Morocco offers affordable, well-valued hotels that are typically easy to locate. There may be a lack of available spots in Rabat or Casablanca during a major conference in August and in the major cities and resorts (Tangier, Fez, Marrakesh, and Agadir). There should be various lodging options available to you at other times.
One item to look for in a hotel during the winter months is warmth. Even in the south (and particularly in the desert), nights can get chilly, and since bedding isn’t always sufficient, a hotel with heating can be quite helpful. Before checking in, it’s always a good idea to request to see your room.
Hotels that are not classified
The cheapest lodging alternatives are nearly invariably unclassified (non-classé) hotels, which are typically found in the oldest areas of cities in Morocco, such as the walled Medinas. They also offer the added benefit of being in the center, which is where you’ll want to spend the majority of your time and where all the markets and attractions are gathered. The hotels themselves can be, at worst, filthy flea traps with small, windowless cells and half-washed linens. The Medinas can initially seem intimidating with their labyrinths of blind alleys and tight roads. When properly cared for, they thrive in classic structures with whitewashed rooms arranged around a central courtyard.
The fact that unclassified hotels in Medina occasionally experience water issues is another drawback. The majority of Medinas are still mostly unmodernized, and some budget hotels only have squat toilets and no hot water. On the bright side, a Turkish bath, or hammam, is typically close by.
Riads, villas, and boutique hotels are the best places to stay in Morocco.
Hotels that are classified
The Ville Nouvelle, or “new,” or administrative district of a town, is where classified (classé) hotels are most frequently located. Regardless of star rating, they are free to determine their pricing and adjust them based on demand and the time of year. Prices ought to be displayed at the front desk.
In general, four-star hotels are the best option for Western-style comfort standards in Morocco, but even in these cases, it’s advisable to investigate what’s available. Swimming pools are frequently vacant, restaurants are frequently closed, and the lights, heating, and plumbing are occasionally erratic. Off-season, hotels in this price range are more likely to offer special and discounted prices. It is also virtually always less expensive to book through a travel agency online or overseas than to pay the “rack rates” that are provided to travelers who simply show up. The Ibis Moussafir network (Wibishotel.com) is a safe but dull choice in this category; its hotels are frequently located near train stations, are pretty bland and much the same, but are cozy, effective, and reasonably priced.
The majority of Moroccan five-star hotels, especially those that serve tour groups, are more like four-star hotels elsewhere, and the service is often amateurish by Western standards. However, hotels with a five-star luxury rating can occasionally be very stylish, whether in a historic conversion (most famously the Hôtel la Mamounia in Marrakesh and the Palais Jamaï in Fez) or in a modern building with a splendid pool and all the international creature comforts.
Lower-end lodging in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla is roughly twice as expensive as it is in Morocco itself. Prices at the upper end of the spectrum are typically comparable to those in Morocco.
Luxury & Comfort: The Best Hotels and Riads in Morocco
Riad
The most popular lodging option in Morocco is a riad or maison d’hôte. Although Maison d’hôte is French for “guest house,” a riad is technically a house built around a patio garden; in fact, the word “riad” actually refers to the garden rather than the house. Although the two names are somewhat interchangeable when referring to a private residence furnished for rental purposes by visitors, a maison d’hôte is likely to be more intimate, while a riad is typically more upscale and costly. It is frequently feasible to rent the entire house in a riad.
After beginning in Marrakesh, the riad craze swiftly extended to Fez and Essaouira. Since then, it has spread across the country, and riads are now found in practically every tourist town. They can even be found scattered throughout the southern oasis and the Atlas mountains.
The majority of riads are Medina townhouses from the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries that have been purchased and renovated by wealthy Europeans or Moroccans (typically Moroccans who have been living in Europe). Almost all of them have en suite rooms, some are quite beautifully decorated, most have roof patios, some have plunge pools or jacuzzis, and breakfast is typically included in the accommodation rate. Although many riads nowadays are simply boutique hotels and can be very impersonal, the best riads have a landlord or landlady who is always present and imprints their unique personality on the establishment.
A good number of amateur real estate developers have been drawn to riads due to their popularity; some of them make little investments in the hopes of earning large returns. As a result, it is always best to do a quick check-up before booking a riad, even more so than with a hotel. At the upper end of the market, riads can be far more elegant than a typical five-star hotel, even if they may cost more than hotels with comparable levels of comfort.
hostels
The Fédération Royale Marocaine des Auberges de Jeunesse, Morocco’s YHA, is in charge of seven Auberges de Jeunesse. Most have private rooms and are reasonably well-maintained and clean. Membership cards from Hostelling International (HI) are not typically needed, but if you don’t have one, you might have to pay a bit more. In addition to Laayoune in the Western Sahara, the hostels can be found in Asni, Casablanca, Essaouira, Fez, Marrakesh, Martil, Meknes, Ouarzazate, and Rabat. The Hostelling International website, Whihostels.com, has further details about Moroccan youth hostels.
Where to Camp in Morocco: Top Spots for Nature Lovers
campsites
There are campsites scattered throughout most towns and cities of any size as well as along a large portion of Morocco’s built coastline. They differ in terms of cost and amenities; low-cost locations may have very minimal restroom and laundry facilities and frequently charge 10dh or more for a hot shower. More upscale locations can cost almost twice as much, sometimes more, and may have greater amenities, including swimming pools. Émile Verhooste and Pascal Samson’s yearly Campings du Maroc (published by Extrem’sud) contains in-depth, frequently very critical reviews of Morocco’s campgrounds in French. These reviews can occasionally be obtained at Moroccan booksellers and campsites.
There is usually little protection in campgrounds, and you should never leave valuables unattended. When camping outside of designated areas, this applies much more. whether you wish to do this, it’s a good idea to ask a residence whether you can set up your tent next to them; you’ll typically receive a friendly response. It is frequently feasible to hire someone to serve as a Gardien for your tent if you are trekking in the Atlas. Retired Europeans in camper vans looking for sun use campgrounds more often than backpackers with tents, especially in the south and during the winter. Best Hotels in Morocco
When driving a camper van, you can frequently find a Gardien to watch over you in exchange for a little tip. If not, you might be able to park in front of a commissariat, or police station. Aires de Repos, which are rest facilities for tourist coaches with restrooms, showers, a café, and a garden, are located in the northern part of the country at Larache, Kenitra, and Malabata (close to Tangier). Parking your camper and using the amenities are free of charge, but if you plan to stay overnight, it is customary to give the garden a donation of about 30 Dh.
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