Rawasi Hotel Apartments

Rawasi Hotel Apartments is built for travellers who prefer a room with somewhere to sit, eat and spread out rather than a bed surrounded by four walls. The apartment-style layout suits divers travelling as a pair, with family or in a larger group, particularly when a little domestic space matters more than hotel theatre.

Air conditioning, a seating area, dining space and free WiFi give you the basics for an easy return from the Red Sea. There is also an outdoor pool, a hammam, a hot tub and a fitness centre, so your evening can go in several directions without requiring a second expedition across Jeddah.

The property has been operating since 1992 and combines hotel services with the useful habits of an apartment stay: a refrigerator, kitchenware, microwave and, in the kitchen facilities, an oven, hob, dishwasher and washing machine. In plain terms, you can keep food cold, make a drink and deal with wet-day laundry without turning the room into a logistical exercise.

You will find the hotel in Jeddah’s Al Rawdah district, at Abdul Maqsud Khojah. This is an urban base rather than a beach hotel: North Corniche Beach is about 6 miles away by road, with a drive of roughly 10 minutes.

The location keeps everyday stops within reach. Grand Cafe is around 750 feet away, Bozar Coffee is about 1,250 feet away on foot, and several restaurants sit roughly 0.8 to 1.1 miles from the property. Red Sea Mall is about 6 miles away by road, while Stars Avenue Mall takes around 5 minutes by car.

For a cultural afternoon, the Al Tayebat City Museum for International Civilization and the Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum are each about 3 miles away by road. Jeddah Corniche is about 5 miles away by road, and King Fahad Fountain is around the same distance. King Abdulaziz International Airport is about 9 miles away by road, with a drive of roughly 13 minutes.

The main decision is how much room you want around the dive kit, the luggage and the people. The king studios are the straightforward choice for two, with a seating area, dining space and kitchen facilities rather than a bare sleeping room. Choose the garden-view version if the outlook matters; the city-view version keeps the brief more urban.

For families or dive groups, the Two-Bedroom Suite and Four-Bedroom Villa make more sense than trying to organise several small rooms. They give you separate sleeping areas and more room to sit together, with the villa offering four bathrooms for a larger party. There are no extra beds, so book around the stated sleeping arrangement rather than hoping to squeeze in another diver at the last minute.

Every room has air conditioning, a TV with satellite channels, a refrigerator, microwave, kitchenware and a private bathroom with shower. Some categories include a bath. The kitchen facilities also cover a coffee machine, kettle, toaster, oven, hob, dishwasher and washing machine, while daily housekeeping keeps the apartment side of the stay from becoming too domestic. A terrace and outdoor furniture are available, and the rooms include a wardrobe, linen, hairdryer, slippers and bathrobe.

The hotel gives you two named restaurants rather than one anonymous dining room. Romeo Mediterranean Cuisine serves lunch and dinner, while Soy Asian Cuisine covers the same two meals with an Asian menu. That gives you a choice of direction on the evening when you are hungry enough to eat properly but not interested in hunting down a restaurant across town.

Breakfast is continental or American. It can also be taken in your room, which is useful when an early start has made conversation an optional extra. A refrigerator, microwave, kitchenware and dining table mean you can also keep simple provisions to hand and make use of the apartment facilities.

There is a bar, a snack bar and a minibar, along with tea and coffee-making facilities. Room service is available, and fruit is part of the food and drink offering. The nearby Grand Cafe and Bozar Coffee give you alternatives close to the hotel when you want coffee outside the room rather than another carefully negotiated kettle.

The outdoor pool is the obvious place to cool down without planning an outing. There is also a children’s pool and a playground, which makes the property workable for families while you take the more adult route towards the spa or a quiet seat in the shared lounge.

Serene SPA includes a hammam, sauna, steam room, hot tub, relaxation area and spa facilities. Treatments include massage, body scrub, manicures, pedicures and beauty services, with haircuts, colouring, styling and hair treatments also available. After a day in warm water, the hammam or hot tub should require less persuasion than a sightseeing itinerary.

The fitness centre offers fitness classes, yoga classes and access to a personal trainer. For something less solemn, there is table tennis and aerobics, while live music or a performance is available as an additional activity. A terrace with outdoor furniture gives you another place to sit, and the shared lounge provides a softer landing when you have exhausted the useful part of the day.

Check-in starts from 15:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. The front desk is open around the clock, with concierge service, luggage storage and wake-up calls available. Free private parking is available on site without reservation, and an airport shuttle can be arranged as a paid service.

King Abdulaziz International Airport is about 9 miles away by road, normally around 13 minutes by car. Jeddah Central Station is about 9 miles away by road, with a drive of roughly 13 minutes. The hotel sits in an urban district, so a car or arranged transport will be useful for the beach, Corniche and dive centre.

Children of all ages are welcome, and a cot can be requested for a baby, subject to the selected accommodation. Children aged 13 and over are charged as adults. There is no minimum age for check-in, pets are not allowed, and payment is accepted by cash or ATM card. A refundable cash damage deposit is required on arrival and returned at check-out after the property has been inspected.

One practical caveat deserves a clear mention: renovation work is carried out daily, with the indoor garden and indoor corridor under renovation. Wheelchair-accessible facilities and toilets with grab rails are available. Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are also offered.