Movenpick Hotel Anwar Al Madinah, Al Madinah

I went with my family first week of june, the worst service I found in my life, I am regular traveler and never see this kind of hotel service, room is not clean, service staff are not freindly and also very few can understand english.

Alhamdulillah it was a great stay for us. As for all hotels in Haramain, if you are booking through an agent it is better if the representatives are present when u check in or at least they are a phone call away. We stayed in a four bed single room. There were no pots and the elec. Stove was disconnected as some people had earlier tried to dry clothes on it and it has proved hazardous thus majority of the hotels have disconnected electrical stoves. But they gave us an electrical kettle on request and if needed one can buy a small electrical stove from bin Dawood supermarket in the basement. Taxis are available from the front gate but if you plan to go for visiting the historical sites such a masjid e qiblatain and Quba, Uhad mountain etc book a car , some of the guys speak English, Urdu etc if u r not a native Arabic speaker. A 2.5 hr journey costed us SR. 100 in a Toyota Camry. Haram is one step away from the hotel. For men the nearest is Umar Bin Khatab gate which is left from the hotel once you enter the haram gate and ladies can walk straight ahead and enter into haram. For Ziarat e rauza e rasool ladies can only go in fixed timing and through the gate in front of Dar ul Taqwa hotel which is farther left from Movenpick or another gate which I don’t remember the name but is on the baqi side of the haram.. Few tips: 1. Do your research and reading before flying to Makkah and Madina from an authentic book. 2. Janat ul baqi grave yard is opened for men after Ishraq in the morning and after Asar in the evening. The path to the grave of Syeda Ayesha (Radhiallaho anha) has been blocked as a group of apostates tried to desecrate the grave in 2009 and shouted slogans against Abu Bakar and Umar (Radhiallaho anhum). 3. Bring along emergency medicines and antibiotics. 4. If there is a need for medical emergency then Al Ansar Hospital (Mustashfa al ansar) is just 4-5 minutes drive from Haram e Nabawi. The treatment and tests are free for people on Ummrah visa. 5. Please turn off your cell phones or at least the ring tone as it is a grave sin to play music in front of the Prophet (Sallalahu alliahe wasalam)grave. 6. Cameras are not appreciated inside the haram. Women are not allowed to carry cell phones with camera inside the masjid e nabwi. 7. Trip from Makkah to Madina costed us SAR. 400 in a Toyota Camry. Another option is to travel by SAPTCO bus which operates regular and VIP buses to Madina Munawara on daily basis. The SAPTCO terminal is near Hilton Hotel. 8. It is sunna to buy something from the Uhad site, so one can buy some dates etc from the vendors. 9. It is advisable not to waste time in shopping as there is a lot of munkarat including intermingling of sexes. One can buy something from the street vendors on the way to the hotel with the intention of helping the poor folks of Madina. 10. One should observe the Sunnah of the Syedna Mohammad (Sallalahu allihae wasalam) more strongly in the city of Madina 11. Both Brother and sisters must lower their gaze as due to a huge crowd and males and females walk the same path to and back from haram. 12. Please remember me, the whole of ummah esp the weak, the oppressed and the mujahadeen in your prayers.

I had reservation from Octopus Travel for four bed –two rooms. When I reached the hotel at 3.45PM. Receptionist told me that check in Time is 4.00PM and still it will take one hour more to clean the room. I went to duty manager, request him if he can give us some other room temporarily to get ready and go for prayer but the guy was dumb. He went and comeback after 15 minutes with reservation numbers only. I went to reception again and told them that your check IN time start from 4.00 and now it’s already 4.30. he took the paper and disappear in others room. He was wasting time so they can get the time. When I told him you are trying to pass the time, he said “yes I am doing. SO”. Then I called Octopus Travel agent in Dubai to complained, he told me Saudis receptionists are the worst in the world but he will try to help me out. After staying 45 minutes on counter, I went backside of the reception and talk to duty manager but he was not helpful. Finally I found the manager and complained to him the attitude of the Saudi Receptionist, he called him and make him say Sorry for his attitude. Long Story short, it was a bitter experiment for me. Room Service was ok. No hair dryer in bathrooms. Small bathrooms. TV signal were week. Location good for women but man have to walk 400ms to go mosque. Breakfast buffet was not good. No fresh juices. Milk pot was empty most of the time. tea bags finished.

We enjoyed our room here. Four beds, but basically connected in two. There is a kitchenette as well, but no utensils or pots. Nice mall on the ground floor with a supermarket. Close to the corner of the masjid which is good for the ladies entrance but a bit of a walk for the men as compared to hilton. 5 minute walk to Hardees and KFC.

I went for Umrah with my wife and I visited Madinah from 8-11 March 2008. We had booked a room through our usual travel agent. He ensured us that this is a five stars hotel. Upon arrival they said we have to wait to go and check the room and then they asked us to go to a small room at the NX. Left over with bad smell and you can hear everything in the other room even flushing the toilet. Then we objected that this is not our room and they told us sorry this is what is available only. We then told them that we are checking out and looking for other hotel. Here the receptionist said oh sorry we might have another room and they showed us three vacant rooms much bigger, cleaner and quieter. So upset and I will never recommend anyone to go to this hotel. It is cheap labor hotel and inexperienced personnel.

the hotel anwar al madina is the most beautifully built hotel i've seen in madina.the interior designing is extraordinary with very neat finished bathrooms..the hotel service was also good..

Everything is perfect & great in this hotel, On behalf of my family i want to thank everyone in this hotel for their kindness & perfect dealing