--- title: "Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh vs Novotel Riyadh Sahafa: which hotel is better?" description: "Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh or Novotel Riyadh Sahafa in Riyadh? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ascott-rafal-olaya-riyadh-riyadh-vs-novotel-riyadh-sahafa-riyadh/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-31 --- # Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh vs Novotel Riyadh Sahafa Both are in Riyadh, 240 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hotel · ★★★★ · Mugharrizat ## [Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ascott-rafal-olaya-riyadh-riyadh/) - **Guest rating:** 7.9 · Good - **Location score:** 2.6 - **Score by category:** 1 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1157683/agoda/?lang=en) Hotel · ★★★★ · Mugharrizat ## [Novotel Riyadh Sahafa](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/novotel-riyadh-sahafa-riyadh/) - **Guest rating:** 9.1 · Excellent - **Location score:** 2.5 - **Score by category:** 1 of 4 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1906635/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Too close to call Each hotel leads in 1 category. Your priorities decide. 240 m apart. ### Choose Novotel Riyadh Sahafa if you want - the more consistently praised stay (9.1 / 7.9) ### Why is Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh better than Novotel Riyadh Sahafa? 1. More guest reviews (303 vs 82), so the rating is more reliable (×3.7) 2. Has 24-hour room service 3. Earlier check-in (14:00 vs 15:00) (−1h) ### Why is Novotel Riyadh Sahafa better than Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh? 1. Higher guest rating (9.1 vs 7.9) (+1.2) 2. Offers an airport transfer 3. Has an on-site restaurant ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh | Novotel Riyadh Sahafa | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.9 | 9.1 (+1.2) | | Location | 2.6 | 2.5 | | Facilities | 7.5 | 7.5 | | Spa & wellness | 6.5 (+1.0) | 5.5 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.9 | 8.8 (+0.9) | | Guest rating | 7.9 | 9.1 (+1.2) | | Number of reviews | 303 (+221) | 82 | | Rank in Riyadh | bottom 40% | top 4% (+56%) | | Location | | Location score | 2.6 | 2.5 | | Distance to Mugharrizat centre | 3.0 km | 2.7 km (−240 m) | | To the airport | 18 km | 18 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 23 (+6) | 17 | | To the nearest food shop | 2.0 km | 1.9 km | | Shops within 500 m | 0 | 0 | | Sights within 1 km | 0 | 0 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | | Rooms | 234 | 232 | | Floors | 10 | 17 | | Newest building or renovation | 2022 | 2024 (+2y) | | Listed amenities | 22 (+2) | 20 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 (−1h) | 15:00 | | Check-out until | 12:00 | 12:00 | | Amenities | | Free parking | ✓ | ✓ | | Car hire | ✓ | – | | Concierge | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ | | Bar | ✓ | – | | 24-hour room service | ✓ | – | | Swimming pool | ✓ | ✓ | | Sauna | ✓ | ✓ | | Steam room | ✓ | ✓ | | Massage | ✓ | – | | Gym | ✓ | ✓ | | Terrace | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Balcony | ✓ | – | | In-room safe | ✓ | ✓ | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | ✓ | ✓ | | Free Wi-Fi | – | ✓ | | Airport transfer | – | ✓ | | Restaurant | – | ✓ | | Meeting rooms | – | ✓ | | Wheelchair accessible | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Business trips | – | ✓ | | Spa & relaxation | ✓ | – | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. ## Nightly price by month Ascott Rafal Olaya RiyadhNovotel Riyadh Sahafa - Novotel Riyadh Sahafa is cheaper in 11 of 12 months - Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh: €211 a night on average · Novotel Riyadh Sahafa: €182 a night on average Pick a month to check today's price for its cheapest date. [Hotel prices in Riyadh by month](https://stayversus.com/en/saudi-arabia/riyadh/prices/) Averages of real one-night prices for two adults on Agoda, a Tuesday and a Saturday in each month, last checked 21 October 2026. In euros; the final price is shown before you book. [Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ascott-rafal-olaya-riyadh-riyadh/prices/)[Novotel Riyadh Sahafa prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/novotel-riyadh-sahafa-riyadh/prices/) ## Location 240 m apart Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh: city centre: 6.4 km, King Khalid International Airport (RUH): 18 km, 23 places to eat within 500 m. Novotel Riyadh Sahafa: city centre: 6.2 km, King Khalid International Airport (RUH): 18 km, 17 places to eat within 500 m. ## Weather in Riyadh [Riyadh weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/saudi-arabia/riyadh-region/riyadh/weather) ## Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh or Novotel Riyadh Sahafa: common questions ### Which is better, Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh or Novotel Riyadh Sahafa? They are evenly matched. Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh is stronger in spa & wellness; Novotel Riyadh Sahafa is stronger in guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh or Novotel Riyadh Sahafa? Over the year Novotel Riyadh Sahafa costs about €182 a night on average against €211 at Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh, and it is cheaper in 11 of the 12 months we checked. Pick your dates above for today's prices. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Novotel Riyadh Sahafa is closer: 2.7 km from the centre, against 3.0 km for Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh. ### How far apart are Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh and Novotel Riyadh Sahafa? The two hotels are 240 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh vs Fairmont Ramla Riyadh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ascott-rafal-olaya-riyadh-riyadh-vs-fairmont-ramla-riyadh-riyadh/) - [Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh vs Swiss Flora Inn Hotel Riyadh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ascott-rafal-olaya-riyadh-riyadh-vs-swiss-flora-inn-hotel-riyadh-riyadh/) - [Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh vs Al Malqa Elite Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/al-malqa-elite-hotel-riyadh-vs-ascott-rafal-olaya-riyadh-riyadh/) - [Novotel Riyadh Sahafa vs Visit Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/novotel-riyadh-sahafa-riyadh-vs-visit-hotel-riyadh/) - [Novotel Riyadh Sahafa vs Al Malqa Elite Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/al-malqa-elite-hotel-riyadh-vs-novotel-riyadh-sahafa-riyadh/) - [Novotel Riyadh Sahafa vs Swiss Flora Inn Hotel Riyadh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/novotel-riyadh-sahafa-riyadh-vs-swiss-flora-inn-hotel-riyadh-riyadh/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ascott-rafal-olaya-riyadh-riyadh-vs-novotel-riyadh-sahafa-riyadh/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/