Riad vs Hotel in Fes: Which Should You Choose?

It is the question we are asked most often: should you stay in a riad or a hotel in Fes? We run a riad, so we are not neutral. But every year we also meet travellers for whom a hotel would have been the better fit, and we would rather say so. Here is an honest, point-by-point comparison to help you decide. For an overview of the neighbourhoods, start with our guide on where to stay in Fes.

The fundamental difference: location and size

A riad is an old medina house built around an inner courtyard and turned into a guesthouse with just a few rooms. A hotel in Fes is usually a modern building with dozens or hundreds of rooms, located in the new town or on the edge of the old city. If the concept is new to you, our article what is a riad explains the architecture and the history.

These two differences, location and size, explain almost everything else.

Location: living in the medina or visiting it

From a riad, you step out on foot into the lanes: monuments, souks and cafés are a few minutes away. You can come back for a rest at midday, head out again in the late afternoon when the light turns golden, and walk back after dinner without a taxi.

From a hotel in the new town, the medina is ten to fifteen minutes away by taxi. That is not far, but it changes your relationship with the city: you visit the medina rather than live in it. In the evening you will tend to eat in the modern district.

Atmosphere and architecture

A riad is a destination in itself: zellige tiles, painted cedar ceilings, carved stucco, a fountain in the courtyard and a rooftop terrace with views of the minarets. Many travellers remember their riad as vividly as the monuments.

A hotel offers a more predictable setting: standardised rooms, large public areas, often a pool and a garden. It is comfortable, but the décor could often belong to any big city.

Welcome and service

In a riad, your hosts know your name. They adjust breakfast times, sketch you an itinerary, book a licensed guide or a trusted driver and explain how to avoid the classic medina pitfalls. The service is personal, but there is no 24-hour front desk staffed by ten people.

In a hotel, service is more standardised: a permanent reception, room service, sometimes a spa and a gym. You are one guest among many, with the advantages and limits that implies.

Everyday comfort

A well-run riad today offers all the comfort you would expect: a private bathroom, air conditioning and heating, Wi-Fi and quality bedding. It helps to know, however, that:

• rooms often face the courtyard rather than the street, with smaller windows;
• stairs are common and sometimes narrow, and there is almost never a lift;
• soundproofing between the courtyard and the rooms depends a lot on the house;
• pools are rare and, where they exist, they are usually small plunge pools.

Hotels win on accessibility, lifts, pools and parking. If any of these is essential for you, choose a hotel.

Accessibility and luggage

This is the riad’s weak point: no cars enter the medina. Taxis drop you at a gate, then you walk for a few minutes. A good riad arranges the transfer and sends a porter with a handcart, which makes arriving very easy. For travellers with reduced mobility, however, most riads are not suitable, ours included, and a modern hotel in the new town is the safer choice.

Budget and value for money

In Fes, riads cover every budget, from simple guesthouses to restored palaces. For the same price, a riad usually offers more character and a more personal welcome, with breakfast included, while a hotel offers more facilities. Booking directly with the riad often gets you better terms; we explain why in book your riad direct.

Who should choose a riad, and who should choose a hotel

Choose a riad if:

• you are coming mainly for the medina and want to do everything on foot;
• you enjoy intimate places and contact with your hosts;
• you are travelling as a couple, with friends or as a family with children who can walk;
• you want reliable local advice to plan your visits.

Choose a hotel if:

• you need a lift or step-free access;
• you are driving and want to keep the car nearby;
• a pool is essential, especially in midsummer;
• you are travelling in a large group or for a conference.

Our take, and what La Petite Maison offers

For a stay in Fes we recommend a riad nine times out of ten, as long as it is well located and well equipped: our article how to choose a riad in Fes gives you the checklist. If you like intimate houses, read why we believe in the small boutique riad. Families will find advice in Fes with kids, and anyone travelling between November and March in Fes in winter.

La Petite Maison is a small riad a five-minute walk from Rcif square, where taxis arrive. Our tadelakt and zellige rooms all have a private bathroom, air conditioning and heating; a homemade breakfast is served on the terrace or in the courtyard, and we arrange your airport transfer with a porter to the door. Browse our rooms, read our story and contact us with any question.