The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

With Egypt celebrating the end of
Ramadan and the five-day Eid feast, now is a great opportunity to pack your
bags and travel around the vast country. Egypt offers something for everyone
from the North Coast beaches to the Southern Nile-side hotels of Luxor and
Aswan. This is also a great time to help the country’s economy and tourism
industry.

Red Sea

Sharm El
Sheikh

This
glittery seaside promises to be crowded this year with its usual flashing
lights and upbeat music blaring along the very lively promenade of Naama Bay or
the chic area of SOHO Square. The Novotel Sharm offers a double room all
inclusive for 600LE, while the Jaz Belvedere offers a double room all inclusive
for 640LE. Situated right on Naama Bay, the Sofitel Sharm El Sheikh offers an incredible view
of the bay with four private beaches and a massive pool. A double room on an hb
basis will set you back 600LE.

This red
sea resort has something for everyone, including laidback dinners by the marina
or lively parties on the beach. For moderately priced accommodation, the Three Corners Rihana Resort offers double rooms
for 602LE on a b&b basis, while Dawar El Omda in Kafr El Gouna offers double
rooms at 700LE for Egyptians on a b&b basis, while foreigners pay 859LE. Mövenpick Gouna offers double rooms for 500LE per
person on a b&b basis.

Gouna’s
got several fun parties set up this Eid, including Refresh Pool Party at Club
88 (previously known as Club 360) on Wednesday, August 31st, featuring
resident DJ of Club Kalua Mykonos and the Awadi Brothers DJ Duo. The pool party
starts at 1PM, for reservations call 0100290509 or 012 288 5077.

 

Sahl
Hasheesh

Half an
hour away from Gouna is Sahl Hasheesh resort, one of Egypt’s most pristine
beaches, which will host the very fun beach party Technicolor Summer on Friday, September 2nd.
Organised by Event Republic, the party will feature DJ Amr Hosny, DJ Tito,
Nour Ashour and The Digital Monkeys and will start at noon and end at 10PM.
Bookings can be made via Tazkarty and Technicolor Summer Express party buses leave every forty five minutes from
Gouna’s Abu Tig Marina. For accommodation, Old Palace Hotel offers double rooms at 200LE per person, and single rooms for 300LE. Hotel bookings can be made via Tazkarty.

 

Hurghada

Hurghada
has a lot going for it, from its quality restaurants on the marina to the
beautiful Giftun Island just an hour off of the coast, and its lively nightlife
spots including Hed Kandi Beach Bar and Ministry of Sound Red Sea Club. The Hilton
Long Beach offers a double room all inclusive at 950LE for a sea
view and 850LE for a garden view, while Pyramisa Blue Lagoon offers a more moderate rate
of 760LE all inclusive, but is fully booked until September 2nd.

Marsa Alam

For a
stellar diving experience amidst white beaches, mangroves and some of the most
beautiful coral reefs in Egypt, Marsa Allam is where it’s at. For
accommodation, try Utopia Beach or Deep South Diving Centre. For more commercial
accommodation, try the Mövenpick El Quseir for 242LE on a b&b basis.

 

Nuweiba

If you’re
craving peaceful beaches with laidback people and simple huts, try one of these
recommended camps: Basata, Ananda, Bakraj3, Soft Beach, Freedom Camp, the Good Life and Edn. If you absolutely insist on staying in a
hotel, Habiba
Village offers a double room starting at 176LE per person on a
b&b basis and Mövenpick Resort Taba offers a double room for
389LE all inclusive.

If you’re planning on spending
the day at Castle Zaman, be sure to call a day in advance to
book their slow-roast dinner, as they’re usually full to capacity during eid
holidays. The minimum charge at Castle Zaman is 120LE, and you are refused
entry unless you pay it at the gate.

Dahab

If diving
the blue hole and lazing on cushions by the sea is more your thing, Dahab is
full of great restaurant spots and diving centres. The Iberotel offers a very pricey double room at
750LE on an hb basis for Egyptians, while foreigners pay 875LE. For a cheaper
option, try La
Reine at 150LE for Egyptians on a b&b basis, while foreigners
pay 875LE.

Just two and a half hours from
Cairo, the North Coast is lined with beach resorts and hotels, where you can
enjoy the white sands and Mediterranean waves.

If you’re
looking for a hotel, we recommend Al Alamein Hotel in Marassi (formerly known as Sidi Abdel Rahman), one of
the most beautiful bays on the North Coast. A double room will cost you between
2300LE and 2600LE, while a three-bedroom villa will cost 4500LE.

Further
up the coast, Ghazala Bay offers two-bedroom chalets for 1000LE, while a double
room will cost 1550LE. Jaz Almaza Beach Resort offers double rooms at
1800LE on a b&b basis, and is worth the long drive out for its several
swimming pools, long beach street and fun beach activities.

If you’re more of the marina type person, try Ocean Blue Marina,
where a four-person room sells for 3000LE on a b&b basis. The hotel is
fully booked until September 2nd. Porto Marina is also fully booked until September
2nd, offers rates of 1700LE for a double room with a pool view or 2500LE for a
double room with a sea view.

Montazah Resort offers more moderate prices, at 450LE per day for a flat, or
392LE for a chalet near the pool. For more information call 0464102333. Lotus
Resort offers a two-bedroom chalet for 750LE and a duplex villa for 950LE. To
book, call 0116658193.

Luxor/Aswan

Thinking of heading down south? Aswan is an
attractive destination with its beautiful riverside hotels and Pharaonic
temples galore. Basma Hotel offers double rooms at 500LE for
Egyptians and 595LE for foreigners while the Mövenpick Resort Aswan offers a double room for
275LE per person on an hb basis.

You can always stay on the Pyramisa Isis Island Resort for 200LE for a
double room. Alternatively, you could stay at the beautiful Nubian hotel Anakato at
691LE for a double room on an hb basis, which you can book easily online.

If you
prefer Luxor’s lush green islands and beautiful Nile sunsets, try the Sonesta St.
George Hotel for 380LE for a double room on a b&b basis for
Egyptians, while foreigners pay 476LE. Maritim Jollie Ville Kings Island offers a double
room for 550LE, while single rooms cost 460LE.

Cairo

Staying
in Cairo this Eid? Have no fear; there are plenty of sweet deals to keep you
pampered. The Kempinski Nile Hotel offers a eid package
from August 30 till September 1st, where visitors staying in junior suits
will be given a 300LE voucher for the spa. Blue restaurant offers a eid
breakfast buffet for 179LE, and an all-day European buffet for 269LE.

In
Heliopolis, the Fairmont offers a special eid package of 890LE
for a single room, and 990LE for a double, including breakfast and a 20%
discount on all meals. Holiday Inn Citystars offers a double room for
350LE per person on a b&b basis.

In Garden
City, the Four Seasons Nile Plaza offers a Nile view suite
for 1777LE including room-service dining from any restaurants, private spa
treatments and breakfast in bed. The offer is valid from August 30th till the
end of September.

The Semiramis Intercontinental offers two nights’
accommodation for 1999LE on an hb basis, and a family lunch at Night & Day
for 350LE for two adults and two children.

There you have it Cairo! Have a
happy holiday and travel safely!

*hb: half board  
b&b: bed and breakfast