All About Riads: Why staying in Morocco's unique accommodation is a must for your trip (replay)

 AZDEAN ELMOUSTAQUIM: Welcome back to Destination Morocco podcast. In this episode, it's going to be specifically geared towards the riads in Morocco. What are they the riads? How are they different from any other accommodations? How to choose a riad, where to stay and so forth. So this complete episode should have everything you need to know about riads in Morocco.

Riads in Morocco have become increasingly popular among travelers seeking an authentic and immersive cultural experience. A riad is a traditionally Moroccan house or a palace with a central courtyard, water fountain in old days or a garden and nowadays some of them actually have small swimming pools inside.

often converted into a guesthouse or a hotel. Riads are typically located in the historic medinas or old downtowns, if you would, and offer a unique and intimate glimpse into the Moroccan culture and architecture. The allure of Moroccan riads lies in their combination of traditional design elements and modern amenities.

Riads feature ornate tilework, intricate wood carvings, and other unique design elements that are emblematic of Moroccan architecture. Many riads also often model amenities such as spa service, hammam, Moroccan hammam service, access to local cuisine, you can do cooking class as well, and free Wi Fi making it really popular choice for travelers seeking both authenticity Riads also provide an immersive cultural experience that cannot be found in a traditional hotels or hostels or Airbnb, for example.

Many Riyadriadsactually family run and owned, and the owners and staff are often eager to share their knowledge and love of Moroccan culture with their guests. Guests may have the opportunity. to participate in cooking classes, learn traditional handicrafts, or simply enjoy a cup of tea in the courtyard of their hosts.

Normally, the cooking classes, they're actually, they'll take you to the market and you'll pick up the vegetables, the meat, if you're going to make any tagine, whether it's couscous, and that's how you do it. You go back to the Riyriadd you, they'll show you how to prepare and cook the dish, and then that's going to be your lunch or dinner afterwards.

Another benefit of staying in a riad is the opportunity to experience Moroccan hospitality first hand. Many riads offer personalized service and attention to details, making the guests feel like they are staying in a home actually away from home. Riads also provide a sense of privacy. and exclusivity.

They can be difficult to find in larger hotels and this is the benefit really of staying at a small riad. Normally the riads, they may have between 10 rooms to 25 or so rooms and they are almost booked most of the time. The riads are located in some of the most picturistic areas of Morocco including Fes, Marrakech, and Essaouira.

Marrakech, in particular, has become a popular destination for riad stays, and the reason is because just in the square of Jemaa al Fana, there's just in surrounding areas, there are hundreds of riads that you can stay in at a different budget. Minor riads in Marrakech are located within walking distance of major tourist attractions such as the Qutubiyah Mosque, vibrant Medina and bustling souqs, and the Bahiyya Palace.

Now, some of the questions, I'll try to answer most of them. One of the first questions that I got is what is the history and culture significance of riads in Morocco? The history and cultural significance of riads in Morocco can be traced back to the Islamic Golden Age in 8th century. During this period Islamic architecture flourished and the concept of riads

The riad was originally designed as a family home for wealthy merchants and noble families, offering a private and peaceful retreat from the bustling city. The word riad actually comes from the Arabic word riad. And it's spelled different. In the Arabic language, it is spelled R Y A D versus in Morocco, the riad is spelled R I A D.

So, the first riads were built actually in Marrakech, Fes, and other cities in Morocco. They are typically built around a central courtyard which provides light and ventilation to the surrounding rooms. The courtyard was often adorned with a fountain or a pool and surrounded by lush gardens, creating an oasis of calm and tranquility.

Over the centuries, the riads have evolved to reflect changing cultural influences from the Andalusian style of the 13th century. to the French colonial influence of the 20th century. Despite these changes, the riad has remained an important symbol of Moroccan architecture and culture. Today, many riad have been renovated and transformed into guest houses or boutique hotels, providing visitors with an authentic Moroccan experience.

Staying in a riad is a unique way to immerse yourself in Moroccan culture, from the traditional architecture to the local cuisine and hospitality. The other question that I have received actually, we talk about it many times and we have in the past episodes, is what sets riads apart from traditional hotels?

The riads in Morocco are unique in several ways and can offer different experience comparing to hotels. Here's some, in my opinion, some differences, for example, between a riad and a hotel, traditional hotel. Number one, the traditional architecture. Riads are traditional Moroccan houses, often with centuries old architecture, which makes them different from modern hotels or apartments.

They typically have a central courtyard. Surrounded by rooms or suites, the design and decor of a riad are usually inspired by Moroccan art, culture, and history, making them distinct from hotels, Airbnb, or apartments. So when you're staying at a hotel, Almost hotels they all look alike, versus when you are staying in a riad it's very unique.

You can stay in 3 different riads in Marrakech and they are going to be different. The same thing in Fes, and in Essaouira and so forth. And that's what makes them really different. The other thing is, the personalized experience. R.iads are often smaller than hotels between 20 to 30 rooms And that's what makes it a little bit more intimate and provide a more personalized experience guests can expect to receive personal attention from the staff who can offer recommendations from local experiences to sites to see and the staff is usually available to help with anything guests want and need during their stay.

The other difference is the cultural immersion. Staying at a riad is a unique way to immerse yourself in Moroccan culture. Guests can enjoy Moroccan cuisine, experience local music and entertainment, and learn more about Moroccan customs and traditions. The riad also offers the opportunity to interact with local artisans and shopkeepers.

They are in the vicinity of the riad, versus the hotel will be in a different location, a little bit farther from those experiences. And also tranquility. And tranquility, it really, it depends. You have to be really careful. But in terms of tranquility, the riads are usually located in the heart of the Medina.

And this can be really good or bad, away from the noise. and the hustle and bustle of the city. The center courtyard or the garden provides a peaceful retreat for guests to relax and unwind. This is very important when choosing a riad, make sure you do your diligence, you do your homework and research because some riads can be very quiet and nice, others are the exact opposite.

The other difference between the riads and the hotels is sustainability. Many riads in Morocco are environmentally friendly and socially responsible. They often use local organic ingredients for their meals, reducing the water usage, and support the local communities by employing locals and sourcing products locally.

Versus the hotel, it's a big chain, everything comes from somewhere else. There are a lot of beautiful riads, but the challenge is how to get to them. Let's say, when booking a riad, you look at the pictures, you look at their social media, everything looks incredible, but then you really have to ask the question, how far is it?

You know, for example, if you look at the square of Jamal Al Fna, in certain time, most of the time, there are some areas you cannot go in with the car. Cars are not accessible. You can't go inside with the vehicles. So, you have to make sure if you stay in a location, for example, in the square of Jamel Fna, that your riad is very accessible by car, or at least closer.

One time we stayed in Fas. The riad was incredible. It was amazing. It was about five minutes walking distance, and you just have to keep that in mind. The other thing that I would definitely look into is the reviews. Now, I'll stay away from TripAdvisor, to be honest with you. TripAdvisor, 95 percent of those are really not legit, especially when it comes to Morocco.

I trust Google reviews. I trust negative reviews, and that's what I should read the most and get all my answers and do my homework. The other thing is staff. Make sure the Riyadh has English speaking staff and if they are helpful and responsive. This can be important if you need assistance or have specific requests.

For example, let's say I'll give them a call between me living in the U. S. central zone versus Morocco. The difference is six hours, so they are ahead of me six hours, so I'll make sure I call them in different times. In morning, midday, maybe at night, just to make sure the response for the staff who's working those three different shifts.

Are they helpful? Are they answering my questions? Do we have a language barrier? And so forth. And also, it's really important to get either the manager's information or the owner's information because those riads are tend to be managed by a family member most of the time. So get as much information as possible.

The other question that I get quite a bit of is how does the cost of staying in riad compare to other types of accommodations in Morocco? This is a really good question. The cost of staying in riad in Morocco can vary widely depending on several factors. For example, including the location, the amenities, the season, and also the level of luxury.

Are you just want to stay in something to start? 3 star, 4 star, or 5 star. It really depends on you. However, in general, riads can be more expensive than traditional hotels. And again, because of the excess, you know, the hotel you have an average, for example, 8 rooms versus 20 or 25. So that's what the price is is different. However, the experience is absolutely worth that little bit of a cost than a hotel. So, especially if you're traveling quite a bit and you've stayed in hotels all over, the hotels in Morocco are no different. So we always recommend the riads first. The riads often provide a more personalized experience and unique culture.

So you'll get to feel and experience the Moroccan culture in a riad versus a hotel.

Okay, the next question that I have is, how do riads contribute to local economy in Morocco? This is a very good question. Riads in Morocco can contribute significantly to the local economy in many different ways. One of them is employment. Riads require significant number of staff to operate, including housekeepers, chefs, receptionists, and maintenance workers.

By providing employment opportunities, riad can help support local communities and improve the living standards in that particular city. The other thing is local sourcing. Everything is done locally. Minar riads in Morocco use locally sourced materials and products, such as traditional pottery, textile, and food.

By supporting local artisans and suppliers, riad can help preserve traditional crafts and boost local economies as well. The other thing that comes to mind is definitely the tourism revenue. Riads are a popular choice for tourists visiting Morocco, and the revenue generated from the rouyade industry can support other local businesses such as restaurants, shops and tour operators.

This can have a multiplier effect, creating more jobs and generating more income for local communities. The other impact, I would say, is definitely the cultural preservation. Many ruyads in Morocco are located in historical buildings or areas. Some are not, but most of them, that's what they are really located at, featuring traditional architecture and design elements.

By preserving these traditional treasures, a ruyad can help maintain Morocco's unique cultural heritage and attract tourists interested in cultural tourism. And this is extremely important and I believe personally that all the riads have done an incredibly amazing job preserving the Moroccan culture and traditional architecture.

The next question we have is what are some of the biggest benefits of staying Rwiyad for families or groups of travelers? Staying riad can offer several benefits to families and groups. including privacy and space. Riads often offers more privacy and space than traditional hotel rooms. That is true.

With multiple bedrooms, common areas and outdoor spaces, families and groups can have their own private space to relax and spend time together. That is true. It's just like you're inside really a mini park. That's what it really feels like. It's your own space, very relaxing, and it's fun. You spend in some quality time with your loved ones and it's just, it's amazing.

The other benefit is you immerse yourself with your family or the group you're traveling with in the Moroccan culture and architecture as well. The mineral yards feature in traditional design like a courtyard, mosaics, the woodwork is just, it's incredible. And this can be particularly enriching experience for families and groups looking to learn about Moroccan culture and history as well.

So I highly recommend it. Whether you're traveling by yourself or traveling with a family, just keep in mind if you're traveling with family again, just make sure you book it really ahead of time. If it's a busy season or a slow season, when you do it ahead of time, you're safe. When you're in a family or a group, the riad can do so much more for you than the hotel can.

Whatever type of requests you have, most likely they'll take care of it. If you need an experience, if you need anything, the riad will absolutely care to you in that regard. The other thing that I can think of is food and beverage. Many riads offer high quality dining experiences with traditional Moroccan cuisine and organic local source ingredients which we just talked about a little bit ago.

Guests can enjoy meals in the riads dining room or courtyard and some of them they actually have a roof, you can dine in the roof, and may have the opportunity to participate in cooking classes which I highly recommend. I believe 90 percent will give you more. However, riads now offer cooking classes to their guests.

This can be a particularly appealing option for families and groups looking to experience the local cuisine and the culture, and also when we talk about local cuisine, you may get a tagine and a riyadh in Fes, and it's going to be completely different than the same tagine in Essaouira or Marrakech.

That's what makes a riyadh different. You get that local specialty served to you in the hotel. For example, if you look at a chain, everything's going to be done the same. which sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not good. So in this case, it's different. It tastes different. Each city has its own culture, each city has its own taste, and each city has its own twist on how to do those dishes.

The other thing that I could think of is safety and security. Riads offer a secure and safe environment, with gated entrances, security personnel, and attentive staff. And that can be particularly reassuring for families in groups, traveling with children, and looking for a secure and safe environment.

I'm going to add a little bit to this. The hotels in Morocco are different, at least I can compare them in the U. S. In here, in the US, I can walk into any hotel with no issue. Nobody's going to say whether I'm checking in or not checking in, whether I'm staying, not staying, whether I have a reservation or I don't have a reservation or I'm going to the restaurant, not.

In Morocco, you go into a hotel, it's literally going to an airport. There is security after security and the riad is no different. So security is really tight, who goes in and who comes out of the riad or the hotel. We are very safe in that regards. What are some of the cultural experiences that travelers can enjoy while staying at riad?

Staying at riad can offer you really a wealth of cultural experiences that I can think of. These are some of them, for example, spa and wellness. Many riads have spa, Moroccan hammam, and wellness services, with traditional Moroccan hammam, massage, and aromatic therapy treatment. This can be a relaxing and rejuvenating experience for travelers, and I highly recommend it.

Let's say you just got to Morocco and you have a long tour ahead of you, I would say do the massage before, that way you're fresh. and you can enjoy the rest of your tour. Let's say you're at the end of your tour and it's time for you to go back home, I'd recommend it as well. Whether you do it in the beginning of the tour or at the end of the tour, it's highly recommended.

The other thing that I can think of is live music. I know for a fact, for example, Riad Zahra. in Essaouira does have this option. It makes a big difference. Hanna tatoo, calligraphy lessons. These experiences can provide travelers with a deeper understanding of Moroccan culture and history. Just go with the flow.

Just ask how the riad can make or increase or create a better experience for you and your friends or your family or guests. They are normally located, most of them I would say, located close to markets or souks, where travelers can shop for handmade crafts, textile, and other traditional Moroccan products.

Just be careful, negotiate, don't buy at a full price. For any other questions when it comes to shopping and stuff like that, I always refer to episode number four, and that's where we did the scamming, and how to navigate through them, and how to avoid them actually.

What advice would you give to travelers who are considering staying in a riad for the first time? Ah, this is a really good question. If you're considering staying in a riad for the first time, here are some tips to help you make the most of your experience. The riads are definitely the way to go for smaller groups, families, for individuals.

Understand the layout of the riad because the riad can be, when you go inside, it can be confusing. They have different ways to get into different first floor, second floor, and so forth. Whether you're in this corner or this corner, the riads are often arranged around the central courtyard with rooms and common areas 

situated around the perimeter.

This layout can be very confusing, like I said. Make yourself familiar. Ask a lot of questions. Ask the staff. Hey, how do I get to, how do I do this, and so forth. So it's very important to know the layouts when you get to your layout. Communicate with staff. Riads often have attentive staff who can help you with everything.

Arranging transportation to recommendations with local activities and experiences. Don't hesitate to communicate to the staff. And what I normally do is in the morning, they have a morning shift. The shift is just like the U. S. Make sure you befriend somebody in the morning shift and also the evening shift, because you're going to be leaving in the morning, coming back at night.

And you want whoever is working to be familiar with you. So make sure you do that. So that way, whatever you need, they can carry it to you. Take advantage of the amenities and services. We mentioned this before as well from spa treatments to cooking class To they can arrange any type of activity for you, really And this is going to help you tremendously enhance the experience and learn more about moroccan culture.

Overall The allure of moroccan riyads lies in their unique culture, combination of traditional design elements, modern amenities and personalized service. Whether you're seeking an authentic cultural experience, or a relaxing gateway, or a romantic escape, a stay in a Moroccan riad is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

I want to thank you so much, the listeners, I can't really thank you enough. We are very grateful. This is the end of this episode, dedicated to the riads in Morocco, and I hope we have answered some of your questions, and if you have any more questions, please send them to us. Either via DM on Instagram at Destination Morocco or through the website destinationsmorocco.Com that's Destinations with an S, Morocco. com and we look forward to hearing from you. Thank you and have a great day. See you next time.