 | Siwa Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 15 |  |
Having perused the pictures over and over again prior to my visit, I had very high expectations for this property. I am happy to say the villa exceeded them all. From the moment the housekeeper, Muhammad, met us at the bus station to the moment we left, it was pure heaven. The price of accommodation includes groceries - milk, juice, yogurt, cheese, jams, butter, fresh fruit and vegetables and fresh bread every morning. I was a little overwhelmed!
The Siwa Villa is owned by Duncan and Penny, an English couple that live in Siwa with their four kids six months out of the year. The house is in a very convenient location for walking into town. It's close enough to make things easily accessible but far enough from the hustle and bustle of 'main street' - well, as much as you can 'bustle' in Siwa. It is spotless and well appointed with local furniture and crafts. There is a lot of attention to detail. Little things like the latches on the windows and doors and the 'reading lights' in the bedrooms (built behind almost transparent hardened salt) authenticate the experience and truly makes you feel like you're 'somewhere different'. The beds are extremely comfortable, which was a surprise to me considering the salt and stone rooms basically have kershef (a hardened salt and sand mixture) as the base for the mattresses. I hardly wanted to get out of bed in the morning! The shower was powerful with lots of hot water and had a spa-feel to it. Loved the faucet built right into the rock.
Penny and Duncan were in London when we visited but their house manager is always just a call away to arrange trips for you, and Duncan checks emaill regularly. Muhammad came every morning to check up on us (and bring bread lol) and came right away when our cooking gas ran out.
We had originally booked two days and stayed four; we couldn't get enough of the place. Having an entire house to yourself makes you feel like you're part of Siwan society. The neighbors are visible but not intrusive. You get a glimpse of a woman hanging out her washing as you're on the roof hanging yours and there's a friendly nod and brief connection. It is priceless.
Would I recommend it? Without reservation! Don't be intimidated by the price. Drop Duncan an email and see what happens. I can't wait to go again and this time, take my entire family.
The house built in the Siwan traditional style but with all the amenities of a Western home. The house is made of kershef, which is a mixture of mud and rock salt. The are four bedrooms, which all have themes. There is the Salt Room, the Stone Room, the Olive Room and the Palm Room, where the bunk beds are made of whole palm tree trunks! The rooms sleep ten people in total. There is a reading room, an outdoor steam room and a living space complete with dining table and fireplace. The kitchen is stocked with most everything you would ever need including condiments. There is no microwave. My favorite room is the bathroom. It's like stepping into a spa. I love all the little Siwan touches to the rooms in the house and the all the locally made Siwan handicrafts.
The rooftop is a work of wonder. I spent many a night here looking at the Shali ruins all lit up, or just taking in the atmosphere. There is a HUGE barbecue pit, which could be centerpiece of an amazing party with old and new friends. Other people have used the pit to cook an entire goat!
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 The Cleo at night by wwroamTheme: HostelPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: south of the main square.Phone: 4602148
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 View over Siwa from Shali by MalenaN
I can’t remember what I paid for the room (maybe 35 pounds) but there are rooms both with and without bathroom. There’s no single room with bathroom, so you have to pay for a double.
There are several things to choose from for breakfast. Nescafe, yoghurt and a big banana pancake are 10 pounds.
You can rent bicycles at Palm Tree. I paid 10 pounds for some hours.
Palm Tree organises tours in the surroundings, but if you want to go on a desert tour and sleep in the desert I recommend you to take another one. For the one Palm Tree organises no permit is needed and it is not going too far from Siwa and not to so many places. Theme: HotelPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: Sharia TorrarPhone: 046 - 460 2204Directions: Just southeast of the Central Market Square
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As from time to time i was following the Lonely planet guide but instead we found a better one, but it is in the book i think.
It is located just behind the corner of the market beside a small shop selling sodas and snacks.
Breakfast and dinner is served on the terrace, and the views are just perfect.
Perfect location
Friendly staff
Nice terrace
Beautifull views over the oasis Theme: HotelPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: Central marketDirections: Coming from the bus stop it is on the back left corner of the cetral market with perfect views from the terrace.
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 Arrival to the 'camp' by Enzyme_X
It was ment for us to sleep in the tent, but we all decided to sleep outside.
Only be aware: it can get very cold.
Stars are best seen after the moon-set when it gets really dark. You can hope to spot couple of comets too. Theme: Other
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 by wonga0
You can camp, stay inside a stone house or just let the starry sky be your blanket.
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 by travelife |
The hotel Kelani got a decent write-up in the guidebook and is handily situated at the corner of the square. And the room was nice enough, looking clean & with a little balcony, a good view: my Siwa header photo is taken from it.
Reader, I got bitten. By bedbugs. It was only the fact that I had come down with a case of the Rangoon Crut (Nurse! The screens!) -which I can't blame on them- that stopped me moving out pretty much the moment I woke up. And, on the unsavory subject of the rangoon crut, there was a decent en-suite WC and fully-functioning shower, hot water and everything.
The place advertises a roof-restaurant for breakfast but I saw no sign of any ongoing catering activity. Access via a flight of steps that are so irregularly pitched that they are a serious trip hazard. The fact that the water run-off in my bathroom was into the drain rather than out into the room must have been a lucky accident. The last straw was when they told me that they had to move me from my room to another which would be more expensive becuse it had a TV in it. I packed my bags and left.
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This hotel lies at the main square in the small town of Siwa. It has three floors and a roof terrace, where you can sit or dry your washed clothes.
The rooms have one, two or three beds. It is relatively clean and the staff is friendly. Bathrooms are all outside and the showers are hot and working. It could be a little bit noisy, because of the central location, but in Siwa in general there is not so much traffic.
Prices are per person, around 16 Pound Theme: HotelPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveDirections: Directly at the towns main square.
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 by wonga0 |
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