Egypt properties [Master Thread]
Apr 4, 2002, 2:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Egypt properties [Master Thread]
Hello friends,
I am thinking of spending a week vacation in Egypt (either Cairo or Luxor-Hurghada).
Which of the numerous Sheratons are recommended, which acknowledge Platinum status, which ones should be avoided?
Thank you for sharing your experience! :-)
I am thinking of spending a week vacation in Egypt (either Cairo or Luxor-Hurghada).
Which of the numerous Sheratons are recommended, which acknowledge Platinum status, which ones should be avoided?
Thank you for sharing your experience! :-)
Apr 4, 2002, 7:23 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Posts: 5,118
Expedient - I just returned from a business trip to Cairo two weeks ago. What a place!
I can't speak much to the other 3 or 4 other Sheraton hotels, but we stayed at the Sheraton Royal Gardens.
It was a very pleasant stay. The rooms were large, the lagoon pool and whirltub were attractive, and the service polite. It's a much smaller hotel than the others (use to be a private residence/mansion and was expanded) and I liked that feel!
If you're looking for somewhere quiet, away from the hubub of Cairo (and there is A LOT of hubub) with good proximity to the Pyramids, then I would definitely go with the Royal Gardens. It's a bit of a ways from the airport though... so you get a great tour of the city just driving there!
Enjoy the trip!
I can't speak much to the other 3 or 4 other Sheraton hotels, but we stayed at the Sheraton Royal Gardens.
It was a very pleasant stay. The rooms were large, the lagoon pool and whirltub were attractive, and the service polite. It's a much smaller hotel than the others (use to be a private residence/mansion and was expanded) and I liked that feel!
If you're looking for somewhere quiet, away from the hubub of Cairo (and there is A LOT of hubub) with good proximity to the Pyramids, then I would definitely go with the Royal Gardens. It's a bit of a ways from the airport though... so you get a great tour of the city just driving there!
Enjoy the trip!
Apr 5, 2002, 10:37 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: YVR
Posts: 9,999
For Cairo airport, you can't do better than the Sheraton Heliopolis. It's a ways from town, but it's a very nice full service hotel, and they treat their guests superbly. I got top notch service as an SPG Platinum, but so did several non-status once-a-year vacation family members I recommeded the place to.
As for Hurghada, when I was there in November 2000 the Sheraton had been closed down. I think they were building a new one though. But on non-hotel matters, unless you are into diving, there's not a lot to do in and around Hurghada. It's also kind of a dirty (as in industrial) town.
Luxor on the other hand has a lots to do. Karnak temple, river tours, the Valleys of the Queens and Kings, and so on. Locals there seem a lot more friendly and less aggressive than Cairo, and even other smaller communities such as the aforementioned Hurghada.
We stayed at the Sheraton Luxor for a week. While the rooms were nothing spectacular, they were certainly adequate. Otherwise, the amenities and service were excellent, and our stay there was the best part of a 3 week vacation in Egypt. According to most of the bunch travelling with me, the buffet breakfasts and dinners were the best part, followed closely be pool lounging. Highly recommened.
As for Hurghada, when I was there in November 2000 the Sheraton had been closed down. I think they were building a new one though. But on non-hotel matters, unless you are into diving, there's not a lot to do in and around Hurghada. It's also kind of a dirty (as in industrial) town.
Luxor on the other hand has a lots to do. Karnak temple, river tours, the Valleys of the Queens and Kings, and so on. Locals there seem a lot more friendly and less aggressive than Cairo, and even other smaller communities such as the aforementioned Hurghada.
We stayed at the Sheraton Luxor for a week. While the rooms were nothing spectacular, they were certainly adequate. Otherwise, the amenities and service were excellent, and our stay there was the best part of a 3 week vacation in Egypt. According to most of the bunch travelling with me, the buffet breakfasts and dinners were the best part, followed closely be pool lounging. Highly recommened.
Apr 5, 2002, 1:18 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Posts: 175
The new Sheraton Soma Bay Resort, about 40 miles south of Hurghada, is abolutely stunning. I have been to several places on the Red Sea, but the Sheraton Soma Bay has by far the best beach. You can do great snorkeling directly from the hotel. The personnel is extremely friendly; I cannot recommend this hotel higly enough!
Jan 10, 2003, 1:52 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 7
Sheraton Hotel Reviews in Cairo and Sharm (Egypt)
Just got back from a 15 day trip to Egypt and had an opportunity to stay @ Sheratons and Marriott. Here is opinion about the Sheratons there.
Cairo: Sheraton Towers El Gezirah. This hotel is on an island (Gezirah means island in Arabic) in the NIle, so all rooms have a Nile view. They recognized me as Platinum and offered me the upgrade to the lounge level. Had a great view of the pyramids from my room.The best part was I had to redeem only 2000 points per night. The hotel was a real bargain for 2000 points. Lounge level guests got free breakfast, it was an excellent breakfast. The hotel has some good restaurants, but they are on the pricier side.
Luxor: Stayed @ the Sheraton there. The hotel is on the east bank of the Nile, 2 miles south of the train station. The hotel is away from all the hotels in it's own corner, which is good. The hotel did not know what Platinum was, even though there was a SPG board at check-in. Got a very good Nile view room. 3000 points per night. No free breakfast and if you decide to go to the breakfast buffett, it is LE 43 (roughly US$ 9.70) - very steep. But I have to admit, the buffett was really extensive. The Indian restaurant in the hotel is very good and is medium priced.
Hurghada: Stayed at the Al-gouna (pronounced Al-Joona) Sheraton. 2000 points per night. Al-gouna is really far from Hurghada - 25 KM. This makes the taxi option to the hotel expensive and from the hotel to town even more so. Al-gouna is a gated community outside Hurghada (a somewhat miserable looking city), the hotel is on the beach in Al-gouna. The hotel complex is quite extensive with a very gawdy color scheme. The staff did not know what platinum was, but I got a beachfront room, which was pretty cool. They have W like furnishings in the rooms. There is another Sheraton in Hurghada called Soma Bay, but my research showed that Soma bay was even further Hurghada than Al-gouna, but in the opposite direction. Ordered room service, so no comment on the restaurants
Sharm El Sheikh: Stayed at the Sheraton Miramar. 2000 points per night. The hotel is way north of Na'ama bay which can be good, as it far from the Las Vegas style strip of Na'ama Bay, or bad as you have to take the taxi or shuttle to come to Na'ama Bay. They recognized me as platinum, but said the villas were taken up by paying people so none were available. All the regular hotel rooms are beach facing so that was good. The beach is filled with lots of East European tourists. The snorkelling just off the beach is some of the best I have seen. The hotel has a few restaurants, but they can be expensive.
That was my Egypt trip. I will be updating the Marriott experience on that forum. If you have any questions, I will be glad to answer them.
Thanks
Love Alaska Air.
Cairo: Sheraton Towers El Gezirah. This hotel is on an island (Gezirah means island in Arabic) in the NIle, so all rooms have a Nile view. They recognized me as Platinum and offered me the upgrade to the lounge level. Had a great view of the pyramids from my room.The best part was I had to redeem only 2000 points per night. The hotel was a real bargain for 2000 points. Lounge level guests got free breakfast, it was an excellent breakfast. The hotel has some good restaurants, but they are on the pricier side.
Luxor: Stayed @ the Sheraton there. The hotel is on the east bank of the Nile, 2 miles south of the train station. The hotel is away from all the hotels in it's own corner, which is good. The hotel did not know what Platinum was, even though there was a SPG board at check-in. Got a very good Nile view room. 3000 points per night. No free breakfast and if you decide to go to the breakfast buffett, it is LE 43 (roughly US$ 9.70) - very steep. But I have to admit, the buffett was really extensive. The Indian restaurant in the hotel is very good and is medium priced.
Hurghada: Stayed at the Al-gouna (pronounced Al-Joona) Sheraton. 2000 points per night. Al-gouna is really far from Hurghada - 25 KM. This makes the taxi option to the hotel expensive and from the hotel to town even more so. Al-gouna is a gated community outside Hurghada (a somewhat miserable looking city), the hotel is on the beach in Al-gouna. The hotel complex is quite extensive with a very gawdy color scheme. The staff did not know what platinum was, but I got a beachfront room, which was pretty cool. They have W like furnishings in the rooms. There is another Sheraton in Hurghada called Soma Bay, but my research showed that Soma bay was even further Hurghada than Al-gouna, but in the opposite direction. Ordered room service, so no comment on the restaurants
Sharm El Sheikh: Stayed at the Sheraton Miramar. 2000 points per night. The hotel is way north of Na'ama bay which can be good, as it far from the Las Vegas style strip of Na'ama Bay, or bad as you have to take the taxi or shuttle to come to Na'ama Bay. They recognized me as platinum, but said the villas were taken up by paying people so none were available. All the regular hotel rooms are beach facing so that was good. The beach is filled with lots of East European tourists. The snorkelling just off the beach is some of the best I have seen. The hotel has a few restaurants, but they can be expensive.
That was my Egypt trip. I will be updating the Marriott experience on that forum. If you have any questions, I will be glad to answer them.
Thanks
Love Alaska Air.
Sep 18, 2004, 2:24 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 3
Sheraton Hotel Reviews in Cairo and Sharm (Egypt)
Hi all,
Just got back from a two week holiday to Cairo and Sharm El Sheik. Loads of good fun. I didn't see many postings on the site before I left so took my chances with the Sheraton hotels and it all turned out well. Especially since the hotels are all category 1 due to the cheapness of Egypt.
Cairo:
If you want five star in Cairo you have to stay at the Four Seasons or Hyatt Grand. All other "5 star" hotels are four at best by European/American standards.
We stayed at the Sheraton Cairo - Hotel Towers and Casino. This hotel is dated, but has all the facilities of a five star hotel. 24 hour restaurant, bars, clubs, huge pool, exercise room, spa, etc. The rooms here are dated by fine, with big balconies overlooking the Nile and if you're high enough with views of the Giza pryamids. The pool and the exercise room are the best parts of this hotel. The exercise room has outside memberships, so it will give you anything you could want (10 treadmils, 5 stairmasters, all machines, etc). The pool is big with a swim up bar and is nice to relax in if you aren't out sightseeing. There is also a "Hotel within a Hotel" on the 17th floors and up.
Sharm El Sheik:
The only true five star options here are the Hyatt, Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton. All hotels/resorts here seem to cater exclusively to the Italian package holiday market. Only the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton seem to be exempt from this.
We stayed at the Sheraton Sharm. This hotel/resort is made up of two areas that are located about a five minute taxi ride North of Namaa Bay (the big name hotels located in Naama Bay are the Marriot and Hilton). We were expecting this hotel to be of a lower quality than the Cairo hotel, but were actually surprised. While not a true five star it's a very nice hotel. We were upgraded to a corner suite that was huge with three separate balconies that overlooked the red sea. There were fruit and sweets delivered to the room on a regular basis. The beach area and pool were also nice - the beach has lots of umbrella's that are spaced nicely to give you some peace and quiet on the beach. We talked to some people that went to the wedding and they had stayed at the Hyatt and said they were really packed in at the beach and pool.
Overall this hotel is definitely worth staying at, especially if it's on points as it's also a category one hotel.
Things we did that we liked in Sharm:
1) Dive Thistlegorm and Ras Mohammed. Don't waste your time with Tiran. We say amazing coral gardens, dolphins, wrecks, white tip sharks and loads more.
2) 4x4's in the desert. Really good fun.
3) Climb Mount Moses. Be careful - this is no easy climb and you stay up all night to see the sunrise, but it's worth it.
4) Dinner at the Thai restaurant in the Hyatt.
5) There is an Italian the was recommended in the Lonely Planet that is just off the main strip in Naama bay that is fantastic.
6) Smoke the flavored tabacco.
7) Chill on the beach and at the swim up bars.
Overall we were very happy with the Sheraton's in Egypt. They are not five star as claimed, but for the most part they are solid four stars. Def worth spending 2,000 points a night vs $190 and up to stay in the Hyatt or Four Seasons.
Just got back from a two week holiday to Cairo and Sharm El Sheik. Loads of good fun. I didn't see many postings on the site before I left so took my chances with the Sheraton hotels and it all turned out well. Especially since the hotels are all category 1 due to the cheapness of Egypt.
Cairo:
If you want five star in Cairo you have to stay at the Four Seasons or Hyatt Grand. All other "5 star" hotels are four at best by European/American standards.
We stayed at the Sheraton Cairo - Hotel Towers and Casino. This hotel is dated, but has all the facilities of a five star hotel. 24 hour restaurant, bars, clubs, huge pool, exercise room, spa, etc. The rooms here are dated by fine, with big balconies overlooking the Nile and if you're high enough with views of the Giza pryamids. The pool and the exercise room are the best parts of this hotel. The exercise room has outside memberships, so it will give you anything you could want (10 treadmils, 5 stairmasters, all machines, etc). The pool is big with a swim up bar and is nice to relax in if you aren't out sightseeing. There is also a "Hotel within a Hotel" on the 17th floors and up.
Sharm El Sheik:
The only true five star options here are the Hyatt, Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton. All hotels/resorts here seem to cater exclusively to the Italian package holiday market. Only the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton seem to be exempt from this.
We stayed at the Sheraton Sharm. This hotel/resort is made up of two areas that are located about a five minute taxi ride North of Namaa Bay (the big name hotels located in Naama Bay are the Marriot and Hilton). We were expecting this hotel to be of a lower quality than the Cairo hotel, but were actually surprised. While not a true five star it's a very nice hotel. We were upgraded to a corner suite that was huge with three separate balconies that overlooked the red sea. There were fruit and sweets delivered to the room on a regular basis. The beach area and pool were also nice - the beach has lots of umbrella's that are spaced nicely to give you some peace and quiet on the beach. We talked to some people that went to the wedding and they had stayed at the Hyatt and said they were really packed in at the beach and pool.
Overall this hotel is definitely worth staying at, especially if it's on points as it's also a category one hotel.
Things we did that we liked in Sharm:
1) Dive Thistlegorm and Ras Mohammed. Don't waste your time with Tiran. We say amazing coral gardens, dolphins, wrecks, white tip sharks and loads more.
2) 4x4's in the desert. Really good fun.
3) Climb Mount Moses. Be careful - this is no easy climb and you stay up all night to see the sunrise, but it's worth it.
4) Dinner at the Thai restaurant in the Hyatt.
5) There is an Italian the was recommended in the Lonely Planet that is just off the main strip in Naama bay that is fantastic.
6) Smoke the flavored tabacco.
7) Chill on the beach and at the swim up bars.
Overall we were very happy with the Sheraton's in Egypt. They are not five star as claimed, but for the most part they are solid four stars. Def worth spending 2,000 points a night vs $190 and up to stay in the Hyatt or Four Seasons.
Sep 18, 2004, 6:06 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 1999
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Originally Posted by mgh
Hi all,
Cairo:
If you want five star in Cairo you have to stay at the Four Seasons or Hyatt Grand. All other "5 star" hotels are four at best by European/American standards.
Cairo:
If you want five star in Cairo you have to stay at the Four Seasons or Hyatt Grand. All other "5 star" hotels are four at best by European/American standards.
By my standards, the Sheraton Heliopolis is definitely five star and a very good hotel indeed. It is located about half way from the airport to downtown, in a chique residential area. The downtown Sheratons seem to have once been five star quality, but are now very run down.
Sep 26, 2004, 9:44 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cambria, CA
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Posts: 185
Unless the Sheraton Heliopolis moved, it's not halfway to downtown measured in terms of time of travel, only about a sixth of the way. As I recall, it takes less than ten minutes to get to the SH while 45 minutes plus to downtown would be considered normal.
Apr 21, 2006, 10:49 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 16
Egypt properties
Does anyone have recent experience with the *wood properties in Egypt? I notice they have a handful in Cairo (Sheraton and Le Meridien brands), but was wondering what the pecking order is in terms of comfort and convinience.
EJ
EJ
May 21, 2006, 7:35 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Wondering this myself, Le Meridien Pyramids looks nice. How's elite recognition there? Plenty of past discussion on Cairo but not as much since LM became part of *W. Traveling on holiday probably 10 months away, so no hurry, but just musing over this...
May 21, 2006, 11:26 am
#12
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,603
I stayed at the Cairo Sheraton Towers a couple of times recently. The first time I got upgraded to a corner suite (nice!), the second time I got upgraded to a better room. Both rooms overlooked the Nile.
Cairo is a real eye opener if (like me) you've not been there before. From the chaos at the airport, the mad driving, to the sniffer dogs and airport style security screening at the hotel. I recommend getting the Meet & Assist service from the hotel, and booking a private car (costs $25), as this makes it a lot smoother.
I also booked a private car for 4 hours from the hotel. It cost 195 Egyptian dollars (about $30), and he took me wherever I needed to go.
The hotel itself was quite nice, with a number of restaurants (Japanese, Itailian and Thia - I think). There's also a small sports bar - probably the most grim place I've ever 'enjoyed' a drink
Cheers,
Rick
Cairo is a real eye opener if (like me) you've not been there before. From the chaos at the airport, the mad driving, to the sniffer dogs and airport style security screening at the hotel. I recommend getting the Meet & Assist service from the hotel, and booking a private car (costs $25), as this makes it a lot smoother.
I also booked a private car for 4 hours from the hotel. It cost 195 Egyptian dollars (about $30), and he took me wherever I needed to go.
The hotel itself was quite nice, with a number of restaurants (Japanese, Itailian and Thia - I think). There's also a small sports bar - probably the most grim place I've ever 'enjoyed' a drink
Cheers,
Rick
Feb 17, 2007, 4:57 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SFO/SEA
Programs: Amex Biz Cent, Marriott LTP, Avis PC, Hilton Owners Diamond, AS MVP
Posts: 3,380
Bump...
Any recent experiences with a *wood Cairo property? I am seeing great rates at Le Meredien Pyramids and Sheraton Cairo and Towers. I will be in Cairo for 7 days at the end of Dec. At that time, I will only be an SPG Gold, due to the loss of SPG Plat with Amex (but that's another story...). All information is appreciated
Any recent experiences with a *wood Cairo property? I am seeing great rates at Le Meredien Pyramids and Sheraton Cairo and Towers. I will be in Cairo for 7 days at the end of Dec. At that time, I will only be an SPG Gold, due to the loss of SPG Plat with Amex (but that's another story...). All information is appreciated
Feb 17, 2007, 11:41 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: LH SEN***, Bonvoy LT Titanium
Posts: 1,725
I will be going next month and will update you.
I stayed about 4 years ago at the Sheraton Towers and received an amzing upgrade. I had views of both sides of the Nile and many, many rooms in my suite. It was the biggest hotel suite I have ever been in. I thin kmy rate was US$85 including taxes!
I stayed about 4 years ago at the Sheraton Towers and received an amzing upgrade. I had views of both sides of the Nile and many, many rooms in my suite. It was the biggest hotel suite I have ever been in. I thin kmy rate was US$85 including taxes!