Egypt’s hotel scene has undergone significant changes over the past two years since the last “Best Hotels of Egypt” list was published. As is very often the case in Egypt, changes in leadership, ownership, occupancy trends, budget priorities, staffing levels, and so on can drastically impact the quality of both product and service from year to year at Egypt’s major hotels.
As we’ve seen over the past two decades, major brand labels are never a guarantee of international standards here in Egypt. Major international chains that consistently rank among the highest in the industry globally are sometimes noticeably not up to par in Egypt, while some local one-of-a-kind properties far outperform their international counterparts.
Egypt is also a truly unique and diverse destination, and as such, its accommodations market has naturally evolved to cater to a diverse range of visit purposes. This obviously means that not all hotels are best suited for all types of travelers to Egypt. Hotels that are well positioned for diplomatic visits or business meetings are not necessarily ideally located for or well suited to cultural and historical tourism, just as properties that cater to partying beachgoers would not be ideal for destination weddings or local family staycations.
The tapestry of Egypt’s hotel scene has always been diverse, and that diversity and target market specialization continue to grow as the country enters a new era of development and change in 2024. The country’s capital is literally moving to a new city, and so too is one of its most famous tourist attractions – its largest museum. Metro lines are being extended into new areas of the greater Cairo region, and new stops are being added to existing lines to make certain popular areas, such as Zamalek, more accessible by public transit.
However, while another new metro stop opening in western Giza will be walking distance to the current entrance gate of the Giza Pyramids compound and the surrounding hotels, few outside of Egypt realize yet that this main entrance gate will soon be moved six kilometers away to a newly built area that can accommodate the significant increase in visitors that has strained traffic flow patterns at Egypt’s top tourist attraction for years.
This new category of changes to the literal landscape of Egypt naturally impacts the country’s hotels landscape. And with this new element added into the mix, on top of the new slate of properties that have opened over the past two years, all combined with the frequent fluctuations in hotel product and service quality resulting from the ever-present factors mentioned in the opening paragraph, it stands to reason that the 2024 “Best Hotels of Egypt” list diverges significantly from prior years’ rankings.
Finally, recall that the “Best Hotels of Egypt” list, originally created and launched by EgyptTravelBlog.com in 2019 and now managed and published by Middle East Travel & Tourism, is primarily concerned with the best hotel options for tourists visiting Egypt, which may differ along several variables from those best positioned and outfitted for business travel, diplomatic visits, or local market purposes.
For specific notes, remarks, insights, and critiques about each reviewed hotel throughout Egypt, be sure to read the full textual explanation for context regarding how Middle East Travel & Tourism decided on awarding diamonds and ranking properties during the 2023-24 cycle evaluation. For more information about our process or to contact the publication’s Editor-in-Chief, you can email John (at) MiddleEastTT (dot) com.
And with that, Middle East Travel & Tourism now proudly presents the newly released “Best Hotels of Egypt” rankings for 2024.
Five Diamond Properties
Five diamonds are awarded to a property for truly outstanding and exceptional quality, value, and service
The St. Regis Cairo – The only truly five-star hotel in Cairo by international standards, and the only property in the entire greater Cairo and Giza region to be awarded five diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism, this St. Regis is also one of the newest hotels in all of Egypt. It lives up to international five-start standards in every way, including it’s design and decor, the staff’s training and professionalism, the room interiors, and the food and beverage offerings at its diverse set of on-site restaurants. The only very slight critique we have of this property is that it’s main bar is quite small and tucked away in a far corner of the lobby, but this does not diminish the overall guest experience at this exquisite hotel property – the finest in Cairo by far.
Four Seasons Sharm el Sheikh – The only truly five-star resort in Sharm el Sheikh by international standards, and the only property on either the Red Sea or Mediterranean coast of Egypt to be awarded five diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism, this Four Seasons exudes seaside luxury. It perfectly balances a five-star elegance with a more relaxed beach resort ambiance. Its staff are well trained up to international five-star standards and its on-site dining options are among the best on the Red Sea. The only critique we have of this property is that it could use a better strategy to combat the pesky flying insects that come out at night, although guests can help keep their exposed ankles and lower legs bite-free by bringing a good bug repellant from their home country and not relying on one acquired locally.
Four Diamond Properties
Four diamonds are awarded to a property for excellent quality, value, and service
Four Seasons First Residence (Giza) – The only hotel in Giza to be awarded four diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism, this Four Seasons property exudes upscale elegance while simultaneously maintaining a boutique feel. Its marbled, columned, and mirrored corridors give a Versailles-esque vibe. The attached upscale shopping mall, enclosed poolside dining cabanas, and the fine dining options on its nearby stationary First Nile Boat pleasantly add to the property’s unique character. The property is a decent size overall, but it does seem noticeably smaller on the inside, probably due to the compact lobby and hallways. The only other critique we have about this property is that its location, while not a bad one, is nevertheless not easily walkable to anywhere that is frequented by tourists, although many locals admittedly do consider this area of Giza quite pleasant and desirable.
Remal al Rayan (Fayoum) – The glamping trend has finally arrived in Egypt with the opening of this unique desert oasis property, conveniently located less than four hours from downtown Cairo. Its modern natural design aesthetic and its success in creating and maintaining a luxurious rustic environment for guests so far away from an urban area led it to be awarded four diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism. Although a popular day trip destination for Egyptians of means, not only because of the scenic beauty of its natural surroundings but also the excellent quality of its spacious glass-enclosed restaurant, this property is also worth at least an overnight stay or two given the effort to get here. It previously had some permitting problems that resulted in foreign tourists not being able to stay overnight at this property for a period of time after it first opened, but those issues appear to have been successfully resolved and will hopefully not return.
Luxor Hilton – As the only full-service upscale resort in Luxor, the Luxor Hilton Resort and Spa is the only property on Luxor’s eastern bank to be awarded four diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism. The multiple large outdoor pools overlooking the Nile, multiple indoor and outdoor bars, and diverse on-site dining options, including a daily international buffet restaurant and a fine dining Asian-Indian fusion restaurant, make this an ideal home base for tourists visiting Luxor’s famous tombs and temples who also want to escape back to the familiar comforts of a Western-style retreat at the end of each day. The spa area, including its Nile-side infinity pool, is one of this property’s standout assets and it is free and open to all adult guests at the hotel whether or not you have a service or treatment booked. The main critique we have of this property remains its small rooms, dated room decor, and the lack of room size options between a small standard room and a suite.
Djorff Palace (Luxor) – One of the most exquisite locally flavored boutique hotels in Egypt, the architecture, authenticity, and attention to detail at this western bank property led it to be awarded four diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism. The Egyptian and British husband-and-wife couple who built this property also personally oversee its day-to-day operations and are a part of its unique charm. Each of its 18 rooms is differently named because each room is completely unique from the next, with hand-picked antique furnishings from around the Middle East. The on-site restaurant’s menu changes daily as the owner meets with the head chef each morning to custom create the day’s new menu before the chef heads out to the local market to shop for fresh ingredients. The staff are personally trained by the owners to a high standard of presentation and service quality, which is unmatched on Luxor’s western bank. This is not a hotel for guests who need full-service resort amenities, but rather for those who are looking to have a uniquely local experience for part of their stay in Egypt while still maintaining Western quality standards. Like most western bank hotels, the property cannot sell alcohol but guests are welcome to bring their own from the eastern bank and enjoy it with meals, by the pool, or anywhere they please.
Four Seasons Alexandria – As the newest and nicest hotel in Alexandria, this Four Seasons is the only property in Egypt’s second-largest city of Alexandria to be awarded four diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism. The aesthetic of powdery light pastels gives it both a breezy beach vibe and the feel of a fine luxury hotel at the same time. Rooms are spacious and posh, while dining options are extremely elegant if only slightly less diverse than its peer hotels. One of the best features of this property, its adjacent community of luxurious beach villas, are only open and bookable during the summer months. Our main critique of this property revolves around slip-ups in attention to detail and minor maintenance issues guests have had in their higher-end suites, which should not occur at a property of this caliber.
The Chedi El Gouna – The only hotel in the exclusive seaside resort town of El Gouna to be awarded four diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism, this new property has an exquisite muted elegance that exudes refined luxury. Although it feels like a boutique property at first, the grounds are spread out enough to give a beach resort vibe with sufficient privacy and tranquility. The multiple on-site restaurants are high quality, as are the gym and spa. For guests who need more, the downtown area of El Gouna is actually walkable from the resort’s main gate. Our main critique of this property is that some of the ground-level rooms and suites with garden views need some sort of privacy fencing installed, but this issue may have already been remedied by the time of publication.
Three Diamond Properties
Three diamonds are awarded to a property for good quality, value, and service
Le Meridien Cairo Airport – This property is an excellent option for anyone arriving late at night, leaving early in the morning, or transiting Cairo International Airport with an extended layover. While airport hotels are usually a little more basic, this one rises to a higher standard of quality, service, and offerings, including multiple dining options and a popular sports bar that stays open quite late. It is the only hotel that is actually inside of the airport security perimeter and it is even attached to the airport via an enclosed bridge that allows guests to go from the hotel to Terminal 3 in literally less than 10 seconds. Most areas of Terminal 2 can also be accessed from this hotel without going outside, since Terminal 3 is now connected to Terminal 2 post-immigration (for international flights only). The standard rooms are spacious and the suites are abnormally large for an airport hotel and especially well suited for business purposes such as hosting and entertaining colleagues. Our primary critique of this property is, given that it is also a popular spot for local upscale weddings, which are quite an enjoyable spectacle for visitors to witness, it can be a little loud at night for pool-facing rooms. However, this can easily be remedied by requesting an airport-view room instead.
Kempinski Nile (Cairo) – As one of the smaller properties in the Kempinski global portfolio, this hotel on the banks of the Nile in downtown Cairo exudes a boutique feel that evades other major hotel brands in the area. It also enjoys the benefit of having the best rooftop pool in the city with gorgeous views of Cairo from one side, and from the other the Nile and the city of Giza. It has decent restaurant offerings, including a nice jazz lounge that serves sushi on its top floor. However, this hotel has gone through some ups and downs in the nearly decade a half since its opening. Some years it manages to recover its shine and actually stands out among the nicer hotels in Cairo, while in others it tends to experience a period of decline as the attention to detail evaporates, service becomes more lax, and its value noticeably diminishes. Until these issues are sufficiently addressed by management yet again, Middle East Travel & Tourism could only award this property there diamonds this time around.
Four Seasons Nile Plaza (Cairo) – Another of the newer, purpose-built hotel properties in downtown Cairo, this Four Seasons is elegant and refined with an great variety of on-site dining options for both inside and outside guests to enjoy. It benefits from a good location within a 15-minute walking distance from Tahrir Square and right on the eastern bank of the Nile, offering sweeping views of the river at one of its widest points and across to the city of Giza. It also has a nice spa and an outdoor pool that is shielded from outside disturbances. Our critiques of this hotel include a more sterile and corporate ambiance in common areas, some recent issues with service standards, and some commercial additions within the hotel itself that cheapen its upscale brand aesthetic. Despite the fact that that this is one of Cairo’s nicer hotels architecturally and that it carries the Four Seasons brand, the balancing of its drawbacks and areas for improvement means that Middle East Travel & Tourism could only award this property three diamonds for this year.
Cairo Sheraton (Giza) – This property previously topped the “Best Hotels of Egypt” list in years past shortly after a major renovation of its south tower and the lower floors of its north tower, but as is often the case in Egypt it began slipping into a slow decline soon thereafter and, therefore, can only be awarded three diamonds now by Middle East Travel & Tourism. Keeping it afloat within this category are primarily its excellent on-site restaurants, including one of the absolute best Japanese restaurants in Egypt, Sapporo, and its lively nightlife venues such as Rawi. The rooms are fairly standard and decent and this hotel has one of the best executive lounges of any hotel in Egypt, but persistent difficulties in dealing with its sales team and various other issues repeatedly witnessed between guests and its frontline staff continue to plague the hotel. Renovation of the north tower has recently sped up, so we hope to see a renewed energy and attention to service quality in this hotel again soon.
Ben Ben by Dhara (Aswan) – As one of the very newest additions to Egypt’s hotel scene, we don’t have as much secret shopper feedback and proprietary review data to work with on this property, but the little we do have so far combined with its stunning unique architecture, refined character, and muted sophistication, all while staying true to its local roots and retaining a distinct local flavor, led it to be awarded three diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism in this property’s very first year appearing on the list. Its one restaurant has both outdoor and indoor dining in a picturesque setting, and its private island location offers guests the ultimate in peace, quiet, and remote tranquility. While guests should already know that being situated on an island near Philae Temple does mean that some transportation logistics are to be tolerated, it is nevertheless a fair critique of this property that those logistics could still be improved upon. We’ve also noted some service inconsistencies at this property, although it is possible that these are simply attributable to it being new and still going through some newcomer adjustments.
Sheraton Miramar El Gouna – With an abundance of flowery landscaping, unique Nubian-inspired architecture, and meandering turquoise lagoons, this hotel is a mirage of beautiful shapes and colors against the striking backdrop of deep blue water stretching from the horizon up to to the property’s private beaches. It has decent dining options on site, and it’s only a short cab or TukTuk ride to El Gouna’s downtown area or the marina. There’s also a dive center conveniently located right on the property. Although aged and a little rustic, Middle East Travel & Tourism nevertheless decided to once again award this property three diamonds. Our primary critiques of the property include the dated decor in most common areas (although it works a little better inside of the rooms) and the confusion created for travel and booking agents due to the fact that the direct reservations functions are co-managed by both the property itself and staff of the developer of the planned community within which it sits.
Steigenberger Cecil (Alexandria) – Among the storied historic hotels of Alexandria, this one is the best maintained with modest updates and renovations that preserve the property’s historic charm and ambiance, leading Middle East Travel & Tourism to award it three diamonds. Its central location, both in relation to the length of the city and being right on the corniche, is among the best in all of Alexandria, with several major historic sites within a reasonable walking distance. The large rooms, high ceilings, and tall windows, especially those with balconies on the sea-view and square-view sides, all give stays here a comfortable posh vibe, although it is still very much a historic boutique property overall. The original wrought iron twin elevators in the center of the hotel and the old-world feel of the hotel bar are two more of its best assets. Our main critique of this property is that the evening entertainment in the bar is often too loud for such a small enclosed space and often somewhat inelegant for such an otherwise elegant venue, but this can be easily remedied.
Two Diamond Properties
Two diamonds are awarded to a property for decent quality, value, and service
Marriott Mena House (Giza) – A nice hotel with the best views of the pyramids of Giza. Located on what is perhaps the best scenic real estate in the country, this property has currently been awarded two diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism. The views from its pool, gardens, restaurant, and pyramid-facing rooms are spectacular. The historic part of this hotel, the old royal hunting lodge, remains under extensive renovation, leaving only the late-1970 garden wing (renovated in 2008) available for guest stays until an undetermined future date. Rooms are on the smaller side but still respectable, and are decently furnished but not luxurious. Given that this is a popular venue for upscale local weddings, it can be a bit loud in the evenings and at night if there is a large wedding taking place in the garden, which will be audible in most rooms on the property.
The Nile Ritz-Carlton (Cairo) – A nice hotel with the best location in central Cairo. However, the minimal effort invested in improving this hotel’s overall aesthetic forces those who remember this property’s past life to still see it as too similar to the old Nile Hilton. Some new interior decor, fresh flowers, and slapping on the Ritz-Carlton label don’t justify the price point charged for what this property is and what it offers. It is not comparable to Ritz-Carlton properties in other countries. This hotel is more suitable for diplomats traveling on government expense accounts who value proximity to nearby institutions such as the adjacent Arab League. Therefore, at this time, Middle East Travel & Tourism is only able to award this property two diamonds.
Semiramis InterContinental (Cairo) – A decent hotel with excellent dining options on site, this property is tied for second place for the best location in central Cairo, which together led it to be awarded two diamonds from Middle East Travel & Tourism. The Thai restaurant within this hotel has been among the best in Egypt for over 20 years, and its French, Italian, and Lebanese restaurants are also of great quality. The rooms are on the smaller side and basic but decent, although the lobby and common areas tend to have a darker and more brooding ambiance. The small arcade of shops within this hotel does include one of the few downtown duty free stores, which is convenient for those who want to use their two-bottle duty free allowance to buy Western alcohol brands within 48 hours after arrival.
InterContinental Citystars (Nasr City) – Attached to one of the largest malls in Egypt and conveniently located about halfway between central Cairo and Cairo International Airport, this is mostly a hotel of convenience for short stays in Cairo where closer access to the eastern suburbs is required or for end-of-trip stays where closer access to downtown is required while maintaining reasonable proximity to the airport. One of the best restaurants in Egypt to see an authentic belly dancing show, Fayrouz, is located within this property, which combined with the vast array of retail and dining options in the connected shopping center led to this property being awarded two diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism. One of our main critiques of this property, however, is the persistent difficulties witnessed in guests’ dealings with the sales and reservations department, within which there is some room for improvement.
Sofitel El Gezira (Zamalek) – Located in one of the most unique spots at the southern tip of the island of Zamalek in the middle of the Nile in central Cairo, this hotel is only about a 15-20 minute walk to the center of downtown Cairo but its location completely insulates it from the hustle and bustle of the street traffic on both banks of the river. Instead, this property’s best feature is its ground-level Nile-side restaurant and cafe that looks south out over sweeping views of both downtown Cairo and the city of Giza as well as the Nile River at one of it’s widest points.
Cairo Marriott (Zamalek) – Situated in the middle of the island of Zamalek is this historic property that began its tenure as a mid-19th century palace, of which only one building remains which houses the public common areas of the hotel. Its central courtyard terrace and garden restaurant are popular places to enjoy a beverage or a meal, and the restored palace sitting rooms just inside from the terrace make a great place to read and enjoy an authentic old world ambiance, all leading it to be awarded two diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism. The main drawback of this hotel is that all of its guest rooms are in the two 1970s monstrosities that loom on either side over the only remaining original building, its gardens, and the island. The condition of the rooms and the level of service at this property can also be hit or miss.
Kempinski Maxim Palace (New Cairo) – The palatial exterior of this property make it stunning to look at on approach, but it is its proximity to Cairo International Airport (15 minutes by car from the hotel door to the terminal door) that is its most valuable feature for touristic purposes. And given that it does have an exceptional full-service spa on site and several upscale restaurants, this is the most attractive airport-adjacent hotel outside of the airport perimeter for end-of-trip stays. This hotel did have some construction and structural issues in years past, even as late as five years after it opened, which have hopefully been addressed and corrected.
Sofitel Winter Palace (Luxor) – Another of Egypt’s historic properties, this hotel is often misidentified, even by locals, as a former royal palace. Although it was never a true palace, it was one of the first European-style hotels in Upper Egypt built to accommodate the increasing number of international tourists who began flocking to Egypt in the late-19th and early 20th centuries. Primarily for its historical legacy and its great location in the center of downtown Luxor, this property has been awarded two diamonds by Middle East Travel & Tourism. Its colonial-era main building and decent gardens are more suited for a short drop-by, and having a social drink or two in the elegant bar can also be recommended. However, guests who book here are often surprised to find out when they get there that their rooms are not actually in the “Winter Palace” part but instead in the 1960s-looking “Pavilion” annex that was added at the back of the grounds in the 1990s, and those who do wind up in the front part endure rooms with character but also a lot of wear. This property is in need of a major overhaul to really do it justice.
Al Moudira (Luxor) – As a lesser known rustic property on Luxor’s western bank, this compound on the edge of the Western Desert nevertheless has attracted some famous names over the decades. Its remoteness is both a unique feature and a drawback, depending on what one is searching for. Guests can face some limitations in spontaneity during a stay, given the location and transportation challenges in that area. But a recent change in ownership and management may lead to some changes in quality, features, and offerings that make the tradeoffs worth it. For its uniqueness, legacy, and potential, Middle East Travel & Tourism has awarded this property two diamonds during this cycle.
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract (Aswan) – As one of the best preserved, renovated, and presented of Egypt’s historic hotels, it truly pains us at Middle East Travel & Tourism to only be able award this legendary property two diamonds this cycle. However, such persistent leadership, management, and staffing problems have rendered the experience of dealing with this hotel a complete disaster. Reservations can get lost, staff who make mistakes can be woefully unapologetic, and senior leaders could not be more indifferent to the back-office problems that plague its operation. This hotel clearly survives not on sound management, competence, and integrity, but rather on the historic allure that has attached itself to this hotel by no fault of its own and on a lack of alternatives elsewhere in Aswan. Middle East Travel & Tourism awards this property two diamonds as a courtesy to its legacy and for the glimmer of hope that it’s new majority owners and/or Accor, the parent company of its Sofitel brand, will step in and make some much-needed major reforms to allow this property to return to its full former glory and future potential.
Kempinski Soma Bay – By sheer virtue of its size, brand, and amenities, this property thus far remains the nicest mega-resort within the new Soma Bay development. It is suitable for couples, families, and even individuals or groups of singles who want to relax, but it also offers at least a hint of a chill vibe in the evenings as a light DJ or imported entertainers ring in the sunset on the beach – an element that could certainly be dialed up a bit to add more liveliness to the resort for those craving a little more energy. While this hotel started out strong when it opened and for the first few years after, Middle East Travel & Tourism is currently only able to award it two diamonds due to some relapses in operational quality witnessed over the past year. The potential is certainly there to bring this property back up to Kempinski standards, and we hope the necessary changes will be made by management to help this property return to and realize its full potential.
Hilton Alexandria Corniche – A solid property along Alexandria’s sprawling Mediterranean coastline, this hotel is a decent mid-range option for those who don’t need to be in the center of the city but who do want an ocean view. It has one of the few private beaches within the city, although this isn’t typically the part of Egypt’s Mediterranean coast that people in Egypt flock to for white sand and crystal clear water (that’s further west). However, this is still a very decent lodging option within the eastern part of Alexandria, leading Middle East Travel & Tourism to award it two stars.
One Diamond Properties
One diamond is awarded to a property for solid location and value
Steigenberger El Tahrir (Cairo) – Tied for second place for the best location in central Cairo, this property is a little compact but not bad for basic accommodations. When it first opened it started out very strong, but its service and product quality haven’t quite kept up over the years. If not for its location, it would be considered more of a budget hotel, but the pricing reflects its positioning right on Tahrir Square and across form the old Egyptian Museum. Since it is still a solid option, Middle East Travel & Tourism has awarded it one diamond this cycle.
Fairmont Nile City (Cairo) – As one of the largest hotels in downtown Cairo, this property is a solid upscale option in a convenient location, although not walkable to anywhere significant. The views of the Nile and out over the city of Giza are notable, as is its partially open terrace bar in the sky with the same stunning views and its elegant fine-dining Asian restaurant. Middle East Travel & Tourism has awarded this property one diamond.
Ramses Hilton (Cairo) – A recognizable downtown landmark to anyone familiar with the Cairo skyline, this property at the base of one of the city’s most important bridges and highway arteries looks more imposing from the outside that it does from its more compact interior. However, the price point of its rooms usually reflects its faded position on the Cairo hotel scene, thus making it a good value and a very decent choice for price-conscious tourists who still want to stay in a central location. For this, Middle East Travel & Tourism has awarded this property one diamond.
Novotel El Borg (Zamalek) – The most walkable and ideally located budget-friendly hotel in central Cairo, this property is no-frills but a very decent option for the price-conscious visitor. Sitting at the intersection of Tahrir, Zamalek, and the Giza neighborhood of Dokki, you can explore a lot of central Cairo on foot from this hotel, or you can stay put and view all three of these areas from its rooftop restaurant and lounge. As a result of these convenient features, Middle East Travel & Tourism has awarded it one diamond. However, guests should be forewarned that the main drawback of this hotel is that it made the switch to being a completely dry (i.e., alcohol-free) property a number of years ago, thus reducing its appeal for many foreign tourists.
Hilton Zamalek Residences – Often overlooked because of the word “residences” in its name, this property still very much is a hotel also. Tucked away in an embassy-laden northern corner of the island of Zamalek in the middle of the Nile, many trendy cafes, restaurants, and shops on the island are easily walkable from the premises. Its Japanese restaurant, Makino, is known for being quite good, and its outdoor pool overlooking the Nile enjoys the benefit, unlike many other Nile-view pools, of not having a busy corniche (Nile-side highway) in front of it on this part of the island. Despite its relative simplicity, these features are enough for Middle East Travel & Tourism to be able to award this property with one diamond.
Basma Hotel (Aswan) – A decent budget-friendly alternative in a town that has few other choices of decent hotels, the best feature of this hilltop property is the view it has out over the Nile and the town of Aswan below from nearly all angles. While it can be a little dark and is certainly a little worn, it is nevertheless usually priced accordingly and can offer a very good deal when prices are otherwise through the roof elsewhere in Aswan, especially during the high season. For its reasonableness and extraordinary views, Middle East Travel & Tourism has awarded this property one diamond.
Movenpick Aswan – This is a nice resort-style property that has seen better days. But for Aswan, it’s still one of the few decent options. It’s location on an island in the middle of the Nile can present some extra waiting time in getting to and from the property via one of its shuttle boats, but there’s also something to be said for the serenity one feels on the island while looking over at the center of Aswan and knowing that the hustle and bustle of town is far enough away to be seen and not heard. The public spaces can be a little brooding, but the outdoor areas are usually bright and sunny and the panoramic restaurant and bar in the old building’s tower gives the best views of Aswan’s eastern and western banks by far. For these reasons, Middle East Travel & Tourism is able to award one diamond to this property.
Cook’s Club El Gouna – A quaint and rustic but chic and centrally located hotel adjacent to the downtown area, this property can serve as an affordable home base for a visit to El Gouna. There’s one on-site restaurant but dozens more within a very short walk, and the poolside bar that’s open late makes a nice place to retreat back to after the liveliness of the other areas dies down. While it could use more consistent and substantial entertainment offerings, the newness of this property leads us to give it the benefit of the doubt for still getting its sea legs under itself, thereby allowing Middle East Travel & Tourism to award it one diamond in its first appearance on the list.
Honorable Mention
An honorable mention is awarded to a property for unique character and charm
Villa Belle Epoch (Maadi) – This quaint mansion in an older but upscale residential neighborhood south of downtown Cairo offers modern touches in a country house setting away from the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle around it.
Hathor House (Cairo) – A touch of classic modern elegance on one floor of a larger historic building in the heart of downtown Cairo, this new guest house showcases it’s creative owners’ love of all things Egypt and offers a cozy and comfortable getaway for guests within walking distance of downtown Cairo’s major sites and streets.
Marsam Hotel (Luxor) – A quaint and rustic guest house situated amid the western bank’s lush green fields, farms, and groves, this property is most beloved for its fantastic outdoor restaurant that’s luckily hidden from the view of the thousands of tourists who pass by it every day without even knowing it’s there.
Kato Dool Nubian House (Aswan) – Rustic, local, and removed from the main city of Aswan, this colorful property further up the Nile offers a unique traditional Nubian guest house experience like no other place can.
Seti Lake Resort (Abu Simbel) – The solitude, views out over Lake Nasser, and the chance it affords guests to visit the temples of Abu Simbel both before and after the daily crowds come and go by plane or bus to and from Aswan make this small lakeside resort a really unique experience.
