Egypt Trip
Dec 1, 2009, 5:12 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: ual, aa, co, delta, centurion
Posts: 120
fs nile plaza was the better of the two fs properties in cairo. it has a nice upscale mall nearby which adds some variety of dining choices for times you want to stay close to the hotel yet get away a bit.
security is present everywhere but we were just waived through.
the fs nile plaza was clean, efficient, and well located. quite happy with the property and would stay here again. great for visiting museums and other historic sites.
the fs at the first residence is not as well located. not as nice a neighborhood. it is right accross from the zoo. wife and i went to the zoo in broad daylight. a very depressing zoo mind you with animals not to well taken care of. also the wife was harrassed by young teen age twits. most annoying. we had walked by ourselves over 10 miles around the city, to the museum, the cairo tower, etc without any harrassment so her getting harrassed at the zoo was quite a dissapointment. don't know if that reflects on the rest of the area around the fs at the first residence or was unique to the zoo grounds. open your windows and you can hear the lions roar. that is kinda cool.
other suggestions beside the usual museums and pyramid trips, which are a must, and taken for granted that you will see and visit:
visit the cairo tower, see over the entire city from the top of the tower.
also pay especial attention when flying into cairo, quite a unique view of the brown, turning to green around the nile. it is very dramatic in its effect.
when buying in the bazaars be careful to check the labels if you are looking for an egyptian made item. most stuff is from china.
regards and have a safe trip,
jsq
security is present everywhere but we were just waived through.
the fs nile plaza was clean, efficient, and well located. quite happy with the property and would stay here again. great for visiting museums and other historic sites.
the fs at the first residence is not as well located. not as nice a neighborhood. it is right accross from the zoo. wife and i went to the zoo in broad daylight. a very depressing zoo mind you with animals not to well taken care of. also the wife was harrassed by young teen age twits. most annoying. we had walked by ourselves over 10 miles around the city, to the museum, the cairo tower, etc without any harrassment so her getting harrassed at the zoo was quite a dissapointment. don't know if that reflects on the rest of the area around the fs at the first residence or was unique to the zoo grounds. open your windows and you can hear the lions roar. that is kinda cool.
other suggestions beside the usual museums and pyramid trips, which are a must, and taken for granted that you will see and visit:
visit the cairo tower, see over the entire city from the top of the tower.
also pay especial attention when flying into cairo, quite a unique view of the brown, turning to green around the nile. it is very dramatic in its effect.
when buying in the bazaars be careful to check the labels if you are looking for an egyptian made item. most stuff is from china.
regards and have a safe trip,
jsq
Dec 21, 2009, 8:37 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I now can report back an excellent stay at the Sofitel El Gezirah. Booked Club King and was upgraded to Prestige Suite with two balconies over the Nile and clear view of the Pyramids. It had excellent bedding, two rainshowers (one in shower stall and one in bath) and plenty of space in the living room.
The floating cocktail lounge on the Nile is pretty special and the Buddha Bar wasn't too bad, even if it was closed for renovations during most of my stay. This hotel easily has the best location in Cairo. For me, the service in the club, Buddha Bar, Nile View Bar, casino, concierge, door, and spa area was great.
I am sure the service at the FS would have been better...if I was interested in the unctuous overwhelming service that pervades Egyptian hotels. I prefer a light touch and each time I told the staff I was fine, they politely backed off. I doubt a FS room would have offered anything better than the room I got at the Sofitel and of course the Sofitel was a fraction of the price.
The floating cocktail lounge on the Nile is pretty special and the Buddha Bar wasn't too bad, even if it was closed for renovations during most of my stay. This hotel easily has the best location in Cairo. For me, the service in the club, Buddha Bar, Nile View Bar, casino, concierge, door, and spa area was great.
I am sure the service at the FS would have been better...if I was interested in the unctuous overwhelming service that pervades Egyptian hotels. I prefer a light touch and each time I told the staff I was fine, they politely backed off. I doubt a FS room would have offered anything better than the room I got at the Sofitel and of course the Sofitel was a fraction of the price.
Dec 21, 2009, 10:16 am
#33
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dublin,Ireland and Nice France
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,058
Is that the one on it's own island?
We could see it from our nile view room at the nile plaza and from the grand hyatt.
We didn't get a chance to visit.
Regarding the Fairmont Towers near the airport,we stayed there for one night a week ago.
It's lovely looking but zero service.
Actually make that sub zero service..
Oh and there was a 15 minute queue for the lifts... [reason being they were broken]
We saw that from the bar and uhm...went over to reception who showed us to another lift..
As far as I can make out those people might still be waiting at the other lift-perhaps someone would assist them? The hotel staff weren't in the mood.
As I think I posted in another thread,the Nile plaza was wonderfull.
The Service was great.
The only problem we had was an unfortunate mix up at reception on check in [they were not giving us the room booked and wanted to charge us more] for which they apologized once they discovered they were wrong.It took a while though.
To be honest our nile view room was glorious even if it wasnt a match for the photo on the website.
I would go back in a heart beat.
We could see it from our nile view room at the nile plaza and from the grand hyatt.
We didn't get a chance to visit.
Regarding the Fairmont Towers near the airport,we stayed there for one night a week ago.
It's lovely looking but zero service.
Actually make that sub zero service..
Oh and there was a 15 minute queue for the lifts... [reason being they were broken]
We saw that from the bar and uhm...went over to reception who showed us to another lift..
As far as I can make out those people might still be waiting at the other lift-perhaps someone would assist them? The hotel staff weren't in the mood.
As I think I posted in another thread,the Nile plaza was wonderfull.
The Service was great.
The only problem we had was an unfortunate mix up at reception on check in [they were not giving us the room booked and wanted to charge us more] for which they apologized once they discovered they were wrong.It took a while though.
To be honest our nile view room was glorious even if it wasnt a match for the photo on the website.
I would go back in a heart beat.
Dec 21, 2009, 10:42 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
That brings up a question I have. Does the FS Nile Plaza have a casino?
Dec 21, 2009, 1:50 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dublin,Ireland and Nice France
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,058
Jan 22, 2010, 11:16 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
This is a historic hotel, traditionally furnished, but with caring service. It is a good drive away, though, from central Cairo, so only stay here if you just want to chill out and explore the pyramids and surroundings, as getting into town by taxi can be frustrating thanks to the traffic.
I would agree that FS Nile Plaza is the best hotel in Cairo, but it is probably not the most romantic.
Jan 23, 2010, 6:16 pm
#40
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Posts: 1,294
Yes, many times. Find out if they have finished their refurbishment before you consider this hotel. Also, do not stay in the garden wing. You must take a room or preferably a suite with balcony in the Palace Wing, which looks straight out onto the pyramids.
This is a historic hotel, traditionally furnished, but with caring service. It is a good drive away, though, from central Cairo, so only stay here if you just want to chill out and explore the pyramids and surroundings, as getting into town by taxi can be frustrating thanks to the traffic.
I would agree that FS Nile Plaza is the best hotel in Cairo, but it is probably not the most romantic.
This is a historic hotel, traditionally furnished, but with caring service. It is a good drive away, though, from central Cairo, so only stay here if you just want to chill out and explore the pyramids and surroundings, as getting into town by taxi can be frustrating thanks to the traffic.
I would agree that FS Nile Plaza is the best hotel in Cairo, but it is probably not the most romantic.
Jan 24, 2010, 10:30 am
#41
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: AA Plat, Amex Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver
Posts: 309
[QUOTE=vuittonsofstyle;13234195]Yes, many times. Find out if they have finished their refurbishment before you consider this hotel. Also, do not stay in the garden wing. You must take a room or preferably a suite with balcony in the Palace Wing, which looks straight out onto the pyramids.
QUOTE]
You are right
Mena House Oberoi is being renovated in a phased manner. The renovation schedule and work timings have been structured to ensure minimal impact on the guest's experience. Renovation work commences at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m.
The Italian Restaurant - Cesare and the second swimming pool in Mena Garden are close to completion and will be ready to welcome guests by February, 2010. The new Spa and Fitness Centre and the All Day Dining restaurant will be completed by April, 2010.
No restoration works are planned in the Palace at Mena House Oberoi until 1st June, 2010.
QUOTE]
You are right
Mena House Oberoi is being renovated in a phased manner. The renovation schedule and work timings have been structured to ensure minimal impact on the guest's experience. Renovation work commences at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m.
The Italian Restaurant - Cesare and the second swimming pool in Mena Garden are close to completion and will be ready to welcome guests by February, 2010. The new Spa and Fitness Centre and the All Day Dining restaurant will be completed by April, 2010.
No restoration works are planned in the Palace at Mena House Oberoi until 1st June, 2010.
Jan 24, 2010, 3:04 pm
#42
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: AA Plat, Amex Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver
Posts: 309
Yes, many times. Find out if they have finished their refurbishment before you consider this hotel. Also, do not stay in the garden wing. You must take a room or preferably a suite with balcony in the Palace Wing, which looks straight out onto the pyramids.
I would agree that FS Nile Plaza is the best hotel in Cairo, but it is probably not the most romantic.
I would agree that FS Nile Plaza is the best hotel in Cairo, but it is probably not the most romantic.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...ason-ma-2.html
Jan 25, 2010, 9:26 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Oberoi Zahra - YES
Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh - YES
Evason - WHY?
Jan 25, 2010, 10:13 am
#44
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Stayed in the Churchill Suite years and years ago. In those days it was very green velvet and fusty, but everyone was going on about the fact that the Great Man used to paint the pyramids from the balcony, so I guess we were meant to be grateful. It has been a while since I last looked at their big suites as I have been waiting for them to refurbish. Looks as though this will not happen until this summer. If they do it well, the location is pretty special, so it could be a winner.
Apr 6, 2010, 2:33 pm
#45
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ExecPlat; AF Gold; UA GS; Hyatt L. Globalist; Marriott Plat; Hilton Diamond; National EE
Posts: 6,161
I stayed at the Fairmont Nile City in Feb 2010. Amazing staff couldn't do enough for you. Excellent appointments. Only downfall was a smell of smoke on some allegedly non-smoking floors.
