Middle East - Anthony Ham [127]
Philippe Hotel (Map; /fax 238 0050; Sharia Dr Labib Habashi; s US$20-35, d US$30-50; ) While the Philippe’s foyer is a ornate gallery of Egyptian artefacts and knick-knacks, the rooms are decidedly less elaborate. Still, they’re comfortable enough and if you go for a deluxe room you’ll get polished floorboards and some extra pine furniture thrown in. There’s a rooftop pool here and discounts are often available.
New Pola Hotel (Map; 227 5081; www.newpolahotel.com; Sharia Khalid ibn al-Walid; s/d E£150/200; ) Officially a three-star hotel, the amenities here flirt with four-star hotel standards and include a rooftop swimming pool, 24-hour room service and a pleasant downstairs restaurant and bar. Rooms from the 4th floor up have top Nile views, and while bordering on kitsch, all come with satellite TV, comfortable pink beds and other mod cons. Great value.
Morris Hotel (Map; www.hotelmorrisluxor.com; 227 9833; Sharia Ali Ibn Abu Talib; s/d E£170/250; ) Don’t let the overdone green marble and faux gold-leaf in the foyer put you off – the rooms at the four-star Morris take it easier on the glitz and are actually pretty smart. Abodes all come with satellite TV, a safe, full-sized baths and a mini-bar. There’s an astroturf rooftop café here with a decent-sized pool next to it boasting great views and muzak on tap.
Top End
Sofitel Karnak (off Map; 237 8020; www.sofitel.com; Sharia Az-Zinai Gebly; r US$120-250; ) This mammoth hotel lies sheltered among lush gardens several kilometres north of Karnak temple. A tranquil refuge from the bustle of town, the Moorish-inspired architecture and abundant greenery do wonders for its appeal. The garden bungalows here have all the expected mod cons, and extras include several restaurants, bars and cafés, a riverside pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, gym, tennis/squash courts and even a nearby golf course. Shuttle buses do pick-ups and drop-offs to and from town.
Old Winter Palace Hotel (Map; 238 0422; www.accorhotels.com; Corniche el-Nil; r Pavilion Bldg US$135-400, old wing US$250-1250; ) This dainty Victorian relic on the Corniche, set amidst sprawling manicured gardens, is a significant monument in its own right. Built to house and impress visiting European nobility, the spectacularly adorned foyer and towering hallways alone are the stuff of legend. The new Pavilion Building in the garden is home to 118 comfortable rooms overlooking the large pool area, while the rooms in the old wing are much smaller, with half of them flaunting Nile views.
New Winter Palace Hotel (Corniche el-Nil; r US$95-135) Adjoining its older namesake, this hotel is package-tour territory, proffering 136 rooms that are sorely in need of a refit. Breakfast costs an extra E£81 to E£110.
West Bank
Budget
Marsam Hotel (Map; 237 2403; marsam@africamail.com; Gurna; s/d E£70/140, without bathroom E£45/90) Marsam easily scoops the ‘best budget hotel on the west bank’ plaudit. Built in the 1920s to house visiting archaeologists, the rooms at this tranquil hotel are simple, but kept faultlessly clean. The whole mud-brick building stays refreshingly cool in summer and there’s a beautiful garden café overlooking a lush carpet of rice paddies. As a bonus, these guys support up-and-coming local artists, often displaying their works throughout the hotel. Reservations are a must. Situated near the Temple of Merneptah.
El-Gezira Hotel (Map; 231 0034; www.el-gezira.com; Al-Gezira; s/d with air-con E£70/100; ) Though showing its age, El-Gezera remains a popular west bank budget fave. Rooms all have air-con and are kept in good nick, with several boasting balconies overlooking the Nile. A fresh orange-on-orange paint job helps spruce the place up a little, and the relaxed lagoon-side café is ideal for an afternoon shai – though mosquitoes muster here in the