HOUSING

ALIF students may choose from the housing options detailed below:

• a homestay with a Moroccan family
• an apartment or house

Homestay with a Moroccan Family

A feature of ALIF's programs is the Moroccan homestay service, which offers a window into family life in Morocco. This is an unparalleled way to practice the language and learn about local culture. Homestay relationships can be some of the most rewarding a student builds in Morocco, and some students remain in touch with their homestay family for years.

Students studying MSA and choosing to live with a Moroccan family for three or more weeks are eligible to enroll in ALIF’s free 10-hour Darija (Moroccan Arabic) homestay course to help facilitate communication with family members. This short course has been designed specifically for homestay students and addresses basic family-oriented conversation. (Students studying a full CMA course do not need this, as the same material and much more will be covered in class.)

Homestays with Moroccan families provide room and partial board - one meal a day on class days, and two meals a day on weekends and holidays. Students living in a homestay receive breakfast at Z Café (on the ALIF main campus) on days they have class.

Rooms are not shared with family members. For independent students, a single room is usually provided, but cannot be guaranteed. Students on university group or faculty-led programs typically share a room with another student on their own program.

Homestays are located in various parts of the city and many necessitate the use of taxis or public transportation.

Students desiring a homestay should fill out the preference form HERE. ALIF staff will try to match you with a family that meets your preferences, based on family availability. Homestay assignments are not confirmed until students receive them in writing from the Housing Coordinator, a week prior to arrival. The total amount due (in dirhams) will be included in that email.

Payments are due on the day of orientation, and can be paid at the front desk by credit/debit card or cash. Students move into homestays the night of orientation. They should make their own accommodation arrangements for nights before this. A list of nearby hotels can be found HERE.

Please see the pdf HERE for additional information on what can be expected in a local homestay.

Cost and Payment procedures:

• Nightly homestay rates vary depending on the length of stay
  • 185dh per night for 1 to 20 nights
  • 165dh per night for 21 or more nights
• 500dh non-refundable homestay placement fee, regardless of the number of homestay nights
• Homestay invoices must be paid in full in advance
• The first night of any homestay is not refundable. However, the balance after the first night may be refunded should a new placement become necessary.

Living with a family can be rewarding, but also presents some challenges. Below are a few that previous students have experienced. If you feel as though you would not be able to adapt to life with a family, you may wish to consider other housing options.

• Lack of privacy
• Noise
• Unfamiliar meal times and/or dietary habits
• Location of host family (in some cases involving an affordable taxi 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.

Apartments & Houses

For students planning their stay in Fes, it is important to know that homestays are the only housing option officially arranged by ALIF. Any other accommodation, such as renting an apartment or a house, is a private arrangement that needs to be made directly between the student(s) and a local landlord. ALIF may provide advice on location or terms of the lease, but ultimately ALIF cannot be involved in or responsible for any independent arrangements. This also means that, given the nature of independent housing, we are unable to intervene in any maintenance issues, disputes, or situations that arise on-site.

Students interested in independent housing can usually find furnished or unfurnished apartments through local real estate agents (who typically charge a fee of about one month’s rent). Finding the right place can take a few weeks, so it’s best to plan accordingly. Rental prices vary widely depending on the apartment, location (Ville Nouvelle vs. medina) and whether it is furnished, with furnished options generally costing more. Landlords often require the first and last month’s rent upfront, along with an additional pre-negotiated amount to cover utilities. Written contracts are not always provided or consistently followed.

For this reason, we strongly recommend that long-term students begin with a homestay during their first six-week term. This gives you time to get to know the city and explore housing options in person before committing to an independent living situation.