Grand Zowar Hotel

The location is the one good thing, about two minutes from Masjid Nabwi Gate 318. The staff were rude and unprofessional from the start. You have to interrupt them to check in or ask for anything, and they don’t ask whether you need help. Housekeeping were the only good people. The bedsheets were dirty, there were hairs on the pillow, and the toilet was soaking wet.

There was little or no hot water, the room carpets were dirty, the phone wasn’t even connected for emergencies, and the towels smelled of bleach. After check-in, we got no cleaning or room service. The morning receptionist said it would happen at night, then the night receptionist said it would be done in the morning. Neither was helpful, and they were joking around. It was a truly awful stay. Highly not recommended.

We arrived exhausted after the journey and the previous days of ibadat, following an amazing experience in Makkah. The reception staff seemed uninterested, and our rooms were filthy. I hoped at least the sheets were new. The carpets were dirty, there was a sewage smell, the basin tap was missing, and there was no kettle or tea. Three of us were in a so-called family room so cramped we kept bumping into each other. There was hardly room for our suitcases, and no cupboard space, so we lived out of them. The walls were so thin that I thought the door was open, and we could hear everyone’s conversations, children screeching, and parents yelling. I was told at booking that this was a three-star hotel, a lovely place only a few minutes’ walk from the Haram. The short walk was the only honest part. I’m really disappointed, especially with AL HABIB TRAVEL. They should have been upfront. They first offered three other four-star hotels, then suddenly said those were booked and pressured me into taking this one. I can’t believe the hotel is still thriving, and I wouldn’t give it even one star. There’s nothing grand about it.

I chose this hotel after seeing online reviews that put it around four stars. From my stay, it didn’t meet even a two-star standard. The room doors were very old, there was nowhere proper to put luggage, and cleanliness was below an acceptable level. The lobby often got crowded, especially around check-in. There were only three small elevators, and we sometimes waited about 10 minutes or longer, which was especially inconvenient for families and elderly guests. At the information desk, staff were rude. When I tried to communicate, one staff member said he didn’t speak English and only spoke Arabic. Madinah welcomes visitors from all over, so management should make sure staff can communicate respectfully and professionally with international guests.