M.Leo

I am planning a week-long trip to Cairo with Mrs. M.Leo in early March.

Any updates on recent stays to this property? I've done some searches and have not come up with much. Specifically, impressions of rooms, service, location, etc. Also, treatment of Golds.

I am Starwood Plat but I am leaning against all Starwood properties in Cairo, based on lack-luster reviews. Marriott prices strike me as very good. Other option is Four Seasons, but cost is nearly double that of the Marriott.

Thanks.

Regards,

M.Leo

SanDiego1K

Does anyone have knowledge of this property? How does it compare with the other Marriott in Cairo?

SanDiego1K

Has anyone stayed at both properties? Either property?

tatmtr7

Though we stayed at the Cairo Marriott about 10 years ago, we loved it. The rooms were adequate though not total luxury, but being able to look over the Nile or see the pyramids from your window was awesome. The staff were very polite and accomadating. A great jewelry store was in the hotel at that time. The pool area was great though we were there in winter and it was a little too chilly to swim, but we did enjoy the gardens. The main part of the hotel was built as a palace about the time of the opening of the canal.
I am sure someone who has stayed there more recently will reply. Enjoy!!!

Oceanbound222

I have stayed there many times. The rooms are not elegant, but perfectly clean and adequate.

The hotel itself is magnificant. The grounds and lobby make you think you are in a palace. It actually once was a palace. It is very very impressive.

The location is also great. I would send my mother to this Marriott in a heartbeat.

SanDiego1K

Thanks for the feedback. I have this hotel booked for $75/night for 2 nights, and will be using a $100 bonus buck coupon. Not bad - just $25/night!

SanDiego1K

I have completed my stay at this Marriott, and can say that Oceanbound222's summary was spot on.

The Good Points

This is a very large hotel, with the center the palace that was built to welcome Princess Eugenie to the opening of the Suez Canal. The building is beautiful, with many restaurants and shops. The grounds are lovely, and there are outdoor tables for having a drink or food.

Platinum recognition was good, with access to the Club Lounge. An adequate breakfast was served there, and a fantastic array of appetizers and desserts was served there in the evening (5:30-7:30pm). It was one of the best array of foods I have seen in a lounge. The lounge has a lovely view of the Nile.

The welcome amenity was honored, although in the end I should have gone for points. I chose water and discovered it was already standard in the rooms. (They send two liter bottles of cold water, very generous.) I also chose fruit (which turned out to be standard as well) and nuts. The nuts were served in a large sundae bowl, and were sliced as if for ice cream toppings.

The Bad Points
The room is quite ordinary, and the bathroom is downright cramped. My hairdryer must have been operating at about 300W - completely ineffective. There is no sofa or reading chair in the room.

I was initially assigned to the tower that does not house the lounge. This made little sense to me, and I requested a move. The rooms were identical. The floor map showed larger rooms on the end of the building (with a Nile view); I was given a standard room,

The hotel is extremely large with lots of tour groups. As a result, interaction with the staff is very impersonal. Even in the club lounge, the attendant was busy with personal calls.

As I said, I had an amazing rate - $75 per night for two nights, less my $100 bonus bucks. I stayed at the Nile Hilton last year, which had plusses and minuses over this property. My impression overall for Cairo hotels is that room rates are low, and there is little money for room maintenance or improvement.

SanDiego1K

I'm bumping this thread, as it is about time to pick up a new RTW ticket in Cairo. Has anyone stayed at the JW Marriott who can compare it to the Cairo Marriott? Which is the better property?

jpooh100

We stayed in both this past June. I agree with prior comments about the
Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino. It is a lovely property with adequate rooms (about to undergo room renovations I believe) in addition to being well located for anything you want to do in the city.

The JW Marriott is a much newer property with a golf course, wave pool, etc. It's about a 30 minute drive into town (or to the pyramids, for example); you are pretty isolated and cannot walk to any attractions. However, the rooms and suites are lovely, as are the grounds. If you just want a day or two to rest and relax after visiting the bustling city, this would be a good choice.

Hope this information is some help to you. Enjoy your trip!

SanDiego1K

jpooh100, thank you, that was exactly the kind of comparison I wanted.

jpooh100

Glad to help! I always gain so much from other people's contributions, so I am glad I could assist someone else.

JustMe551122

I stayed there this past december with a rate of close to 80 dollars. I was recognized as Plat, and got a rooms (don't know if suite). Room was very nice, with foyer and a bathroom to put shame to all US properties.

The hotel is pretty well contained. You have bank (with ATM and currency exchange), last minute gifts. I wasn't able to take advantage of the tennis, golf or pool as was resting prior to inbound/outbound.

Words of advice. You want to be careful with their transfer. Platinums get one transfer fee only. I had arranged for transfer to the airport (and was told to picke the time I wanted... connecting to LHR). I chose and confirmed 30 minutes after the time shuttle leaves. At front desk they said that transfer was only on the shuttle. Talk with station manager and got everything sorted out (almost missing my departure).

Last but not least, at my time (Dec 2004) I had to pay a fee for my wife to join me at the Exec lounge. As far as I recall I wasn't levied any resort fee.

johnaalex

I will be styaing at the JW marriott in Cairo for Easter. As a platinum member what sort of "extras" should I expect?

Regards

John

Steveman

Book a stay for breakfast deluxe room which incl. children under 12 for 140.00 - is this a good rate? Any info on this hotel anyone?

johnaalex

The hotel's best points are the pool and "beach" with wave machine. Rooms are ok. The JW Steakhouse gave we the WORSE steak I have had for years. They also had a very limited wine list when I was there earlier this year which was disappointing. The buffets were OK. The Executive lounge was good with an egg service for breakfast (although the omlette was not up to much), evening snacks were quite tasty.

Note the hotel is on the Cairo ring road, not that close to the city or the pyramids. Also at least one local taxi driver did not know the difference between this hotel and the city centre Marriott ;-)

Regards

John