While our first love will always be the classic African safari, this past year we’ve engaged in an affair with Morocco. The heart flutters started with our initial wanderings into the imperial cities of Fes, Meknes and Marrakech. These royal cities have long enthralled travelers seeking a little mystical adventure. We were hooked from the very first alley we got lost in. Every city has its charm, but you really do feel like you’re in medieval times when you wander around the souks and watch craftsmen work much like they did hundreds of year ago.

We could bore you with the details of our affair and chit chat about the food, the architecture, the people, the desert and the mountains. But for today, we’d like to open the door and welcome you inside a little gem we found in the heart of the Fes medina.

Morocco has been blessed with a trend to convert older homes, traditionally owned by rich merchants and nobility, into exquisite boutique hotels. The Riad Fes is one of our favorites. It’s a lovely family-run hotel built around a central courtyard garden with a fountain. The Riad has been furnished in traditional style with its own hammam (Moroccan sauna) as well as a few modern touches on the rooftop terrace including a swimming pool and gym. The rooftop restaurant offers wonderful views of the medina below where you can enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner. The Riad actually has 3 restaurants, all serving excellent traditional Moroccan cuisine.

One of the joys of staying in a Riad is the intimacy they offer and personalized service. The Riad Fes has four rooms and 13 suites. All are lavishly decorated, each room is totally unique. We’re quite sure that the four-poster bed and private terrace overlooking the garden was what kick started our affair and put it into full gear.

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