Al Qualaa Boutique Hotel

The people are really nice, and the location is very good. I’d say it’s the best place to stay in Sidon, especially if you’re in town for business for a few days. Just be aware that the rooms aren’t well equipped, and I wasn’t keen on the bathroom. It’s a historic building.

Breakfast was good, and the rooms are comfortable and nicely decorated. It’s a real castle that’s now being used as a hotel, with several room types and very high ceilings in almost all of them. Some rooms could be cleaner, and a few smell bad from the moisture.

Getting to the bus station is easy, about a five-minute walk, and from there you can catch a bus to Beirut or Tyre. The hotel is also close to the antique shops. I liked the idea of staying in an extraordinary old place by the sea, with an ancient castle feel. Breakfast was fine, a traditional oriental one, but there weren’t other choices. It could use more maintenance and attention from the staff. The electricity also went out several times, affecting how well the air conditioner worked. We later learned that poor electricity supply is a problem across Lebanon.

The room made me feel ill. I can’t tell whether there was an infection, allergen, or toxin in there, but after just ten minutes I had a sore throat and sinus pressure. The hotel advertised WiFi in the common areas and some rooms, but there was only a weak connection in the cafe and none in the rooms. The high ceilings also seem to leave the undersized AC unable to cool the room by more than a few degrees. For what you get, it’s overpriced and the amenities are horrible. It looks like a magnificent castle on the corniche, with a great view of the Sea Castle. Stay away from this place.