Dark and dingy
by Svitata about Hotel Cairo Khan
This is a very shabby hotel, dark, smoky and dingy. We were given a 2-bedroom "suite" but the condition of the room leaves much to be desired. The hotel is also located next to the main street and given the incessant honking that Egyptians so love to do, you will still hear the traffic and road noise even if you were wearing ear plugs. The room looked very 1970's and it probably has been the same way, without being maintained and upgraded since then....the only saving grace for this hotel is that it's cheap (but most definitely not worth the price during peak season) and the staff are quite friendly and helpful. I would not recommend this hotel at all. None.
Select a Hotel Near Mindan Tahrir
by atufft about Magic Hotel (no joke, that's the real name)
Magic Hotel wasn't in the Lonely Planet Guide, but it was consistent with the type of lower to middle end backpacker quality accomodations available in this part of town. This is a city with plenty of space and so there is not much need to book reservations in advance. In fact, we had tried to book a reservation in a Lonely Planet Guide recommended place, but at 10pm when we arrived, the reservation had not held up. But, just around the corner we found a very adequate place that had a shared bathroom and provided coffee, toast, and an hard-boiled egg in the morning. The beds were not the most comfortable, but we survived the night. The hotel also provided a courier to process our "international student ID" (we were actually not students) and train tickets for Aswan, which saved us a bundle of money throughout our stay in Egypt and saved us time. The hotel had an old cage style elevator and worn marble steps at the lobby leading to the street. We were able to easily walk to Mindan Tahrir, the city's tranportation hub for metro service and buses to Giza, as well as to the Egyptian Museum and Islamic Cairo. We did need a taxi to get to Ramses Train Station though as we took wheeled luggage, not backpacks. Our hotel was also close to many travel agencies, should additional help be required, which in our case meant getting a couple passport photos for the student ID. Now, we always carry extra passport photos for just such a possibility. Mostly I've described what you need to know, but if you want luxury stay on the islands in the Nile River area. The only problem I found with staying in this area, besides price, was the time and cost of getting to where the action is within the city itself. Thus, I recommend staying in a small hotel in the area of the Midan Tahrir traffic circle. Cairo is not just Giza, besides the great museum, Old Cairo, Islamic Cairo, Khan Al-Kalili, and Muhammad Ali Mosque were all seen within just a couple days, thanks to this great hotel location.
Cairo - Khan Elkhalili
by msgamal
Shoping in nice there, but you need to make alot of bargens, if they tell you that anything worth 100 Egyptian Pounds say 50 only and act like you are leaving . . . it works !
authentic atmosphere in Cairo
by songuldogan about Khan el Khalili
I have known that Khan Khalili is only a shopping place but one of my travel ý saw also very authentic restaurant inside the passage. Gifts, Papirus, hand mades, jevelerys, woman dress..etc. I saw a lot of Items and mostly ý make the gift shoppings from Khan, cause you can find various kind of gifts there. 100 Usd is fair enough to buy lots of different kind presents. silver suvenier, papirus, dress..etc.
Photos
Cairo - Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Cairo - Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Cairo - Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Cairo - Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Forum Posts
from Cairo's airport to centre and accomodation
by newsted1981
Hi, what's the best way and what's the price to go from Cairo's airport to the centre of the city?
Can anyone recommend a hotel of no more than 25 euros a day per person which is well located in Cairo?
Re: from Cairo's airport to centre and accomodation
by poupeeAztec
It depends on you really. Some people I met took a taxi and paid up to $20. I paid 3 EP from the airport to downtown Cairo by taking the local bus. Quite an experience!
Re: from Cairo's airport to centre and accomodation
by vdoortje
Goed cheap hotel is the Garden City House Hotel.
It is on the shore of the Nile right between the Nile Hilton and the Semiramis Intercontinental. 5* location for a budget price. Egyptian Museum a 5 minute walk away and the Metro Station of Cairo just behind the Hotel.
For more information see my Cairo pages.
Re: from Cairo's airport to centre and accomodation
by Hut2009
Outside of the International Terminal, a little to the right, you'll find the free shuttle bus that will bring you to the local bus station (last stop). There ask for the bus to Midan Tahreer(nobody speaks English). The fee is about LE 3.00.
From Midan Tahreer (Tahri Square), take one of the white taxis with the checkered lines. The have a working meter (make sure they swith the meter to LE 2.50, the minimum fare).
I recommend the hotel Nitocriss (corner of Mohammed Fareed street and 26 of July street). There is a kind of a shopping passage, enter the passage and take the door to the left, where you'll find the reception in the staircase.
Re: from Cairo's airport to centre and accomodation
by Hut2009
Outside of the International Terminal, a little to the right, you'll find the free shuttle bus that will bring you to the local bus station (last stop). There, ask for the bus to Midan Tahreer(nobody speaks English). The fee is about LE 3.00.
From Midan Tahreer (Tahrir Square), take one of the white taxis with the checkered lines. The have a working meter (make sure they swith the meter to LE 2.50, the minimum fare).
I recommend the hotel Nitocriss (corner of Mohammed Fareed street and 26 of July street, the taxi drives don't know the hotel name, ask for Cairo Khan Hotel and cross the street). There is a kind of a shopping passage, enter the passage and take the door to the left, where you'll find the reception in the staircase.
The hotel is old, but the rooms are large and clean. A room with ensuite bath should be between 10 and 15 EUR.
The hotel has mainly Egyptian and Arab guests, therefore people barely speak English.
Don't forget to tip the staff, they get no part of the service charge you have to pay.
