Housing Options at ALIF
ALIF students may choose from the housing options detailed below:
The ALIF Villa Residence
The ALIF student residence is located in a villa across the street from ALIF. With a large garden and a splendid view of the old medina of Fez, the residence provides a peaceful setting for studying and relaxing. Students living in the residence have either private or shared rooms and common kitchen and bath facilities. All rooms are furnished, have high ceilings, and many open out onto private balconies.
Cost: Single rooms are 80 DH/night, with the exception of one room with a private bath, which is 100 DH/night. Double rooms are 120 and 130 DH per night (60-65 DH per person).
Reservation & Payment procedures: To reserve a room, please write to our housing coordinator: alifhousing@gmail.com. If a room is not available, you'll be put on a waiting list.
Residents must pay the ALIF secretary upon receipt of their housing invoice.
Here's the location on Google Maps: ALIF Villa Student Residence
Homestay with a Moroccan Family
A unique feature of ALIF's programs is our Moroccan homestay service. Homestays with Moroccan families entail room and board for a fixed fee and provide the student with a window into family life in Morocco.
Cost: 924 Dhs/week for a single, private room with meals. For stays of less than 3 weeks, the cost is 1155 Dhs per week.
Payment procedures: At least three weeks of homestay payment must be paid in advance upon receipt of your homestay invoice. While the first night of homestay is not refundable, the balance may be refunded following a one-night trial period. Participants subsequently pay for their homestay on a three or six-week basis in advance to the ALIF secretary.
Students desiring homestay should meet with the housing coordinator upon arrival to discuss their specific needs before being placed with a family. Students with specific preferences, such as dietary restrictions, allergies, or the family's distance from ALIF, should indicate these on their application forms. It may not always be possible to provide a homestay within walking distance of ALIF. Please note that our number of homestay families is limited, and that during busy times you may need to be placed on a waiting list.
Other concerns: Students who feel they may have difficulties adapting to life with a Moroccan family should consider other housing options. Among the difficulties experienced by past participants: (1) Lack of privacy (2) Noise from television and radio (3) Unfamiliar meal times and dietary habits (4) Unavailability of study space (5) Unfamiliar sanitary fixtures (in some cases, "traditional" toilets) (6) Location of host family (in some cases involving a bus ride to ALIF). For the overwhelming number of past participants such inconveniences were far outweighed by the positive experience of living with a Moroccan family, whose hospitality is legendary for good reason.
Hotels
Our housing coordinator is happy to reserve a room in a hotel for you, but we've found that you can get better prices by booking directly on websites such as www.booking.com and www.airbnb.com.
Cost: 80-500 DH/night.
Reservation procedures: Students wishing to have hotel reservations made prior to their arrival should request this by separate email: alifhousing@gmail.com.
Apartments & Houses
For longer stays, a house, a room in a shared house, or a furnished apartment may be a good option. Traditional houses in the medina are especially wonderful and an interesting cultural experience. Please ask our housing coordinator for our list of available apartments and houses. Please note that this is a list of places people have submitted, but that we haven't seen all of them. You can also find a place via word of mouth, or with an agent if necessary. If you identify a place on your own, please speak to us before signing a lease, just to make sure the price and terms are reasonable.
Costs: 2500 Dhs/month and up.
Other concerns: Students should be aware that there is not a wide selection of furnished apartments and houses in Fez and that looking for appropriate housing may take several days or more. Not all apartments are furnished, so students should factor the cost of furnishing an apartment into rental costs.
- the ALIF Residence
- a Homestay with a Moroccan family
- a hotel
- an apartment or house
The ALIF Villa Residence
The ALIF student residence is located in a villa across the street from ALIF. With a large garden and a splendid view of the old medina of Fez, the residence provides a peaceful setting for studying and relaxing. Students living in the residence have either private or shared rooms and common kitchen and bath facilities. All rooms are furnished, have high ceilings, and many open out onto private balconies.
Cost: Single rooms are 80 DH/night, with the exception of one room with a private bath, which is 100 DH/night. Double rooms are 120 and 130 DH per night (60-65 DH per person).
Reservation & Payment procedures: To reserve a room, please write to our housing coordinator: alifhousing@gmail.com. If a room is not available, you'll be put on a waiting list.
Residents must pay the ALIF secretary upon receipt of their housing invoice.
Here's the location on Google Maps: ALIF Villa Student Residence
Homestay with a Moroccan Family
A unique feature of ALIF's programs is our Moroccan homestay service. Homestays with Moroccan families entail room and board for a fixed fee and provide the student with a window into family life in Morocco.
Cost: 924 Dhs/week for a single, private room with meals. For stays of less than 3 weeks, the cost is 1155 Dhs per week.
Payment procedures: At least three weeks of homestay payment must be paid in advance upon receipt of your homestay invoice. While the first night of homestay is not refundable, the balance may be refunded following a one-night trial period. Participants subsequently pay for their homestay on a three or six-week basis in advance to the ALIF secretary.
Students desiring homestay should meet with the housing coordinator upon arrival to discuss their specific needs before being placed with a family. Students with specific preferences, such as dietary restrictions, allergies, or the family's distance from ALIF, should indicate these on their application forms. It may not always be possible to provide a homestay within walking distance of ALIF. Please note that our number of homestay families is limited, and that during busy times you may need to be placed on a waiting list.
Other concerns: Students who feel they may have difficulties adapting to life with a Moroccan family should consider other housing options. Among the difficulties experienced by past participants: (1) Lack of privacy (2) Noise from television and radio (3) Unfamiliar meal times and dietary habits (4) Unavailability of study space (5) Unfamiliar sanitary fixtures (in some cases, "traditional" toilets) (6) Location of host family (in some cases involving a bus ride to ALIF). For the overwhelming number of past participants such inconveniences were far outweighed by the positive experience of living with a Moroccan family, whose hospitality is legendary for good reason.
Hotels
Our housing coordinator is happy to reserve a room in a hotel for you, but we've found that you can get better prices by booking directly on websites such as www.booking.com and www.airbnb.com.
Cost: 80-500 DH/night.
Reservation procedures: Students wishing to have hotel reservations made prior to their arrival should request this by separate email: alifhousing@gmail.com.
Apartments & Houses
For longer stays, a house, a room in a shared house, or a furnished apartment may be a good option. Traditional houses in the medina are especially wonderful and an interesting cultural experience. Please ask our housing coordinator for our list of available apartments and houses. Please note that this is a list of places people have submitted, but that we haven't seen all of them. You can also find a place via word of mouth, or with an agent if necessary. If you identify a place on your own, please speak to us before signing a lease, just to make sure the price and terms are reasonable.
Costs: 2500 Dhs/month and up.
Other concerns: Students should be aware that there is not a wide selection of furnished apartments and houses in Fez and that looking for appropriate housing may take several days or more. Not all apartments are furnished, so students should factor the cost of furnishing an apartment into rental costs.