Dahab Hostel and other Egypt Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

I made the mistake of trusting Lonely Planet--the pictures on their Web site looked decent, too--and made reservations for this disgusting place. It is on the roof of a building down the street from the Egyptian Museum. Good location. But the rooms are absolutely filthy, particularly the bed sheets. There were also an assortment of insects crawling and flying around. We did not even spend the night here. I just paid for the night and found a different place to stay.

I would not recommend anyone staying here under any circumstances. The elevator to get to the top floor is also a death trap!


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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Address: On the seventh floor of 26 Mahmoud Bassiony Street, Cairo
Directions: Near Tal'at Harb Square and the Egyptian Museum

Originally a bathhouse from the late 1800s, this building served as the British Officers' Club during the first part of the 20th century. While the Windsor Hotel has a lot of charm, its facilities are very outdated. Other than the elevator, which thankfully is well-maintained, the rest of the building has seen better days. It is clean, however, and the staff is friendly. The hotel is located on a quiet street, with two cafes across the street. The only problem with the location is that taxi drivers cannot find it. Of the five taxi rides we took back to the hotel, only one driver didn't need to pull over and ask someone on the street for directions. Even when given the hotel's business card, which has the address written in English and Arabic, the drivers could not find it on their own.

Breakfast includes a glass of orange juice, coffee/tea and a basket of bread. If you want anything else, including an extra glass or o.j., you will have to pay extra.

Double rooms cost $48, including taxes. Credit cards are accepted.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: Telephone: 20-2-5915810 / 591527
Address: 19 Alfi Bei Street, Cairo, Egypt
Website: http://www.windsorcairo.com/mainpage.htm
Other Contact: FAX: 5921621

Located directly on Egypt's border with Israel, you can also see Jordan and Saudi Arabia from the shores of Hilton Taba Resort & Nelson Village. While there is not much to see outside of the hotel, there is no shortage of things to do here. Most of the activities revolve around it being warm and sunny. There are tennis courts, two swimming pools (one of which is heated), a casino, a variety of restaurants and a lovely beach with palm trees and hammocks. In addition, there are plenty of coral reefs to explore. You can rent snorkeling/diving equipment and jet skis. There are also a handful of independently owned shops on the hotel grounds.

You have the option of staying all-inclusive, half-board or just breakfast. The breakfast buffet is excellent, with everything from pancakes to feta cheese.

Unique Qualities: This is a great value for a Hilton hotel. I paid $66 per night for a double room, breakfast included. The breakfast was worth about $25 by itself. We stayed here because we were coming into Egypt from Israel late at night. We liked it so much that we stayed an additional night. The hotel has a staff member stationed inside Egyptian customs.

Note: The Taba Hilton was struck by terrorists in 2004 and it is possible that they will try to strike again. The hotel has considerable security, which includes airport-style x-ray machines and multiple road check points.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: Tel: 0020-2-3530140
Address: On the Egyptian side of the Egyptian border with Israel.
Directions: The hotel is about 400 meters north of the Taba bus station.
Website: http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/TBAHITW-Hilton-Taba-Resort-Nelson-Village/index.do
Other Contact: taba@hilton.com

Unique Qualities: The Nile Hilton has an unobstructed view of the Nile River and is less than a minute's walk from the Egyptian Museum. The courtyard of the hotel offers total seclusion from the hustle and bustle of Cairo. There are 10 restaurants, from elegant dining to deli sandwiches.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: Tel: 20-2-5780444/5780666
Address: 1113 Corniche El Nil, Cairo, Egypt 12344
Directions: On the Nile River, about 50 meters away from the entrance to the Egyptian Museum.
Website: http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/CAIHITW-Nile-Hilton-hotel/index.do
Other Contact: E-mail: nile@hilton.com