Hotel Parador Chefchaouen

Hotel Parador Chefchaouen is an upscale hotel on Rue Debnat Al Majzen beside Plaza El Makhzen, the Plaza Uta el-Hammam area at the heart of the medina of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco. The position places guests beside the Kasbah and its museum, the Grand Mosque, the main square's cafés and the blue-washed lanes that make the town famous, with all principal sights reachable on foot. The bus station lies about a kilometre away and taxis can reach the hotel area. The building follows a Hispano-Moroccan style in keeping with the town's Andalusian heritage, and the atmosphere is calm and traditional, with a terrace overlooking the surroundings. Rooms are Standard and Superior categories, with air conditioning and WiFi, and the superior rooms offer more space and better views. Facilities include a restaurant serving Moroccan and international dishes, a terrace for tea or an evening meal, and an outdoor pool that is a welcome feature in a town where such facilities are uncommon, especially in summer. Parking is available, which is useful because vehicle access in the old town is limited. There is no large spa, so the hotel suits sightseeing stays rather than wellness holidays. Service is courteous and oriented to couples and small groups, with staff able to arrange guided walks to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint, treks in Talassemtane National Park and trips to the Akchour waterfalls. Rates of about 700 MAD in low season and 1,200 MAD in high season position the property in the upper-middle part of the local market. Chefchaouen is cooler than the coast in winter, so heating or extra blankets may be worth requesting from November to February. Booking ahead is wise for spring, autumn and Moroccan holiday weekends.