I was on my second day on vacation when I thought no matter how they rave about Fez; I would have lost half of the patience I have for packing my husband Jim’s luggage, if we had not gone on vacation to Morocco on a travel agency tour.

Don’t believe the commercials, it is no fun riding on a mule if you have to go through a web of 9,000 streets. Yes, it is that many streets in this walled city. Sure, there were bright spots my tour. The tomb of the city’s founder Moulay Idriss II, for one, welcomes a daily procession of candle-bearing mourners. Uday, our tour guide, asked me not to take pictures.

The 9^th century Karaouine University, said to be the oldest university in the world that is still operating, adds to the mystery of the city. Karaouine is just close to where I was staying in Fez – the Sofitel Palais de Jamai. Among travelers who bother to write reviews on their favorite hotels, the Sofitel has had mixed reviews. Some find it a five star hotel, while some complained about the bad shower and bad service. (I make it a habit to look up reviews just to make sure I do not stay in hotels with flying roaches in them.)

We opted to stay at the Sofitel among the hotels in the Morocco vacation packages offered by Sahara Soul, although there were riads or boutique hotels like the Riad Fes, Riad El Yacout, and the Ryad Mabrouka Fez. Frankly, I prodded my husband on Sofitel because I saw like what I saw on the website on plan a trip to Morocco.

The Sofitel did not disappoint me. I certainly did not see any roaches during my stay there. It is definitely a luxury hotel built in the finest Moorish design. The shower was not bad, too, and is what you would expect in a hotel of its kind.

Nevertheless, in my next vacation to Morocco I should try the Moroccan riads.