Lipstick on a Pig

1   Not Recommended
January 15, 2018 by

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Nile Ritz Carlton
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We usually stay at the Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence and decided to give the Nile Ritz Calron a try. It was more than double the price and I honestly will never return.

Check In

We booked The Ritz Carlton Suite and were not given private in room check in. While not expected genrally booking a high tier suite it's offered.

At the reception desk they confirmed we were only staying one night and were ugrading us to the Presidential Suite. Despite the amazing upgrade arriving at the hotel set the tone for the stay.

The lobby is packed with scores of people. Given they were there when we checked in, went to greet our guests and again eight or so hours later it was clear they were members of the public loitering. It's busy, loud and not what one expects from a five star hotel.

We were escorted to the room.

Room

The room has amazing views of the Nile, Cairo Tower and three balconies, although only one opens.

It also has a living room, dining room with full kitchen, bedroom and 2.5 bathrooms.

It feels a little meh in comparison to the Four Seasons. The fresh flowers one expects in such a hotel and noticabley missing.

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As many Tripadvisor reviews warn, the noise form the nightclub reaches the 9th floor and it certainly reached the 6th for our second room. As a light sleeper who needs a quiet room this is a reason in itself not to return. The bass just thuds through the windows until the late morning.

Despite the 6th floor being a non smooking floor a group of guests took it upon themselves to chain smoke between there six rooms with their doors open and the housekeeping staff wouldn't do anything.

Service

The two gentlemen on front desk were delightful but it's not up to Four Seasons standard.

Dining

We checked out the Club Lounge and invited external guests and there was a selection of cold mezzeh, a chef who cooked a kofta and kebab plate with rice or a fish dish and of course salads and desserts. It was a good spread but perhaps on par with US club lounges and not Asia. Beer and wine is in the fridge but they do make hard liquor on requests.

Even the Hyatt Regency in Sharm has a much better club lounge.

Brekfast was like eatining in a dining hall and the food didn't appear to be the highest quality like the FS.

Overall

The main issue with the Ritz is that it is the old Nile Hilton and you still see its remains. You access the gym and the spa by walking outside and it's clear the windows and doors are decades old it feels like a US strip mall. They've redone the ineriors but the basic remanents of the hotel remain the same.

The common areas are dull in colour and the business of the hotel and calibre of guest, to me, were concerning. Safety is a big issue in Egypt and the FS and other hotels do not admit members of the public so freely.

As I stood outside saying goodbye to our guests I was shocked to see the people entering the hotel, it is anything but a five star experience.

Overall, the Ritz really is lipstick on a pig. The foundations are all the former Hilton and despite the nice room it's not a five star experience.

The Ritz Sharm el Sheikh was far, far superiod and I look forward to their new return.

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