Philae Hotel

Rooms face a busy street, so there's some noise, much like at the other hotels around here. Bring earplugs and you'll be fine. The price is great for what's offered. If you're heading to Abu Simbel early, they'll gladly pack breakfast boxes to take along. Muhammad at reception was helpful and friendly.

We slept badly on our first night, so we booked another hotel at the last minute for night two. The room was noisy, the Wi-Fi was terrible, and there were more flies than usual, even though flies are common in Aswan. Breakfast the next morning wasn't good either. The hotel is old, with old rooms, and I wouldn't recommend staying here. One bed was unclean, the shower didn't work properly, and the water wasn't hot enough. We had to ask for soap because none was provided.

The view of the Nile River was the best part, and the facilities were neat. Hassan and the rest of the staff were very kind from check-in onward, and kept checking in to see if anything was inconvenient. Their kindness made my two-night stay comfortable.

The room was clean and spacious, though I had to ask for toilet paper. Breakfast was awful: there was no choice, the orange juice serving was tiny, and when I had to leave, they brought me something I hadn't asked for. The staff were amazing. The hotel could use some work, and there's no elevator, but everything you need is just a minute away.