T RIED AND TE ST E D C A IRO HOT E L
Sheraton Cairo Hotel and Casino
BE ST FOR
The views from the Club lounge.
D ON’ T MI S S
Sheraton Fitness facilities. P R ICE
Internet rates for a Deluxe room start from US$141.
C ONT A C T Galae Square, Cairo,
Egypt; +20 2 33369800
sheratoncairo.com
96
B A C KGROUND This hotel was Starwood’s first in Africa when it opened in 1971. Now, following a lengthy closure – and Starwood’s merger with Marriott – one tower (containing 326 rooms) has been fully refurbished. The second is due to open by the year end, providing another 330 rooms. Other Marriott International properties in
the city include the Cairo Marriott, Marriott Mena House – next to the pyramids – and JW Marriott Hotel Cairo. I was also given a sneak peek of the sharp-looking St Regis Cairo, expected to open in autumn this year.
WHERE IS IT ? Overlooking the River Nile, the hotel is a 15-minute walk from Opera metro station and 25 minutes’ walk from the Egyptian Museum. Cairo’s notorious traffic meant the 25km journey from the airport to the hotel took one hour and 15 minutes.
WHAT ’S IT LIKE? After passing tight security and a small lobby, most guests head up to the first-floor reception, which links the two towers. However, as a Club guest, I was escorted to the 26th floor lounge, which affords striking 360-degree views, serves a fine breakfast and has a narrow terrace that is perfect for enviable photos of the Nile. If you’re not a Club/suite guest, and
until the second tower is finished, you’ll have to head down to the first floor and walk to the second, where the bulk of food and beverage venues are located. Most guests are from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and US.
SEP T E M B ER 2 0 18
ROOMS My 17th-floor Club room was comfortable with bed, chaise longue, lounge chair and desk (38-44 sqm). The windows opened partially and offered striking Nile views (this stretch looks popular with rowers) and I could just make out the pyramids through the horizon haze. The windows and bed were framed by
wood, a trunk-style table hosted sweets and fruit, and the desk was sturdy. The bathroom had a standalone shower and tub and tight sink area, which didn’t leave much room for toiletries.
FOOD AND DRINK During our stay we were served a set menu at dinner at Giannini’s New York Italian, and different dishes for lunch (seafood/beef) and dinner (grills) at the larger Rawi, which affords more panoramic views of the Nile. Other options include the Bridge Café by
reception and Studio70 bar, which displays black-and-white photos of Arab stars from the 70s (and serves some novel lychee cocktails). El Mawardia Depuis 1985 café provides another historical tie-in, but it’s been set back further from the road and wrapped in a see-through design. On the last evening we watched a belly
dancer perform in the lounge area of Rawi and more entertainment is available opposite Giannini’s, along with a pool bar.
MEE TING S The Ivory ballroom (capacity 160 for a banquet) was holding a healthcare conference during our visit. The larger Salah El Din ballroom has a capacity of 350 for a
banquet. There are 13 meeting rooms in total alongside a fully equipped business centre.
L EIS U RE The second floor features an outdoor oval pool – which was freezing in April/May, although it caught the late afternoon sun – and a fabulous Sheraton Fitness, one of the best gyms I’ve seen, with plentiful weights and machines and a studio at the far end, where I took part in Zumba and yoga classes.
VERDIC T Starwood Preferred Guest members have had to wait patiently, but they should be happy with the results. Dominic Ellis
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
It has a fabulous Sheraton Fitness, one of the best gyms I’ve seen, with plentiful weights and machines
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108
