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

The long Easter holiday is finally
here and Cairo 360 has all the details you need to plan your holiday escape. This long weekend is a great opportunity to do your part for the Egyptian economy and tourism industry by travelling around Egypt, and what a lot of options we have!

Gouna

Promising
to be packed this weekend, Gouna offers trendy nightclubs, delicious dining and lots of water sports. The Steigenberger is already fully booked, so
try a double room at Mövenpick Resort and Spa El Gouna for 450LE pp on a b&b
basis.

Hurghada

Not to be outdone by Gouna, Hurghada
has its fair share of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and great beaches. Triton
Empire Hotel is an affordable option, while Hilton Hurghada resort offers a double room
for 240LE pp based on a b&b basis.   A double room at Hilton Hurghada Plaza
costs 475LE pp on an fb basis, while a double room at Hilton
Hurghada Long Beach Resort costs 350LE pp on an fb basis.

Marsa Alam

Divers and snorkelers love the
untouched beauty of Marsa Alam with its mangroves and barrier coral reefs. Stay at Utopia Beach Club or Deep South Diving Centre, but if you need more
luxurious accommodation, try the Mövenpick El Quseir for 270LE pp in a double
room on a b&b basis, or Jaz Marsa Alam at 500LE pp in a double room on an
hb basis.

Sharm El Sheikh

If the glitz and glitter of Sharm El
Sheikh is more your thing,
the Sofitel offers a double room for 800LE on a b&b basis, while Hilton
Fairouz resort offers a double room for 475LE on a hb basis. Hilton Sharm
Waterfalls is slightly more expensive at 555LE for a double room pp on a
full-board basis, while Jaz Sharm El Sheikh offers the cheapest option at 180LE
pp in a double room on a half-board basis.

Nuweiba/Ras Shetan/Taba

The destination of choice for
Egyptians seeking a relaxed and low-maintenance atmosphere on pristine beaches, Nuweiba has its share of popular camps, such as Basata and Ananda,
but the cool thing about the area is that it’s literally dotted with camps all
along its coast, so even if you can’t find a vacant hut, you just keep driving
till you do. Other lesser known but worthwhile camps are Bakraj3,
Soft Beach, Freedom Camp
and the Good Life.

For the high maintenance among you,
you can always opt to stay at the Hilton Nuweiba Coral Resort at 250LE pp for a
double room on an fb basis.

When in Nuweiba, be sure to spend
the day at Castle Zaman, blessed with an impeccable hilltop view, delicious
slow-cooked food, a stone pool and lounging bean bags.

In Taba, there’s also the Hilton Taba Resort at 250LE pp for a double
room on an hb basis, or the Mövenpick Taba for 248LE for a double room pp on an
fb basis, while Jaz Taba offers double rooms for 170LE pp on an hb basis

If you’re more inclined to stay in Ras Shetan, check out our guide,
which includes phone numbers for Ayash, Castle Beach and Petra Camp.

Dahab

The southern Sinai town of Dahab is a perfect spot for diving and
snorkelers. Stay at Jaz Dahab for 300LE pp in a double room on an fb basis, or
try La Reine Hotel and Penguin Hotel for cheaper options.

Luxor

Escape to the beautiful south with a
double room at the Sofitel Luxor (095 2380425) for 699LE pp on a b&b basis.
A double room at the Hilton Luxor resort costs 443LE pp on a bed &
breakfast basis, while a double room at Jaz Luxor will set you back 180LE pp on
a b&b basis. For a more unique experience, try the cheap and very cheerful Little
Garden Hotel.

Aswan 

In Aswan, you can stay at the Mövenpick
for 300LE pp on a bed& breakfast basis, or the Jaz Aswan for 180LE pp on a
b&b basis. However, the bright colours and impeccable views of Anakato Nubian
Culture House make this eco-lodge a perfect option at US$120 for a single room. 

Fayoum

Just a 45-minute drive from Cairo, Fayoum
offers a multitude of beautiful sites like Wadi El Rayan and the UNESCO World Heritage
site Wadi El Hitan. End your day with a simple stay at Zad El Mosafer eco-lodge. 

Siwa

Around an eight-hour drive from
Cairo, Siwa’s peace and quiet is much needed in this time. Stay in style at Albabenshal
or Shali Lodge, or any of the hundreds of little bed
& breakfast venues there for much cheaper options.

Bahareya

Head into the desert and enjoy the
serenity of Bahareya Oasis
by staying at the charming Qasr El Bawity eco-lodge. Oasis Expeditions offers a four-day trip to Bahareya for 660LE pp in a double room at Qasr El Bawity. The rate includes transportation to and from Cairo, meals and accommodation.

Alexandria/North Coast

Heading to Alex for the weekend?
Read our guide on where to eat and what to do.
Located on the San Stefano Corniche, Four Seasons Alexandria (call 03 5818000) offers a sea-view double room for US$500 on a b&b basis,
with a pool view double room for US$400 on a b&b basis.

For
a much cheaper option, try Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza for 327LE pp in a
double room on a b&b basis, or Jaz Borg El Arab for 200LE pp in a double
room on a b&b basis.

If you prefer the North Coast, IntoEgypt (02 2576150) offers a five night
package deal at Porto Marina in a double room on a b&b basis for 825LE pp,
while Jaz
Marsa Matruh offers a double room for 500LE pp on a half-board basis.

Ein Sokhna:

Just
an hour away from Cairo, Ein Sokhna is the perfect short-distance holiday
destination. Stay at Jaz Little Venice
for 500LE pp on an hb basis, or Mövenpick Sokhna for 550LE pp on hb. For a
cheaper alternative, try Amigo Ain Sokhna.

Cairo

If you’re staying in the capital for
this long weekend holiday, spoil yourself and book into one of the capital’s many hotels.

The Fairmont
Nile City offers an Easter package of 1050LE for a single room, 1470LE for a
double room. The rates include a Sunday night barbeque dinner on the terrace, a
Monday Easter brunch and a late checkout at 6PM. If you check in on Sunday, you
will be upgraded to the next room category.

A double room at the
Intercontinental Citystars (02 24800100) costs 750LE pp on a b&b basis, while the JW Marriott (02 24115588) offers a double room on a
b&b basis for 1925LE. A double room at Mövenpick Cairo Pyramids costs 200LE pp on a b&b
basis, while Hilton Pyramids Gold Resort offers double rooms at 345LE pp on an hb
basis.

And there you have it, Cairo! Happy Holiday!

b&b: bed & breakfast. hb: half board. fb: full board. pp: per person.

For
Jaz Hotels: call 3854 2067 or 16416. For Mövenpick call: 0800 4411 111. For
Hilton Hotels call 19009