Mahd Al Resala 1 Hotel

The price was excellent, and they showed us the room before we paid. Staff were friendly, including a very pleasant English-speaking woman. There’s a supermarket and clothing shops close by, and the location is central. We also got a free room upgrade. It was clean and had air conditioning, a safe, and a fridge. The double bed was spacious and the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in, even after traveling to many places. There’s a masjid in the hotel with a good prayer area, and the imam has a beautiful voice for those who can’t make it to the Haram. The shuttle runs around the clock and brings you back to the hotel, which is reliable and saves a lot. It takes about 10 minutes, as does a taxi. The bus drops you at Al Ghazza bus station, B Gate 2, and you pick it up from the same spot. From there, it’s a 20-minute walk to the Haram. That walking, along with the heat and fatigue and the room’s AC, eventually strained my feet and affected my health. I’m a healthy woman, barely 30. Near the end, we took taxis directly to King Abdul Aziz Gate. I entered Al Marwa by Rotana hotel in Careem/Uber, then told the driver to go to that gate. The app fare was about 10-15 SAR. Private taxis may charge a lot unless you haggle, and they carry safety risks. You might manage with the shuttle, so give it a try. Just leave an hour before prayer time. The return bus can fill up too. The elevators were a nightmare, especially from our room on the top, 20th floor. There are eight, but they get crowded quickly with guests of many nationalities. WiFi wasn’t reliable, though they gave us the password promptly, so have mobile data ready. We didn’t get room service. I didn’t mind, since I didn’t want anyone moving my things, but it’s worth having cleaning products to scrub the bathroom sink occasionally. I’d rate the hotel’s hygiene 7/10. Seeing people from all backgrounds in the lobby was lovely. I have no regrets about choosing it for my first umrah. Thank you!