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Advice on Hotels in Luxor
I am booked to go to Egypt in June and was due to stay in Luxor for 4 days..
The hotel i am booked in is the Old Winter Palace and ive heard this is a really good hotel to stay in.. I have recently been informed by my tour operator that the pool is closed at this hotel between May and July...We have been given the option to swap hotels..one of the options being the Le Meridian....or they will bus us to the Karnak Sofitel for the use of there pool. Has anyone got any advice on weather we should stay put in the Old Winter palace or swap to the Le Meridian?.. Does anyone know how far the Sofitel is from the Winter Palace? Thanks... |
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Advice on Hotels in Luxor
Stayed there in June 1995 (yes it was a long time ago), quite simply the
best address in Luxor - they even have guided tours around the hotel for non-residents! The foyer seems to be frozen in time from the thirties, the corridors upstairs are wide like on the upper decks on some bygone ocean liner replete with antique chairs, sofa's and oils. They have afternoon tea, cocktail parties, shorts and swimwear are not allowed to be worn inside and the pool table in the bar is only for use of guests of the old wing. The 1886 restaurant has to be booked in advance but the other eateries on site are still excellent. When I stayed the pool was open, they are usually serviced earlier in the year and was still the case in 1998 when I returned, though then I stayed at the Hilton - not in the same league. GO! Stay at the OWP and have a great time! Colin. ps, Remember to tip - little and often! -- Remove the 'old' to reply to me. Watashi no tsuma wa nihon-jin desu! Watashi no tsuma wa kawaii desu! |
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Advice on Hotels in Luxor
Fafnir wrote:
All I can say is that if I had 4 days to spend in Luxor, I'd never notice if the pool were open or not. There are pools all over the world; Karnak and the Valley of the Kings are unique. Yes, but after spending hours touring the area, do you not think it would be a nice idea to have a pool to relax in? The sites aren't going to disappear while they are in the pool. |
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Advice on Hotels in Luxor
Actually the Winter Palace is a fairly split hotel. A few of the rooms
are in the old section and are pretty much from the 1950's. Alongside and connecting there is a new Pavilion wing with far less character and far more luxury. It's a neat place to stay. Personally I would usually recommend seedy character over modern luxury. However I'm the type who isn't sure where the Winter Palace pool is after staying there for 3 days a couple of years ago. If they are going to give you a room with AC then stay there. 40 years ago I stayed there in August without AC & it was very difficult. I have no idea how much they have upgraded the rooms in the old part. I got some glimpses but they looked pretty original. Nicola Earl wrote: I am booked to go to Egypt in June and was due to stay in Luxor for 4 days.. The hotel i am booked in is the Old Winter Palace and ive heard this is a really good hotel to stay in.. I have recently been informed by my tour operator that the pool is closed at this hotel between May and July...We have been given the option to swap hotels..one of the options being the Le Meridian....or they will bus us to the Karnak Sofitel for the use of there pool. Has anyone got any advice on weather we should stay put in the Old Winter palace or swap to the Le Meridian?.. Does anyone know how far the Sofitel is from the Winter Palace? Thanks... |
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Advice on Hotels in Luxor
I might add that we are staying in the Pavillion area of the hotel.. it
seems to almost have a class oriented system.. if you're staying in the Old Wing you get to eat in the old wing (and get to use the pool table like you mention) and if you're staying in the Pavillion Wing, you have to eat in another restaurant and get the scraps.. thats what it seems like to me whilst reading the reviews.. For this reason, we're seriously considering changing to Le Meridien... it seems as though we're not really staying in the Old Winter Palace anyway.. and coupled with the fact that the pool is out of order also, I think this is what we might do.. we can always go there for dinner or lunch anyway.. Has anyone stayed in the Pavillion rooms who can comment? Thanks "Col" wrote in message news:tRRnc.7471$7S2.4153@newsfe1-win... Stayed there in June 1995 (yes it was a long time ago), quite simply the best address in Luxor - they even have guided tours around the hotel for non-residents! The foyer seems to be frozen in time from the thirties, the corridors upstairs are wide like on the upper decks on some bygone ocean liner replete with antique chairs, sofa's and oils. They have afternoon tea, cocktail parties, shorts and swimwear are not allowed to be worn inside and the pool table in the bar is only for use of guests of the old wing. The 1886 restaurant has to be booked in advance but the other eateries on site are still excellent. When I stayed the pool was open, they are usually serviced earlier in the year and was still the case in 1998 when I returned, though then I stayed at the Hilton - not in the same league. GO! Stay at the OWP and have a great time! Colin. ps, Remember to tip - little and often! -- Remove the 'old' to reply to me. Watashi no tsuma wa nihon-jin desu! Watashi no tsuma wa kawaii desu! |
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Advice on Hotels in Luxor
No. Actually the Pavilion is the new wing of the hotel and would
generally be considered the more desirable part (i.e. not run down). I don't know about eating but we did have afternoon tea in the old section. Moderate tea but interesting. I would stay there after being there. My room was nice and overlooked the Nile. You could see some of the ruins of Luxor Temple from the balcony. However my taste in hotels does not run to pools so you may disagree. The Meridian is a bit more central although since it is shaped like a C facing the river the view will be more problematic. It is probably a bit more deluxe but not as classy. Nicola Earl wrote: I might add that we are staying in the Pavillion area of the hotel.. it seems to almost have a class oriented system.. if you're staying in the Old Wing you get to eat in the old wing (and get to use the pool table like you mention) and if you're staying in the Pavillion Wing, you have to eat in another restaurant and get the scraps.. thats what it seems like to me whilst reading the reviews.. For this reason, we're seriously considering changing to Le Meridien... it seems as though we're not really staying in the Old Winter Palace anyway.. and coupled with the fact that the pool is out of order also, I think this is what we might do.. we can always go there for dinner or lunch anyway.. Has anyone stayed in the Pavillion rooms who can comment? Thanks "Col" wrote in message news:tRRnc.7471$7S2.4153@newsfe1-win... Stayed there in June 1995 (yes it was a long time ago), quite simply the best address in Luxor - they even have guided tours around the hotel for non-residents! The foyer seems to be frozen in time from the thirties, the corridors upstairs are wide like on the upper decks on some bygone ocean liner replete with antique chairs, sofa's and oils. They have afternoon tea, cocktail parties, shorts and swimwear are not allowed to be worn inside and the pool table in the bar is only for use of guests of the old wing. The 1886 restaurant has to be booked in advance but the other eateries on site are still excellent. When I stayed the pool was open, they are usually serviced earlier in the year and was still the case in 1998 when I returned, though then I stayed at the Hilton - not in the same league. GO! Stay at the OWP and have a great time! Colin. ps, Remember to tip - little and often! -- Remove the 'old' to reply to me. Watashi no tsuma wa nihon-jin desu! Watashi no tsuma wa kawaii desu! |
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Advice on Hotels in Luxor
Nicola Earl wrote:
I am booked to go to Egypt in June and was due to stay in Luxor for 4 days.. The hotel i am booked in is the Old Winter Palace and ive heard this is a really good hotel to stay in.. I have recently been informed by my tour operator that the pool is closed at this hotel between May and July...We have been given the option to swap hotels..one of the options being the Le Meridian....or they will bus us to the Karnak Sofitel for the use of there pool. Has anyone got any advice on weather we should stay put in the Old Winter palace or swap to the Le Meridian?.. Does anyone know how far the Sofitel is from the Winter Palace? Thanks... I stayed in a very nice small hotel in Luxor, think the name was Ramses Hotel. If I remember I'll check it up and get back with more info. This hotel has a nice pool where I enjoyed many cold Stella. /Anders -- Remove the obvious part before replying by mail please! |
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Advice on Hotels in Luxor
In article , Nisse PowerMan
writes Nicola Earl wrote: I am booked to go to Egypt in June and was due to stay in Luxor for 4 days.. The hotel i am booked in is the Old Winter Palace and ive heard this is a really good hotel to stay in.. I have recently been informed by my tour operator that the pool is closed at this hotel between May and July...We have been given the option to swap hotels..one of the options being the Le Meridian....or they will bus us to the Karnak Sofitel for the use of there pool. Has anyone got any advice on weather we should stay put in the Old Winter palace or swap to the Le Meridian?.. Does anyone know how far the Sofitel is from the Winter Palace? Thanks... I stayed in a very nice small hotel in Luxor, think the name was Ramses Hotel. If I remember I'll check it up and get back with more info. This hotel has a nice pool where I enjoyed many cold Stella. /Anders -Staying at The Old Winter Palace is an unforgettable experience...the rest are just hotels! Enjoy - mikeandpambird |
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Advice on Hotels in Luxor
Nisse PowerMan wrote:
Nicola Earl wrote: I am booked to go to Egypt in June and was due to stay in Luxor for 4 days.. The hotel i am booked in is the Old Winter Palace and ive heard this is a really good hotel to stay in.. I have recently been informed by my tour operator that the pool is closed at this hotel between May and July...We have been given the option to swap hotels..one of the options being the Le Meridian....or they will bus us to the Karnak Sofitel for the use of there pool. Has anyone got any advice on weather we should stay put in the Old Winter palace or swap to the Le Meridian?.. Does anyone know how far the Sofitel is from the Winter Palace? Thanks... I stayed in a very nice small hotel in Luxor, think the name was Ramses Hotel. If I remember I'll check it up and get back with more info. This hotel has a nice pool where I enjoyed many cold Stella. /Anders Sorry, I checked and Ramses Hotel was in Aswan. In Luxor I stayed at Windsor Hotel, a very nice small place with pool and Stella beer. I made some notes from my visit: The references to the LP guide is about the 5:th edition. ------------------------------------ In Luxor I stayed at Windsor Hotel. This was the best of all hotels I stayed at during my two trips to Egypt in 2002 and 2003 (Two stars only). Windsor Luxor was more modern and focused at the international tourists, and they have a small but nice pool. The AC compressor was switched off and all controls had been removed so first thing I had to do was to call for the chief engineer. He came and fixed the AC. I showed him the water tube for water evacuation – and he knew what to do in order to avoid flooding my room. Now a multi-toolkit would have been handy if the chief engineer would not have been available and so obliging. The AC was efficient and could cool down the room in no time. This hotel also has a rooftop bar and some type of very small pool there too. I’m not sure if it is decoration or really of any practical use. However, the main pool was absolutely wonderful for a short swim and then a cold Stella (8.50 EGP) after a walk around the hot sunny Luxor. I really recommend this hotel; the location is near the Nile, near Luxor Museum and on walking distance from the train station. My price was 20 EGP for the first night on the voucher I got in Ramses Hotel, Aswan. Then I paid 60 EGP each night; total price for three nights was 140 EGP, breakfast and all taxes included. Other tourists that came to Windsor reception and asked for the price was told it cost 80 EGP per night. The price list in my room said 45 USD, which at that time (March 2002) was about 185 EGP, per night. The travel agent called me in the hotel and wanted to make some arrangements, but I was not interested as I can do that easily myself. He could arrange some trips, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, bla, bla and bla. I told him I already done that. ‘But the room? I can arrange for more nights.’ I told him I already done that. ‘But how? What did you pay?’ Then I told him I paid the same as he arranged for the first night – 20 EGP and that got him silent. Windsor Hotel is on 20 to 25 minutes walking distance from the train station, at normal pace. Eating out: Warning! The rice is not always cleaned from sand and small stones. Don’t bite too hard or you may damage your teeth. I liked Ali Baba Restaurant. It is an open-air restaurant upstairs so you have a grand view of the street life below. First time there I had Limejuice, Mint tea, Salad (= bread and Tahina), the price was 10 EGP. Another time I went to Ali Baba I had Moussaka, Fresh Limejuice, Bread and Mint Tea, all in all I paid 15 EGP. Ali Baba Restaurant is near the mosque in Luxor Temple, Abu Al Haggag and the mosque outside the temple, Luxor Temple Mosque. These two mosques had a fierce duel as I had dinner. Luxor Temple Mosque started 10 s ahead of Abu Al Haggag. Abu Al Haggag though had a much stronger amplifier and it seemed to be child's play, but then something went wrong. Right on the finish as they pumped up the volume on maximum the amplifier went into clipping and after a few staccato screams went dead silent and remained so, which was good for my digestion. Luxor Wena Hotel has a nice garden restaurant. I had Nicosia Salad, Water, and Mint Tea and paid 12 EGP. Their menu is extensive and service was good and so was the food. Shopping: Again film rolls were wrong priced. In Luxor they tried to charge me 17 EGP but I refused. Buy film while in Cairo! Outside the Karnak Temple I went to a tourist shop for some new film. They tried to charge 25 EGP for a single roll. Again I told them my story about 10 EGP in Cairo, I offered him 15 EGP and he accepted that for one roll Kodak Gold 200-36. Near Emilio Hotel I found a photo shop with no bull**** attitude. Kodak Gold 200-36 was 15 EGP. A bookshop in Luxor Tourist Centre charged 16 EGP for the same film; it’s all about finding the real shops, where Egyptians shop themselves. Sightseeing: Luxor Museum is nice and well kept. I spent an hour there (12.00 – 13.00) and it was well spent time. However the tourist shop people were far less pleasant. I asked for a film roll, Kodak Gold 36-200 and they tried to rip me off, asking for 20 EGP. When I told them I could by the same film at 10 EGP in Cairo they hurried to close and lock up the shop. The Mummification Museum is an underground building on the Corniche. Price was 20 EGP and the exhibition was interesting and well maintained with information text in English. After the mummy exhibition I went to the Luxor Temple, but it was a disappointment in several ways. There were too many baksheesh hungry scam pilots, too many people in general and no good light at this time of day for my photo session. The good surprise was how beautiful and solemn the place went after the sun set and the yellow-orange light was switched on. Entrance was 20 EGP. Entrance for Karnak Temple was 20 EGP. It was on the limit for walking distance from Windsor Hotel where I stayed. There is a very good information board with aerial photo of Luxor - Karnak just inside the gates of Karnak Temple. As I studied the photo I overheard a self-styled scam tout guide who lied to the tourists that hired him. He pointed at Luxor Temple on the board and said ‘This is Mut Temple’. (Well, lie or not, he was either lying or did not know, both are equally serious.) I quickly double-checked with my excellent LP guide (5:th edition) and it was clear that he was totally wrong, and so I told him and the two tourists. He went absolutely furious; it was interesting to see the mimics of his face – and the two tourists. He told me not to interfere with his guiding. Then I told them that the guide was wrong and showed them my map and correlated to the huge aerial photo. He quickly dragged the two tourists away further into the central parts of Karnak Temple, almost with a thundercloud visible over his head, just like in the cartoons. At least it made my day… The size of everything in Karnak temple is impressing even though most is ruined. I think it is well worth a visit, you need to relax so spend 2-3 hours there. Valley of the Kings: Start early, it can get hot in Luxor even in March! I got out around 07.00 in the morning. On the other hand you need to spend so much time on the West Bank so it really don’t matter that much. The local village ferry right across Luxor Temple was good enough. I decided from start to rent a bicycle for the day and the price should be around 5 EGP. Already on the ferry I got some unpleasant types following me. The fat guy wanted me to go in his taxi, the thin one wanted me to rent his bike at 10 EGP, but I said no thanks. The ferry went quick to the West Bank (see map page 272-272) and I hurried away from all scam touts. I started to think about how to get a bike when a boy on bike asked me – Do you want to rent a bike or not? Hm, maybe, what’s the price? His name was Mohammad and his shop was Mohammads Bicycle – of course. We made a deal on 5 EGP for the day. I only had 10 EGP notes so he left to change to small money while I adjusted the seat. He found no change, handed me back the money and told me I could pay later as I returned! Now just head straight on! Soon you will enter a village, cross a small canal and come to a four road crossing (see the Luxor West Bank map on page 283). This is New Qurna, just head straight on. Within about 2 km you will have Colossi of Memnon on the right side. The statues are in a very bad shape however and not much to see. After about another km you come to a T-crossing. Here are the ticket offices in the building on the left side. Remember to buy all tickets needed including camera ticket, there are no ticket offices at the sites! I just bought a three-tomb ticket for Valley of the Kings (20 EGP) and no camera ticket (10 EGP each). One of the self-named guides grunted a little as I took a picture later in a tomb. A good advice is to split the day in half and spend the lunchtime resting in a small but nice garden restaurant. Then choose Restaurant Muhammed! Just continue past the ticket offices another 50 m down the gravel road to the left and there it is! The huge trees around give a nice shade and the food and service was excellent. I had Juice, Salad, Cheese, Bread, Wheat (not rice), 4 Meatballs and a Curry of Potato and Carrot. Then he offered me an Orange and I had some Mint Tea. All in all it cost me 17 EGP. The best thing of all was that he had a clean and working toilet. My plan was to follow the tracks of Robert Carlsson who was there three months ahead of me. His report was on the Web, it is all in Swedish, http://www.jordenrunt.nu/dagbok/dagbok.htm, click on the Egypt link. Now click Luxor 13 Jan, http://www.jordenrunt.nu/egypten/dagbok_020113.htm. He went to the top of Qourna Hills and so did I. I started from the ticket office, continued straight forward, then took left in the first crossing, then right following the road up to Deir al-Medina (see Roberts photos). Here I parked my bike near a police checkpoint caravan. I told the police I was climbing the mountain and there were no problems at all. It was not as hard as one might think to climb the top. In fact, as I started the walk up a fresh cold breeze started and it was a very pleasant walk up. From the parking at Deir al-Medina the track is mostly made up of concrete steps but I found it easier to walk on the gravel on the side of the steps. There are two police stations, one half way up and the second almost on the top of Qourna Hill. I think it is half way up between these that another track turns right – north. Take this track if you want to head straight to Valley of the Kings. It was really easy to cross the lower hills over to this valley. It is also easy to cross over to Deir al-Bahari, see the LP guide map page 283. However, I continued all the way up to the top. From here I could see Valley of the Kings on the north side and Valley of the Queens in the south. All around was desert except in the east were the narrow green belt shows the location of the Nile. The wind was smooth and nice on the top. Then I continued to the Valley of the Kings. I walked back to the top police station and from behind it descended. I found a track that took me all the way down in the valley. Interesting enough I met a souvenir tout on this mountain track. I started with KV43, but the guard saw my camera and wanted a camera ticket. ’What ticket? I don’t have a ticket!’ I had to give him 5 EGP baksheesh. The tombs were enormously impressing! What an enormous work to cut these tombs directly in the lime stone rock! And deep down was an enormous stone sarcophagus. I also visited KV 8 with its huge hall and granite sarcophagus. Here I took one flash photo and directly got the self named guide asking for camera ticket. ’Ticket? What ticket? I don’t have a ticket!’ He told me I MUST have a ticket – or else pay. I offered him 50 Paisa (0.5 EGP) and told him that’s all I had. To my great luck another team of tourists just arrived and he quickly figure out that they probably were more profitable so he left. I quickly packed my things and left. Finally I checked KV 14. To me the KV was so exciting I could easily have spent a full day there. An advice! There is a website for KV5, the newly re-discovered tomb. Here you can find 3-D drawings of all tombs in pdf files. You can print these drawings, preferably in A3 size for further study and as a basis for decision on what tombs to visit. Look at: http://www.thebanmappingproject.com. This fantastic resource is almost better than actually going there. From the Valley of the Kings it was really easy to take the lower path back to Deir al-Medina and my bike but I think a much better alternative is to take the path to Deir al-Bahari first. From the mountains you can get really nice pictures of that temple. I paid 1 EGP to a woman in the caravan for looking after my bike, then I could wash my hands in there too. The police also got 1 EGP. I think it’s just common sense and good behaviour to pay small sums for the help I get, when it is valuable. Then I had my lunch in Restaurant Muhammed and after that took the bike around. First I visited Medinat Habu; entrance ticket was 12 EGP. It was built in 1479-1164 BC, almost 3.500 years ago! It is just amazing, I mean, what’s left over in Europe or North America from these times? I also biked back to Deir al-Bahari, climbed half way up on the northern mountainside and got some nice photos. Then the police guards wanted me to sit down and talk to them, but they did not want me to leave. The whole thing was a little strange to me, but I was in no hurry so I just had a rest. Then it was time to go back and I left the bike at Muhammads Bicycle and paid the 5 EGP. Finally I left on the ferry; ticket was 1 EGP single way. LP Guide, 5:th edition Map Page 272-273 Luxor: The street from the train station leading to Emilio Hotel (Item 21, on the right hand side) is Sharia Ramses – nothing else! If you pass Emilio Hotel, then turn right/north on Sharia Al-Karnak, and then THE NEXT street on your right hand is Sharia Yousef Hassan. Rainbow Internet Café (Item 1) had closed in March 2002. ------------------------------------ Hope someone may find the info useful. /Anders -- Remove the obvious part before replying by mail please! -- Remove the obvious part before replying by mail please! |
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