Cairo Hotels

Cairo has a number of five-star hotels scattered across the city, all of them quite affordable by international standards. If you are dreaming of a place with Old World charm or a distinctive Egyptian atmosphere, however, most of them will disappoint: they are in the characterless-modern vein. A few exceptions still have a turn-of-the-century air, and they are that much more precious for being so rare. The top end modern hotels do have their compensating virtues, above all that they are near either the Nile or the pyramids.

Finding a room is rarely difficult, but it is worth planning ahead because there is no set high season, rather a whole series of peaks and troughs. In general, August and September are crowded with Gulf Arab arrivals, December and January and Easter are peaks for Europeans, and the major Islamic holidays see a lot of local and regional guests. The government regulates prices, which means that off-season discounts are never officially available, but it is worth asking when you book.

Most hotels charge a slight premium for a Nile view, which, depending on your taste, is not always worth it. If you are in Cairo on business, ask where your meetings will be and choose a hotel by location: traffic can wreak havoc on travel times. And unless you're booked at the colonial-era Mena House, do not be duped into staying on Shara al-Haram (Pyramids Road)—the quality of its hotels does dishonor to its evocative name. Unless noted, all rooms have attached bathrooms.

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