Hotel Mauritania Center

Hotel Mauritania Center is a two-star budget hotel in the old medina of Tangier, northern Morocco. The precise street address is not confirmed, but the medina location places the hotel in the dense old quarter between the Grand Socco, the Petit Socco and the Kasbah, within walking distance of the main sights and of the harbour. Visitors arriving by ferry can walk up through the old town, although luggage is easier to manage with a taxi to the nearest road access.

The hotel is a simple, older property rather than a restored riad, and it offers single rooms and double or twin rooms. Wi-Fi is the only listed amenity, so air conditioning, heating and en-suite bathrooms should be confirmed when booking. Prices are listed at about MAD 250-450 per night, roughly $27-$48, putting it at the bottom of the market. Guests have rated it 7.3 on Booking.com, which suggests acceptable value but plain facilities.

No restaurant, pool or spa is listed. The surrounding lanes provide inexpensive food: bakeries selling msemen, baghrir and bread for breakfast, small cafes serving mint tea and coffee, and modest restaurants offering grilled fish, tagines, lentil soup and sandwiches. The cafes around the Petit Socco, long associated with writers and artists, are a short walk away.

The hotel suits backpackers, solo travellers and budget visitors who want to be in the heart of the old town and spend most of the day outdoors. The medina is atmospheric but also noisy, particularly at dawn and late evening, and guests should expect the sounds of street life. The Kasbah Museum, the American Legation Museum and the Grand Mosque are all close at hand.

Service is basic and informal. Staff can generally help with taxis, directions and luggage storage, while day trips to Cap Spartel, the Caves of Hercules, Asilah and Chefchaouen are best arranged through a local tour operator or at the Grand Socco, where shared taxis depart.