Page 304 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

302  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO STAY

Choosing a hotel in Morocco depends riads of ancient Fès, the kasbahs of the
primarily on its location and the types of mountains, and an increasing number of
services travellers seek during their stay desert-style encampments in and around
in the country. In recent years, a rise in eco- the Sahara. The range of decor, price,
tourism and exploration, rather than simple amenities and standards is huge, and
holiday-making, has resulted in greater visitors should have no trouble finding
accommodation choices. There are still the accommodation to suit their budget and
ultra-flamboyant and opulent alternatives – needs. For those with smaller bud gets, youth
most often found in Marrakech – and beach hostels and guest rooms are attractive
resorts in places such as Agadir, but there alternatives so long as visitors are happy
are also the guesthouses of Essaouira, the to observe the ground rules.

Once bearing little relation
to reality, the system by which
stars are awarded has been
overhauled. Although some
hotels may still be over-
ambitiously graded, many have
been downgraded to reflect
more accurately the standard
of accommodation that they
offer. Note, however, that these
stars may not quite match
European standards.
As a general rule, four-
and five-star hotels are
well equipped, with satellite
televisions, telephones, Wi-Fi,
en-suite bathrooms and room
service, as well as many other
features such as a restaurant,
The warmly lit patio at La Maison Arabe, in Marrakech (see p311) swimming pool, sports centre
and hammam. Two- and three-
Choosing a Hotel along the roads between them, star hotels are comfortable and
The location of a hotel, especially so that rather than planning an clean, with private baths or
in large towns and cities, is an itinerary route according to the showers. The small one-star
important criterion. It is usually desirability of a hotel, it is best hotels, or hotels without
best to stay somewhere near to choose where to stay in classification, are often quite
the old town, where the main relation to the distance you basic and may not be very
tourist sites are often found. intend to cover each day. clean. It is advisable to ask to
The disadvantage of such a Information about hotels is see the room before deciding.
location, however, is that the available from the Fédération
hotel will probably be noisy Nationale de l’Industrie
and unlikely to offer parking. Hôtelière in Casablanca.
For those desirous of more
space, especially a garden –
and many gardens also have Classification of Hotels
swimming pools – it is best to and Services
choose a hotel on the edge The Moroccan Ministry of
of the old town or in a Tourism has devised an official
modern quarter. system of classification for
Smaller towns rarely offer hotels. Accordingly, hotels are
high-class accommodation, graded on a scale of one to five
especially in the south. Here, stars, with two sub-categories,
your choice of hotel should A and B. In principle, each grade
be governed by your itinerary. corresponds to certain standards
In the south, most places of of comfort, as well as other
interest to tourists are not in criteria such as the size of Stylish lounge in Jardins de Roses in the
the towns themselves but the establishment. Sofitel Rabat (see p306)
Colourful ceramics on display at a souk in Essaouira

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