Sunrise Ajyad Hotel

There wasn’t a single day of housekeeping during our seven-day stay, yet we were charged as if the hotel were very hygienic and offered five-star service. Since we were in another country and had nobody to speak up for us, we paid the penalty. Please be careful, especially if you’re travelling with children. They charged us 400 SR because our one-year-old had dropped food in the room and there were stains on the bedsheets. With a child, some mess is bound to happen, and it wasn’t something we could control. Our travel agent first put us in a tiny room that felt like a spare room, even though we asked several times for more space because we had a one-year-old with us. He only changed it on the fifth day. He hadn’t explained the penalty beforehand and then blamed us without helping. I won’t name the travel agent, but watch out for these scams. Hyderabad India

Getting to and from the Haram was really difficult because the hotel sits up a steep hill, especially when golf carts weren’t available. Check-in was a nightmare, the food was poor, and the small rooms weren’t cleaned properly. Worst experience of my life. I’d never recommend it.

The dining hall was always crowded, and the food was bad. Rooms and toilets are tiny, too. The hotel Wi-Fi didn’t work at all, and the reception staff didn’t seem to care or even reply to questions. Not recommended.

The location is the best part. There are steps straight to the white tiles of Haram, just 115 metres away. By the uphill road it’s 380 metres. The hotel also runs a bogie cart up and down the small hill, though after namaz you may have to wait because it gets crowded. Room sizes vary, some are big and some very small, and the bathrooms are small too. Still, it’s enough if you’re just resting before heading back to prayer or Umrah. Food service is good, but the dining area is quite small for big crowds, and its restrooms get crowded as well.