Ocean Blue Studios

We ended up wasting our time after taking a cab all the way from Downtown Cairo for a one-night stay near the airport. At check-in, the hotel wouldn’t let us stay without a marriage certificate, a requirement we hadn’t seen anywhere in the booking process. The receptionist kept saying it was in the “small print.” It felt like a bait-and-switch to make couples book a second room at the last minute. I wouldn’t be surprised if the front desk staff were running a scam and pocketing the money, though I can’t say for sure. Cairo itself is amazing, but people like this can drive visitors away. I can love the city and still despise people like them. There are plenty of other nearby hotels with better service and no hidden traps. Don’t give these creeps your money. Avoid this place like the plague. **Update** The hotel keeps claiming its listing “clearly” says only married couples can stay, but that’s not true. Check the listing and the other low-rated reviews for yourself. Avoid these scammers.

We had a smooth, uneventful stay apart from what happened on our first night. Another guest had an altercation with someone at reception, and the staff handled it poorly and spoke quite rudely to the guest. The guest asked for a refund, but the hotel apologized and sorted things out the next morning. The bathrooms have a toilet shower or bidet, and you can ask for a prayer carpet, which came in handy because I’d forgotten mine. We had colleagues at Radisson Blu who complained that it was really old and falling apart. If you’re choosing between the two, I’d definitely pick this one for better value.

The hotel was good quality, and reception were very helpful. Amar Bakr was especially friendly and looked after our fencing team so well. As Team Capitan of Polish Fencing Federation, I had a lot to manage, and she made things easier. Blue Oceans hotel is lucky to have her. Thanks to Amar B., I’ll recommend the hotel and hope to see you next year. Shukran.

We had a great stay and would happily come back. Our room was clean and comfortable, with housekeeping every day, and we were upgraded to one with a kitchen and balcony. The staff were friendly and ready to help with anything we needed. It’s about 10kms from the centre and close to the airport, with the trip costing approximately USD7. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Cairo. 10/10.