Azka Al Safa Hotel

The hotel is near masjid al haram, though the walk is a little uphill. The rooms are packed with beds: they put 4 beds in a 2 beds room, leaving no space for bags. It’s too cramped. The AC thermostat doesn’t work well either, so you’re either cold or hot. The bathroom is the worst part. It’s so small you can barely stand to shower, let alone bend or scrub your legs. I’m not even a big person, just a 34 inch waist, and it was uncomfortable. I can only imagine how it would be for someone heavier.

The room was comfortable, and the hotel is really close to Masjid al-Haram. The bathroom felt cramped, though, with just a shower and no tap. Even with eight elevators, the crowds mean you can wait a long time. The serious issue was bedbugs in my room. I couldn't sleep comfortably, and management needs to deal with the infestation and improve pest control.

Just a couple of minutes on foot from the Haram, which is a good location. The hotel, rooms, and service were average. Around prayer times and lunch or dinner, the lifts get busy and the waits are long.

The lifts were painfully slow and crowded, and the key cards kept disconnecting, so I had to return to reception several times to get them reactivated. Getting in and out was stressful too, with huge crowds on the main road to the Haram every day. The worst part came just before checkout. I'd booked a bellboy to bring our bags down, but he never arrived. I was late for my flight and told reception I needed help urgently. They kept chatting and laughing on the phone, telling me not to worry because he was coming. Eventually I carried all six suitcases down myself. When I went back to complain, the staff member was still laughing and talking on the phone while speaking to me. Their dismissive manner made things so heated it nearly became a fight. There was very little staff support in general. Room service didn't work properly, housekeeping came only every 2-3 days, and fresh towels were also provided only every few days. The reception staff were rude and unprofessional, and none of them could communicate properly in English. Even basic conversations became frustrating. Our room was another problem. It was cleaned far too infrequently, and the service overall was shocking for a hotel serving pilgrims and other travelers. This stay spoiled what should have been a peaceful spiritual trip. I regret booking here and would tell others to avoid it.