Hotel Royal

Hotel Royal is a basic budget hotel at 144 Rue Salah Eddine Ayoubi in the Ville Nouvelle of Tangier, northern Morocco. It is one of the least expensive places to stay in the city, with rates listed at about MAD 150-300 per night, roughly $16-$32, and shared-bath rooms from about MAD 120 per night according to the Wikivoyage listing. The location in the central new town puts the Grand Socco and the entrance to the medina within walking distance, and the surrounding streets hold cafes, small shops and inexpensive eateries.

The hotel is a simple, older building, and expectations should be set accordingly. It offers single rooms and double or twin rooms, and no amenities are listed, so heating, air conditioning, hot water, Wi-Fi and private bathrooms should all be confirmed before arrival. Rooms are likely to be small and plainly furnished, and the hotel suits travellers for whom price is the main consideration. The property maintains a blog page at hotel-royal-tanger.blogspot.com, which serves as its web presence.

There is no restaurant, pool or spa. Meals are easily found nearby: bakeries and cafes serve msemen, bread, olives and mint tea for breakfast, and inexpensive grill restaurants and snack counters serve sandwiches, soups, grilled fish and tagines. In the Ville Nouvelle, a full meal at a local restaurant often costs less than a night in a mid-range hotel elsewhere.

The hotel suits backpackers, overland travellers and visitors passing through Tangier on the way to the ferry or to Chefchaouen. The railway station and bus terminals can be reached by taxi in a short time, and the port is a few minutes away by car. The Kasbah, the Petit Socco and the American Legation Museum can all be visited on foot from the Grand Socco.

Service is basic. Staff can normally call taxis and give directions, but visitors should not expect concierge services. Cash is the safest means of payment at this price level.