Hotel Ali

• mrotsmit
• Reviews: 100

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I've never been to prison, but...

It was both horrible and great:
The rooms were sub-par even by my minimalist standards, crumbling ceilings, leaking toilets, random lights going on & off all night, hippies on the roof.
The over-all feel, however was reall cool, all the chaos of the Jemma el fna seemed to just continue right into the Hotel Ali, if someone had ridden through on a moped it would have been complete. The girls at the front counter were hilarious, the lobby would be full of student groups and other wacky budget-types (good place to avoid yuppies), people running in and out with huge wads of cash, strange foriegners hanging around, disinterested wait-staff...
The buffet (nightly at 7) was acceptable and like the hotel - cheap. Breakfast, however was a disappointing crap-shoot; bread, cold coffee, bad milk, maybe some egg and orange juice when somebody got around to it.
The location was perfect - just on the right, before you enter the Jemma El Fna.

Unique Quality: Money exchange in lobby
Hamam in basement
Massage upon request
Dinner buffet
Excellent rooftop w/views

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: Study Abroad, Backpacking, Budget Travel

Hotel Ali Photo: Ever had to sit sideways on the toilet? I have.

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• leigh767
• Reviews: 293

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• dave123taylor
• Reviews: 44

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budget accommodation

I had a good stay at the hotel. I believe they have dorms but I stayed in a single room. They have loads of facilities to help travellers. At 160dh (11gbp) a night it is cheap by western standards. The rooms require some maintainance but are of a reasonanble standard for Africa.
Don't expect western standards but they do have western style toilets. They have currency exchane facilities and 1 hour free internet per day (next door)

Reccomended - Yes

Unique Quality: The hotel is on one of the main approcaches to the square and the roof top terrace over looks the square. You can see all the way to the atlas mountains.
The have a Hammam but I didn't get chance to sample it.
The resaurant is popular with not residants and as well as traditional Morrrocan food they do pizzas.
The breakfast is good for Morroco, Omlette, crepes, bread, oj, coffee and preserves.
The reception is busy till late into the night I checked in at 1.30am and they were still on duty. When the doors are locked there's normally a boy asleep on a sofa to let people in/out.

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Related to: Budget Travel, Backpacking, Road Trip

Hotel Ali Photo: Hotel Ali

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• littlebush
• Reviews: 934

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• cheekyjohnboy
• Reviews: 5

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Super budget option, in the heart of the action.

After getting the night train from Tangier, we were looking for somewhere to dump our kit, get cleaned up, and get into the Djemma el-Fna and the souks.

We found the Hotel Ali to be perfect for our needs. Just a minutes walk from the Djemma el-Fna, the place has a great travellers atmosphere, although some may find it a little hectic, as it's popular with organised trekking groups heading south to the Toubkal region. It has internet cafe and travel/activity information downstairs.
Not a place to relax in the foyer with tea and cakes, but then, that's not what Marrakesh is about !

Our triple room was clean and , whilst probably having last seen a paint brush in Imperial days, good value for money. Cost was Dh260, which included breakfast and use of internet and Hammam (traditional turkish style bath). The reception desk sells water and soft drinks, and there's a cafe right outside that sells crepes and snacks.
There are at least 6 A.T.M.s within a minutes walk.

On the return leg of our journey, we checked into the dorm at a cost of Dh50. We intended only to use it for a few hours after returning from days trekking in the mountains, wash off layers of dirt/dust, sort our kit out before getting the night train back to tangier. It was well worth the money (£3). Not sure I would have liked the overnight stay in the dorm if we had stayed, as it was rather 'Funky' smelling and pretty hot. Not much ventilation in the room, although you can sleep on the rooftop terrace if you want

Unique Quality: Although our rooms had on suite showers, we chose to use the Hammam in the basement. It's brand new and fairly spartan, but great for getting dirt out of the pores. It's little more than a tiled cellar, with heated floor, hot and cold taps, buckets, bowls and a bar of soap. You just get undressed in the changing room, get in, fill a bucket, and get washed. Simple, but very relaxing, and a more authentic North African way of doing things.

The hotel itself has bags of character, very colonial looking. We expected to see the old retired R.A.F pilot, the rugged archeoligist and the beautifull young scientist sitting in the lounge, discussing some adventure in the desert. It's built around a central courtyard, with mosiac tiles, and stairscases leading to the rooftop terrace, part of wich doubles as a restaurant. The views from here over the Djemma el-Fna are great, especially as sun sets and the foodstalls are set up.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: Budget Travel, Backpacking, Study Abroad

Hotel Ali Photo: Courtyard of Hotel Ali

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• PhilipOldham
• Reviews: 1

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• Bigjones
• Reviews: 367

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Good tips for backpackers

We didn't stay in that hotel so I can't tell you what I think of it. We only went there once while looking for food. But we never reached the buffet because we first saw the desk of the travel agency Sahara Expeditions that was proposing exactly the trip we were looking for at a discounted price.
I just wanted to mention this hotel for that. It offers a lot of facilities to backpackers (organized trips, restaurant, bike renting, internet, etc.). So if you need help or information while in Marrakesh, this address can be useful.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: Backpacking

Hotel Ali Photo: Sahara Expeditions

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• Urban_Kitten
• Reviews: 22

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Smartest Hotel in the World

Best place to stay in Marrakech unless you're filthy rich & can afford the Mamounia. Be warned: they seldom allow people to stay more than 2 days.

Unique Quality: This operation is so impressive it defies words. Tucked a block away from the Jemaa l-Fna, it offers travelers top accomodations & service for miminal cash. Rooms are great, location couldn't be any better and the staff is a whiz at organizing everything from desert excursions to dispensing travelling advice. The do-it-yourself breakfasts are better than anything my mother ever made. Internet access is on the premises & is very affordable. Accomodations range from private rooms with bath to dorms for groups of trekkers.

• Opinion of Price: least expensive
• Related to: Backpacking, Budget Travel, Historical Travel

Hotel Ali Photo: Navigating the Labyrinth

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• elp
• Reviews: 20

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Hotel Ali, Café-Restaurant &...

Hotel Ali, Café-Restaurant & Kiosque

Unique Quality: The rooms are nice and it has an tipic restaurant and a wonderful selfservice in the roof. In the reception of the hotel you can change money and get a guide for the city.

• Opinion of Price:

Hotel Ali

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