Dreaming of a five-star winter getaway without the expensive price tag? Look into Morocco's wild north-west coast.

The Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort covers 250 hectares, which equals roughly 350 football pitches, alongside four miles of pristine and empty Atlantic shoreline.

Design of the property mirrors an ancient Moroccan citadel, complete with ochre plastered walls, towers, and a crenellated roofline.

Accommodations are arranged around landscaped gardens and central courtyards.

Manicured palms, marble fountains, and long reflecting pools sit beneath grand horseshoe arches featuring intricate carved plasterwork.

Featuring 15 bars and restaurants, a spa, an 18-hole golf course, and numerous activities, my visit showcased a luxury hotel priced affordably, with nightly rates starting from £145.

Guests receive ample space for their money. My modern, large room featured wonderful ocean views alongside Moroccan-inspired accents, including hanging lanterns beside the king-size bed.

Opening the balcony doors reveals a wide panorama of Atlantic surf breaking against the sand.

In the early morning, holding a sweet tea, I spotted horses running along the beach.

Surf instructors were preparing boards and lining up life jackets for a day of teaching tourists how to handle the swell.

Yet there was little time to waste, given the abundance of activities available.

First on the itinerary was the award-winning spa for a double treatment.

I experienced a relaxing hot stones massage followed by a traditional grand hammam ritual. Inside a warm, marble-clad steam room, staff washed, scrubbed, and polished me from top to toe using black soap, oils, and eucalyptus.

Staff noted that locals take part in this scrubbing treatment at least once weekly, and seeing the glow of my own revitalized skin made that easy to understand.

Feeling refreshed, it was time for high-energy adventure.

This is where Mazagan resembles a high-end luxury playground rather than a standard hotel.

Designed by Gary Player, the golf course spans over 7,400 yards, making it the longest in Morocco.

The property also hosts North Africa's largest casino, featuring nearly 400 slot machines and 37 gaming tables open 23 hours a day, alongside a 22ft climbing wall, go-karting tracks, paintball fields, and pickleball courts.

At the center of the courtyard network connecting more than 400 rooms, a sparkling pool invites visitors for a swim, though I barely had time to remove my flip-flops before moving to the next pursuit.

I increased the pace with a quad bike ride across the flat, wide sands of the resort, feeling the salty Atlantic spray near the water before entering the surrounding scrubland and rolling sand dunes.

On extended drives, guides take visitors inland through neighboring pine and eucalyptus forests bordering the coastline.

Following high speeds, I shifted to a different kind of horsepower with a calm ride along the shore.

Onsite stables house local Arab-barb and barb horses.

Bred historically by Berber horsemen and North African cavalry, these animals remain sure-footed in soft sand, calm in temperament, and accustomed to heat and Atlantic winds.

Riding out onto the broad tidal flats, we trotted along the open, empty sands before turning toward coastal forest trails bordered by fragrant mimosa.

All this exertion requires good food and drink, and Mazagan provides.

Sampling a portion of the 15 bars and restaurants, I ate fragrant rich tagines, fresh seafood, and large plates of velvety houmous.

Sel St. Mer stood out as a highlight, where the catch of the day becomes culinary art.

Guests select fish from a fresh display resting on crushed ice, choosing between oven-baked or grilled on the plancha, served with various sauces.

For casual dining, the Beach Barbecue offers freshly grilled fish, meats, and vegetables directly on the sand.

An accompanying buffet provides fresh salads, Moroccan cooked salads, couscous, and freshly baked flatbreads.

Al Firma offers an open-air environment with traditional Berber and Bedouin carpets, low seating, lanterns, and classic tagines featuring vegetables grown in the onsite farm garden.

I concluded the evening with cocktails at the Casablanca-inspired lounge bar, decorated with royal green velvet drapes and live weekend jazz.

Combining thrilling activities with high-end pampering, Mazagan provides a strong winter break alternative without high costs.

Go: Morocco

Getting/Staying There: Seven nights' B&B at the 5H Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort is from £639pp including flights with Royal Air Maroc from Stansted on December 1.

See loveholidays.com.

More Info: Rooms at the hotel start from £145 per night.

Two adults and two children can stay for five nights' B&B from £850 in total (based on stays from now until May 2027).

See mazaganbeachresort.com.