Logistics on staying in a riad in the medina
 

I know staying in a riad in the medina is a special experience that's been highly recommended. I've also read that when in the medina, it's best to be escorted by a hired official guide to eliminate other hustlers and touts. This is fine when I'm touring the medina.

However, this sounds like I'll be stuck inside the riad because everytime I get outside its door, I'd need a hired guide. I won't have the freedom to stroll around!

Also, I think riads offer dinner options but if I'm staying multiple nights, I won't necessary want to eat there every night, right? (I will have 4 nights each in Fes and Marrakesh.) If I want to dine in a restaurant close by, do I again need a guide to just walk to a restaurant?

No, you do not need an escort all the time! I managed on my own, and that was before maps apps on smart phones.

As I wrote on your identical post on TripAdvisor, you should throw away whatever you've been reading.

Of course, you walk through the medinas on your own. They ARE labyrinthic, of course, but you can manage it. Many riads have signs at the street corners to guide you back. I also found that Google Maps on the smartphone works beautifully.

Marrakech is fairly easy, the main streets are rather broad and linear. With a good map (should be provided by the riad), you can get along.

Fès is a bit more difficult, because the medina is larger, the streets are narrower, more crooked and the terrain is hilly. But again, you will find your way.

It is right that you will be approached by "faux guides" (false guides), especially children. Never believe them when they say "it's closed"! The best way to deal with them is just to ignore them. Do not look at them! If they stand in your way, say "Non, merci" with a firm voice and go your way.

And if you really need guidance, accept it for a few coins (however, they usually do not take the direct route but a detour).

We can better help you if you told us the names of the riads.

Also, do not believe them
When they are telling you you are walking into a mosque and it is closed, so they'll escort you to your destination. The firm "Non merci" will work. You may need to say that several
Times but eventually they'll stop wasting your time and theirs and move on to another potential pigeon.

In the end, don't make this any more complicated or worrisome than it deserves. I get it-but if you are an experienced traveller, just follow your normal travelling precautions with a bit more diligence.

Actually, these "faux guides" are by no way criminal or dangerous. They want just a little money - the equivalent of 55 cents.

But it is not the 55 cents that counts. You should not spoil them. A French friend who lives in Marrakech uses to tell them "Go to school instead!". This really helps to make them vanish.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind getting lost at all. In fact, some of my most memorable travel experiences came from friendly locals genuinely trying to help when I'm lost, sometimes with just body/sign language because of language barrier. In Bologna, I couldn't figure out how to use a cash only self service gas pump with only Italian instructions. A nice man in the next car over jumped out and did the whole fill-up for me with lots of smiles and those typical Italian hand/arm gestures.

But this genuine help is quite different from the "faux guides" and touts which is what I'm trying to avoid as much as possible. I had my share of that in India and it got really tiring after 3 weeks there.

That's why I was wondering if I stay inside the medina, I'll be subjecting myself more to these annoying harrasements.

In the end, I'll probably still stay in a riad in the medina because it seems such a unique experience, but brace myself and be street smart for my "after dinner stroll".

Morocco nowadays is nowhere near as bad as India. The tourist police have sorted out most of the chancers.

Just a 'No' and a waggle of the index finger. Forget the 'merci' bit, why should you be thanking them for hassling you?

The medina is the old part of the city and much of it has wide open streets which are pretty indistinguishable from the new part.