Al Raya Mubarak Hotel -EX (Kayan Al Raya)

The stay was decent, though I was disappointed. The restaurant and canteen feel cozy, but the space can get cramped when it’s busy. The elevators work, but could use more capacity for peak times. If you’re on a higher floor, expect some waiting during rush hours.

The room smelled awful when I arrived. Sewer gas was coming up through the bathroom drain, and the bathroom was very dirty. There was no hot water during my stay, and the Wi-Fi was very poor and unreliable. The reception response was zero. The sewer leak made the smell really bad, and the whole experience was disappointing. Be careful, I wouldn’t come to this hotel.

The hotel is quite close to Masjidil Haram, which was the best part of my first umrah. Our agency package included good food. The lifts are small, though stairs are an option, and the road outside isn't wheelchair friendly. My mom's wheelchair was missing on the first day. The shower drain was clogged, but luckily there was a floor wiper. On day two or three, the flush stopped working and I had to refill the tank by hand.

We came as a family, and the smell hit us as soon as we walked in. It smelled like poo throughout the hotel, including in the bedroom. The place felt totally unhygienic, and service was zero. After five days I had to ask for a clean room, fresh bedsheets, and towels. There are only four small lifts, and they get very crowded. I'd give this hotel a minus rating.