Anyone been to Cairo?

[Major Nikon]

I'm thinking about going there this year. My preference is to stay in a hotel on the Nile. I'm looking for someone with some inside knowledge.

(Shamelessly crossposted in the Travel group)

[ohiosmith]

1. Yes but didn't stay in a hotel. I was on a cruise. Sorry!

[frogmarch]

2. I have.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo,_Nebraska

When you're there, be sure to pronounce it correctly as KER-oh.

[dana_b]

3. yes but it was years ago

and we didn't stay on the Nile. Sorry. The place we stayed was on the west bank but God if I could remember the name now. It may not even be there anymore for all I know.

[KamaAina]

4. Yeah. My Mom.

She stayed at one of the U.S. name-brand hotels, I think the Marriott. Must've been interesting reading the Book of Mormon in a Muslim country!

[Kali]

5. my sister would rec

the Hotel Longchamps

http://hotellongchamps.com/

not that she's tried any others I think, but 5 trips and it is a favorite

...located in the Zamalek district, an island in the middle of the Nile. This residential and sought after neighborhood was developed in the 1860’s after the opening of the Suez Canal. Around the Hotel Longchamps you will see the old villas and gardens from that period. It is a safe upscale district and from here you can walk to the Egyptian museum. At sunset just across from the island, you can cruise on one of our local sailboats called”Felukas”, a perfect way to end the day before a good and quiet night sleep at the Hotel Longchamps.

[Major Nikon]

8. Sounds perfect for what I'm looking for

I'll check it out

[sarge43]

6. Recommend Luxor instead of Cairo.

Much more to see - The Temple of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings

[Major Nikon]

9. We'll be going there too

But at least for now the plan is to spend at least a couple of days going through the Egyptian Museum, and maybe more.

[sarge43]

12. Do try to spend a day at The Valley. It's another world. n/t

[madinmaryland]

7. It's a dumpy small city on the banks of the Mississippi. Though it's been 35 years

since I was there, so it could have changed.

[Phentex]

14. We have one in Georgia and it's pronounced Kay-ro...

fun places!

[Burma Jones]

16. I was there 16 years ago, and it was as you described

[Mira]

10. I thought you would never ask - I was there in 2007 or 2008

From hundreds and more I just threw a dart,
the first one is near Tahrir Square, the second off the top walkway of a mosque, and the third one a rare photo of myself in the desert.

I did not stay in a hotel. I was with friends. At the Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square, also where the Nile goes through Cairo, I saw some huge hotels with American names.

I hung around the back alleys a lot, as I am likely to do, shooting photos like a lunatic. I had two large male protectors, they were needed just to calm me down. It was not dangerous really, just so very very unexpectedly beautiful and poverty stricken and different. The people were marvelous and friendly and all greeted me in English.

Send me a pm with questions if you like. If you don't let me suggest you stay at a place with some reputation, don't save money on the hotel. Then you can have a "safe" refuge from which to explore. The Pyramids are very close by, so is the Sphynx. Being in Cairo was one of the highlights of my life.

[trof]

11. Many times back when I was flying..

The crew always stayed at the Heliopolis Sheraton near the airport.
It was very nice, but you'd probably like something more in the middle of things.
The Nile Hilton was also very posh.
Have fun, but keep an eye on the political situation there.

[LibertyLover]

13. Yes, several times

I've stayed at the Nile Hilton, the Sheraton, the Meridian and one or two others. Of them all, the Hilton was my favorite. The front faces the Nile and you go out the back door and you aren't far from Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum. Have a good time.

[bikebloke]

15. Always so close, but too poor.

I worked on a moshav in the Negev (earlier on a kibbutz further north), but never could afford the trip. Merde. This was back in the early 80's.

The Guardian has a piece about tourism in Egypt today:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/19/egypt-tourism-visitor-numbers-collapse