Hôtel Bab Boujloud — Hotel in Fez

This year was my second appearance at Hotel Bab Boujloud, and in comparison with last year the fittings and fixtures were beginning to look rather frayed, unsurprising even for a relatively new building because of the poor quality of Moroccan plumbing and parts available, one electrical plug socket in the bathroom of my room parted company with the wall when I extracted my camera battery charger exposing bare wiring which could electrocute the unwary!||||The room rate this year was dh200 per night, Wifi was free with reasonably stable connection, the access code displayed at various points throughout the hotel, breakfast served on the roof terrace was nothing exceptional last year (see picture) so this year I gave it a miss and found better alternatives elsewhere.||||Single rooms are small, ensuite, but some have no windows with views of the outside world which I personally find claustrophobic, so I insisted and secured one overlooking the street, these can be noisy during the day with traffic and general commercial activity, as was the mosque in the nearby square when the dawn call to prayer sounded off, so the hotel might be unsuitable for light sleepers, Air conditioning pods were operationally erratic, but even when working they were unable to cope with ambient 40C temperatures.||||Despite these minor inconveniences ( I've stayed in much worse Moroccan "Fondouks") the hotel is in one of the best locations for exploration of the medieval city, Fes el Bali, just across the street from the main gate and easily accessed by small red Petit taxis connecting to the new city and train station. It's only a short ten minute walk to the Gare Routiere (bus station) on the main highway, Rue Abu Bakr al Arabi. The two-tier roof terrace commands an excellent view of the old city and beyond, there is a money shop and Alimentation (general store) on either side of the hotel front door and an ATM and Western Union agency in the square beside the Medina gate.||||In this historical but arid landscape the location of the nearest "Oasis" can be discovered by a short walk exiting the hotel front door and turning right down the street to Independence Square, Hotel Batha (the former British embassy) boasts two elegant bars upstairs on the first floor, open to non-residents.||||So, recommended, but watch those bathroom...

Very good location for family. I went with my wife and 2yr old.|Taxi outside, local shops and restaurants and mosque, good surroundings. No need to travel through alleyways with a child etc.|It was nice tidy rooms.|But breakfast was just bread roll with jam and butter, tea coffee. Nothing else. |Not filling so we bought some things from shop to have with breakfast.||No hot water, but got use to it after 2 days or so. Cold showers was ok as it was hot weather during our stay, but for winter period would not be happy.||Hotel staff were friendly but could not sort out hot water. ||Roof top view was amazing from hotel where we had breakfast for the first two days as weather was good. You can see parts of Fes. ||Hotel locks its doors between 2am to 7am so I couldn't pray the Morning prayer at mosque and there was no receptionist at this time. I think it's due to security reasons etc. ||Apart from all of the negatives. It was a good and nice stay. ||Also be mindful that they charge 1euro per person a night for tax. Which is not...

Don't expect anything fancy from this place but if you're looking for a inexpensive, clean hotel right near the blue gate to the Medina, this is a great option!!||All the staff were very helpful and there's a large terrace on the roof with a beautiful view of the city and county side. The breakfast wasn't anything special (typical Moroccan breakfast of coffee or tea, baguette, fried bread with olives, butter and jam) but hey, it's free. ||The rooms were extremely clean, with hot water every day/night. Beds...