saly

grayland, go for the Conrad, definitely a better option than the other two Hiltons in town or the two - not three - Sheratons (one has recently been sold to Sofitel I think it was).

As far as location is concerned, the Hiltons and Conrad are all located on the same street, so I don't understand all the fuss about proximity to the museum - the Conrad is less than five minutes away with a taxi (1$), so what's the big deal? And here you get an upgrade to exec floor, lounge access with breakfast, all-day drinks, newspapers and magazines and wireless Internet, all free. Plus excellent service and very nice rooms.

There are two Sheratons in town, the one in Heliopolis is near the apt and relatively far from the city centre so not an option really. The other one is close to the zoo on the other side of the Nile from the city centre but not by far as new and nice as Conrad.

The only negative I would have to say about Conrad is that its food outlets could be slightly better (not saying they are bad, Villa d'Este serves high-class Italian food and there is a buffet restaurant with different culinary themes every night). On the other hand, CAI is packed with good restaurants. Be sure not to miss the Lebanese restaurant in IC Semiramis called Sabaya. Best in town if you want to taste local Arabic food without the risk of spending the rest of the trip you-know-where). Or the open-air one in the garden of Marriott Zamalek which also serves traditional food.

grayland

Thanks for the excellent descriptions and recommendations, saly. I appreciate it. ^

I just realized that I had made reservations at the Conrad for 3 nights.
I had booked an Executive Room, Nile View.
Would I be upgraded to this room anyway? I am a lowly HHonor Gold.
If the upgrade is normal...I should downgrade my booking one level.

saly

I stayed in the Conrad Cairo last week and I was upgraded without even asking - as soon as I showed my HHonour Gold card at the check-in counter I was given an elevator key to the Exec floor which has its own dedicated check-in service. The room I got had a Nile view, but to tell you the truth, it's not as exciting as it sounds. The Nile should be enjoyed from a cruise ship down in Upper Egypt, e.g. south of Luxor, not in Cairo. However, best Nile view (and city view!) is offered in the Grand Hyatt lounge (30th floor) on Corniche el-Nil (same street as Conrad but further south). Go there just before sunset, sit down and relax and have a drink, if you're lucky you'll see all the way to the Pyramids! And then go have dinner in the Indian restaurant which serves the best Indian dishes in town.

Hope this helps.

Chuckles

This is FT - it is our purpose in life to fuss about the trivial and irrelavent!!!

divrdrew

Skip Cairo entirely and just go diving in Sharm If you head that way, stay at the Shark's Bay Hilton...it's an all inclusive and is really nice...we stayed last year and are heading back again this year.

row1A

Chuckles,

just made Rez at the Nile Hilton, we will be there in the spring 06, when I made the Rez, it said VIP lounge on Exc floor, is that the same as exc. lounge?? and do they serve mixed drinks and wine in the evenings??? Sounds like breakfasts are not a problem.
won't be using points as the rates here are very reasonable, won't be getting upgrades anymore as I just retired and no more Diamond status....
thanks

row1a

grayland

I just completed a stay at both the Conrad Cairo and one at the Ramses Cairo.

CONRAD: A great hotel with all of the amenities. Was upgraded to Exec floor with lounge access. Outstanding room. Only real downside was Internet Access....they charge $25. USD for 24 hours. This may not be bad for someone who is charging it to a company..but when it comes out of your pocket

RAMSES: Worn and pretty shabby. Service is second rate..they try but it is pathetic. The carpets in the halls are really dirty..not just a little. Everything in the hotel is in need of cleaning. Internet: $25.USD per day...a rip-off again. Was upgraded to a Jr. Suite (kind of) not Exec Floor and had Lounge access. The lobby is continually FULL of large tour groups. All in all..I would not recommend this hotel. Go to the Conrad

LUXOR HILTON: This Hilton is a real disgrace to the Hilton Chain. Shabby, filthy dirty everywhere, resturants are terrible with non-existant service. It was full of Brit tour groups who no doubt got a really good price.
Go to the Merridian in town...it is outstanding.

crystal_cad

Stayed at both Hiltons in Cairo December before starting a tour of Egypt. They are different, neither is inferior to the other!

Upgraded to Exec room in Nile Hilton - room had an Asian appeal to it. Looked back over the city. Several restaurants & casino in Hotel and plenty of shops. Lounge was OK, service was poor. Ladies on desk very helpful. Breakfast (in restaurant) was superb with great views over the river.

Walked with our suitcases to the Ramses and it is only 5 minutes (walk along river, under the fly-over and across the highway - just follow a local. Traffic looks chaotic but pedistrians and taxi's integrate extremely well). Given a large corner room (non-exec floor) which was excellent with a balcony and views over the Niles and the museum. Room was furnished in typical Hilton style. Breakfast in lounge and service during breakfast, day and evening was excellent. Superb cocktail bar on top (or next to top) floor. Lap dancing and folk show as well. Didn't notice anything that suggested it needed a lick of paint.

As I said - they are so close together, there really isn't anything between them. We stayed at both to try both out and to get an extra nights stay (and airmiles).

X-ON

Any experience on how they treat Golds at the Nile Hilton property?

X-ON

A reminder of the above post, anyone with a HHonors gold status and a recent stay here?

row1A

did a quick search but no recent news or reports that I could find,

anyone been to Nile or Ramses hiltons lately. Would like to get update, will be there next week.. Seriously considering the conrad also. This is our first trip to Egypt. At this point I have ex floor rez at the Nile, but could change easily. Now that I am no longer Diamond, no free breakfast, I am wondering about the executive floor breakfasts, are they just snacks or substantial for starting the day... evening snacks and drinks(beer,wine)???I know from past treads that both hiltons are close to the museum, but are they better hotels than the conrad???

thanks for the help

Flying Lawyer

I consider the Conrad to be the much nicer hotel. The Hiltons are a little bit worn out but still better than most US Hiltons. Both, the lounges at the Nile and at the Conrad are nice. I breakfasts were better than breakfast in the US Hiltons, too. European and Egyptan spread. Whether they are substantial for starting the day depends a little bit on your needs.

When beiing in Cairo I have a tendency not to start my day before lunch and not to go to bed before 2 am in the morning (and I am not the last one to get of the streets in Cairo) - it is a crazy town.

Nile and Ramses are close to the Egyptian Museum but you might like to go by taxi anyway. Taxi within Cairo is cheap (10 to 20 EGP) and the cars are adventurous, The pyramids are far away from any place so you need to go there by taxi there anyway (30-40 EGP).

grayland

The Conrad is a very good property and the Nile is not bad.

For what it is worth, I was upgraded at both earlier this year as a Gold...so you may find that an upgrade is possible.

Bondiboy

The Three Cairo Hiltons are all priced about the same $95-105. Without doubt, the nicest is the Hilton at the World Trade Center. Both the Nile Hilton and the Ramses are tired. There is also a Hilton Golf resort.

The Conrad is much more expensive. It is also the best of the bunch

row1A

thanks for the info, I will just hold pat with the nile hilton for now and if I need to make a change I will. sounds like transportation to get around is not a problem either, Any info on getting from the airport to the hotels??? I know the Ramses has a shuttle, so the website says. The books only show taxi and buses. No trains or subway I guess, 12 miles shouldn't be that bad of a taxi ride.....