T RIED AND TE ST E D C A IRO HOT E L
BE ST FOR The location, the views and the Conrad Cairo
B A C KGROUND The Conrad opened in 1998 and is one of seven Hilton-owned hotels in the Egyptian capital.
WHERE IS IT ? On the Nile Corniche, next door to the soon-to-open St Regis Cairo and the Hilton Cairo World Trade Centre Residences, and close to Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum. It is 21km from the airport, but those who know Cairo traffic will be aware that giving an estimate of the journey time would be pointless. At 1am it took me 30 minutes from the airport, but it could take two hours or more in rush hour. The closest metro station is Ramses.
WHAT ’S IT LIKE? With its 24-storey tower looking out towards Zemalak Island, the Conrad Cairo is unmissable on the skyline. The hotel is accessed via a sloped driveway, with security and then x-ray machines to clear before going into the hotel. The main lobby is large with a triple-height atrium; during my stay it was always bustling with people having drinks in the lounge bar. Though the property is in good health,
the last revamp was in 2010. A renovation, including all bedrooms, public areas and meeting spaces, will start at the beginning of 2019 and last three years. Service was generally excellent, though there were occasional lapses.
ROOMS The shape and height of the hotel ensure that all 614 rooms have either a partial or full view of the Nile, and most have balconies. Entry-level Classic rooms on the lower floors start at 41 sqm. From the 16th floor up, rooms become Deluxe by virtue of the better views. The Executive rooms then span floors 20-24, with the Executive lounge on 22. This offers breakfast and evening drinks, and has a long balcony overlooking the Nile – it’s worth cancelling the final meeting of the day to enjoy a drink and an uninterrupted view across the city. There are 52 suites: two Royal, two
Presidential, 16 Executive and 32 Nile suites. Sure, the decoration in the rooms is a little passé, but it somehow seems appropriate. The thick velvet curtains in my room drew across one another so no light could
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
restaurants; the exchange rate also makes it excellent value.
D ON’ T MI S S Dinner at the Oak Grill for Middle Eastern food.
P R ICE Internet rates for a twin Classic
room with partial Nile view start from US$140 per night.
The devaluation of the Egyptian pound makes it remarkably good value
C ONT A C T 1191 Nile Corniche, Cairo, Egypt; +20 2 25808000;
conradhotels.com
97
penetrate. Soundproofing is very good, essential when the hotel bar only gets going after midnight, with guests returning to their rooms until four in the morning.
FOOD AND DRINK The hotel’s restaurants were renovated more recently than the rest of the hotel, and there are three excellent choices on the second floor alone. For breakfast and buffet lunch, Solana is a casual restaurant overlooking the Nile. I ate breakfast here and the choice of both regional and international cuisine was very impressive, as were the chef’s suggestions. When I asked for some Arabic bread, I was instead guided towards a particular variety of lovely, spicy ful madames (a bean dish). Kamala offers a choice of South East Asian cuisines, while the Oak Grill serves delicious modern Lebanese cuisine. I ate twice at the Oak Grill and didn’t even scratch the surface of what I wanted to try, though the smoked dishes are outstanding, and I had fattoush (a chopped salad dish) with grilled halloumi both nights. Other options are the outdoor Jayda Nile
Terrace by the pool and with Nile views, or the Stage One Lounge and Bar with music and cocktails.
MEE TING S The hotel’s meeting spaces are all on the lobby level and total more than 3,500 sqm. They include the Conrad ballroom, one of the largest in the city, holding 750 for a banquet; and the Nile ballroom, with a capacity of 300 for a banquet, as well as a series of smaller meeting rooms on one side together with a business centre. There’s complimentary wifi throughout the hotel.
L EIS U RE The hotel has a large fitness centre and a good-sized open-air swimming pool. As with many Conrad hotels, there is a series of pre-bookable experiences, from a one-hour Nile cruise through to full-day excursions to the pyramids or more individually curated trips. The ground floor has a casino and a nightclub.
VERDIC T This is a very well-located hotel, popular both with Egyptians and international guests. Staff are friendly, ensuring there is a family feel that belies the vast size of the hotel. The devaluation of the Egyptian pound also makes it remarkably good value for overseas visitors, while regulars will be looking forward to the forthcoming refurbishment. Tom Otley
SEP T E M B ER 2 0 18
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
