I hope you see this Chanol as I know you are in Fez and an expert on the area. If anyone else has ANY ideas I am all ears.


I have tentatively booked all of our April 9- 16th trip in Morocco,but I can not find anything thus far for Fez. ( I have tried them all at i-escape and a few others). I am still waiting on some replies, but time is running out for me.

Do you (or anyone) have any ideas?

Thanks! ( I am pretty thrilled with the rest of the trip so far)

WT -- Riad technically is a marrakech only term.

There may well be moroccan style houses for rent in Fez, I just don't think many would be called riads.

Steve

Thanks Steve!

At this point, I will take ANY decent accomodation. All the better if it is something special.

I have lucked out with very special places in Marrakesh, the one for our desert tour with camels for two days near Merzouga and at the halfway point between them, so I have faith that something great will turn up today. ( Fingers crossed).


Where are you staying in Fez or did you look at any there online? I have requests to everything appropriate on i-escape and will hit a bunch more today thru other sources.

I lucked out with a choice of the top riad and top B&B in the best location..so I am doing the happy dance.

I can post my choices if anyone is interested ( on all the places we are booking) and will be blogging about them after April 9th and may eventually write reviews.

Just for clarification purposes "Riad" is not a Marrakesh-specific term. While it is true that the riad "fad" began in Marrakesh, the Arabic word "riad" is used to imply a house with a garden. Riads usually do not have more than two stories and tend to have wide open courtyards, usually with fruit trees planted. The traditional adornment is usually zellige tiles, plaster embroidery and pillars. This is in contrast to a "Dar", which tends to have more floors, a smaller opening on the roof, and in many cases, more traditional features such as a "bartal" or ceremonial cuppola and a zellige-decorated fountain.

The word "Riad" has now come to signify traditional b&b accommodation in the medinas of Marrakesh, Essaouira, Fez, Rabat, etc., though some people have cashed in on the craze by referring to their acommodation as a "Riad" when it really isn't.

While Marrakesh Riads can feature some really interesting/innovative interior decorating ideas, Fez Riads/Dars are in my opinion far more interesting in terms of the quality of the zellige work, the traditional plaster, cedar wood carved doors and frames, and painted ceilings.

Thanks Chanol for this ( and your always interesting information ) and the PM. I was not aware of what the difference was between these two.

I am only staying 9 days in the country, so I don't expect to be an expert on riads and dars, altho hopefully I will keep learning a little more as I go.

We are going to stay in a suite at:

http://www.darseffarine.com/index.html

It is listed as the number one B&B on Trip advisor, so I hope it is as good as everyone says.

It is also a good price as I was shocked at how expensive Fez and Morocco lodging prices are.I expected it to be a cheap trip.

( I am sure there must be some very cheap places as well, but I feel more risky ...food,bed bugs, theft etc....so not a place to scrimp on first visit,especially with a child).

Our 9 days will cost us much more than our 2 weeks in Paris or any where else on the trip ( partly because this is the first time we are booking B&B lodging).

We are gambling that it will all be worth it.Maybe we will learn some keys on doing it cheaper for our next visit.