Meral Crown Hotel

I couldn't even make it through the night at this terrible hotel! The reception was awful, the room was filthy, the pool was dirty and full of dirt, and there was a terrible smell in the hallways. To top it all off, the alarm bell went off at 6 in the morning and no one apologized or even bothered to explain what was going on! I wouldn't recommend this hotel to anyone.

Really, how do I begin? The Meral Crown is okay as a place to stay. I consider it a "Saudi style" hotel with a particular style of furnishings that is typical in the Middle East. It is a hotel that has strengths and weaknessess. Ups and downs. I was given room 403 which is on the front of the hotel, but you really don't know it because of the small window facing the elevated metro line. The door and lock is a curious anomaly. The door doesn't readily close and the lock doesn't readily open. I learned that you have to hold the cardkey to the lock for a few seconds for it to engage - and that if you don't physically push the door closed, it just won't close. At all. I discovered this a number of times - luckily, theft in Saudi is met with harsh punishment so that mitigates some of the danger. The room was... nice. There's an entry room with seating for four and a small coffee table with an outdated flat screen tv that was small for the expanse of the room - and it was a sizable space with marble tile that gave way to a landing area in front of the tiny bathroom, then into a sizable bedroom with door. The bedroom had a king bed that was decently comfortable and nice linens. There was also a large boudoir to place your clothings with His and Her sides. No desk (a disappointment) but there was a makeup stand with stool for the lady. There were a couple of outlets but I would have preferred more. Overall, while you had the essentials to sit and sleep, the furnishings are best described as: spartan. The bathroom was a disappointment. Tiny, uncomfortable, with a shower stall that was only a basin surrounded by a flimsy curtain and very low water pressure. The water was hard so that made scrubbing with soap a difficulty - and by day 3 the water smelled sulfuric, like rotting eggs. Speaking of rotting eggs, the breakfast buffet was unappetizing. I went there the first morning and never went back. Low quality product, poor signage, just generally one of the poorest breakfast buffets I've ever experienced anywhere. I noted a number of OFWs (overseas foreign workers) as guests and I'm thinking management doesn't really consider these people so they give them the lowest possible quality. You will be better served going to one of local eateries for breakfast nearby. I went to use the pool one day and never went back. I didn't even get in. Perhaps it's because I'm from the West, but I like pool water to be clean and crystal clear. I don't like pool water that looks hazy. That's just being cheap as an operator. There is a gym but it looks like leftover, used, remnant equipment that's old and a bit rusty. There's supposed to be a health spa, and I did walk through the empty space that looks like it was under construction some time ago. It doesn't look like it will open anytime soon. The elevators are also curious. When you face them, the left elevator doesn't not fully align with the floors, creating a kind of edge to step down or up, and then it exhibits