How to Choose a Marrakech Riad

When it comes to seeking out accommodation in Morocco, one option will show up in nearly every city: the riad.

Read a handful of riad reviews, and you’re likely to find words like “oasis” and “retreat” used over and over to describe the riad experience. People agree that a riad can be a relaxing escape from the chaos of many of Morocco’s large cities – and this is especially true in Marrakech.

But what is a riad?

A riad, in simplest terms, is a Moroccan guesthouse. But the term actually refers to the type of building the guesthouse is housed in. The word “riad” means something close to “garden” (one guide told me it can sometimes translate to “paradise”), and so a true riad will have an interior…