During my stay at the hotel Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, the rate was 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, while the room cost was over CAD 300 per night due to several conventions in town (and the Music Festival I was attending).

So I chose to use my Marriott Bonvoy points for this one-night stay.

Be aware that it is possible to get it at a lower rate in points (I have seen other dates starting at 15,000 points).

The Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter hotel is located in the western part of Riyadh, in the diplomatic quarter. It is located a few hundred meters from other upscale Marriott Bonvoy hotels, including The Ritz-Carlton – Riyadh.

After a stay at the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh, I arrived at the Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter. Complimentary parking is available in front of the hotel.

There is a computer corner, a café and the hotel’s restaurant on the reception level.

During this stay, the hotel was full: I was not upgraded and therefore got a standard King room, located on the floor of the indoor pool.

Nothing looks more like a Courtyard than another Courtyard, right down to the “yellowish” brightness.

Being located in the Diplomatic Quarter, the Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter adopts all the American standards of the Courtyard brand from a decade ago, right down to the shower tub.

Overall, this is a comfortable room, but the furniture is really showing its age here.

Breakfast at the Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter is served at the hotel’s first-floor restaurant.

The room is quite pleasant in the morning, with several table arrangements for 2 to 8 people.

Breakfast is served as a buffet. And it is possible to order eggs of any kind you wish.

Breakfast is not usually complimentary at Courtyard hotels for Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador Elite Status members. However, the hotel decided to offer me breakfast when I arrived, as they could not offer me a room upgrade.

You can also get it with some paid rates through the hotel’s website on Marriott Bonvoy at this address.

Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter features an indoor pool with a whirlpool.

The gym is small and adjacent to the pool.

Having arrived around 8 pm after a big day of sightseeing in Riyadh, I chose to have dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

Despite a wide selection of dishes, my choice fell on the 4 cheese pizza (after 1 week of middle eastern dishes).

Hum…

If you choose to dine in, don’t make the same mistake!

Here are some suggestions for activities in Riyadh and the surrounding area from our partner Viator:

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at over 8,000 hotels worldwide is to have the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card).

In addition to the exceptional welcome bonus of each of these two cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all your purchases and 5 points per dollar at any of the Marriott establishments. On top of that, every year, you’ll receive a free hotel night certificate (worth 35,000 points) and 15 Elite Night Credits toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.

It’s hard to be surprised by the Courtyard experience. If you’re looking for a hotel to spend the night without using a lot of Marriott Bonvoy points, the Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter hotel “gets the job done.”

However, if you are looking for a more upscale hotel, go for the JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh or Le Méridien Riyadh, where I also stayed.

Do not hesitate to read our other articles on this trip: