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

Pool weather is in
full swing, and we are taking it upon ourselves to visit as many pools in Cairo
as possible to bring you the best and the worst. It’s a tough and demanding
job, but someone has to do it.

6th of October City may sometimes
seem like it’s on another continent but it’s a pretty gaudy area of Cairo. If
you’re looking for a secluded pool to chill out at, then maybe it’s worth the
trip to the Mövenpick Hotel and Casino in Media City.

The hotel’s pool area
looks large, but as you navigate through the space that isn’t forbidden grass,
you’ll notice that the areas afforded to users are actually pretty restricted. At
the time of this reviewer’s visit, the hotel was pretty empty, but on busier
days, you may inadvertently find yourself nosing in
on your neighbour’s conversation, and vice-versa. 

The clientele
consisted mostly of individuals or groups of travelling professionals, most of
whom were lounged on the side with drinks and snacks than in the pool. The pool
itself consists of several separate circles. Forget about it if you want to swim
some laps; the pool circles are pretty narrow, and much better for loitering around and taking in some rays.

There is a diverse
range of food to order from at the swimming pool. Burgers and fries is a decent
option (55LE). The large burger is well-made, the accompanying salad is fresh,
and the whole thing is as neat as it is big. Pizzas are also available and good
for sharing (50LE to 65LE), and freshly made sandwiches (40LE to 60LE) are
served with fries and available both cold and warm.

Fresh juices are
priced at between 14LE and 22LE, and seem not to be restricted by seasons, while available beers include local Stella, Sakara and Heineken (24LE to 30LE).

The staff is
generally very friendly and helpful, but the setup of the area is such that
they will rarely roam around to attend to you, unless they happen to be close
by. It’s actually much easier to approach the bar yourself, although not so
much if you’re dripping wet.

The price of day use at the Mövenpick 6th of
October is 150LE, and use of the pool lasts from 12AM till 6.30PM. You are afforded access to a pretty
lush changing area and locker at the health and fitness club, and you can jump
into the shower for a quick cool-down after taking a beating from the sun and
the chloroform.

Anyone familiar with
the Mövenpick hotels won’t be surprised by anything. The pool area is clean
and sanitary as far as the eye can see. The problem with the hotel, and Media City, is not only that it is in the middle of nowhere; but it also really
feels like it.