Sonesta St George Hotel Luxor

The staff were extremely kind and did everything they could to make our stay perfect. The breakfast buffet was spectacular, with a separate gluten-free bread section that we really appreciated. We also loved the excellent massages and our spacious room with its very comfortable beds. This really feels like a five-star hotel, and our days in Luxor were unforgettable. One thing left me with a bad feeling: at the hair salon, we were made to tip for each service and told exactly how much was expected. I found that inappropriate, especially with prices already at European levels. We didn’t get a chance to use the lovely pool or try the Japanese restaurant. The rest of the experience was fantastic, but because of the salon, I can’t give it five stars.

I’m giving this hotel two stars, one for the newly renovated rooms and one for the friendly staff. After our George 1 Nile boat trip, where everything was clean and perfectly fine in our upgraded room, we wanted to rest. That proved impossible here. Construction is underway on both sides of the pool, so relaxing there isn’t possible. The work regularly makes everything shake, and there’s a black curtain about four meters high in view. Grey, felt-like construction dust also covers the floor. For a five-star hotel, maintenance is lacking too. Several sunbeds are torn and stained with bird droppings. Fortunately, we get two towels each day to lay over the mattresses.

The renovation noise should have been clearly advertised. There’s major work going on, with banging and loud tools, especially disruptive around the pool and in the afternoons. On our third day, drilling, yelling and shaking walls woke us up. We were then given a complimentary room upgrade and dinner. The staff were a real bright spot. Basma at Reception was exceptionally professional and welcoming, and should be promoted. Myrna and Cathrine were very helpful too. Haney at the Travel Desk was a great help with tours, housekeeping kept the hotel very clean, and the restaurant’s morning team was professional. If you need a taxi, Samir is the best and won’t overcharge you. Our first room wasn’t up to the price: it had a broken lock, a leaking bathroom, an AC unit without numbers and a broken hairdryer. The renovated upgrade still had a leaking shower and unstable beds. The apology dinner became another problem when staff chased us to sign a bill for 4000+. They said, “we only need your signature.” At checkout at 6 am, the front desk tried to charge us, and we had to spend a long time explaining what had happened and who had offered the dinner. The evening restaurant service was poor.

The staff were awesome, and my room was very clean. The bed wasn’t especially comfortable, but I had no other complaints. Breakfast buffet was great, with good food and coffee. The laundry service was amazing and very fast. They cleaned and folded my clothes individually in plastic bags, and the same day they looked better than when I bought them, haha.