In Marrakech and Fes we usually book riads: inward-facing houses, courtyard, roof, breakfast that arrives like a small ceremony. Stairs are part of the romance and the limitation — mention knees.
In the Dades and around Ouarzazate, kasbah hotels sit on the landscape rather than hiding from it. In Merzouga, camps range from shared-bathroom Berber tents to luxury tents with proper beds. Standard, comfort and luxury are the three words we use on quotes; we will describe the actual bathroom before you pay a deposit.
Gueliz hotels in Marrakech suit travelers who want a lift, a pool, and a street they can explain to a taxi. There is no moral hierarchy. There is only the trip you are actually taking.
On a private desert tour we mix these worlds on purpose. The contrast is the luxury.
Further reading from an official source: UNESCO listing for the Medina of Marrakesh (UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Medina of Marrakesh).
