Holidays to Morocco under £500

The resorts below offer the most consistent value on a budget, thanks to wide hotel stock and short transfers.

• Agadir: Agadir is the main package-holiday resort on the Atlantic coast, and its long sandy bay and promenade give budget travellers a large choice of hotels. Because the airport sits close to the resort, transfers are short and inexpensive, which keeps the overall cost down. The trade-off is that the resort is modern rather than historic, so it suits sun-seekers who want a relaxed base. For a genuinely low-cost beach week, it remains one of our strongest choices. Morocco holidays built around this resort are among our most popular bookings.
• Essaouira: Essaouira is a fortified seaside town on the Atlantic, with a UNESCO-listed medina and a working harbour that keeps local prices grounded. Roughly 170 km from the nearest large city, it is a longer transfer than the other resort along this coast, so the saving on accommodation has to be weighed against the journey. Guesthouses and smaller hotels here are often good value outside the summer peak. It suits travellers who want character and a slower pace on a tighter budget, and cheap Morocco holidays here reward those who plan ahead.
• Fes: Fes el-Bali is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, and its medina offers a deep historic experience at modest cost. Accommodation in the old city ranges widely, so budget riads and guesthouses can make a short city affordable. Rail services run north to the Mediterranean coast and west to the country's largest commercial port city on the Atlantic, which keeps onward travel simple. The compromise is that the medina is labyrinthine and demanding on foot, so it suits independent, curious travellers.
• Tangier: Tangier sits near the Strait of Gibraltar and has ferry links to Spain, which makes it a practical gateway for travellers already in southern Europe. Hotel stock is varied, and shoulder-season rates can be competitive compared with the imperial cities. The strait gives it a distinct character, with a historic medina and coastal views. It works best for travellers who want a city and coast combination without a long internal journey.
• Marrakech: Marrakech offers the classic blend of souks, riads and imperial history, and its wide range of accommodation means a budget stay is possible in quieter months. The airport is close to the city, so the taxi transfer is short and predictable when the fare is agreed in advance. Summer prices rise sharply, so timing matters more here than almost anywhere else. Morocco luxury holidays can also be found in the city, though they sit well above this budget.