Fairmont Makkah or Pullman Zamzam: which Clock Tower hotel?

Both stand in the Abraj Al Bait, the Clock Tower complex at the foot of the Haram, and both open onto the plaza facing King Abdulaziz Gate, so the differences are mostly in the rooms and the views.

At a glance

• Fairmont: five stars, inside the Clock Tower itself, about 3 minutes from King Abdulaziz Gate. Rooms of 42 m² with a king bed or twin beds, some of them looking onto the Haram.
• Pullman Zamzam: four stars, in the complex's Zamzam Tower (the King Abdulaziz Endowment), about 5 minutes from the same gate and joined to a shopping mall. Rooms of 37 m² with two, three or four single beds.

The walk

There's little in it: both open onto the same plaza, a couple of minutes apart. The lift matters more. Both towers are busy at prayer times and guests at both mention the wait, so leave early whichever you choose.

The rooms

The Fairmont's rooms are larger, with a king bed or two twins, and a triple room of 46 m². The Pullman's rooms are all one size, but with separate single beds for up to four, which suits friends, or parents with grown-up children who'd each rather have their own bed.

The view

Both have rooms looking onto the Haram, and some of the Fairmont's look onto the Kaaba itself. If the view matters, book the room that names it: a city-view room in either tower faces away from the mosque.

What guests say

• Fairmont: guests praise its place inside the Clock Tower and the rooms facing the Kaaba. Some find a few rooms dated, and service slow at the busiest times.
• Pullman Zamzam: guests like the easy way to the Haram and the mall below. Some mention housekeeping that needed reminding, and slow lifts.

Which one is for you?

The Fairmont suits couples, and anyone who wants the shortest walk and a room facing the Haram. The Pullman Zamzam suits families and groups who need separate beds, and longer stays in the same complex.

Compare the two hotels' rooms and tonight's prices side by side:

In the Clock Tower, the higher your floor, the longer the lift wait at prayer times. If that worries you, ask for a lower floor at check-in.