Oberoi Mena House Hotel

The Mena House location is fabulous and I have enjoyed many lunches and dinners there, but I don't think I would choose to stay there for a visit because it is too far away from the city. If you are on a tour and that is where the tour is staying I guess it would be fine, but I wouldn't do it on my own.

While I was planning our visit to Cairo in January/08 I went back and forth as to whether to stay at Mena House or in the City. In the end we chose Mena House (and a pyramid view room) so we could be close to the pyramids.

It's a personal choice - I had wanted to see the pyramids for years, hence staying in the city was less important to me. Also, we realized that much of touring in and around Cairo involves transportation - so wherever you stay you'll be in a car for much of the touring day.

Here's a link to our blog - lots of pix of Mena House.......

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/liz_and_richards_2008_adv/b_cairo/

That is a good point Elizabeth - there really is nothing like looking out the windows of the Mena House and seeing the pyramids! Quite magical. And if you are only going to be in Cairo for a couple of days anyway, probably no big deal.

The one time we did stay there (after a big company Xmas party) I was actually quite disappointed in the room. To be honest, I don't have clear memories as I got quite sick that night (ate some seafood I didn't know was seafood), but I just remember being disappointed. Of course, maybe because we were "corporate" clients and not tourists....we might not have gotten the best rooms.

To me the Mena House is a compound. It is fine when you are inside, but walk outside for any reason and you are essentially in the Ghetto. The people that live out that way are frequently in the seedy end of the tourist business by running stables, papyrus "museums", carpet schools, etc etc etc. You walk outside the Mena House on your own and the population around there sees nothing but a walking wallet. That doesn't make it dangerous. Egypt is not dangerous in that way at all - chances of being rolled for your cash are slim to none, but you will be bothered and harrassed once you are outside the hotel gates and likely taken to someone's brothers wifes cousins Perfume Factory and sold oils at 10 times the cost you should pay.

The view is fantastic if you don't mind staying inside the hotel. There are maybe 4 restaurants maximum at that hotel too, so keep in mind that a variance of food choices will be very limited after the first 2 or 3 meals.

I would prefer to stay at the Cairo Mariott where you not only have a lot more hotel restaurants to choose from, but an array of good restaurants within easy walking distance.

We stayed at the Mena house for the first three nights of our tour because all of our touring for the first two days was at Giza, Dashur and Saqqara. When we got back from Luxor/Aswan we stayed at the Conrad because we were touring Cairo then. I very much liked walking out onto our balcony and seeing the pyramids.

Julie

I'm sure it's a great hotel, we didn't stay there. We had a perfectly nice hotel (Le Meridien Pyramids) -- I still would have preferred to have stayed in town rather than in Giza. To me, it's like staying in Versailles rather than in the center of Paris because the palace is in Versailles....I'd still rather stay in Paris and travel to Versailles rather than the other way around (and yes, I know the distance between Paris and Versailles is much greater than Cairo-Giza...it's just an example).

Debbie -- what's going on with the Grand Hyatt these days? The super-strict Muslim owner had just made it alcohol free and dumped out all of the bottles the week before we arrived in May 2008.

Anything changed with that? Is the Hard Rock still serving drinks?

Just curious.

Leslie

Yes, the HRC still has liquor and is operating as usual. The rumors I've heard is that the Grand Hyatt went back to serving drinks in the revolving (super expensive and over rated) restaurant on the top floor, and will bring alcohol to your room as room service. Word has it that he did this to keep from being knocked out of the 5* catagory which he needs to charge the prices he wants to charge... but that is talk. I don't know for 100% certain.

We just got back from Egypt and stayed at both the Mena House and the Cairo Marriot. If at all possible I would do both. There is nothing like seeing the Pyramids from your balcony (try room 442 for a perfect view)but the central location of the Marriot is much more convienent for most days. So I say - split your stay. I am in the process of writing up a longer trip report. Have fun!

Loved the hotel! It's a must do!

Debbie - thanks for the update. It was a very nice hotel other than the shock of not being able to get a cold beer when I wanted one!

Have noted Room # 442. After seeing Liz's & Richards pic's I know when we arrive in Cairo I want to stay at the Mena House. We will be a month in Egypt & Jordan. What would you rec'd as the last night to stay in Cairo before our flight home-Thanks in advance for answer. Chris

We stayed at the Mena House and just loved it! The pyramids at dawn and dusk are amazing. Now, the Cairo Museum is located close to the pyramids - they were downtown Cairo when we were there a few years ago. Also, we stayed downtown on our last couple of nights at the end of our trip and were able to do downtown Cairo activities. So, you might want to do both. Have a great trip! If you can, also do Abu Simbel.

Thanks-I plan to do it all. I have alloted a month for the whole trip-Nile Cruise-Abu Simbel-Luxor,Alexandria & Jordan. When we come back from Jordan I imagine we'll stay our last night in Cairo for flight home. No need to do anything extra after a month=Just want to be close enough to airport for flight out. Also a fairly nice place. Waiting for 2010 calendars to come out so I can get one with Egypt so I can drool at the pictures. Thanks all Chris

kywood1955 said: Now, the Cairo Museum is located close to the pyramids - they were downtown Cairo when we were there a few years ago.

Sorry kywood - but WRONG! You were no doubt told that the museum was going to move and would be open by this year. Right? Well, in true Egyptian style, they are still moving dirt around out at the new museum site. It's going to be some time before a door opens there.

I would say that's lucky - -I love the museum in Cairo. Hope I get back there before it moves. It's like a Victorian treasure room -- haphazard, humid, & fabulous. Of course some climate control will help things not to deteriorate but it's just a very cool museum to see before the new modern version replaces it.