A riad is basically a guesthouse, or inn, with an open interior in Morocco. They’re nearly impossible to find sometimes, as they are walled compounds hidden in alley ways (in Fes someone met our cab with a cart and walked us to the riad inside the medina’s walls (cars are not permitted there). When you arrive, you sit down and enjoy a cup of mint tea while you check in.

The most noticeable part of a riad is the inner courtyard. It provides airflow throughout the building and cools the rooms (though we also had air conditioning, which is probably necessary when the brutal heat of summer arrives). It is often the setting for breakfast or dinner for guests.

The rooms we had were tiny but beautiful with tiled bathrooms and silk bed covers. Shockingly we were only paying $30-50 a night, including breakfast. The owners were all locals who were happy to provide a map and details about how to get around. One even arranged for wine and beer to end the evening.

Not all, but many riads have rooftop terraces. The two we stayed at had wonderful views of Marrakech and Fes. In Fes they even insisted that we breakfast there for the morning view (I feel so guilty about the number of stairs he climbed to set up and serve breakfast!).