Hilton HHonors - Cairo: Nile, Conrad or Rameses?

Appolgies in advance as I know there are existing threads relating to these hotels in Cairo :p but I wondered if anyone could offer an update on a more, "drilled down," circumstance which I have in mind.

Idea is - that an extra cultural few days planned in addition to the normal vacation of lying, "sea lion like," beside a pool in the Greece or Italy.
Criteria as thus:
a) Two kids 16 and 12
b) two full days in Cairo taking in Pyramids and Cairo museum etc.
c) One day relaxing around the hotel pool to allay, "grumbles," and tired feet,allegedly!

Which hotel out of the two would be best.

PS Forgot about the Conrad btw

Many thanks.


C.

i stayed at the classic nile hilton for a few days. right on the same plaza as the museum and the pool area is great. you can walk to lots of shops, etc. from there. the ramses is between freeways and highspeed roads-- you need to take a taxi everywhere. i didn't stay at the ramses, but the location and inside are standard, imo.

Both Hiltons are franchises and and "a little bit" outdated. Lounges are nice. The Conrad is the by far nicer and newer hotel. Nile is close to the Egyptian Museum. To get to the Pyramids or to the big mosque you need a taxi anyway. Though, I hardly do anything in Cairo without a taxi. Taxi are bloddy cheap (adventorous) and the heat in CAI prevents you from walking around after 10 pm and before 4 pm

Conrad is a gorgeous hotel, much more upscale than the Nile, which was quite tired (though adequate) when I stayed there 3 years ago.

Conrad is a gorgeous hotel, much more upscale than the Nile, which was quite tired (though adequate) when I stayed there 3 years ago.

Thanks to you all ^ I stayed at the H. Paddington last night and the guy on reception was Egyptian and he backed up your comments, the Conrad :D

What treatment, upgrades and or lounge access can one expect as a HH Gold at either the Nile, Ramses or Conrad?

Clearly the Nile is best placed for the Cairo Museum, but are there particular areas or sights which would be easily accessed from the Ramses or Conrad?

Thanks for your feedback.

When we went two years ago, we stayed at the Conrad. I have to say it was one of our most enjoyable hotel stays.

I am a Gold Member... got an upper floor room and access to the lounge. It is a beautiful lounge, overlooking the Nile, with free internet access. Great food. And they are more than willing to give you bottles of water to take back to the room.

Few restaurants in the hotel... and they are all outstanding as well.

Highly recommend the Conrad.

When we went two years ago, we stayed at the Conrad. I have to say it was one of our most enjoyable hotel stays.

I am a Gold Member... got an upper floor room and access to the lounge. It is a beautiful lounge, overlooking the Nile, with free internet access. Great food. And they are more than willing to give you bottles of water to take back to the room.

Few restaurants in the hotel... and they are all outstanding as well.

Highly recommend the Conrad.

Thanks for this useful feedback. Unfortunately, during August the Conrad is very expensive (350$ including taxes), but the rates during September are much more reasonable (175$).

Has anyone come across lower rates than on the Hilton site? I am not interested in auction or blind purchase type sites, where often these will not be treated as qualifying stays.

Does anyone have more recent experiences with the Conrad, Nile or Ramses they can share? Thanks

staying in cairo for a few days next year. any advice where to stay??

what i have read here or tripadvisor:
ramses hilton: room 160$, bad location, oldfashioned
nile hilton: room 165$, central location, rooms and executive lounge need refurbishment
conrad: room 109$, new hotel, not in city center??

Kenji, I posted above and am posting again - the Conrad is the best of the lot. The Nile and the Ramses are faded, whereas the Conrad is still fresh. I don't know if gold will get you upgraded, but the Exec Lounge at the Conrad was much nicer than the other properties.

While you can't walk to museums, you take your life in your hand if you do anyway - so I'm perfectly content paying a reasonable charge and taking a taxi.

thanks a lot for the statement. as i am diamond i dun worry about the upgrading, only location and room quality.

Kenji, I posted above and am posting again - the Conrad is the best of the lot. The Nile and the Ramses are faded, whereas the Conrad is still fresh. I don't know if gold will get you upgraded, but the Exec Lounge at the Conrad was much nicer than the other properties.

While you can't walk to museums, you take your life in your hand if you do anyway - so I'm perfectly content paying a reasonable charge and taking a taxi.

Kenji, I posted above and am posting again - the Conrad is the best of the lot. The Nile and the Ramses are faded, whereas the Conrad is still fresh. I don't know if gold will get you upgraded, but the Exec Lounge at the Conrad was much nicer than the other properties.

While you can't walk to museums, you take your life in your hand if you do anyway - so I'm perfectly content paying a reasonable charge and taking a taxi.

Kenji - As someone who, a) is a ten month/year Cairo resident, b) has visited all three properties in the past seven days (Nile, Ramses and Conrad), and c) actually stays long-term in another Cairo Hilton property (World Trade Centre Apartments) I can confirm that it is no contest - the Conrad is the overwhelming clear preference.

The location issue is really a non-issue; all three properties are within a 5-20 minute taxi ride of each other (5 minutes on a good traffic day, 20 on a bad one - when it can often be quicker to walk along the Corniche).

The only downside to the Conrad is that approximately once/month the nightclub on the opposite side of the Corniche (directly on the east bank of the Nile) has loud music until well past midnight.

Phil, I'm glad to see you posting, as you are our expert on Cairo Hiltons. Let us know should either the Nile or Ramses Hiltons undertake a massive renovation project, which is what is required for them to be competitive with the Conrad. I have the sense that Cairo hotels don't pull the room rates to be able to keep their properties fresh.

Phil, I'm glad to see you posting, as you are our expert on Cairo Hiltons. Let us know should either the Nile or Ramses Hiltons undertake a massive renovation project, which is what is required for them to be competitive with the Conrad. I have the sense that Cairo hotels don't pull the room rates to be able to keep their properties fresh.

Carol, indeed, both Nile and Ramses Hiltons are looking very jaded these days, in contrast to the Conrad which had a complete exterior paint job not too long ago (I can report this with a high degree of accuracy as my apartment bedroom window overlooks the Conrad swimming pool/health club - of which I am a member).

The additional facts that, a) the company I work for built the Conrad and, b) my wife and the Conrad GM's wife are best friends are mere incidentals. ;)

For me the Conrad is still let down by its restaurants - which are decidely average (the Italian probably being the best of a mediocre bunch). Given the choice of dining out at a Cairo hotel restaurant those at the Conrad would not feature in my list - despite being able to walk there in five minutes from my apartment.

I'll certainly keep an eye out for any signs of hotel renovations (the most recent being the Marriott).

Incidentally my 11 year old son stayed at Borg El Arab Hilton (Alexandria) last month, on a school trip to El Alamein, and he said it was quite good!

Knowing your fondness of the finer things in life you might want to check-out the new Fairmont Hotel, on the Corniche just north of the Conrad. It's being built (again by the company I work for) immediately next to the office block that I am based in. The structure is complete and fitting-out is currently in progress; it is supposed to open in late 2008.

We stayed four nights at the Conrad Cairo last month. I completely agree Phil's comments.

Regarding location, the Nile Hilton is next door to the Egyptian Museum but otherwise doesn't have much of an advantage location-wise over the Ramses or Conrad. We only had coffee there after seeing the museum, but even from the lobby it looks pretty downscale from the Conrad ( and jammed with tour groups).

We are Hilton Gold, but didn't get any special treatment as we had booked a room on the Executive Floor (and glad we did; the hotel was booked solid.)
The breakfast in the Executive lounge is fine, and there is free internet access. While not huge, the room and bathroom were nicely appointed and immaculate. The high floor insures some insulation from the traffic noise on the Corniche (although we were there on the night of the "nightclub across the street" event, and the noise was indeed awful until midnight). Security is very tight in all Cairo hotels, and the Conrad's key-card system needs serious revamping.. they work very poorly. (One fellow who stayed 6 weeks said he went through 25 re-issued cards!!!)

We had dinner in the Italian restaurant, and lunch in the Cafe... both were disappointing. FAR better were lunches at the Khan Al- Khalili restaurant (get reservations ahead of time!) and the pool-area reatuarnt at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza, and dinner at the Moghul Room at the hotel by the Pyramids.

Staff everywhere at the Conrad are friendly, helpful, and very responsive. I would not, however, book any tours or guides through the concierge.. very expensive and not great experiences (if you want more detail on that, PM me).

Just got back from a week in Egypt and the service at the Cairo Rameses Hilton was nothing short of excellent. ^

Just got back from a week in Egypt and the service at the Cairo Rameses Hilton was nothing short of excellent. ^

Has the Rameses been updated at all? How's the lounge (breakfast/evening offerings)? Free Internet anywhere? Thanks!

I am also interested on any updates as I will be there late July (even hotter then, I know) for 2-3 nights. I have tentatively booked the Conrad.

Conrad is a gorgeous hotel, much more upscale than the Nile, which was quite tired (though adequate) when I stayed there 3 years ago.


I totally agree with SanDiego1k on the Conrad.

Probably one of my favorite Hilton properties. The staff was very attentive, the rooms lavish and the lounge was outstanding.

According to the Hilton website, as of January 1, 2009, the Nile Hilton will no longer be a Hilton.

According to the Hilton website, as of January 1, 2009, the Nile Hilton will no longer be a Hilton.

I stayed there in early May, and afterwards received an e-mail from the GM saying that they were about to undergo major renovations (I had complained about the dated rooms and loud street noise).

According to the Hilton website, as of January 1, 2009, the Nile Hilton will no longer be a Hilton.

Does anyone know what hotel it will become? Quite a nice location in my opinion.

I've just checked in into Nile Hilton, and must say this is worst damp of the hotel i've ever seen. When checked there was dirt on bed, like somebody walked in boots on it. Air conditioning isn't working properly, leaving room quite warm and arid. There is stains on the floor carpet and wooden furniture. And when i asked to switch me to Nile view (rather than construction site in city) i was told that this room will cost more, they even hadn't a thought to offer it for free, since i didn't get any upgrade when checking.

I've just checked in into Nile Hilton, and must say this is worst damp of the hotel i've ever seen.

That's pretty unacceptible, you might try contacting the GM and inviting them to your room:

Jean Welti
General Manager
Nile Hilton Hotel
1113 Corniche El Nil Street
Cairo Egypt
Tel +20 2 2578 0472
Fax +20 2 2578 0474
Email Jean.Welti@hilton.com
www.hilton.co.uk/nile

i was reading this forum before my stay in cairo. we decided to stay at the intercontinental semiramis instead of hilton and i can higly recommend the hotel.

excellent quite location next to hilton
spacious, clean and well equipped rooms with balcony
very good service
excellent food and drinks in the club lounge
very big and quite lounge with a lot of staff
payed 160 EGP for executive club room nile view (city view cheaper)
and the other nights on points and 50 EGP for club benefits

This thread has put me off taking even a point stretcher award :(

This thread has put me off taking even a point stretcher award :(

You might consider the Hilton Residence. Not exactly state-of-the-art, but huge two BR suites with a great view of the Nile. A great deal with point stretcher.

I totally agree with SanDiego1k on the Conrad.

Probably one of my favorite Hilton properties. The staff was very attentive, the rooms lavish and the lounge was outstanding.

+1. I was there twice in the last few weeks on award stays. Both times upgraded to Nile view exec level w/lounge no problem. The property is very well maintained, with a perfectly positioned pool area to give a feel of quiet calm in the midst of Cairo. Good 24 hour gym too. It is a little further from the center than the other Hiltons but worth it- the HN and Ramses looked pretty crappy from the outside. Now if only the casino had been a little kinder... :o

You might consider the Hilton Residence. Not exactly state-of-the-art, but huge two BR suites with a great view of the Nile. A great deal with point stretcher.

Not available on my fixed dates.

You might consider the Hilton Residence.

Is this the tall building signed "Hilton" next to the Conrad?

This thread has put me off taking even a point stretcher award :(

Well, after staying for almost a month combined in Nile Hilton, i can say it's not that bad.

Main drawbacks is

1) Very tired rooms, especially carpets.
2) Air conditioning problems, namely very dry air. However given how much you fly, i guess you are accustomed to that :)

Pros.

1) Excellent food offer for breakfast. Lounge breakfast is actually served in roof top restaurant, and have even bigger selection than restaurant downstairs (this is unprecedented for Hiltons)

2) Good food offer in lounge, nice selection of drinks, always at least one veggie option and one meat option. Recently then even started to serve suschi !

3) Centrally located, nice view if you get Nile View room.

An update - according to Executive lounge personnel, Nile Hilton will become Ritz-Carlton, which is a joke, unless Marriott plans to refurbish an entire hotel.

P.S. Well, looks like they DO plan to refurbish entire hotel, it's only going to open in 2011.

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Cairo/Default.htm