Egypt Hotels....

We are planning a 10 day trip next September to Egypt, probably 5 nights in Cairo and 5 in Sharm El Sheikh.

After a bit of investigation it looks like the Oberoi in Cairo and the Four Seasons in Sharm seem favourable.

Would anyone agree or disagree or have further recommendations?

Thanks.

We stayed at the Four Seasons Sharm this very week last year, it has to be one of the best hotels we've ever stayed in - if not the best. I'm sure you've read all the positive reviews on Tripadvisor, all I'd say is make sure you pay a bit extra for one of the seaview rooms, its well worth it. The only drawback was the cost of wine, unless you're happy with the local Egyptian stuff!

Cheers, James

Originally posted by Vegascrazy
We stayed at the Four Seasons Sharm this very week last year, it has to be one of the best hotels we've ever stayed in - if not the best. I'm sure you've read all the positive reviews on Tripadvisor, all I'd say is make sure you pay a bit extra for one of the seaview rooms, its well worth it. The only drawback was the cost of wine, unless you're happy with the local Egyptian stuff!

Cheers, James

Thanks James - the Tripadvisor reports seem very positive (all of them, unusual for that site!!), I think it is going to be on a par with Mauritian hospitality by the sounds of it, and that was the best ever. Good to hear it is one of the best you have stayed in - I think that has sealed it for us, and I will go for the Premier Sea View room, steering clear of the wine!

Thanks again.

I have stayed in the Mena House I regret my report would be of little help to you it was 30 years ago but for location I do not think you can get better Right by the Pyramids Sphinx etc.

[HighFlyer]

The Le Meredien in Cairo is probably the best hotel if you want to see the Pyramids from your room, as far as i know, its the closest and the only hotel that still has views overlooking them.

I love Egypt, very hospitable country (once you get used to it), though in Cairo there is some distance between the main Cairo town & Citadel and the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Be prepared for a fun journey out to them . The Egyptian Museum is well worth a visit, even if just for the death mask of Tutankhamen.

The Oberoi is a fantastic hotel, you wont go wrong there, or the Four Seasons at Cairo. For Sharm, it has to be on Naama Bay for me, i prefer the Hilton Fayrouz myself, but the Four Seasons is also pretty good.

Have a fantastic trip, i long to go back there myself!

Thanks,
Sarah

[Bazz]

We have also stayed at the Mena House Oberoi, it has wonderful views and is literally at the foot of the Great Pyramids. Have a look at their Photo gallery. If you Google Earth these co-ords: 29¡58'50.00"N 31¡ 7'59.00"E you will see the hotel just to the north of the Pyramids.

Thanks guys for all the advice and for taking the time to tell me a few things about the hotels. Still 9 months away, but getting excited already now!!

[Neil]

We stayed at the Four Seasons in Sharm and it was fab - agree with Sarah Naama Bay is excellent, one of the best hols I've had, prob because it was so unexpected, would love to return and see what it has become now as from what I hear Sharm is ever expanding.

Neil

Our friends stayed in Four Seaons at Sharm. They said it was very good, although the day after they left, the attack happened.

VS.

In Cairo I stayed in the Grand Hyatt, it over looks the Nile and the most amazing hotel! The lobby is lovely to enjoy a drink over looking the Nile. Hope you have a great time, I am sure you will.

[HighFlyer]

Neil. dont get me started on Sharm holidays!!

Have uploaded a few pictures from my last trip to Cairo here and here where you can see the view from my room.

I absolutely love Egypt and hope i can convince Richard to come back with me sometime. Friends of mine have been recently and said that it is starting to get the 'Costas' feel about it in that in a few years its charm will have been overtaken by package holiday makers. Still, it will always be a special place for me - and the diving is amazing!

Thanks,
Sarah

[Neil]

Sarah - I must admit I do worry that Sharm is going to lose its "special" feel, we went when it was almost unheard of over here (only 1 flight a week from Gatwick!) and there were so few "holiday makers" there, I think if I went back now it would almost be unrecognizable and not in a good way I imagine

Excellent pics btw[y]

Neil:)

[HighFlyer]

Neil, sadly i do agree and i think that will most certainly be the case in a few years. For me, Egypt, particularly Sharm is special for many reasons, the hospitable locals that never forget you and the hoards of marine fish that inhabit Naama Bay for starters, plus it was where i took my PADI exams, but the all round good weather, brilliant exchange rate, and (now) dozens of cheap charter flights out to the Red Sea are making the area a magnet for package holidays. I do not mean this in an elitist way at all, i just really hope that the hoards of British holiday makers and their behaviour that are now commonplace to many Spanish resorts do not descend apon this small fishing village.

Thanks,
Sarah

[Neil]

The locals were fab, they way the wanted you to barter with them even in the grocery shops made us laugh so much, we went to the "old town" one afternoon and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon seeing what Sharm was really like and spent hours talking with the locals(although the driver of the bus or should I say dilapidated van that took us there and back did scare us a bit when he started reversing up the dual carriage way!!).

We have talked about going back recently but I think it would spoil the fab image and memories we have.

Neil

[HighFlyer]

Lord bless the Egyptian road system. I asked my driver if it was normal to have four lines of traffic on a carriageway with three lanes? He assured me that the road could take five if everybody drove properly! (as i am sure you know, not all traffic is of the motor variety either!)

I loved the cries of 'luvvy jubbly' and 'hello geezer' from the locals, who had obviously received far too many imports of 'Only Fools and Horses' on their satellite TV. One actually asked me if i was 'going for a Ruby' My worst memory was having to converse in very bad Egyptian with the local Chemist, asking for Immodium. Turns out that the Egyptian tried and tested cure for bowel issues is actually Opiates

Neil, if you do go back, try the Savoy or the Marriott. They are within Ras Mohammed itself, situated right in the protected marine park, so at least during the day you should get that tranquil feel.

Thanks,
Sarah

I don't think this problem is exclusive to Sharm. My parents, for example, refuse to go to the caribbean now, fearing a replica of what I can only describe as "Costa syndrome." In some places that revolve around tourism this is not such a problem eg. Dubai, Cape Town/Durban but many of the world's previously "undiscovered" destinations have now been "discovered" - mostly by easyjet and IT charter operators, ruining their charm[n]

Having read this through, I now realise that it sounds very elitist, but I'm not sure how to get rid of that[:I]

VS.

[Neil]

Oppps, I lied (not intentionally though) we did not stay at the Four Seasons, we stayed at the Hilton Fayrouz when we went to Sharm[:I], it was still was fab (lots of Italians though!) and for us the best thing was its location, the walk from the hotel into Naama Bay along the promenade type thing, all lit up passing the locals smoking their stuff and selling anything and everything was a highlight for us, along with the Beer, Sakara Gold I think it was called, lethal at lunchtime though[}:)]

Neil

I stayed at the Cataract Pyramids Resort - its about a 5/10 minute drive from the Pyramids but you can watch the sun set over them from the terrace at the hotel. It's also got the biggest swimming pool in Egypt - it's huge!

It's been about 9 years since I went to Sharm, but I stayed at one of the Sonesta Resorts. I remember it was my birthday and after seeing the cards in the room, one of the cleaners left some flowers on my bed for me.