Land Premium 1 Hotel Makkah — Honest Review: Great Value Budget Stay with Free 24/7 Haram Shuttle

Based on our February 2023 stay | Tips for Makkah accommodation

Hotel prices in Makkah can be eye-watering — rooms near the Clock Tower and Masjid al-Haram easily run SAR 500–2,000+ per night. When we were planning our self-booked Umrah, we needed something affordable that wouldn’t compromise on access to the Haram. That’s how we found Land Premium 1 Hotel in the Al Taysir area — and its free 24/7 shuttle service to the Haram turned out to be the single best decision of our trip. Here’s our full review.

The booking at a glance

Location: the Al Taysir area

Land Premium 1 Hotel sits on Altaisir Street in the Jerwel neighbourhood, approximately 1.4 km from Masjid al-Haram. It’s in a developing commercial area with hotels, restaurants, shops, and local services. The hotel is also conveniently close to the SAPTCO bus station (Taiseer Jahrawat station is about 750 metres away) — which was perfect for us since we arrived by bus from Madinah.

Nearby landmarks:

• Masjid al-Haram: ~1.4 km (5-minute drive)
• Abraj Al-Bait (Clock Tower): ~1.6 km
• Safwah Tower: ~1.6 km
• Al Tobaishi Mosque: right beside the hotel
• SAPTCO bus station: ~750 metres

The neighbourhood has a good mix of restaurants (including Indian/Pakistani food), shawarma places, small supermarkets, and gift shops. It feels like a real working neighbourhood rather than a tourist zone, which we appreciated for its authentic feel and lower food prices compared to the Haram area.

The free shuttle — the game changer

This deserves its own section because it was genuinely the best feature of our entire Makkah stay.

How it works: Land Premium 1 runs a free shuttle service to and from Masjid al-Haram throughout the day — many guests describe it as running practically 24/7. You simply go to the hotel lobby, and the shuttle departs at regular intervals. The return shuttle picks up from a designated point near the Haram.

Why this matters so much: In our Madinah hotel (which didn’t offer a shuttle), we spent SAR 150–200 on taxis over 3 nights. In Makkah, with the free shuttle running for 4 nights, our transport cost to the Haram was zero. That’s a saving of SAR 200+ — nearly the cost of an extra night at the hotel.

Guest reviews consistently highlight this: Across multiple review platforms, the shuttle service is one of the most praised features. Guests describe it as frequent, reliable, and convenient — especially valuable during peak prayer times like Fajr and Isha.

The one caveat: During very peak hours (right after Isha prayer, for example), you might wait 15–20 minutes for the shuttle. Having the Careem or Uber app as a backup (SAR 15–20 per ride) is wise for those occasions.

The room

What we got:

A well-sized quadruple room (designed for up to 4 guests — we were 3, so we had plenty of space). The room was clean, modern, and came with more amenities than we expected at this price point.

Room features:

• Comfortable beds with pillowtop mattresses — noticeably better than typical budget hotel beds
• Air conditioning (essential in Makkah!)
• Electric kettle for tea and coffee — a small luxury that makes early mornings before Fajr so much better
• Flat-screen TV with satellite/cable channels
• Refrigerator and minibar
• Private bathroom with shower, free toiletries, and hairdryer
• Soundproofed walls — Makkah streets can be noisy, so this was a welcome surprise
• Free WiFi
• City views from our room — including glimpses of the Makkah skyline
• Complimentary bottled water

Overall impression: The room was clean, comfortable, and well-equipped. For SAR 88 per person per night, the quality-to-price ratio was excellent. It felt like a proper hotel room, not a budget compromise.

Hotel amenities

Land Premium 1 is a sizeable property with 891 rooms, which means it has the infrastructure and amenities of a much larger hotel:

• Free 24/7 shuttle to Masjid al-Haram (the standout feature)
• Free WiFi throughout the property
• Free parking on-site (no reservation needed)
• Restaurant on-site serving local cuisine
• 2 coffee shops/cafes in the hotel
• Room service (limited hours)
• Breakfast available daily from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM (for a fee — local cuisine options)
• 24-hour front desk
• Express check-in/check-out
• Luggage storage
• Shared lounge area
• Convenience store on-site (great for grabbing snacks and essentials without leaving the hotel)
• Airport shuttle (available for an extra charge)
• Accessibility features including grab rails and accessible facilities

What we liked

The shuttle service: Already covered above, but it truly cannot be overstated. A free, frequent shuttle to the Haram transforms a “budget hotel far from the mosque” into “affordable hotel with easy Haram access.” This single amenity makes Land Premium 1 one of the best value propositions in Makkah.

The value: SAR 88 per person per night for a clean room with pillowtop beds, electric kettle, fridge, free shuttle, free WiFi, and free parking. Hotels near the Clock Tower charge 5–10x this for a smaller room without parking. The math is overwhelming in this hotel’s favour.

Clean rooms: Multiple guest reviews highlight room cleanliness, and our experience matched. The room was spotless at check-in, and housekeeping maintained it well during our 4-night stay.

Cooperative staff: Guest reviews frequently praise the staff as friendly and cooperative. Our experience was positive — the front desk was helpful with directions, shuttle information, and accommodating our late arrival from the SAPTCO bus.

The electric kettle: I keep mentioning this across our hotel reviews because it genuinely matters during Umrah. Being able to make tea or coffee in your room at 4:00 AM before heading to Fajr prayer is a small comfort that makes a big difference. Our Madinah hotel didn’t have one — this hotel did, and we appreciated it every morning.

Proximity to the bus station: If you’re arriving from Madinah by SAPTCO bus (like we did), the hotel is only about 750 metres from the Taiseer bus station. We could have walked, but took a short taxi ride with our luggage for SAR 15.

Convenience store in the hotel: No need to go out for water, snacks, or basic supplies. The on-site convenience store had everything we needed, which was especially handy late at night.

What could be better

Breakfast not included in our rate: Our booking was room-only. The hotel does offer breakfast (local cuisine, 8:30–11:30 AM) but for an additional fee. Including breakfast in the base rate would make the value even better. If you’re booking, look for rates that include breakfast — the convenience is worth the small premium.

WiFi speed: Like many hotels in Makkah, the WiFi worked fine for messaging and basic browsing but wasn’t strong for video calls or streaming. A Saudi SIM card with data (SAR 50–100) is the reliable backup.

Shuttle wait during peak times: While the shuttle runs frequently, post-Isha and post-Jummah prayers can see higher demand. On one occasion we waited about 20 minutes for the return shuttle. Not a dealbreaker, but worth being aware of.

Our special request — and how the hotel handled it

We booked a non-refundable rate (the cheapest option) and were arriving by SAPTCO bus from Madinah. Since the bus was scheduled to arrive around 5:00 PM but could be delayed, we added a special request through Booking.com: “Arriving by bus from Madinah — may arrive after standard check-in time. Please hold our reservation.”

The hotel acknowledged the request and held our room without any issues. We arrived around 6:00 PM and check-in was smooth. If you’re arriving by bus or have any timing uncertainty, always communicate with the hotel through the booking platform — they’re generally accommodating when you give them advance notice.

Would I stay here again?

Absolutely yes. Land Premium 1 Hotel was the stronger hotel choice of our trip. The combination of an affordable rate, free 24/7 Haram shuttle, clean rooms, and good amenities made it excellent value. Unlike some budget hotels where you feel like you’re sacrificing comfort for savings, this hotel delivered genuine comfort at a budget price.

For our next Umrah, InshAllah, I’d either return here or look for a similar setup: a Zone B hotel in Al Taysir or Aziziyah with a reliable free shuttle service. It’s the sweet spot between affordability and convenience.

Tips for booking your Makkah hotel

Understand Makkah’s hotel zones:

Zone A — Clock Tower / Haram adjacent (0–500m): SAR 500–2,000+ per person per night. Premium hotels like Fairmont, Hilton, Swissotel, and Jabal Omar properties. Walking distance to the Haram. Best for short stays, elderly travelers, and Ramadan.

Zone B — Shuttle distance (1–4 km): SAR 80–300 per person per night. Areas like Al Taysir, Aziziyah, and Kudai. Many hotels offer free shuttle service. Land Premium 1 falls in this zone. Best value for most travelers.

Zone C — Further out (4–8 km): SAR 50–100 per person per night. Significant savings but you’ll rely entirely on taxis. Best for ultra-budget solo travelers.

The golden rule for Makkah hotels:

Don’t just compare room rates. Ask three questions before booking: Is a free shuttle to the Haram included? Is breakfast included? Is the booking refundable or flexible?

A SAR 100/night hotel without shuttle can cost more in real terms than a SAR 150/night hotel that includes free shuttle and breakfast, once you add daily taxi fares and meal costs.

Booking platforms to compare:

We used Booking.com and had a smooth experience — instant confirmation, clear pricing with taxes, and the ability to message the hotel directly. Also check Agoda (sometimes has lower prices for the same property) and the Nusuk portal (official platform but smaller selection). For the widest choice and best price comparison, check all three.

When to book:

Regular Umrah season: 1–2 months ahead gives good rates and selection. Ramadan: book 3–6 months ahead — prices double or triple and rooms sell out. Last-minute: you’ll pay more, but deals exist in Zone B and C for flexible travelers.

Hotel details for booking

Hotel: Land Premium 1 Hotel (فندق الارض المتميزة) Also known as: Al Ard Al Mutamayeza Hotel Makkah, 1 Land Premium Hotel Address: Jerwel, Altaisir Street, beside Al Tobaishi Mosque, Makkah 21482, Saudi Arabia Phone: +966 555 478 554 Website: landpremiumhotel.com Rooms: 891 Stars: 3-star

Final thoughts

Land Premium 1 Hotel proved that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a comfortable, well-connected Umrah base in Makkah. At SAR 88 per person per night with a free 24/7 shuttle to the Haram, clean rooms, pillowtop beds, and an on-site restaurant, it’s one of the best budget options in the holy city.

The biggest lesson from our Makkah stay: always prioritise Haram access when choosing a hotel. The shuttle service at Land Premium 1 completely eliminated the distance disadvantage and made our Umrah experience smooth and stress-free. A cheap hotel without transport to the Haram isn’t actually cheap once you add daily taxis. A moderately priced hotel with a free shuttle is almost always the better deal.

Your hotel is your base. The Haram is your destination. Choose the hotel that makes reaching the Haram effortless — and Land Premium 1 does exactly that.

May Allah grant you the best stay in His holy city and accept your Umrah. Ameen.

Related articles:

• → How I Self-Booked Umrah for My Family — Complete Guide
• → SAPTCO Bus from Madinah to Makkah — Complete Guide
• → How to Get an Umrah Visa — India & USA Guide
• → Hotel Review: Budget Stay in Madinah

Disclaimer: This review is based on our personal stay in February 2023, supplemented with publicly available guest reviews from Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Kayak, and other platforms. Hotel conditions, prices, and services may have changed. Always check current reviews and prices before booking. Some links may be affiliate links (see our Disclaimer for details).