Zara Continental Hotel
➔
➔
Please select your travel dates to see rates and availability
Info
Summary of reviewsZara Continental Hotel in Al Khobar is widely praised for its exceptional and convenient location in the heart of the city, making it an ideal choice for both leisure and business travelers. Situated near major shopping centers like Dhahran Mall and Rashid Mall, as well as popular tourist sites, restaurants and essential services, the hotel's location ensures easy access to a range of amenities and attractions. Additionally, the proximity to major highways and corporate meeting points, including King Fahd University, enhances its appeal for business travelers.
Guests appreciate the hotel's spacious and comfortable rooms, which are particularly suitable for families. The cleanliness of the rooms and common areas is frequently commended, alongside the courteous and responsive staff. The hotel offers a peaceful and quiet ambiance that many find relaxing.
The breakfast service receives a mixture of commendations and critiques. While many guests enjoy the delicious and varied buffet, others note the desire for more diverse and fresh options. The overall value for money and service quality during breakfast could benefit from improvement.
Dinner services garner mostly positive feedback with special praise for the presence of an Indian chef adding a unique touch to the dining experience. However, the absence of a buffet for lunch and dinner and some specific dish disappointments were noted. The restaurant's pricing and lack of room service after 11 PM were also points of critique.
The rooms are largely appreciated for their spaciousness and layout, making them suitable for families. Guests enjoy the inclusion of useful appliances and pleasant views but point out concerns regarding furniture maintenance, cleanliness and noise insulation. Room service and responsiveness also need improvement to meet guest expectations fully.
While the hotel is generally praised for cleanliness, recurrent issues like dirty floors, stained sheets and the presence of insects indicate areas needing attention. Some guests noted maintenance concerns, such as mold and unpleasant odors, suggesting a need for comprehensive renovation.
The staff is often highlighted for their courteousness, friendliness and professionalism. Special mentions are given to individuals providing exceptional service, enhancing the guest experience. Nonetheless, occasional reports of slow service and uncooperative behavior suggest that consistent staff training could be beneficial.
Internet services are a significant area for improvement with many guests experiencing weak, slow or no connections in certain areas of the hotel. Reliable Wi-Fi access remains a challenge, impacting the overall guest experience.
The gym facilities are described as outdated and inadequately equipped, necessitating better maintenance and a broader variety of equipment. Similarly, the parking situation is frequently criticized for narrow and limited spaces, lack of elevator access from the basement and poor maintenance.
Despite these challenges, Zara Continental Hotel stands out as a family-friendly establishment, providing spacious rooms, complimentary breakfast and amenities catering to families with young children. These positives, coupled with the hotel's prime location and generally comfortable accommodations, make it a convenient choice for many visitors.
Overall, while Zara Continental Hotel offers many strengths, particularly in location, room size and staff friendliness, there are several areas where targeted improvements could significantly enhance the guest experience, aligning it more closely with its four-star rating.
Categories
Guests appreciate the hotel's spacious and comfortable rooms, which are particularly suitable for families. The cleanliness of the rooms and common areas is frequently commended, alongside the courteous and responsive staff. The hotel offers a peaceful and quiet ambiance that many find relaxing.
The breakfast service receives a mixture of commendations and critiques. While many guests enjoy the delicious and varied buffet, others note the desire for more diverse and fresh options. The overall value for money and service quality during breakfast could benefit from improvement.
Dinner services garner mostly positive feedback with special praise for the presence of an Indian chef adding a unique touch to the dining experience. However, the absence of a buffet for lunch and dinner and some specific dish disappointments were noted. The restaurant's pricing and lack of room service after 11 PM were also points of critique.
The rooms are largely appreciated for their spaciousness and layout, making them suitable for families. Guests enjoy the inclusion of useful appliances and pleasant views but point out concerns regarding furniture maintenance, cleanliness and noise insulation. Room service and responsiveness also need improvement to meet guest expectations fully.
While the hotel is generally praised for cleanliness, recurrent issues like dirty floors, stained sheets and the presence of insects indicate areas needing attention. Some guests noted maintenance concerns, such as mold and unpleasant odors, suggesting a need for comprehensive renovation.
The staff is often highlighted for their courteousness, friendliness and professionalism. Special mentions are given to individuals providing exceptional service, enhancing the guest experience. Nonetheless, occasional reports of slow service and uncooperative behavior suggest that consistent staff training could be beneficial.
Internet services are a significant area for improvement with many guests experiencing weak, slow or no connections in certain areas of the hotel. Reliable Wi-Fi access remains a challenge, impacting the overall guest experience.
The gym facilities are described as outdated and inadequately equipped, necessitating better maintenance and a broader variety of equipment. Similarly, the parking situation is frequently criticized for narrow and limited spaces, lack of elevator access from the basement and poor maintenance.
Despite these challenges, Zara Continental Hotel stands out as a family-friendly establishment, providing spacious rooms, complimentary breakfast and amenities catering to families with young children. These positives, coupled with the hotel's prime location and generally comfortable accommodations, make it a convenient choice for many visitors.
Overall, while Zara Continental Hotel offers many strengths, particularly in location, room size and staff friendliness, there are several areas where targeted improvements could significantly enhance the guest experience, aligning it more closely with its four-star rating.
Hotel for Honeymoon
Family Friendly Hotel
Romantic Hotel
Business Hotel
Hotel with Parking
Accessible Hotel
Hotel with Gym
About Zara Continental Hotel
License: 10008883
Guest Reviews
Location
The hotel's location also provides easy access to major highways, facilitating quick trips to nearby landmarks and neighboring countries. For those in town for business or learning, the hotel is conveniently close to King Fahd University and various corporate meeting points.
In addition to the prime location, the hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms, making it suitable for families and individuals alike. Visitors also commend the cleanliness of both the rooms and common areas, as well as the courteous and responsive staff.
The peaceful and quiet ambiance of the hotel, combined with the vibrant surroundings, makes Zara Continental Hotel a top choice for both leisure and business travelers. Whether it's for the ease of access, the array of nearby facilities or the overall value for money, this hotel offers a comfortable and strategically positioned place to stay in Al Khobar.
Breakfast
However, numerous reviews highlighted areas needing improvement. A frequent concern was the limited variety and repetitiveness of the breakfast menu with guests expressing a desire for more diverse and fresh options. Some found the breakfast not up to the standard expected for a reputed 4-star hotel, mentioning issues like cold food and limited choices for Western palates. The cost of breakfast was also a point of contention for some, as they felt it did not justify the price.
In terms of service, the strange system of not providing breakfast in rooms until after the buffet time was noted and there were occasional lapses such as breakfast being finished early and specific dishes not being available upon request. Some also mentioned that breakfast orders were sometimes left outside rooms.
Overall, while the bedrock of the breakfast service at Zara Continental Hotel can be satisfying and pleasant, there is significant room for enhancement in menu diversity, freshness and overall value for money.
Dinner
However, there are notable areas of improvement. There seems to be no buffet available for lunch and dinner and some guests were disappointed with the offerings. For example, specific dishes like biryani and club sandwich did not meet expectations. Moreover, there are limited dining options and guests felt that the restaurant’s price list is high. The absence of room service after 11:00 PM adds to the inconvenience.
Additionally, some guests reported a poor experience with the restaurant staff, mentioning inattentiveness and an unappealing smell of cooking oil. The logistics surrounding the dining experience could be improved, as guests have had to wait for extended periods for assistance, even having to wait for staff members to finish their own meals before receiving help.
Despite these issues, the core dining experience at the Zara Continental Hotel has been well-received by many guests, suggesting a generally positive takeaway with room for targeted enhancements.
Rooms
However, there are notable concerns regarding the condition and maintenance of the rooms. Guests frequently mention old, worn-out furniture and a general need for renovation. Cleanliness is another recurring issue with several reviews pointing out dirty bathrooms, food remnants in microwaves and insects. Room insulation is poor, leading to disturbed sleep due to external noise and noise from neighboring rooms.
Room service and staff responsiveness are problematic with reports of slow service and repeated malfunctions of room keys and telephones. Specific amenities also fall short, such as inconsistent or poor lighting and faulty air conditioning. The lack of elevators in parking lots and some electrical issues further add to the inconvenience.
Despite some positive aspects like the cleanliness of some rooms, good room service on occasion and the overall spaciousness, significant improvements are necessary, particularly regarding maintenance, cleanliness and noise insulation.
Beds
However, a significant number of guests reported discomfort with mentions of uncomfortable mattresses, worn-out beddings and issues such as hard pillows and noisy beds. There were also complaints about the beds being too short and providing inadequate support, leading to back pain and difficulty sleeping. Some guests found the bed furniture old and the linens not always clean.
While some visitors enjoyed restful nights, others felt improvements are needed to ensure consistent comfort across all rooms.
Cleanliness
However, several reviews reveal significant concerns. There are frequent mentions of poor cleanliness with specific issues such as dirty floors, stained sheets and unclean windows. Some rooms were reportedly not cleaned daily, unless requested and there were reports of dusty and worn-out rooms with dated furniture. Guests also note unpleasant odors, including mold, sewer and harsh smells in the lobby and hallways, which detracted from their experience. The presence of insects and bacteria, dirty utensils and insufficient maintenance are additional points of dissatisfaction. The need for comprehensive renovation and improved sanitation practices is evident from the feedback.
In summary, while Zara Continental Hotel has its merits in terms of clean and spacious rooms, numerous areas require attention to meet guests' cleanliness expectations fully.
Staff
However, some reviews indicate areas needing improvement. Issues such as slow service, uncooperative behavior and rude attitudes from certain staff members are occasionally reported. Some guests also note a lack of staff presence or engagement at times, leading to delays in service. Despite these criticisms, the overall impression is that the staff's positive attributes significantly enhance the guest experience, contributing to the hotel's welcoming atmosphere.
Wi-Fi
Gym
Parking
Moreover, the hotel's basement parking lacks elevator access, requiring guests to use stairs to reach the main floors. This inconvenience is particularly pronounced for those with heavy luggage or mobility issues. In addition, some reviews mention that the parking lot isn't well-maintained with reports of bird droppings and no bird deterrents in place.
While a few reviews mention that parking is available, it seems the majority find the situation less than ideal, notably for those with larger cars or who arrive late in the evening. Overall, guests seem to appreciate the hotel's other amenities but frequently highlight the parking situation as an area needing improvement.
Family
The hotel also offers complimentary breakfast options, occasionally provided as compensation for any inconveniences experienced during the stay. Its cleanliness and proximity to amenities and markets make it a practical choice for families, offering a safe place for children.
However, some guests have mentioned challenges such as a narrow entrance to the parking lot and issues with the air conditioning, which can be especially important for families with children. Noise from neighboring rooms with children has also been noted as a potential downside.
Overall, Zara Continental Hotel stands out as a family hotel, valuing family comfort and providing suitable accommodations and services to ensure a positive experience for all members.
4 Star
However, several guests have expressed disappointment with certain aspects of the hotel. Common critiques include average-quality breakfast offerings with limited variety and dated facilities in need of renovation. Specific incidents such as musty-smelling rooms and inadequate parking have further highlighted service inconsistencies more aligned with lower-rated hotels. The limited on-site parking capacity and complex access points have also been a point of contention.
Service quality has been another area of concern with several reviews indicating that it falls short of four-star expectations. Despite the charm and classic ambiance some guests appreciate, the overall consensus suggests that Zara Continental Hotel does not fully meet the standards typically associated with its claimed four-star rating.
Business
Accessible
However, the hotel does face significant accessibility challenges. There is no elevator access in the parking or for lower positions, requiring the use of stairs. Signage issues compound these difficulties with some signs being incorrect or non-existent. Noise from rooms overlooking the highway can also detract from the overall comfort. While some aspects of the hotel support disabled guests, others need considerable improvement to be truly accessible for all.
No, Zara Continental Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Zara Continental Hotel.
No, Zara Continental Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Zara Continental Hotel.
Yes, Zara Continental Hotel has a gym.
Location Show Map
More Options
