When I saw this hotel on Expedia I was attracted to the description of a modern hotel with sauna, fitness suite and a great location. I have to say the 36 pounds per night was also attractive.

Well, having travelled extensively in the middle east I should have known better! You get what you pay for.

This hotel is situated in the roughest part of Jeddah. The streets are filthy and the surrounding buildings are at best slums. It was like a scene from the film 'Black-Hawk Down'.

The hotel has a small, shabby reception area staffed by affable but ultimately inept staff. The room was spacious and the bedding was clean - which is more than can be said for the furniture (handles missing, stained surfaces), the walls (extensively marked and grubby) and worst of all the carpet which was stained and frankly filthy - it was not vacumed for the entire duration of my stay.

The worst aspect of the rooms was the damp. The air-con appeared not have a de-humidifier which meant that it sucked in hot humid air from outside and chilled it without removing the moisture. The sheets were damp and the whole room smelt mould mixed with old cigerette smoke. My wool mix suit which hung in the wardrobe ending up smelling like a wet dog. Most unpleasant.

As for the fitness suite - it does not exist. As the receptionist said, and I quote "we only advertise it because thats what tourists expect, we don't actually have one" candid, but not acceptable for an Accor hotel surely.

Overall, I got what I paid for.