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Where to Stay
Hotels of every price range can be found all over the city. The busiest season tends to be in the summer (July-September), when visitors from the Gulf States converge on the city. Other peak times are around the holidays of Christmas, New Year's and Easter. If you prefer a luxury hotel, it's best to book in advance during those times. It's also a good idea to inquire about special rates, such as weekend and convention rates. Below is a sampling of hotels; Expect costs to fall within these general guidelines, based on the standard rate for a single room: $ = £E 200-£E 425; $$ = £E 426-£E 600; and $$$ = more than £E 600.
AIRPORT AREA
Le Meridien Heliopolis-A French-inspired hotel, it's popular with visiting dignitaries and businessmen. Rooms are large and comfortable. Three restaurants, a pastry shop, a health club, business center and pool facilities. $$. 51 Al Arab St, Cairo. Phone 2-290-5055. Toll-free 800-543-4300. Fax 2-290-8533. Novotel Cairo-Minutes from the airport, this modest hotel is ideal for transit passengers. Poolside dining and entertainment, an Italian restaurant and a lively bar. Rooms are comfortable and quiet. $. Cairo Airport, PO Box 8, Airport Post Office, Cairo. Phone 2-291-8520. Toll-free 800-221-4542. Fax 2-291-4794.
Sheraton Heliopolis Hotel & Towers-Reopened in 1997, this hotel remains the ultimate in luxury and elegance. Rooms are well appointed with modern conveniences. Executive club rooms and lounge will please even the most discriminating business traveler. Several authentic restaurants to choose from (Chinese, American steak house, Italian and Lebanese). Two large pools and a modern health club and spa. $$. Uruba St, Cairo. Phone 2-267-7730. Toll-free 800-325-3535. Fax 2-267-7600.
Sonesta Hotel Cairo-Fifteen minutes from the airport and a half hour from the city center, this hotel has plenty to offer, its unimpressive exterior notwithstanding: a residential setting, beautiful lobby, tastefully designed rooms, French and Italian restaurants, a charming coffee shop and one of the newest, most luxurious health clubs in the city. The onsite pastry shop, Fauchon, has French chocolates and the best pastries. Conference facilities accommodate 800. $$. 4 El Tayaran St, Nasr City, Cairo. Phone 2-2628111. Toll-free 800-766-3782. Fax 2-2635731. CITY
Atlas Hotel-In the center of Mohandiseen's liveliest area, with everything right at the doorstep. Somewhat shabby, but rooms are large and comfortable-some with good views of the city. Small pool and sun deck, health club, restaurant and cozy bar. $. Mohamed Roushdy St, Opera Sq, Cairo. Phone 2-391-8311.
Conrad International Cairo-This five-star hotel, which opened in early 1999, has proved popular for business and leisure travelers. The stunning lobby was designed to resemble an oasis with huge palm trees. Heated Nile-view swimming pool, casino, large ballroom, 24-hour business center, five executive floors providing both living space and office/meeting spaces. Restaurant choices include Italian, seafood, barbecue and buffet. $$$. 1191 Corniche el nil, PO Box 2044, Cairo. Phone 2-580-8000. Toll-free 800-HILTONS. Fax 2-580-80-80.
Helnan Shepheard Hotel-Not as luxurious as other hotels, but it has a spacious lobby and rooms in a building with Old World charm. Balconies, health club, shopping arcade, business center. $$ with Nile view; $ without a Nile view. Corniche El Nil St, Garden City, Cairo. Phone 2-355-3800. Fax 2-355-7284.
Hilton Cairo Nile-This classic hotel, with its incomparable views of the Nile, is next to the Egyptian Museum. Restaurants-the outdoor cafe off the lobby is a good place to get a burger-casino, disco, tennis courts, health club, pool, summer cabaret and winter rooftop nightclub. Good meeting facilities. The ballroom seats 1,000. $$. Tahrir Square, Cairo. Phone 2-578-0444. Toll-free 800-HILTONS. Fax 2-578-0475.
Hilton Ramses-Towering over downtown, it's a favorite hotel for many. All rooms have balconies, some overlooking the Nile. Great restaurants, cafes, nightclub, casino, pool, health club and large shopping mall across the street. Friendly and efficient service. $$. 1115 Corniche El Nils St, Cairo. Phone 2-574-4400. Toll-free 800-HILTONS. Fax 2-575-7152.
Inter-Continental Hotel Semiramis-This hotel is a favorite with business travelers because of its excellent conference and banquet facilities (accommodating up to 800). Its business center offers a wide range of professional services. Rooms, while not luxurious, are well equipped; request an even-numbered one for a better view. Many good restaurants to choose from, as well as a tea garden, casino, large pool, health club and shopping arcade. $$$. Corniche el Nil, Cairo. Phone 2-795-7171. Toll-free 800-327-0200. Fax 2-796-3020.
Le Meridien Cairo-This hotel offers one of the best river views in town. A romantic balcony overlooking the Nile is the perfect place for late-afternoon drinks. Feluccas moor up next to the hotel and can be rented by the hour. French and Middle Eastern restaurants and a bakery on premises. A huge new wing is under construction; call before booking to make sure that noise won't be a problem. $$$. Corniche El Nile, Garden City, Cairo. Phone 2-362-1717. Toll-free 800-543-4300. Fax 2-362-1927.
Marriott Hotel & Casino-This hotel was built around what used to be the palace of Khedive Ismail. Possibly the most elaborate of Cairo's many spectacular hotels, the Marriott is surrounded by huge gardens and is decorated with historical murals, marble staircases and Oriental rugs. Excellent restaurants, including an outdoor Middle Eastern restaurant, an Italian dining room and an American steak house, complete with imported U.S. beef. The outdoor patio serves casual food and is a good place to relax and people-watch in the evening or smoke a shisha (water pipe with tobacco) late at night. A casual indoor deli/cafe and bakery, large outdoor pool in garden setting, health club, casino and extensive business and reception facilities. Less than 10 minutes from downtown by taxi. $$. PO Box 33 Zamalek, Cairo. Phone 2-735-8888. Toll-free 800-831-1000. Fax 2-735-6667.
President Hotel-A small, friendly, value-wise hotel located on a tree-lined street of villas and apartment houses. Rooftop restaurant, barbecue and bar. Downstairs is The Cellar, one of Cairo's most popular steak houses (with bar). $. 22 Taha Hussein St, Zamalek, Cairo. Phone 2-735-0718. Fax 2-735-1752.
Victoria Hotel-A central hotel with a lobby that takes you back in time. Peaceful, clean and comfortable: You'll find everything you need for a modest price. Definitely the best value in town. $. 66 Goumhoreya St, PO Box 2626, Cairo. Phone 2-589-2290. Fax 2-591-3008.
SUBURBAN The Mena House Oberoi Hotel & Casino-This elegant hotel is just a stone's throw from the pyramids and Sphinx, in Giza. This is where the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty was signed. Its guest list is long and prestigious. The decor is lush: fountains, chandeliers, lattice balconies, filigree and marble. Disco, casino, nightclub, tennis courts, pool, health club, golf course, huge conference room (1,500 capacity). Enjoy dinner at the excellent and elegant Moghul Room, which serves the best Indian food in Cairo (and perhaps in the Middle East) to the accompaniment of sublime, live Indian music. $$. Pyramids Rd, Cairo. Phone 2-383-3222. Toll-free 800-562-3764. Fax 2-383-7777.
Hotels
Hotels, for the most part, are the easiest for us to provide advise about, as we have specifically stayed in or toured budget hotels with this very article in mind. Most people who wish to visit Egypt independently on a tight budget will usually wish to stay near downtown. This is the area where the Egyptian Museum is located, and is close to Islamic Cairo and the Khan as well as Coptic, or old Cairo. It also probably has the best selection of budget hotels. From here, most people can make a day tour to most of the important Pharaonic sites such as Giza, Sakkara, Dahshur and Memphis.
All of the budget hotels we review below have air conditioning and telephones, the availability of televisions and private baths. Most have single occupancy pricing between $30 and $50 USD per night. Less expensive hotels may be found ranging as low as $2 to $5 USD per night, but will often lack even basic comforts such as private baths,and other guests are likely to be poorer Arabs rather then tourists. Prior to checking in to such hotels, it is highly advisable to make a tour of the facilities.
The Hotel Longchamps (see also review) has and continues to be one of our favorite budget hotels. It is located in Zamalek which is on an island in the Nile just across from downtown Cairo. At $36 USD per night for a single, the Hotel Longchamps can't be beat The area is nice, quiet and upscale. The hotel is bright, friendly and modern. The Hotel Longchamps, like many budget hotels in Cairo, occupies only the 5th and 6th floors of the building in which it is located. In the event that this hotel is full, below it is the Horus hotel, which also appears to be nice, though not on the same standards as the Longchamps.
Restaurant at the Horus House Hotel
In downtown Cairo, is the Victoria hotel, another good choice and probably our second favorite, though somewhat more costly then the Hotel Longchamps. It occupies an entire building and does have a lovely ground floor garden and reasonably priced Internet cafe.
Restaurant at the Horus House Hotel
In downtown Cairo, is the Victoria hotel, another good choice and probably our second favorite, though somewhat more costly then the Hotel Longchamps. It occupies an entire building and does have a lovely ground floor garden and reasonably priced Internet cafe.
many of the rooms. From huge roof restaurant, it also has an excellent view of Islamic Cairo in just about all directions.
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