Hotel Les Mérinides

Hotel Les Mérinides is a mid-range hotel at Borj Nord, the hill above Fès el-Bali in Morocco's Fès-Meknès region. It is named after the Marinid dynasty, which made Fès its capital in the thirteenth century, and it stands close to the Marinid Tombs and the Borj Nord fortress, which are known for panoramic views over the medina. The hilltop position gives guests a wide outlook across the old city, especially at sunset, and the medina gates are a short taxi ride or a walk downhill. The hotel is a classic city hotel of its type, with a traditional Moroccan decorative touch in the public spaces. Rooms come as Standard Rooms, Superior Rooms and Suites, each with air conditioning and WiFi, and those on the city side are the most sought after for the view. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar, serving Moroccan and international dishes, with breakfast in the dining room, and an outdoor pool provides relief in the warmer months. Parking is available on site, which is practical for self-drive travellers. Service suits tour groups, couples and families looking for dependable mid-range comfort rather than boutique character, and reception can arrange taxis, guides and excursions to Meknès, Volubilis and Ifrane. Published rates run from about 700 MAD in low season to about 1,200 MAD in high season, and the guest rating is 4.1. Its main appeal is the panorama and the combination of pool, parking and moderate price, while the trade-off is the climb or ride required to reach the medina itself.