Dahab hostel

The rooftop is the standout, and the price is hard to beat. The place is central and felt safe enough, with an open, inviting layout, plants, and color. My room was plain and chilly in February, though the blankets kept me warm. There wasn’t much privacy in the bathrooms, and they weren’t always clean. On several occasions, dirty underwear was left there for days. The staff also seemed oddly unfriendly and not very forthcoming, so I didn’t feel at home the way I have in other hostels. It was okay overall.

The basic rooms are all single rooms, so you do get privacy, and the location is very convenient. Breakfast was good and reasonably priced. I felt especially safe and looked after as a solo traveler because the reception team went above and beyond. They checked in with me every day after I booked a cruise tour through them, and they were supportive when I got sick during the trip. The airport pickup was useful and fairly priced, even with my late-night arrival. I’ve never stayed in a hostel where the staff showed this much care.

I really liked the reception hangouts, which made it easy to socialize, and I’ve already made friends I’ll travel with next. The staff were polite, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. My private room with its own bathroom was comfortable, and the breakfast was delicious. The Giza Pyramids tour guide arranged through the hostel was hard for me to understand in English; I mentioned it to the team, and they took the feedback professionally. I also offered a few small suggestions: paper towels with holders in the shared bathrooms, more storage in the rooms, and two eggs instead of one omelette at breakfast. I’d definitely recommend staying here.

Right in downtown Cairo, the location couldn’t be better, and the price was well worth it. I’d come back to Dahab if I return to Cairo. My room was very basic, just a bed and table, but that suited me since I only needed it for sleeping. The place was clean, and staff kept the bathrooms in good shape. The outdoor area felt cozy and relaxing, and the hostel tried to arrange group dinners and outings, which made meeting other travelers easy. A couple of things bothered me: the elevator sometimes failed, leaving me to climb or descend seven floors, and people sometimes talked loudly at tables just outside room doors at night. I woke up a few times, so a quiet time with stricter enforcement would help.