Shangri-La Jeddah

The Shangri-La Jeddah stands as a benchmark for luxury hospitality in Jeddah, earning a Michelin Key selection for its exceptional offerings and refined atmosphere. Guests consistently laud the hotel for delivering a true five-star experience, combining elegance, professionalism, and genuine care from arrival to departure.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for Shangri-La Jeddah is overwhelmingly positive, often described as "exceptional," "luxurious," and "fabulous." It is frequently referred to as a leading luxury hotel in the city, providing a memorable and well-executed stay for both leisure and business travelers.

2. Key Highlights

Guests are particularly enchanted by the hotel's spectacular Red Sea location, offering uninterrupted, dramatic views from numerous vantage points, including rooms and the pool area. The contemporary classic design, featuring solid marble, dark wood tones, and silver fixtures, imparts a sense of cool elegance and regal ambiance. Amenities such as the rooftop swimming pool, luxurious spa facilities (including ice fountains, sauna, steam room, and hot tub), and a well-equipped fitness center are consistently praised.

3. Room Quality

The hotel boasts 220 light-filled and elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, including 55 suites and 17 serviced apartments. All accommodations feature spacious private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows that invite the outdoors in, showcasing remarkable views of either the Red Sea or the Jeddah skyline. The interiors are inspired by the seaside, with an understated palette of creams, whites, light blues, and rich browns, complemented by handsome furniture, creating a sense of tranquility and balance. Guests frequently highlight the comfort of the perfectly firm mattresses draped in luxury linens. Bathrooms are spacious and adorned with polished marble, double vanities, separate walk-in rainfall showers, and indulgent Acqua di Parma bath products. Horizon Suites, for example, offer deep-soaking bathtubs, often large enough for two, allowing guests to enjoy the scenery directly from the tub.

4. Dining Experience

Shangri-La Jeddah has established itself as a culinary destination with several characteristic dining venues.

• Niyyali: This refined Lebanese restaurant has been recognized by the Michelin Guide, reflecting its quality, consistency, and overall dining experience. It is often cited as a standout restaurant in Jeddah's dining scene.
• The Waterfront Kitchen: Described as an all-day international dining venue with a vibrant ambiance, it features live cooking stations including shawarma, Mongolian grill, wood-fired pizza, mezzeh, and seafood. It also offers a stellar buffet breakfast with a selection of hot and cold dishes, freshly baked pastries, and cooked-to-order options. However, some guests have noted the breakfast to be expensive.
• COPA Lobby Lounge: This lounge provides a calming space with sky-high ceilings and glass accents, ideal for enjoying coffee and sweet treats.
• Shang Palace: The hotel's signature Chinese restaurant offers a journey through Sichuan, Yunnan, and Cantonese cuisines, complemented by fabulous mocktails.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Shangri-La Jeddah is consistently lauded as "warm, attentive, and highly professional," delivering a seamless and sincere level of hospitality. Guests frequently praise the staff for being extraordinarily friendly, collaborative, helpful, and going out of their way to assist. Specific mentions of front desk staff like Shaza, Toleen, and Ahmed highlight their exceptional customer service, warm welcome, personalized attention, and efficient communication.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts an enviable location right on the new Jeddah Waterfront, positioning guests perfectly for a wide range of attractions and activities. It's within walking distance of the Red Sea Mall (10-18 minutes away) and Atallah Happy Land Park. The Jeddah Corniche is easily accessible for strolls, and the hotel is also in front of the F1 circuit. Its proximity to King Abdulaziz International Airport (approximately 9.3 to 15 miles away) and the city's main business districts makes it an ideal choice for various types of travelers.

7. Value & Pricing

As a luxurious, Michelin Key Selected property, the Shangri-La Jeddah commands premium pricing, with rooms potentially starting from around US$427 per night. While many guests find the overall experience to be a luxurious and prestigious one, justifying the cost, some have noted that specific aspects, such as the buffet breakfast, can be expensive. Booking.com's "Value for money" rating for the property is 7.7 out of 10, indicating a generally good but not universally exceptional perceived value by guests.

8. Common Complaints

While reviews are largely positive, a few recurring issues and criticisms have been noted:

• Room Condition: Some guests reported subtle issues like scratched cabinets in rooms or coffee machines not working upon arrival, requiring replacement. One reviewer mentioned an uncomfortable bed made of two twin mattresses pushed together.
• Maintenance: There were comments about the need for renovation in room corridors, specifically regarding outdated rugs and occasional bad smells, suggesting maintenance could be improved in some areas.
• Dining Service: One guest felt that the restaurant might be outsourced, leading to a breakfast service not entirely up to the expected Shangri-La level of detail and attention. Additionally, the lobby café was reported as understaffed by one reviewer.
• Housekeeping: One traveler found the housekeeping service to be below expectations, requiring improvement.

Sources

1. luxurylink.com
2. almosafer.com
3. booking.com
4. booking.com
5. whatsonsaudiarabia.com
6. booking.com
7. hotels.com
8. shangri-la.com
9. wasalt.sa
10. sa-jeddah.info
11. curatorstravel.com
12. shangri-la.com
13. redro.menu
14. travelweekly.com
15. sa-hotels.com
16. expedia.com