cherrick

A long term posting to Riyadh looks likely. I hate the sanitized, could-be-anywhere hotels. Any ideas for small, historic lodging in the old city, close to the tourist souq, Masmak Fortress?

Corp Executive Deira?
Short term apartments?

Is it easy to engage a good taxi driver to call on for the duration?

Millhouse

hahahahahahahahahahahaha

sorry.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahah


old historic lodging == shit in this part of the world.

Alexa

What Millhouse said.
Get a flat on a decent compound. Otherwise forget fun and games.
Ah wait...your company is not offering that?
Then forget it.
You'll be stuck in a serviced flat somewhere. Work, eat sleep..repeat.

Seriously, don't you people do research on the places you go to???
KSA can be good if you are on a Western compound. Otherwise, not so much.

OleJanx

Historic in Saudi also means 'Built in the late seventies' too.

nonthaburi

Your budget will define where you end up.
2 bedroom flat off-compound 20-30k
3 bedroom villa off-compound 60k ish
1 bedroom flat on-compound 70-90+
Keep going up and up for more rooms and space.

Off-compound is okay if you have the option to go on compounds at weekends for parties etc. Compounds are a good way to meet people initially. Get a place near to where your work is. Where you suggest near by Musmak there is a lot of traffic which could be a pain.

scot47

Riyadh has no historic buildings as other posters have remarked. the place was a village until the 1970s. Jeddah has a few older buildings but "old" there means 150 years old.

Saudis like "modern" - preferably flashy, vulgar and in the style of Walt Disney.

cherrick

OK, all points taken. The team on the short term project stays at the Four Points Sheraton, so I guess that's where I will end up.

nonthaburi

Well that's a good location and close to where you wanted to be anyway.

themajor

Yup you will be watched there. How about Arabian Homes Compund.

cherrick

Are there hotels in this compound?

cherrick

I see that the compounds are basically apartments, homes etc so not appropriate for a short-term (2-3 mo) engagement.

Can you please elaborate on you will be watched there, please? What am I getting into?

Alexa

Almost all the better compounds have apartments/serviced studios for short term stay.
I know for sure Eid compound does and Kingdom does. Availability is, of course, another matter.

themajor

Sorry .. Do not panic. All is OK. The Sheraton is a popular Ex pat location and so all phones are monitored and you are watched as a security issue. Standard practice. The apartments in the componds are also for short term let. Get some of your friends to check them out.

You will be fine.