Chellah Hotel is a large, traditional city-centre hotel at 47-49 Rue Allal Ben Abdellah, in the new town of Tangier. The property page lists 160 air-conditioned rooms, an outdoor swimming pool with a separate children's pool, a terrace and garden, two restaurants, two bars and a lobby where coffee and tea are served. It is a practical base for travellers who want a pool and on-site dining within walking distance of the old town, rather than a small riad in the medina. The surroundings are urban rather than atmospheric, but the position is useful: you can walk to the shops and cafes of the centre, reach the Grand Socco in about ten minutes, and be on the seafront or at the port without a long taxi ride. It suits families, groups and business visitors, and it is a sensible, mid-range alternative to the pricier international-brand hotels in the city.
Location and getting around
The neighbourhood is the City Center, and the walking times on the property page tell the story. Place de France is about five minutes away, the Grand Socco about ten, Tangier Beach about fifteen, Place de la Kasbah about eighteen and the Port of Tangier about nineteen. Tanger Ville station is a short drive, and Tangier-Ibn Batouta airport is roughly twenty minutes by car.
A roundtrip airport shuttle is offered for a surcharge, which helps if you arrive late. For the medina and the Kasbah the walk is comfortable in daylight, though the last stretch is uphill, so many guests take a short taxi back in the evening.
Rooms and facilities
Rooms have air conditioning, a flat-screen television with satellite channels, a desk and a phone, and bathrooms with a bidet, and housekeeping is daily. Free wifi is listed for public areas rather than for every room, so ask when you book if a connection in the room matters to you. The pool is outdoors and, like most Tangier pools, is best enjoyed in the warmer months, and there is a terrace and garden for relaxing.
Breakfast is a buffet served for a surcharge, and the hotel has meeting rooms, luggage storage, a safe at the front desk and a front desk open around the clock, which makes it convenient for early departures. Pets are not allowed.
Who it suits and good to know: guest ratings on the property page are mixed, with cleanliness and facilities scoring lower than location and staff, so it is better seen as a functional base than a polished resort. Check-in begins in the early afternoon and check-out is at noon. Free cancellation is offered on selected rates, which is worth choosing if your plans may change, such as a cruise stop or a ferry day that depends on the weather.
Families and groups often find the size and the pool a good fit, while couples looking for atmosphere may prefer a Kasbah guesthouse such as Dar Sultan or Dar El Kasbah. Rates are generally lower than at the top-end hotels, with the best value outside the busiest summer weeks.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool and children’s pool
- ✓Two restaurants and two bars
- ✓Terrace and garden
- ✓Air conditioning in all 160 rooms
- ✓Free WiFi in public areas
- ✓Roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)
- ✓24-hour front desk
- ✓Meeting rooms and luggage storage
Good questions
How far is Chellah Hotel from the medina?+
The Grand Socco is about ten minutes on foot and Place de la Kasbah about eighteen, according to the property page. The last part is uphill, so many guests take a short taxi back.
Does the hotel have a pool?+
Yes, there is an outdoor pool and a children's pool. Like most pools in Tangier it is best used in the warmer months.
Is breakfast included?+
A buffet breakfast is available for a surcharge, so check what your rate includes when you book.
