One coastal region to be recommended is Essaouira. Located 3 hours from either Marrakech or Agadir, it has a great sandy beach which is wide and long. It is serviced by it's own airport, Mogador and whilst plans are afoot to get there from some UK airports such as London, no UK airport has direct flights as yet. 

Beach at Essaouira 

Essaouira is far more relaxing and less hassle than Marrakech or Agadir with some very good restaurants in spite of this being quite a small place.

Essaouira has a port and associated fish restaurants but always ask what you are expected to pay as the prices on display are only a guide and tourists are there to be fleeced.

Port restaurants 

If going by coach; you may be accosted by a few guys waiting to be your guide or escort you to your hotel, they are not easy to shake off so be forceful but friendly.

Shopping is good as things here are cheaper than Agadir or Marrakech and there are many small markets along Avenue de L'Istiqlal and Ave Zerltouni and it is steeped in history being a former Portuguese and Roman fortress town. Many traders come out onto streets in the evening which helps to liven things up considerably.

Shopping within the medina 

Accomodation can be either inexpensive rooms widely available within the medina for a few 100Dh or less or the more expensive riads which are a bit more opulent. There are tourist hotels just out of the medina facing the beach, like the Sofitel at 2000Dh per night or Hotel Des Iles at about 900Dh per night.

Getting there by coach -

The bus station in Marrakech is located in Gueliz district just outside the medina.

Times of coach departures occasionally vary but you would be notified in the ticket office. Supratours (located just behind the Train Station) is just one coach company who’s times are as follows:

Marrakech to Essaouira daily       08:30, 10:45, 14:45, 18:30  Fare 65Dh.  Journey time approx. 3 hours

Essaouira to Marrakech daily       06:00, 09:00, 12:00, 15:30, 18:30. Fare 65Dh  Journey time approx. 3 hours

The other company is located 5 minutes away on foot from the Supratours Depot (behind the Railway Station) and is called CTM and their buses leave on alternate hours to Supratours which makes it easy to find one at a convenient time.  Their prices are the same  -  in high season it may be advisable to buy your coach tickets the day before to avoid them being sold out.  The coach has a 20 minute cafe stop half way there.  In Essaouira, the CTM Depot is in the middle of the newer part of town and a short taxi ride (15 Dh) from the old Medina, but the Supratours Depot is walkable.

A map of Essaouira is available from the author of this article.