Ahiram Hotel Byblos

I spent 3 nights in this hotel during my summer holiday in Lebanon. It was a terrible and compounded version of what other travelers experienced. Upon arrival, no hair dryer in the room, no remote control for the air conditioning (set at 16 degrees C): one must ask them at the reception. Hotel needs some kind of renovation as it is pretty old. The only good thing: the location facing the sea, with a pebbly beach just outside the hotel and near the Byblos souk and archeological site. Important: the beach the hotel claims to own is actually a public beach, with some folks swimming and eating around all day long. Sleeping in this hotel is mission impossible. Why? First, the A/C kept making weird noises, turning off by itself, shaking and banging as if it was possessed. Second, the double windows on the balcony are of a very bad quality: impossible to sleep as the nearby seafood restaurant kept playing loud Arabic music until 1:30 am, while the public beach below was filled with wild people playing loud music right under my balcony until 3:00 am. Third, acoustic room insulation from corridor and other rooms is non-existent, as you can hear your neighbors talking and slamming doors nighttime as if they were inside your own room! The breakfast and the dinner? Typical Lebanese (abundant) buffet delivered directly at the table with no possibility of variation or choice. Despite the friendliness of the hotel team, I cannot recommend this hotel and would not stay there ever again.

Its not luxurious but its clean with an easygoing staff. We got a room with balcony towards the sea and that will always be a great memory. Its situated pretty close to the old souk, harbour and Crusader castle, within walking distance and the beach is just a stroll away.