is not sponsored. We paid our stay in full, and the opinions below are entirely our own.
Our detailed review
At the Royal Mansour, you’re staying next door to the King of Morocco himself! His summer residence is right beside the resort. And luxury is evident in every single detail.
The hotel and its location
The Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay is located in northern Morocco, near the city of Tetouan. From abroad, the easiest access is via Tangier Airport, about an hour and a half away by car.
Our detailed article about our week in northern Morocco, between Tangier and Tetouan, can be found here.
The resort enjoys a peaceful setting on a stunning private beach.
Only downside: there aren’t many dining options nearby if you want to go out for dinner. We tried the restaurant at the St. Regis nearby — it was good and pleasant, but far from authentic. And let’s be honest, the St. Regis vibe isn’t exactly Moroccan…
The beach
A calm, serene beach — just how we like it. Soft sand, seashells (which, incidentally, were used in the hotel’s entrance decor).
In April, the beach was completely deserted — all ours. We didn’t swim at that time of year, of course, but being by the sea in such tranquility was wonderful.
Tamuda Bay
Pools
One of the most beautiful outdoor pools I’ve ever seen — truly breathtaking, with its unique shape and just a few steps from the sea. Sink into a sun lounger, enjoy the outstanding poolside service, and simply relax.
Exterior pool at Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay
The indoor pools are also worth a visit. The misleadingly named Quiet Pool is the indoor pool where children are allowed. When we visited, we had it to ourselves — it was indeed quiet — but I’m not sure that would be the case in high season! The pool is gorgeous, with its impressive chandelier and starry-sky lighting.
The other indoor pool, located in the spa and reserved for adults, is equally stunning — and genuinely peaceful. Loved the basin that falls into the pool, the ultra-comfortable loungers, and the adjoining cold/hot circuit for leg circulation. It was the first time I’d tried that kind of installation and it was great.
Rooms & Suites
The Royal Mansour collection was designed to showcase Moroccan craftsmanship and luxury. And it truly delivers. The suites are vast, functional, and finished only with the highest-quality materials. Even the extra bed for our daughter was a real bed — extremely comfortable.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with many thoughtful welcome touches, making us feel instantly at home in our temporary residence.
We also love the Royal Mansour’s partnership with the cosmetics brand MarocMaroc. I’ve been addicted to their products ever since discovering them at their Marrakech property (and no, I’m not paid to say this either 😉).
Room improvement point: the living-room area doesn’t have blackout curtains, which made it difficult for our daughter to sleep there. The housekeeper quickly found a temporary solution — hopefully something that will be addressed in the future.
Services and staff
There’s an impressive number of staff, all going above and beyond to deliver the best guest experience possible. There’s always someone available to assist you and ensure everything is perfect. They’re not on your back all the time either, which is good. The kids club team was particularly outstanding, caring wonderfully for our children. A special mention also goes to the beach and pool staff — truly lovely.
A remarkably kid-friendly address
At this level of luxury, hotels aren’t always child-friendly. But Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay definitely is. They’ve gone above and beyond to make sure even the youngest guests feel cherished. Happy kids = relaxed parents!
In the room:
Personalized stuffed animals and chocolate sculptures with our children’s names, a cascade of gifts and surprises (polo shirts, water bottles, backpacks, games), and all the necessary equipment (baby bed, changing table, toddler bath, mini bathrobes, etc.) — everything has been thoughtfully arranged to make parents’ lives easier.
How cute is this?
Room service improvement suggestion: add options for very young children (vegetable purées, smaller portions, yogurts, fruit compotes, etc.).
La Plage de Lila: a kids club like no other
Without hesitation, this is number one in our Top 5 favorite kids clubs worldwide (full article coming soon).
La Plage de Lila offers incredible facilities, an exceptionally kind and professional team, and an outstanding program of activities.
Is it time to go to the kids club yet?
Our 4 year-old daughter wanted to spend all her time there ! She flew kites, played beach games, decorated her own tagine, made a photo frame, dressed up in costumes, danced — all in a setting straight out of “One thousand and one nights”.
Even our baby, who spent a few hours there with a wonderful babysitter, had a great time.
I mean, look at this place …
Babysitting
The babysitting service lets parents enjoy peaceful evenings while the kids sleep. We had the same babysitter all week — she also cared for our one-year-old for several hours each day at the kids club. She was wonderful, and we trusted her completely.
Dining
Breakfast
The breakfast setup surprised us at first. We’re used to lavish buffet spreads, overflowing with irresistible temptations. At the Royal Mansour, everything is à la carte. Once past the initial surprise, I actually found it a great idea — much less waste, and a little more moderation! The quality and service were impeccable, and it was pure bliss to enjoy breakfast on the terrace in the April sunshine, surrounded by lush greenery.
Room service
I had never seen the option to order breakfast in-room until noon — or later! Here, it’s possible, and it’s a game changer. We had a lovely brunch on our private terrace with the children one morning and loved it.
Brunch on our terrace
Two areas for improvement:
Pricing: unsurprisingly, luxury comes at a price — but here it was excessively high, even compared with Parisian palace standards.
Moroccan cuisine offering: the menus focus mainly on international gastronomy — French (by Eric Frechon), Italian, and Mediterranean/Spanish. For us, coming to Morocco to experience local culture and cuisine, this was disappointing.
When we asked, we discovered that each restaurant actually does have a hidden Moroccan menu — but it’s only available upon request. What a shame! Once we tried it, we were blown away — absolutely delicious.
If you stay at Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay, don’t hesitate: eat Moroccan!
Activities
There’s no daily activity schedule (like yoga sessions or tastings). It’s a pity, as that could add real value — perhaps group yoga on the beach at sunrise, for example. Maybe this will change as the season progresses.
The spectacular spa
As I mentioned earlier, it was the Royal Mansour Marrakech spa that made me want to visit Tamuda Bay — and it didn’t disappoint. An entire wing of the resort, spread over several floors, is dedicated to well-being: indoor pool, spa, treatment rooms, gym, and juice bar. A cocoon of relaxation in a stunning setting (though Marrakech still holds a special place in my heart). Spend a few hours here — you won’t regret this enchanted interlude!
Prices for massages and most treatments are very high — even compared to other five-star hotels. The hammam rituals, however, are more accessible and offer an unparalleled moment of relaxation. I had tried one in Marrakech, and this one was just as extraordinary — perhaps even better.
If I had more time (and older kids!), I’d love to spend a full week on a personalized wellness program. Having seen the facilities and possibilities of this Medi Spa, what a dream it would be!
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Practical aspects
Getting there
From Paris, fly to Tangier and then drive about 1.5 hours to M’diq, in Tamuda Bay.
What to do nearby?
Not much in the immediate surroundings — guests come here mainly for the sea and tranquility. If you don’t mind driving 1–2 hours, Tangier and Chefchaouen are must-sees. Even closer, Tetouan is definitely worth a visit. Our itinerary combining all three destinations is available here.
Hotel visited in April 2025
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