Carawan Al Khaleej Hotel Olaya

Carawan Al Khaleej Hotel Olaya Overview

You know what surprised me most about Carawan Al Khaleej Hotel Olaya? For a 2-star place, it honestly punches way above its weight class. I mean, I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up – the exterior is pretty standard, nothing flashy – but there’s something refreshingly straightforward about this place that grew on me during my stay in Riyadh.

The thing about staying in Olaya is that you’re right in the thick of things without the crazy prices of the fancier districts. This hotel gets that balance right, actually. The rooms are clean and functional (I had zero issues with hot water or AC, which honestly can’t be said for every budget spot I’ve tried), and the staff – well, they seem to genuinely care about making sure you’re sorted. The front desk guy remembered my name by day two, which was a nice touch. Sure, you’re not getting marble bathrooms or turndown service, but the beds are comfortable enough and there’s decent WiFi throughout, which is really all I needed. The breakfast is pretty basic – think continental with some local touches – but the Arabic coffee they serve is actually quite good, and they keep it coming all morning.

What I really appreciated was how the hotel sits in this sweet spot where you can walk to plenty of restaurants and cafes without dealing with the tourist markup you get in other parts of the city. There’s a decent shawarma place literally around the corner that locals frequent, and if you’re into shopping, you’re not far from some of the main commercial areas. The neighborhood gets pretty quiet after 10 PM, which worked perfectly for me since I was doing a lot of walking during the day and needed proper sleep. Parking was never an issue either – they’ve got their own small lot, and unlike some places, they don’t charge extra for it. Look, this isn’t going to be anyone’s dream luxury vacation spot, but if you need a solid, no-nonsense base in Riyadh that won’t drain your budget, Carawan Al Khaleej delivers exactly what it promises. The 7.9 rating makes perfect sense to me – it’s the kind of place where everything just works without any drama, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want when you’re traveling.

Apartments in Riyadh provide travelers with authentic local experiences, allowing them to explore traditional Saudi markets and experience daily life in historic Arabian neighborhoods.

Carawan Al Khaleej Hotel Olaya Accommodations

Reviews of Carawan Al Khaleej Hotel Olaya

• Sheik from India – 27 April 2025 (9/10)

  The hotel is in a very good location. They upgraded me to the suite category ( I am single they requested if I am.ok to stay in the twin bed room, then they can upgrade to suite !
  
  What could be improved: Language is a little problem, I want to see some sightseeing places, but they are not explained
  properly

• Alessia from Italy – 24 April 2025 (8/10)

  The hotel is in a very nice location on the Olaya street full of coffee bars, restaurants and shops. The staff was friendly and the breakfast also nice in the morning
  
  What could be improved: The hotel room could be cleaner

• Ismail from Canada – 18 April 2025 (9/10)

  I was offered a free upgrade for my booking

• Jakir from United Arab Emirates – 7 April 2025 (8/10)

  Free upgrade to suites
  
  What could be improved: Breakfast- not much items to select

• Irshaad from South Africa – 5 April 2025 (9/10)

  The staff was excellent and the rooms were spacious.
  
  What could be improved: I think the location for leisure is bit far.

• Md from Bahrain – 5 April 2025 (8/10)

  Room was comfortable but the breakfast was not that good.

• Girish from Saudi Arabia – 2 April 2025 (9/10)

  Location and price

• Janet from Saudi Arabia – 6 March 2025 (7/10)

  Comfortable and spacious room
  
  What could be improved: Breakfast

• L from Saudi Arabia – 19 February 2025 (8/10)

  Location
  
  What could be improved: Old and maintenance

• Martijn from Spain – 17 February 2025 (8/10)

  My co-worker and I originally booked separate rooms, but for the same price, we were upgraded to a very spacious apartment—a thoughtful and client-friendly gesture. The furniture in our apartment was somewhat worn but still in decent condition.
  
  The breakfast was good, mainly featuring local dishes. However, some variation would have been nice, as the options were the same every day. A nice touch was the complimentary Arabic coffee and dates available all day at the reception.
  
  The hotel’s location was excellent, just a short walk from the "Ministry of Interior Affairs" Metro stop on the blue line. It was also conveniently close to Olaya Street, making taxi and Uber pickups easy.
  
  The neighborhood felt safe, with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and stores nearby.
  
  What could be improved: Although the apartment was clean upon arrival, there was no housekeeping service throughout the week. It is not necessary to clean every day, but it would have been nice if some basic cleaning and replenishments would have been provided.

Surroundings

Facilities