For the subsequent portion of my lengthy journey to Abu Dhabi, I had a roughly 9 hour layover at Jeddah Airport (JED). After the difficult switch from the Hajj Terminal to Terminal 1, I spent a six hour block of time within the 120-room Aerotel Jeddah Airport, which is the airside transit resort in Terminal 1.
When I’ve an extended layover and am in search of relaxation, I massively worth airside transit inns, because it’s so handy to get some “actual” sleep whereas being steps out of your gate.
For essentially the most half, I’ve nice experiences with the most important airside transit resort chains, whether or not it’s Aerotel or Yotel. Nevertheless, I’ve to say that the Aerotel Jeddah Airport might be the least spectacular “property” that I’ve stayed at, between the unfriendly service, no Wi-Fi in rooms, and the shortage of consideration to element with repairs and design.
Reserving the Aerotel Jeddah Airport
The Aerotel Jeddah Airport might be booked for at least a six hour block, however you’ll be able to guide a for much longer keep than that, in the event you’d like (although if in case you have a very lengthy layover, it is perhaps preferable to enter the town, assuming you may get a visa).
I booked a six hour block on the Aerotel from 7PM till 1AM, at the price of 417 SAR all-in (~$111).
Aerotel Jeddah Airport location
The Aerotel Jeddah Airport is positioned airside throughout the airport’s spectacular Terminal 1, which I’ve written about individually. Notice that the resort is positioned airside, so you’ll be able to solely keep right here if in case you have an outbound boarding cross.
Since I needed to switch from the Hajj Terminal to Terminal 1, I solely ended up reserving the resort after I used to be capable of check-in on-line for my flight departing Jeddah, to keep away from a scenario the place I wouldn’t have the ability to entry my room.
The Aerotel Jeddah Airport is positioned within the central responsibility free purchasing and eating space of Terminal 1. Basically every of the three “wings” of the terminal leads on this route. So in the event you’re originating in Jeddah, simply stroll down the primary concourse walkway till the terminal widens.
As soon as you end up within the round central a part of the terminal, simply search for the doorway to the Aerotel on the bottom ground.
Aerotel Jeddah Airport foyer & check-in
The Aerotel Jeddah Airport has a reasonably modest foyer, with the reception desk straight forward, after which a sitting space on either side.
I’m unsure if the woman working the check-in desk simply didn’t converse English, was impolite, or each. Throughout your complete (prolonged) check-in course of, I don’t assume she stated a single full phrase to me, however quite she simply barked issues at me, like “card,” “signal,” and so on. Not precisely an ideal first impression…
Finally she handed me a key to room 222, with no rationalization for easy methods to get there.
Aerotel Jeddah Airport visitor room
Whereas the Aerotel Jeddah Airport has rooms on three flooring, my room was positioned on the identical ground as reception, so I didn’t need to take the elevators.
There’s rather a lot incorrect with the signage at this resort, and I simply don’t get it. For instance, previous reception, I finally discovered an indication indicating that rooms 219-236 have been straight forward. Nice, that’s the place I have to go!
However then I stored strolling across the restaurant space, and didn’t see any extra indicators. When the man working within the restaurant observed I used to be confused, he instructed me that the unmarked door together with the room was the place the visitor rooms have been positioned. You’d assume this might be a bit extra apparent, no?
By the best way, let’s have a look at that very same door within the different route, going from the visitor room hall again into the restaurant and reception space. As you’ll be able to see above, the signage clearly says that that is the door you must use for that.
However then you definitely get to the door, and it doesn’t have a deal with (and sure, it’s essential pull the door, and never push it). Huh?
Does no person else discover this, does nobody care, or…?
Anyway, my room was positioned simply down the hallway to the left.
I had booked a superior double room, marketed as being 28 sq. meters (~300 sq. ft). The room had an entryway with the toilet to the left and the remainder of the room straight forward.
The room had all of the fundamentals, together with a reasonably comfy mattress, a chair with a desk, a desk (which lacked an additional chair) and a wall-mounted TV.
The resort doesn’t have any home windows or exterior gentle, which is truthful sufficient, provided that it’s inside a terminal. In some ways it’s even a constructive, because it makes it simpler to get some sleep through the day.
The toilet was again close to the doorway, and featured a sink, a bathroom, and a reasonably fundamental walk-in bathe.
Toiletries have been from Dove, and have been in reusable containers.
Whereas the room seems to be first rate sufficient, I can’t assist however level out the whole lack of consideration to element with nearly every part:
- Because it seems, the Aerotel Jeddah Airport solely has Wi-Fi within the public restaurant space, and never in visitor rooms, which I discover to be ridiculous; I’m unsure if that’s the resort’s alternative, or some ethical choice by Saudi Arabia, or one thing
- I can’t say I’m stunned, however the building high quality within the room felt poor throughout the board
- There have been a number of different points with the room, together with the lamp subsequent to the mattress not working, and the cleaning soap dispenser being empty
- The sound insulation within the rooms is terrible, as I may hear each phrase of the cellphone calls being made by the individual within the room subsequent to me
So whereas I do like airside transit inns, that is the least spectacular one I’ve stayed at.
Aerotel Jeddah Airport restaurant
The Aerotel Jeddah Airport has a restaurant, generally known as the foyer lounge. I didn’t eat something right here, however this space has loads of seating, and in addition has a la carte meals all through the day, and buffets over choose hours.
Backside line
There’s big comfort to airside transit inns, because it’s so good to have the ability to escape the primary a part of the terminal and get some correct relaxation. So if I’ve an extended layover someplace and am trying to sleep, I all the time recognize this idea.
Nevertheless, the Aerotel Jeddah Airport is the weakest transit resort expertise I’ve had, from the unfriendly individual working at reception, to the complicated signage, to the shortage of Wi-Fi in rooms, to the shortage of consideration to element with servicing rooms (lamps damaged, no cleaning soap, and so on.).
What’s your tackle the Aerotel Jeddah Airport?
