Grand Bayan Hotel at Nile Plaza

From the front desk to housekeeping, the people here were among the nicest and most pleasant I've met in Egypt. They're ready to help if you need anything. If you don't require extra hotel amenities, you get good value for your money. The hotel is on the sixth floor of a high-rise building, and they serve free breakfast in your room.

By the standards of hotels around here, this is one of the best, comparable to a well-known chain. The service was better than the reviews suggested, and I think it's continuing to improve.

The hotel can be hard to spot, which may explain its lower rating. At the drop-off point, look for the building on the right without little shops at street level. The hotel is on the sixth floor. Once you find it, check-in is quick. Getting a ride is easy too, just head downstairs. Nearby there's a small alley with local food and fresh fruit, and a friendly bunch of dogs often hangs around downstairs. It was nice to greet them after sightseeing. We arrived early, and the owner kindly offered us an available room so we could check in sooner. The next day, when our booked Nile view room was ready, the owner proactively offered to move us back. They also asked if we wanted a free airport pickup. The owner and staff were warm, attentive and very friendly. It was a heartwarming stay. The water pressure is excellent, and air conditioning was a treat after a hot summer day. Hair dryers are available at the front desk, but you have to borrow and return them. In the sea-view room, the balcony doors need to be firmly shut to keep some noise out. We aren't sensitive to noise, so it didn't bother us. I hope more people find this welcoming hotel. Maybe one day the owner will take over the whole building and turn it into an even bigger cozy hotel, haha!

The staff and service were great, and the hotel was easy to find and access, with a view of the Nile River. I met Karim Badr and Sarah, and they were special people.