Egypt---where to stay; Cairo or Giza
 

We are stopping in Cairo for 4 days enroute to Kenya. Should we stay in Cairo or Giza. I've heard downtown Cairo is noisy but has more to do and also heard that Zamelak is a good alternative. Giza however sounds nice and quieter and closer to the pyramids.

Since we want to see Giza pyramids, Saqqara and Dashur closer to Giza and the Egyptian museum, Nile felucca ride and Islamic Cairo closer to downtown, we can't decide which place to stay. Either way we travel a bit for some of the sites.

We are a Canadian family of 5 and since it is August we would really like a pool to cool off mid-day. We are also really trying to keep our expenses down so don't want anything super high end. We aren't really into the night life bar scene at all anyway so would Giza be better?

When we visited we stayed on the Giza side as like you we had scheduled Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, Sakkara, etc. which was easy to get to. Next day we visited the other side of river to the Museum, Old Cairo, Khan el Khalili bazaar, then back to hotel so we could get to the opera at the Pyramids. We had a guide* (pre-planed) with vehicle and encountered no delays on either side.

*six yrs ago, and I don't have a name, sorry!

Our stay was at the Movenpick Ville Jolie down the road from the Mena House, where they have low cottage-type rooms (no high-rise hotel), large rooms, plenty of a/c, with lovely grounds and large pool... which you will need during August.

On our last day, returning from our Nile cruise and Luxor, we stayed on Zamalek Island. From here we took a taxi (inexpensive) to the Khan el Khalili Bazaar and spent many hours shopping and eating; taxi'd back to hotel. Easy, inexpensive, no one bothered us when walking around the bazaar or nearby neighborhoods... people were most friendly and helpful when we managed to get ourselves turned around (read: lost).

As it'll be hot August and you have lots planed you may still want to take it slow and not overdue it. Remember the hat, comfy shoes, SPF and water, water.

We stayed two nights at Le Meridien at Giza before leaving for the night train to Luxor for our Nile cruise. When we returned we stayed at the Marriott in Cairo.

There's Giza and then there's Giza. Is it Giza-near-the-pyramids or Giza within-a-few-blocks-of-the-Nile? If it's within a few blocks of the Nile, there really isn't much difference between being there and being in Cairo.

Philbill, we've booked at the Le Meridien Pyramids; how was it?