Pharaohs Hotel

There was no tissue paper or water provided, and the Wi-Fi was really poor. The rooms and bathrooms are tiny, the beds weren’t good, and the blanket they gave us was old and in bad shape. The receptionist listened to our problems but didn’t offer any solutions.

For what it costs, this was honestly one of the worst hotels I’ve stayed in. The toilet didn’t work and the sink wouldn’t drain, so maintenance had to be called for both. The phone was out too, and I had to fix its cable. There was a disgusting fridge, mold in the shower, and the AC didn’t work. Wi-Fi was unusable, the bellboys were aggressive, and the smoke alarm was missing or rigged up.

The staff were very helpful and moved us to another room when we asked. It was quieter, had toilet paper, and the window could close. That was a relief, though the first night made for a rough start to our Egypt trip. We were staying at the Pharaos Hotel in Cairo overnight at the start of our journey, booked through our travel agency Djoser. The hotel is simple, and breakfast was surprisingly good, with flatbread, a fluffy omelette, and coffee or tea. From the breakfast area, you might see the Nile winding through the city if you can overlook the dusty windows. Dinner was less impressive. The restaurant had been praised in reviews, but we didn’t find it satisfying, and getting out to explore the city from this location isn’t easy. Our original room didn’t help: the beds were rock-hard, traffic noise came through a window that wouldn’t shut properly, there was no toilet paper, and a loud air conditioning unit next door started up every five minutes.

The staff were nice, but that was about the only good thing. Breakfast was disappointing, and I’d rate the hotel one or two stars at most, nowhere near three.