In the list of hotels below, I have identified those at which I have stayed and those whose details have been given to me, but at which I have not stayed.
Generally I find that if I stay somewhere where the staff speak English getting around/making arrangements is much easier. Wherever you stay just make sure that you have the hotel card with you at all times, it will usually have the hotel address/directions on it in Farsi – so any taxi can take you back.
It may be worthwhile checking out the rooms/facilities before you actually sign-up and pay any deposits. Standards can vary from year to year and rates can vary depending on the season.
Mashhad
Mid-Price Hotels Recommended
Mashhad Attrak Hotel*
Beitolmoghaddas Sq
Tel: 0511 3647093-9, 3642044-5, 3642039
Fax: 0511 3647772
Email: Atrakhotel@yahoo.com
(2008) US$48, per person per night incl. breakfast and all taxes
I have now stayed in this hotel on three occasions and the experience every time has been good. The hotel is clean and the restaurants are nice and comfortable. I like the fact that it is not carpeted everywhere, much easier to keep clean. Also they do not overdo the curtains etc. There is also an internet connection.
The hotel is conveniently close to the harram.
Shaad Touss Apartments-Hotel
Shahid Astaneparast Market, First of Tabarsi St.
Tel: 00985112233114-17
Fax: 00985112230021
An excellent thought expensive hotel
Other Mid-Price Hotels
Atlas Hotel*
Beitolmoghaddas Sq
Tel: 00985118545061
Fax: 00985118543081
Email: manager@atlasgrandhotel.com
Website: www.atlasgrandhotel.com
This hotel is opposite the Attrak hotel and is similarly conveniently located for the Harram and for the Imam Reza (a.s.) bazaar, which is recommended for souvenirs. I stayed here in 2002 and did not really enjoy the experience. Things do change, however.
Budget Hotels Recommended
ASHRAUF SUITE & APARTMENT (OLD NAME BEHZIST) is good but if you can spend little more then REZWAN HOTEL is very good. Both are in same lane so can be checked at the same time.
These are nearest to the Roza as they are behind it.
BAZAR AASTANA PARAST (SEH RAH BAZARCHE HAJ AGHAJAN) MUQABIL
LABUNNIAAT RIZWAN (KHIABAN-E-TABARSI, BACK SIDE OF ROZA)
TEL: 0098 511 2233437-8, 0098 511 2228055,
FAX: 0098 511 2250064
MARIUM (LADY WORKER: MOB NO. 0098 9325103173)
REZWAN HOTEL
KHIABAN-E-SHIRAZI, BAZARCHE HAJ AGHAJAN,
NEAR BANK SADARAT, MASHHAD.
TEL: 0098 511 2217361-4, 0098 511 2216491, FAX: 0098 511 2233889
ZAIR SARAI SHAH-E-KHORASAN
IMAM REZA AVE. NEAR HOTEL TEHRAN,
FORUZAN STREET, BUILDING NO. 17,
MASHHAD- IRAN.
TEL: OO98 511 8542653, FAX: 0098 511 8545691
HOTEL APARTMENT AARAFA
KHIABAAN-E-TABARSI, FOROUZAN STREET, KOCHA-E-HOZ AMEER, MASHHAD.
TEL: 0098 511 2231446-8, FAX: 0098 511 2231445
HOTEL APARTMENT SAMENASSOROUR
KHIBAN-E-IMAM REZA, FOROUZAN STREET, KOCH-E- SHAHEED HUSAINI,
BLOCK 67, MASHHAD.
TEL: 0098 511 8542189, 0098 511 8517945, 0098 511 8524520
MOB: 0098 9153100696, 0098 9153136624
ALBADIEA HOTEL
NEXT TO HOTEL TEHRAN PARKING MASHHAD, IRAN
TEL: 0098 051- 47532, 0098 051 47533, FAX: 0098 051 95550
HUSAINIA & MEHMAN PAZEER SHAHEED ARIF HUSAINI PAKISTANI
TEL:0098 511 2255942, FAX: 0098 511 2252370
Email: hussainia-arif@alharamain-travels.com
www.alharamain-travels.com
MEHMAN PAZEER MUMTAZ GULISTAN-E-REZA
KHIABAN-E-IMAM REZA MUQABIL HOTEL MASHHAD
TEL: 0098 511 8542806, 0098 511 8548640
HOTEL APARTMENT TARANJ
KHIABAN-E-KHUSRAVI NAU, NEAR MOSQUE MULLA HAIDER, MASHHAD
TEL: 0098 511 2220963, 0098 511 2241275-6, FAX: 0098 511 2213096
I've been told about the following hotel from an associate who studies in Iran:
Azadi St (Nr. Musa Nadri)
Tel: 00985112250334-5
Fax: 00985112223309
Qom
Expensive Hotels Recommended
Qom International Hotel
Helal Ahmer St Motahary Sq
Tel: 982517719208
Fax: 982517719204
Email: info@hotelqom.com
US$80 per night, 2 people sharing, incl breakfast and all taxes etc.
(2008) same rate for one person alone.
In Qom I've stayed at the Qom International hotel. This is relatively expensive, you will be looking to pay £40 per night (incl breakfast), but it is clean and well maintained and the staff speak good English. There is also a good internet connection. The restaurant is also nice, though you can get food cheaper outside. This hotel is relatively close to the harram and you won’t have to cross any roads (the drivers are suicidal). There is a taxi rank behind the hotel.
Oppposite the front entrance of this hotel is a covered walkway, if you go over that and turn left you will see Khoja-Shia guest house on the other side of the street. This is far cheaper than the International Hotel.
Budget Hotels Recommended
This is a musafirkhana, it is much cheaper than standard hotels, but can be very basic.
ZAIR SARAI SHAH-E-KHORASAN
QUM-ARAK AVE; BETWEEN GHAFFARI JUNCTION & MOTAHHARISO
SQ. NO. 65-67, QUM-IRAN
TEL: 0098 251 6605745-46
I've been told about the following two hotels from an associate who studies in Iran:
Hotel al Zahra
200 Behar St
Tel: 00982517744004-7
Fax: 00982517744079
Enghelab, 9 Enghalab St
Tel: 00982517735299
Fax: 00982517731519
Shiraz
Mid-Price Hotels Recommended
Eram Hotel
Karimkhan Zand St. Anvari fork, Fars
Tel: +98711300814
Fax: +98711337201
This hotel is along the same road as the Arg Karimkhan Zand, the two are walking distance apart. The hotel is also not far, walking distance, from the two mosques I have mentioned in the photo albums. It is a short cab ride from Shah Cheragh.
The hotel is neat and clean and the restaurant is also good. Overall the hotel is ok, but looking tired in places. There is internet access and the reception staff are very helpful. They speak English. While I was there a party of Dutch school kids were visiting.
I had to go to the Homa hotel on one occasion in order to buy some airline tickets in the office next door. It was pretty clear that the Homa attracts the more moneyed elements of Iranian society. I don't think it would have been as convenient though.
Tehran
Mid-Price Hotels Recommended
Amir Hotel
325 Taleghani Avenue, between Iranshahr and Forshat
Tel: +988304066
Fax: +988824505
I stayed at this hotel in 2002 and it was fine. They charged US$50 per night per double bedroom then. It's not far from the old American Embassy.
Budget Hotels Recommended
This is a musafirkhana, it is much cheaper than standard hotels:
THE WELFARE INSTITUTE OF SAAMINUL AEEMMA, (A.S)
SHAH KHORASAN PILGRIM HOUSE
15TH KHORDAD AVE; ADALATKHAH STREET,
HAZEQI ALLEY BLOCK NO. 36-38, TEHRAN IRAN
TEL: 0098 21 5625541, 0098 21 5632916, FAX: 0098 21 3927120
Expensive Hotel NOT Recommended
I would not recommend the hotel we stayed at in 2007 (it's called the Mashhad hotel). It was over-priced and our rooms were not very nice (perhaps because we asked for ones sleeping 3+ people) – but other rooms were ok. It’s about US$70 per night (incl. very basic breakfast, literally just bread, tea and jam). It is in a nice part of Tehran, opposite the Greek embassy (lots of international businessmen at the hotel). Nearest station is Taleghani. This is also where the old US Embassy used to be, now a museum.