The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

The
Cairo summer heat always seems to take us by surprise. Out of the blue, the
temperature hits 40 degrees and we find ourselves glued to our A/Cs behind
closed blinds, avoiding sunlight. Swimming pools are very necessary for days
like these. If you want to enjoy sunbathing and swimming in Cairo without paying
an arm and a leg, then head to Nabila Hotel in Mohandiseen. Located on Gamaat
El Dowal Street, the hotel’s swimming pool offers arguably the cheapest day-use
in Cairo for only 40LE.

The pool
is located on the hotel rooftop, and despite its moderate size, you can still
have a good swim in it. It is also convenient for children because part of the
pool is quite shallow. There are a few chaise longues and chairs around the
pool, and if you want shade, you can ask for an umbrella.  There is also a covered area that provides
shelter from the sun. Toilets and showers are located nearby, and big towels
are provided for your pool use.

The pool’s
food menu is quite extensive but not all items are always available. To give
you an indication of prices, you can get soups starting at 12LE and various
salads for 10LE and above. You can also sample mezzas like sambousak (15LE) and
kobeba (18LE). Main courses are a bit pricier with grilled prawns for 90LE, fillet
with pepper sauce for 70LE and chicken dishes for 45LE. In case you are really
hungry, get yourself a kilo of kofta or kabab for 130LE. Sandwiches start at 12LE.

The
drinks menu includes coffee starting at 7LE, soft drinks at 10LE, juice starting
at 15LE and Stella beer for 15LE.

This
reviewer sampled the tehina (10LE) and the big burger sandwich (25LE). The tehina
was appropriately creamy and served with shami bread. The burger tasted fine, but it was nothing extraordinary. It does take a while for the food to
arrive and the waiters are not always around. Whenever you see them; order
everything you want at once.

Day use
at Nabila Hotel also gives you access to the spa, which consists of a Jacuzzi, a
steam room and a sauna, which at the time of this reviewer’s visit didn’t seem
too clean. However, the gym area at Nabila is in much better condition, but you
will have to pay an additional 40LE. So just to sum it up; using the pool and
spa will cost you 40LE, the gym alone costs 40LE, while the gym, pool and spa cost
80LE.

It might
not be the biggest and coolest pool in Cairo, but for 40LE, Nabila Hotel offers
a cheap way to cool down in the heat.