Sharing
Sharing tends to be done amongst friends or by families sub-letting one room. The Gulf Daily News lists rooms available on this basis.
Apartments
Apartments tend to offer the best value for money, but as would be expected, prices can still vary significantly. You can get a basic apartment for BD 100 a month or pay BD 1'700 to stay in the Sail Tower connected to the Ritz Carlton, and there is everything in between. Of course the facilities and amenities change as you go up the scale. At the top end you will have a swimming pool, squash court, gym, shaded parking and satelite television. Most newer apartments blocks are located in Juffair or Seef, while the older ones tend to be in the centre of Manaman. Many flats on offer in Exhibition Road have tiny rooms and no parking, and the whole area gets extremely crowded and rowdy in the evenings, particularly at the weekend, when tourists flock axross the Saudi causeway.
Villas
Villas are either individual or in a compound. There are many older compounds where you can get excellent value for money and a lot of character, if you are prepared to put up with seventies-style bathroom and kitchen suites. Almost every compound will have at least a swimming pool. The best have squash courts, a gym, a children's play area and even bowling alleys. Individual villas are often slightly cheaper than equivalent houses in compounds and may have a small pool at the most.
Serviced Apartments
Serviced apartments are getting more popular as their numbers grow. These are often but not always attached to hotels and offer a great alternative if you are not staying for long or want to be flexible. Rental periods can be anything from one day to one year. The rates vary according to the length of your stay. The facilities tend to be good and you should also have a regular cleaning service.
