Originally Posted by pegloff

FWIW - Just booked with a local tour operator for March/April this year, and they offered to upgrade to the Le Meridien for a pretty reasonable rate.

Per the tour operator, the promotional rates are available until August of this year, and range from US$250 to 600 per night.
Includes breakfast, and a 15% discount on other meals/beverages.

I agree that staying at local properties is probably the better experience - but we feel that two nights of 'western luxury' might be a nice change in the middle of a 14 day trip in the region.