Best and Worst - Hotels in Egypt

Having travelled the length and width of Egypt roughly 7,000km, I feel I'm in a position to give information on what I found to be the best and the worst hotels in Egypt.

Best hotel in Egypt
Iberhotel - Luxor: $100 per night. View over the Nile. 10 minute walk into town, what more could you ask for?

Shot of the Iberhotel Luxor

Book Here:-  Iberhotel Luxor

Worst hotel in Egypt
Hyatt - Cairo: $400 per night. Rude service. Domineering attitude. Made life difficult at every opportunity. A poor choice for any non-arab staying in Cairo. 

Hyatt Cairo

Book Here:-

Happy Easter from the Dead Sea!

Here's a couple of pictures to remind you what I look like!

 

 

 

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No Rocks for Mikey

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No rocks for me.

After some credit card overheating problems, I've decided to cut my loses and move on to the site of Petra, which is one of the main sites and named one of the 7 wonders of the world.

Currently stationed at the Marriott, Petra after a 3-4 hour dolmus trip costing 5JD Jordanian Dinars.

1JD = 0.75GBP So that works out pretty cheap, about £4.

Tomorrow I'll be exploring one of the most exciting sites in the middle east.

Marriott Petra Jordan

Jordan border crossing

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Am now in Aquaba Jordan after a slightly prolonged stay in Israel.

Border Problems

Got delayed which led to a late arrival at the Jordanian border, which is pretty close about 8KM from Egypt.

I was delayed and the border closed @ 8pm.

I had to wait till 6am the next morning on the benches outside the border crossing.

The border crossing itself was like something from the iron curtain; all landmine strips, watchtowers and dogs.

Made for a memorable crossing, got to wonder through Elat prime Israel resort, visit Herod's or the King's Resort a cultural head ducking for a Christian. The fact that the Jews celebrate this King who almost destroyed our King and Saviour as well as murdering a load of his own, innocent people in the process seems slightly alien, to say the least.

I'm sure many Christians would be outraged by the existence of a Herod's, and is really not something to celebrate. Still, we'll be back in Israel and we can delve into that deeper later.

Monkeys bar

Took this picture from outside the Monkeys bar Elat, on the promenade you can find top hotels, eateries, stalls with candy floss, designer goods, bits and pieces and lots of Jewish youths wandering around.

Monkeys bar - Elat, Israel

Aquaba

Have eventually reached Aquaba.

Have to arrange a tour for tomorrow, to a site know as Wadi-rum, a geo-wonderland explored by camel incorporating some spectacular rock formations in desert climate which should be fun. I'm into my rocks.

Luxor

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It is 13hr 514 mile drive to Luxor, during which I only witness two crashes, not bad by North African standards.

Iberhotel Luxor

Am now stationed at the Iberhotel, by far the cheapest hotel I've stayed in so far at about £50 per night.

The room directly overlooks the Nile.

I feel fairly exhausted.

Nile view

Pyramids - Egypt

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Giza to be exact.

Had a two hour drive from Alexandria along a refreshingly safe, (by Egyptian standards), toll road. People weren't overtaking and undertaking at the same time while beeping their horns like the organised chaos of Alexandria.

Of course, all that came to an end as soon as we reached Cairo and the incessant lane changing and horn sounding began, again. Bonza.

Mena house Oberoi

Found this hotel. It's right outside the Pyramids and it looks like I can walk from the car.

Here's a view from my window.

Mena House Hotel

The Mena House Oberoi costs 155 euro per night. Reasonable but without breakfast. I've got laundry to do tomorrow, and the concierge tells me there isn't one in this area, plus Giza is 2 or 3 miles out of Cairo proper so I may be seeking accommodation nearer the centre tomorrow.

Historical Hotel

I've just been watching the welcome video, something I seem to be doing more and more nowadays, and it seems the Mena House has a rich and refined history:

This is a shortened list of awards.

1. Best Hotels for Service in Africa, Middle East and the Indian Ocean (Ranked 3rd) - Condé Nast Traveler, USA, Gold List 2006
2. Best Hotels in Middle East and Africa (Ranked 5th)-Condé Nast Traveler, Gold List 2004
3. Best Hotels for Location (Ranked 13th)-Condé Nast Traveller, Gold List 2005
4. 500 Best Hotels in the World -Travel + Leisure 2003
5. Most Exclusive Hotels in the World -The Most Exclusive Hotels in the World Guide Book 2003
6. Best Landscaped Garden in Egypt -Ministry of Environment, Egypt 2002

As well as this Mena House has hosted peace talks, regality, becoming a field hospital during the great wars, building a golf course which is quite funny and very English, if you think about playing 18 holes to a backdrop of the Pyramids.

This is all reflected in with pictures of Churchill, Roosevelt, King Farouk dotted around the place.

Lost on me

My bed was turned down, and they'd left some oranges out for me, and some cookies. Ahhhh.

Caught up

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First rule of working while on the road, always stay at the best hotel you can afford. 2- Never fall behind with your blogging. It's not big and it's not clever. So I've caught up.

Here's my final blog of the day from the Four Seasons, Alexandria.

I've never stayed in a Four Seasons before, although, I have memories of the one in Sultanhamet and the staff coming out to take photo's for us when we were all backpackers with no money. This was at the start of my travelling phase in 2001.

I tried to stay in one once in Sydney so this is the first time I've tried and succeeded.

Here's a video taken from the entrance to the breakfast area, restaurant section.

Note cheeping birds piped music in the background. Authentic rainforest from what I can make out.

Verdict

The ambience is one of complete luxury and relaxation. The service is second to none. The prices are astronomical.

Moved Hotel

That's right, moved Hotel from Hilton to SAS.

The Raddison's located right on the beach away from the flight paths of all approaching aircraft so is slightly quieter.

The balconies looking out on the sea. Here's a quick shot and fix.

It's about 20km from Sharm.

Prices are about $110 per night cheaper than Hilton.

There are five restaurants, from a French and European buffet to a couple of al-la-carte ones including a fish restaurant.

The picture taken was a view from my balcony looking over the island Tarin.

Bar Accommodation - Montenegro

Accommodation Problems

Temporarily solved.

Found a nice, fresh hotel in Bar. It's been OK as a base for a little travelling without the stresses of finding accommodation at the end of the night.

The Hotel Princess is round the corner from the harbour.
Overlooking the breakwater and early morning sailing from Bari, Italy. Just as the sun comes up.

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http://www.azalea-hotels.com/hotel_montenegro_princess_bar.php

Accommodation - Budva

Since arriving in Montenegro, most of my time has been spent looking for accommodation.

Early riser
Spoke to girl last night at Fisherman's Cafe, who told me the season ends when October begins.

Spent last night in the Blue Star hotel. You might check them. They have 3 hotels in the Budva region. The Montenegro, The Blue Star and the Splendid.

Am in the Splendid at the moment. It is the only hotel I've stayed in to have piped TV in the bathroom, apart from Caesar's Palace. Aside from that, it's part of the group and I managed to check all three from the Blue Star.

I've marked the blue star on the map for your interest.

http://www.montenegrostars.com/

Blue Star - Budva

Hotel Intercontinental

Holed up in the intercontinental, renamed the continental (for political reasons our bus driver told us), it's 90 euros a night.

Inter-continental Belgrade

It's a good standard of hotel a short walk from the city center.

Kelvin Hotel - Invercargill

Petrol tank gauge is showing empty and I just make it into the Invercargill before the Hog starts spluttering.

Find this hotel. It’s called the Kelvin.

It’s cheap $104. When I go to the room, there are some French journalists broadcasting something from the lobby window using a laptop and a satellite phone.

Burn

When I look in the mirror I realise I have got a sunburnt face.

My hands are burnt as well.

Will have to remember sun cream for the long rides.

Broadband
The hotel has broadband so I can get some work done in the morning.

Weblinks: Kelvin Hotel - Invercargill

Lodging at - CP Queenstowm

Now lodging at the Crown Plaza, Queenstown.

View from Crown Plaza, Queenstown, New Zealand

Here is a view from my window.

Hog is parked safetly outside.

Weblinks: Crown Plaza, Queenstown