Latest Reviews for Cairo

A manic city - but an essential place to visit for the Museum and Pyramids alone.

Spent two nights here as the first part of our tour of Egypt. It was a superb start to a wonderful holiday. The staff were all marvelous - the location good (you can see the Pyramids from the terrace / pool area, and from the front of the hotel if you are not lucky enough to get a "room with a view" Food and bars expensive, but our rep recommended a local restaurant (Felfela ? spelling) which was only a short walk away which served great egyptian food and was cheap too (however the english food was very basic and not so good) Not too much hassle outside hotel - probably due to the local tourist police. All in all, a GREAT place to stay at if you want to see Cairo

If they did not have the Pyramids & Sphinx no one would go there. Sreets very dirty and locals want to rip you off all the time ( worst I have expierenced )

Situated 10 Metres away from a Mosque which start calling at 0430Hrs. each and every day for 7 days. Booked Half Board for an extra £75 each and received meals without choice and twice had to fit our meal time 2145 Hrs. round another party of 30 elderly travellers who by the way they performed at the buffet table had never seen food before. Hotel needs rooms painted and new sheets the right size bought for the beds and sound proofed so you do not hear the mosque. Pool is a joke and covered with a dirty mesh roof and never used ( seen nobody else use it) because it was also outside the restuarant windows ( 2Mtrs. ) Overall would class this hotel 2star and not 4 star

I travelled alone to Cairo April 2008, and had to be very streetwise and wary, despite my extensive experiences of other African countries. In particular beware of the taxi drivers who seem to be particularly unscrupulous. If shopping is your thing, you can til you drop and the prices are seriously cheap There are mosques in abundance to visit and churches also. If you want to experience the pyramids then I advise staying out at Giza - the Mena House Oberoi is severely impressive - then you can take your time. A trip for brave single women only!

I was grateful to find the Windsor, a welcoming oasis in the hustle and bustle of Cairo. The Barrel bar is spectacular, and remains virtually unchanged since the 96 year old Swiss owner purchased the property just after WWII. The rooms are small but very comfortably, the food is very palatable, the staff are absolutely charming and most speak some English/French/German.The ambience of the whole hotel is charming and speaks of a different, colonial Cairo. April 2008 a single room cost just $40 which includes continental breakfast - an absolute bargain, I would have paid twice the price.

This hotel is fantastic. Upgrade if you can to a Pyramid view. We were on 4th floor - great. Restaurants - great; fairly inexpensive whether you go A La Carte or buffet. Bars - great. Service - nothing is too much trouble. Pools - great; again nothing is too much trouble. Cairo/Giza are very dirty. We did Pyramids/Egyptian Museum under our own steam and had a great time. You do get taken to other places to 'buy things' - unfortunately we couldn't say no!! RECOMMENDED

Cabins
The cabins were very large for a ship, they had good big beds, plenty of closet space, table and chairs by the window, dresser, additional drawers in the closet, TV with video movies at fixed times, (although in a different language) a fridge, phone, individual air-conditioning controls, shower, and bidet (no bathtubs). Every cabin had a large picture window looking out over the Nile. The cabins were cleaned twice daily and were immaculate in every way. We very rarely saw the man who cleaned our cabin; service was discreet and quiet.
Reception
The reception area was large, with staff always available behind the counter. There was an electronic safe deposit box, (programme your own code) for each cabin, there was a notice board detailing the itinerary for each day.
There was a same-day and a 2-hour laundry service but we just rinsed out our clothes in our cabin.
There was a tiny shop next to the restaurant, which sold postcards, camera film, and the obligatory photograph of you in your gallabeyah on Egyptian night, jewellery, T-shirts, and gallabeyahs (the Egyptian robe). Prices were steep in the shop, and everything there could be purchased much more cheaply off of the boat. There were no toiletries available, such as sun block, toothpaste, shampoo, aspirin, etc. For these you had to go to a local pharmacy.

The Restaurant
Meals were in a single assigned seating at tables for 8. There was no dress code; people wore whatever they liked, including shorts and sandals at dinner. The waiters (all men) were playful, often taking away our plates before we were anywhere near finished, the staff were always correctly dressed, complete with bow ties and white gloves.
The food was, as usual on a boat, plentiful. I never had a complaint about the quality or cooking. There were 2 vegetarians on board and the cook made individual meals for them.
Breakfast was self-service except for coffee (very strong) and tea (also very strong); fresh fruit juices, hot croissants, other breads and rolls, butter/jam/honey, Danish, fresh fruit (bananas, dates, oranges, melon), fresh fruit salad, a bowl of delicious plain yogurt, hot things that changed daily (crepes, sausages, potatoes, etc.), eggs cooked to order by a chef at the central island, and the Egyptian breakfast (hot fava beans in sauce, which I thoroughly enjoyed).
Lunch, again, was self-service: at least 8 salads, breads and rolls, fruit, hot entrees much like those at dinner.
Dinner was composed of self-service starters and puddings, the entree brought to you. Beef figured as one option almost every night. We also had fish, liver, chicken, and turkey. Puddings were varied and delicious. There was always plenty of fresh fruit and an interesting variety of salads, including Egyptian type dips and bean salads. At first we thought the starters were the meal, due to their quantity and type (lasagne, a variety of other hot pastas, noodles with different toppings, sweet and sour vegetables, etc.). Every day there were a hot Oriental dish and a hot Italian dish. Watermelons and other fruits were carved into imaginative and complex shapes. The table linens changed to reflect the dinner theme.

A funny tale about the level of attention you could expect to receive. One free morning our lady traveller decided to for go breakfast in favour of a lie in. A decision, which is not recommended. Later that morning we all met up on the sun deck only us six again, the lady began to explain that when she left her room every staff member wanted to know why did she miss breakfast, was she alright, did she need medication. After we all had a laugh we settled down for some R and R. When up pops the materde from the Restaurant and approached our lady traveller, again asked why did she miss breakfast, was she all right did, she need medication. When she explained she just wanted a lie in, he said ";I will make you breakfast";, she declined his kind offer but he insisted. At the finish she gave in and requested some Danish buns and tea. ";No he said I have prepared breakfast for you";, with a click of his fingers 2 waiters appeared laden with trays of food. There was fruit salad, cereals with chilled milk, tea, coffee, yogurt and pastries, cheese and meats in other words a full selection of what was available for the continental breakfast, the small table was covered with food. The problem was once she had eaten what she could it was nearly time for lunch, so as to not have a repeat she came down to a light lunch, and never missed a meal again.

The Holiday itself
What can I say about the whole experience my wife and I being near our 50's. It was fantastic from stepping into the Luxor terminal to stepping back into Heathrow terminal.

We travelled with Libra Holidays on a 7day cruise from Luxor to Aswan and back, then an internal flight to Cairo for 3 days. At Luxor our rep met us inside the terminal he gathered the other guests a young couple with a 10-year-old daughter and a young woman traveller. He proceeded to ";fast track"; us though the normal delays and escorted us to our waiting air-conditioned mini bus and our luggage was taken care of. A mini bus was a big part of our holiday we always travelled by air-conditioned mini bus, escorted and what you must remember it is very difficult driving in Egypt. All our drivers were excellent. On returning home people asked ";did you not find it hot";. Yes it was 40Deg C in Aswan, but as an idea of the level of fitness, if you can walk onto and off a mini bus, you should be fine.

Once on the boat we met our guide for the weeks cruise. A nice man with a degree in Egyptology he looked after us the whole trip day and night. His guided tours were excellent, and as some say he knew his stuff. We all spent many an hour chatting either on the tour or up on the sun deck in the cool of the night. The tours started the very next day early to make most of the cool morning temperatures with a walk around the Karnack and Luxor Temples. I have always been interested in Egypt's history ever since some of the Tutankhamen treasures were exhibited in London. When I booked up for this trip I went crazy reading everything I could on Egypt even 3 Egyptian novels by Willber Smith. All this reading was not a patch on seeing it for yourself, the carvings and what remains of the original colours and the sheer size of some of the temples and blocks of stone they moved by hand. To give you some idea in 10days I took over 600 photographs and 2 hours of video.

After the tour we were back on the boat by lunch and sailing to our next destination. We moved up the Nile (heading south) like this each day stopping off twice to visit Temples at Ensa and Edfu until we reached Aswan here we stopped for 2 nights. Took in the included tours and elected to go to Abu Simbel, yes the temples have been moved from their original site but what a loss if they had not been cut from the cliff and moved. Two and a half hours there and two and a half hours back with an early start was well worth it. The included excursion to Philea Temple was a treasured moment, then to go back at night for the light show the best I have seen in Egypt.

After Aswan we sailed back down the Nile (north) quicker than we went up it, calling in at Kom Ombo to visit the two temples in one there. Our journey then continued to Luxor. At Luxor, again an early start to fit it all in a hot air balloon ride. (Should have been £130 per person, our deal was £135 per couple) Valley of the Kings, Hatshtput's Temple and the Valley of the Queens. Pay the extra to go into King Tutankhamen's Tomb its may not be the best for colour and carvings but it is very different, the only problem is you are not allowed to take photographs or video in any of the Valley's so you have no record and it is so much to take in. There are people trying to sell you photographs of the tombs but they are of very low quality and composition they do not do the sights you see justice.

At our time on the boat the news covered the attempted bombings of the trans American flights from England. We never felt unsafe or in any danger everyone we met was pleasant and very helpful, sometimes to helpful. Be aware when going around the sights that if someone shows you something or you take their picture even when they ask you, they expect to get tipped. If someone ";hassles"; you, you may need say ";la Shukran"; ";No thank you"; a few times or even just ";la"; ";No";. If it is to a child ";im she"; ";Go away";. Prior to my visit I was advised to take pencils to hand out to the children, these went down a treat. I later found out they were overjoyed to get anything, which had English writing on. As mentioned most of the shop keepers try and sell you a gallabeyahs (the Egyptian robe), what they do not seem to realise once we have bought one what do we do with it back home apart from the odd fancy dress. What I tended to look for were shirts I bought 2 very nice ones for 50 Egyptian pounds about £5.

We were all very sad when we had to leave the boat, after all it had been our oasis and with only a small amount of guests to look after we got to know the staff. So we said our goodbyes and headed off back to Luxor airport to fly to Cairo. Again all the reps, guides and drivers were excellent we were well looked after there was always a friendly atmosphere. We stayed at the SOFITEL LE SPHINX Hotel a little way outside the centre of Cairo but very nice, again good food and a nice pool. The one small down point with this Hotel is a high wall very nicely covered with plants surrounds the pool area. On the other side is the traffic, the traffic in Cairo is something else, and on a three-lane carriageway there are five lanes of traffic constantly. The noise of the car horns is off putting if you are trying to get 40 winks. In Cairo the drivers have developed a car horn code, a certain pattern for ";I am here";, ";Look out I am coming through"; and even a code for ";I love you";. The rooms on the other hand are very clean with big beds a lockable fridge and an Italian style bathroom, with air condition and important they are peaceful. We had a ground floor room and could walk out into the green and lush garden via our small patio area.

We did the pyramids, Sphinx, the light show and the tour of the Citadel and Cairo museum. Once again our guide had a degree in Egyptology and did a good job looking after us. The only place he could not go in was the light show, which I found to be disappointing. Inside we were ushered to the ";best seats"; I should have known better, these were the seats he could sell you luke warm drinks my wife and I ordered a well known lemonade and got a poor copy. The music and sound is very good, but the let down was the slides shown most of them were out of focus yet others were pin sharp. There was an effect that really stunned us, in the tale a procession takes the dead pharaoh up and into the pyramid. In the distance you could see a set of moving lights great effect I thought. Then the light became brighter and brighter then they turned to our direction and with full beam in our faces you realised it was a lorry. As the lorry came over the hill and got closer the driver must have realised he was in the light show so he switched off his lights. It was then we could see it was the refuse collector. If you ever visit the Pyramids and Sphinx and its time to eat, can I recommend a fried chicken or pizza fast food place opposite the exit from the Sphinx. They must have one of the best views, and sitting there in air-condition surrounds enjoying a ";western meal"; overlooking the Sphinx and pyramids.

In conclusion I would highly recommend this holiday, as a sight seeing holiday it has everything there is lots to see and do. I am often asked, ";Would I go back?"; Yes I would but in a larger group of friends it's a kind of holiday you need to share, but people need too see it.
It was the most ";driest"; holidays I have been on as alcohol is rare. The local beer was £2.30 for 0.5lts at 5% proof, known spirits ranged from £4-£5 per shot. Other expenses were the tips and our holiday welcome package included some guidelines. Also extra excursions available.

Tipping and Excursions
Whilst you are on board, your guide will ask if you prefer they handle any tipping during the various tours. Should you agree, the guide will collect £7 per person. This money (tipping kitty) will be used to tip coach drivers, doormen, local Egyptian reps etc.

If you feel you would like to tip more here are some guidelines,

Bars/Restaurants 10-15% of the Bill
Porters/Drivers 10 Egyptian Pounds per Person
Egyptologist Guides 20 Egyptien Pounds per Person per Tour.
Cairo reps 20 Egyptian Pounds per Person per Stay.
Housekeeping/Maid Service 20 Egyptian Pounds per Person per Stay.

A good tip regarding gratuities, is little and often.

Excursions offered,
On the cruise,
Philae Temple Light show £20 per person
Abu Simbel by Flight £135 per person
Abu Simbel over-land £70 per person
Karnak Temple Light show £16 per person
Camel Safari £12 per person
Hot Air Balloon £130 per person. (We were offered £135 per couple)

In Cairo,
Full Day Pyramids £33 per person
Cairo Museum, Citadel £28 per person
Giza Pyramids Sound and Light show £16.00 per person
Nile Dinner Cruise £30 per person
Overday Overland Alexandria £43 per person
Pharonic Village £15 per person

Payment was accepted by a number of ways but a 3% handling charge was added on all credit card transactions.

I hope this has been of some help, remember this is my opinion, and I apologise if I have not offended anyone.

Well what can we say what a fab hotel nothing to much trouble the setting was a dream if you are worried about security then dont as for the rest of egypt guards everywhere (although you do not feel threatened in the slightest)this hotel was our second stop as we had just done a nile cruise for seven days on viking premiere.What a dream would recommend it to any one could not fault any thing at all, after cairo we then went to hurgada for 4 nights at the hilton long beach resort all in all one hell of a holiday did not want to come home.Probably would not go back in august as it was very hot but it was superb

Le Meridien Pyramids is an excellent hotel ideally located for seeing the pyramids, which is probably the main reason for visiting Cairo. The hotel itself is clean (a must for me personally), with very friendly and polite staff who will go out of their way to help you. The rooms are a good size, clean and confortable (we had a view of the pyramids from our window). The hotel grounds are very well kept with an excellent pool and five decent restaurants. My only quibbles with the hotel were 1) When we checked in we were just given a random room, with twin rather than double beds - this was rapidly rectified). 2) Most rooms except those on the 4th floor are smoking, and if you don't specify, you will be given a smoking room, which can vary from no smell, to smelling of stale cigarettes. If like me you detest smoking, then you can ask to be moved to a different room.

The restaurants themselves are of very good quality, they have a 'Nubian Village' restaurant that do a very good menu as well as entertainment. The breakfasts are also of very good quality.

In Cairo the two things that are a must are the pyramids and the Egyptian museum. Both were organised through Kuoni with a kknowledgable English speaking guide, in fact getting a guide is a must.

If you have a spare day the hotel has a driver service and for £15 GBP you can hire a car plus driver for the day who will show you other sites around the city aswell as decent restaurants.

All in all, a very good hotel with which to explore a fascinating city and I cannot fault Kuoni for their organisation and help.

Although it is 5* this hotel is All about show!! It's location just yards from the pyramids in Giza is unrivalled as are the views from the pool and our pyramid view room - recommend if you stay. The poolside is nice enough but nothing special as are the rooms themselves.

However, the place has a lot of points that make the stay uncomfortable.
Firstly the air-con is useless! it was so warm in the rooms we had to open the balcony door for a hint of breeze, so forget about any sleep at night its too hot. Every one we spoke hadn't slept well all stay.
Secondly the corridors to your rooms were so stifling as no air-con in them we used to all but run to get out!!
Thirdly we got constantly interuppted by the hotel staff once we were in our room so that they could angle for a tip! All our friends found the same. Staff would knock to tell you the room was made - which we had noticed having been in it an hour! or to ask us if the balcony door needed opening! Any thing and I mean every thing you could think to get in the room for a tip! Our frind got his given back as it was not enough!!

Fourthly THE FOOD!!! yuk!! For a 5* hotel it was awful- so bland I swear it was out of a jar! It sounds good on papaer but is such a let down when it arrives. The hygiene is terrible also. We saw the waiter put our bread basket back on the trolley to be given out again to the next poor lot to sit down - and I had handled atleast two of the rolls BUT worse we saw a maitre'd shout at a waitress for leaving a cake uncovered so what did he do - pick it up with his bare hands and put it ithe cake trolley - bacteria growth central this hotel was and no air-con in the restaurants either especially The Greenery - do not go in!! it was so hot inside it was cooler to sit out despite being the middle of August. And the breakfast buffet sits thier for hours in that heat. The bread was so hard i couldn't snap it - so again no breakfast for 3 days and the same for our friends.

Finally all 6 of us were ill as soon as we got to the hotel!! Fine for a week cruise on the Nile but within a day all of were upset tum struck and Imodiums all round!!
I would never stay at the Mena House again as it is all show but loved Cairo.

The hotel was wonderful,meals where out of this world, but cairo itself is a bit of a dump.
We went on a few trips but got really fed up with all the begging and hard sell.
Don't bother going if you cannot say no!

We did a 3 centre holiday, Cairo, Luxor and Sharm. My reviews on Luxor and Sharm can be found under the relevant areas.

This place was magnificent. Our room overlooked the Pyramids. It was originally built as a Palace so the oppulance is trully wonderful.

The staff here were out of this world and they had a bed turning down service at night where the beds were turned down and they left little titbits like fruit or chocolate.

There are some great restaurants here but our favourite was the one near the pool. Ladies got fresh jasmin garlands and the service was second to none. Six of us ate 3 courses with beer (wine is very expensive and not very good) for less than £20 per head. Try it in England and see how much it costs you.

Two of us are going back next year for our wedding anniversary.