16 hours in Cairo
 

I'm arriving in Cairo next Saturday at 3pm and have a BA flight out the next morning at 8am. (The infamous BA CAI-HNL run.)

Is there a hotel downtown that can provide end-to-end meet & assist services? That is, I would like someone to meet me inside the secure area, take me through immigration and customs, and either take me to the hotel or put me onto the hotel's shuttle bus. I find dealing with pushy touts and over-charging taxi drivers to be very frustrating and stressful, so I'd like to bypass all of that if possible.

If I stay in downtown Cairo, is it safe to walk around outside and just see the city by foot a bit? Can someone recommend hotels or areas that would be good for that?

I assume any hotel can arrange reliable transport back to the airport. What time should I leave downtown for an 8am flight (departing Terminal 2)?

I'm staying at the airport when I do my trip - the Meridien meets and greets Gold/Plat SPG members for free.

Of course you can walk around downtown :D

Arriving is the simplest thing. Buy a visa from one of the banks immediately before the immigrations desks, stick it in your passport and join the immigration line. There'll be no hassle or hustle, though once you're through the passport business someone from a limo company might ask you if you need transport.

You really don't have all that much time, and as you are nervous you might follow the advice above and stay at the airport Meridien (it's attached to T3). There's a (considerably cheaper) Novotel on the airport: this hotel will arrange a meet, greet and 5-minute transfer (no charge, but a tip will be in order).

If you want to fill your time, you could consider the Intercontinental at Citystars, just a 10 minute drive from the airport. This hotel has a superb spa/health club/gym and it's attached to a massive upmarket mall. They'll arrange a meet and greet for a substantial charge. Or you could get a car from the limo desk at the airport.

It isn’t downtown but the Renaissance Cairo Mirage City offers a ‘meet & greet’ service before you get to immigration, as well as a shuttle bus back to the airport.
I’ve stayed there a number of times this year and always use that service.

Marriot also have the Marriott Cairo Hotel which is more central. Maybe some other FTers will know if they provide a ’meet & greet’ service. Cannot comment on how long you should allow get back out to airport from downtown I’m afraid.

I think all the "big" hotels will offer the service: it's expected, and it's a nice little earner for them ...