Review: Aerotel Jeddah Airport, Saudi Arabia

Review: Aerotel Jeddah Airport, Saudi Arabia

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NAME: Aerotel Jeddah Airport
LOCATION: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
DATE: December 2023
REVIEW RATING:
BEN SAYS: The Aerotel Jeddah Airport is a convenient airside transit hotel. Unfortunately the hotel has unfriendly service, poor construction quality, and no Wi-Fi in rooms.
23
The Long Way to Abu Dhabi
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For the next portion of my long journey to Abu Dhabi, I had a roughly nine hour layover at Jeddah Airport (JED). After the complicated transfer from the Hajj Terminal to Terminal 1, I spent a six hour block of time in the 120-room Aerotel Jeddah Airport, which is the airside transit hotel in Terminal 1.

When I have a long layover and am looking for rest, I hugely value airside transit hotels, as it’s so convenient to get some “real” sleep while being steps from your gate.

For the most part, I have great experiences with the major airside transit hotel chains, whether it’s Aerotel or Yotel. However, I have to say that the Aerotel Jeddah Airport is probably the least impressive “property” that I’ve stayed at, between the unfriendly service, no Wi-Fi in rooms, and the lack of attention to detail with upkeep and design.

Booking the Aerotel Jeddah Airport

The Aerotel Jeddah Airport can be booked for a minimum of a six hour block, but you can book a much longer stay than that, if you’d like (though if you have a really long layover, it might be preferable to go into the city, assuming you can get a visa).

I booked a six hour block at the Aerotel from 7PM until 1AM, at the cost of 417 SAR all-in (~$111).

Aerotel Jeddah Airport location

The Aerotel Jeddah Airport is located airside within the airport’s impressive Terminal 1, which I’ve written about separately. Note that the hotel is located airside, so you can only stay here if you have an outbound boarding pass.

Since I had to transfer from the Hajj Terminal to Terminal 1, I only ended up booking the hotel after I was able to check-in online for my Etihad flight departing Jeddah, to avoid a situation where I wouldn’t be able to access my room.

The Aerotel Jeddah Airport is located in the central duty free shopping and dining area of Terminal 1. Essentially each of the three “wings” of the terminal leads in this direction. So if you’re originating in Jeddah, just walk down the main concourse walkway until the terminal widens.

Jeddah Airport Terminal 1
Jeddah Airport Terminal 1

Once you find yourself in the circular central part of the terminal, just look for the entrance to the Aerotel on the ground floor.

Jeddah Airport Terminal 1
Aerotel Jeddah Airport Terminal 1

Aerotel Jeddah Airport lobby & check-in

The Aerotel Jeddah Airport has a fairly modest lobby, with the reception desk straight ahead, and then a sitting area on each side.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport lobby

I’m not sure if the lady working the check-in desk just didn’t speak English, was rude, or both. During the entire (extended) check-in process, I don’t think she said a single complete phrase to me, but rather she just barked things at me, like “card,” “sign,” etc. Not exactly a great first impression…

Eventually she handed me a key to room 222, with no explanation for how to get there.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport guest room

While the Aerotel Jeddah Airport has rooms on three floors, my room was located on the same floor as reception, so I didn’t have to take the elevators.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport elevators

There’s a lot wrong with the signage at this hotel, and I just don’t get it. For example, past reception, I eventually found a sign indicating that rooms 219-236 were straight ahead. Great, that’s where I need to go!

Aerotel Jeddah Airport signage

But then I kept walking around the restaurant area, and didn’t see any additional signs. When the guy working in the restaurant noticed I was confused, he told me that the unmarked door at the side of the room was where the guest rooms were located. You’d think this would be a bit more obvious, no?

Aerotel Jeddah Airport door

By the way, let’s look at that same door in the other direction, going from the guest room corridor back into the restaurant and reception area. As you can see above, the signage clearly says that this is the door you should use for that.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport signage

But then you get to the door, and it doesn’t have a handle (and yes, you need to pull the door, and not push it). Huh?

Aerotel Jeddah Airport door
Aerotel Jeddah Airport door handle missing

Does nobody else notice this, does no one care, or…?

Anyway, my room was located just down the hallway to the left.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport hallway
Aerotel Jeddah Airport room exterior

I had booked a superior double room, marketed as being 28 square meters (~300 square feet). The room had an entryway with the bathroom to the left and the rest of the room straight ahead.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport room

The room had all the basics, including a fairly comfortable bed, a chair with a table, a desk (which lacked an extra chair) and a wall-mounted TV.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport room
Aerotel Jeddah Airport room
Aerotel Jeddah Airport room
Aerotel Jeddah Airport room

The hotel doesn’t have any windows or exterior light, which is fair enough, given that it’s inside a terminal. In many ways it’s even a positive, since it makes it easier to get some sleep during the day.

The bathroom was back near the entrance, and featured a sink, a toilet, and a pretty basic walk-in shower.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport bathroom
Aerotel Jeddah Airport toilet
Aerotel Jeddah Airport shower

Toiletries were from Dove, and were in reusable containers.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport toiletries

While the room looks decent enough, I can’t help but point out the complete lack of attention to detail with just about everything:

  • As it turns out, the Aerotel Jeddah Airport only has Wi-Fi in the public restaurant area, and not in guest rooms, which I find to be ridiculous; I’m not sure if that’s the hotel’s choice, or some moral decision by Saudi Arabia, or something
  • I can’t say I’m surprised, but the construction quality in the room felt poor across the board
  • There were several other issues with the room, including the lamp next to the bed not working, and the soap dispenser being empty
  • The sound insulation in the rooms is awful, as I could hear every word of the phone calls being made by the person in the room next to me

So while I do like airside transit hotels, this is the least impressive one I’ve stayed at.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport restaurant

The Aerotel Jeddah Airport has a restaurant, known as the lobby lounge. I didn’t eat anything here, but this area has plenty of seating, and also has a la carte food throughout the day, and buffets over select hours.

Aerotel Jeddah Airport lobby lounge
Aerotel Jeddah Airport lobby lounge
Aerotel Jeddah Airport lobby lounge

Bottom line

There’s huge convenience to airside transit hotels, as it’s so nice to be able to escape the main part of the terminal and get some proper rest. So if I have a long layover somewhere and am looking to sleep, I always appreciate this concept.

However, the Aerotel Jeddah Airport is the weakest transit hotel experience I’ve had, from the unfriendly person working at reception, to the confusing signage, to the lack of Wi-Fi in rooms, to the lack of attention to detail with servicing rooms (lamps broken, no soap, etc.).

What’s your take on the Aerotel Jeddah Airport?

Conversations (23)
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  1. tassojunior Guest

    cultural differences are enormous. in some countries it is an insult to look someone in the face. in some for employees to say any more than the bare minimum.in some to shake hands, in some not to shake hands. in some not keeping distance. in some standing away. i don't jumop to conclusions about behavior strange to me in other cultures.

  2. Scio nescio Guest

    Being from Europe, having worked in the hospitality industry for over 3 decades I am now living in Jeddah (for work).

    First of all, even though I am very curious and always wanted to experience the Hajj terminal I never managed to do so in my 120 times I have used the airport. Chapeau!

    Then unfortunately, I can only agree with you about your findings about build quality. Many hotels here in Saudi have very...

    Being from Europe, having worked in the hospitality industry for over 3 decades I am now living in Jeddah (for work).

    First of all, even though I am very curious and always wanted to experience the Hajj terminal I never managed to do so in my 120 times I have used the airport. Chapeau!

    Then unfortunately, I can only agree with you about your findings about build quality. Many hotels here in Saudi have very mediocre build quality. The level of craftsmanship is mainly substandard. I am living in 5 star hotel which newly opened when I arrived early 2022 and while it is not as bad as what you described it is not what one would expect from a internationally renowned 5 star hotel brand. And the same is true for many places/hotels I have been staying in in this country. Hardware-wise there are many big plans to improve but it is still a long way to go. Surprisingly, the quality is somewhat better in most other countries on the Arabian peninsula.

    I was very much surprised by the lack of friendliness you mentioned. So far I have experienced the people to be extremely hospitable and very friendly and never ever experienced anything opposite.

  3. KingBob Guest

    If the hotel corridor side of the hotel door did not have a handle to open it, how did you (or anyone else) get out.

  4. Marco Guest

    We stayed at this hotel for one night in November (9 hour transit), and the feeling was exactly the same. We waited at the reception, and finally the receptionist arrived after one hour. As this is the only hotel in the airport and you can't get out without a visa, the quality will probably never improve...

    1. Scio nescio Guest

      There is visa on arrival for more than 60 nationalities. So you could get out and experience Jeddah. It's worth it.

  5. Kas Guest

    In the room you can use the free airport WiFi what requires login via SMS OTP. Not too complicated.

    The pillows were too high and hard but the receptionist was friendly.

  6. Shutterbug1952 Guest

    Thanks for the review. So I will come prepared when passing through Jeddah in January on a 9 hour layover.
    But whatever it is it will be preferable to staying at the Saudia lounge which on our recent outbound flight was cooled down to probably somewhere around 59, 60 degrees. We weren't expecting to have to bring winter clothes and my wife caught a bad cold which ruined the first week of our vacation for her.

    1. Scio nescio Guest

      It seems to be a statement of wealth here. Working in Jeddah, my Saudi colleagues call my office the Sauna because I have set the AC to 22°C/72°F automatic while they always set it to 17°/18°C or 63°/65°F.

      But honestly, from my European experience it seems to be the same when I travel to the US. We always think the rooms are cooled down way too much.

  7. Oily Guest

    The lobby used to be the Saudia lounge when the airport first opened in 2020 during covid. This was also when the airport had zero duty free and 1 crappy coffee shop airside

  8. tony xu Guest

    The receptionist as described here reminds me of a time I was boarding a flight at EWR, I had an exit row seat so when I scanned my boarding pass at the gate, it beeped.

    The gate agent asked me “Exit row. Whee lane?”

    Took me a few seconds to figure out she meant Willing, as in Willing and able to assist.

  9. Muhammad Yusuf Guest

    Most disappointing business class lounge on December 5th, 2023 by Turkish Airlines. Will not fly them for treating their high paying passengers like this.

  10. Jimmy’s Travel Report Diamond

    Hey Ben, how was the quality of the bed?

  11. D3kingg Guest

    Insightful. The thought never crossed my mind of getting a daytime hotel for a long layover. I had just under 9 hrs layover in DFW on Christmas Eve and spent it in the flagship lounge. While it was very quiet apart from two 77Ws arriving from LHR simultaneously there were some chaise lounge chairs and showers. I wonder what the Hyatt Dfw was going for considering Dfw was a ghost town. Might have splurged $200 USD.

    1. UncleRonnie Diamond

      9 hours in the best flagship lounge on the planet is still too long! A cheap, quiet airport hotel room with a proper bed is worth $200.00 any day you need some proper sleep. You can still spend 1.5 hours in the lounge before take-off anyway.

    2. Fonzi Guest

      Actually in the Saudia lounge in Jeddah i was able to find i think 4 separate comoprtments with like sofa bed and could conveniently rest. Not noisy.

  12. Noa Guest

    This review if it gains traction will definitely get the receptionist fired, so probably remove that part?

    1. Ben Holz Guest

      Why should it be removed? Those sort of comments (i.e. genuine and founded criticism) are the ones that can very much help determine whether or not one would want to stay at the hotel. That comment will either 1) not affect the receptionist in any way or 2) will make sure that there's better treatment for future guests (be it from the same lady or someone else). Don't get me wrong, it'd be a shame...

      Why should it be removed? Those sort of comments (i.e. genuine and founded criticism) are the ones that can very much help determine whether or not one would want to stay at the hotel. That comment will either 1) not affect the receptionist in any way or 2) will make sure that there's better treatment for future guests (be it from the same lady or someone else). Don't get me wrong, it'd be a shame for her to be fired, but that doesn't take away from the fact she wasn't being a least bit hospitable in an industry that requires a bare minimum.

      @Ben I guess this is already the case... but just in case, don't listen to this type of nonsensical comments.

    2. Tim Guest

      Why should Ben remove a part of his honest opinion? This behavior is downright rude…and very fitting to the general attitude towards guests in the Middle East. The best you get is ignorance, the worst is actual hostility. I’ve had it all down there…

    3. Mick Guest

      Not sure where you have been but the Middle East is a big place. Jordan for eg has wonderful hospitality including at hotels.

    4. Santos Guest

      I try to give everyone in the service industry the benefit of the doubt but there is no cause for rudeness. I doubt it was a cultural miscommunication or lack of English. And even if so, Jeddah is an annual destination for millions upon millions of Muslims from all walks of life and every corner of the world. So one would think they could staff and train accordingly. No excuses.

    5. tony xu Guest

      This is what I don’t understand about western culture. Ben is not the employer of the receptionist. If the employer chooses to fire the receptionist, that is a business deal between those two parties.

      Either way, it is not Ben’s review that gets a person fired. It is the person’s own conduct.

  13. simmonad Guest

    I also found it underwhelming. Thanks for reminding me about the unmarked door!

    When I was there in August, it was completely full, so I'm glad I made my reservation weeks in advance (I acquired my boarding card for JED-FCO whilst in Singapore).

    There's simply no excuse for the lack of Wifi either. Mind you, I wasn't overly impressed by the transit hotel in Delhi either (but that was 9 years ago now).

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tony xu Guest

This is what I don’t understand about western culture. Ben is not the employer of the receptionist. If the employer chooses to fire the receptionist, that is a business deal between those two parties. Either way, it is not Ben’s review that gets a person fired. It is the person’s own conduct.

1
Julia Guest

What was disappointing about it?

1
Ben Holz Guest

Why should it be removed? Those sort of comments (i.e. genuine and founded criticism) are the ones that can very much help determine whether or not one would want to stay at the hotel. That comment will either 1) not affect the receptionist in any way or 2) will make sure that there's better treatment for future guests (be it from the same lady or someone else). Don't get me wrong, it'd be a shame for her to be fired, but that doesn't take away from the fact she wasn't being a least bit hospitable in an industry that requires a bare minimum. @Ben I guess this is already the case... but just in case, don't listen to this type of nonsensical comments.

1
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