We enjoyed the Shepheard Hotel especially because our room was quiet and we were able to sleep (having had two restless nights elsewhere due to traffice noise).

The hotel is far from new but has been refurbished. The reception and downstairs areas, including a cafe serving delicious cakes and quality tea and coffee, are pleasant and comfortable.

Our room was clean, large and roomy with two double beds. Best of all, it was quiet. While there was no view, we were content to be able to sleep at night. Large bathroom with wide-width shower, bidet and soft fluffy towels.

We ate in one of the hotel's restaurants in the evenings and were satisfied with both the meal, service abd singer who performed during the evening.

The hotel is close to the Egyptian Museum and other attractions. We felt safe walking in the nearby streets though did not venture far.

Only complaint was check in and check out which was very very slow. Apparently only one person is allowed to process check in or check out. We were greeted pleasantly enough by another staff member but then it took a long time standing in line waiting for the one person processing check in/check out to deal with everyone. All the time, four other people stood about behind the registration desk doing nothing. When approached, they pointed to the one man who was apparently responsible. It caused a lot of frustration particularly at check out time when people had various tours to catch.

Shepheards Hotel, Cairo, Egypt
Reviewer, Trip Advisor , Suffolk, England.
21 February 2008
Previous reports of this hotel were not brilliant but my travel agent had booked us in so we had no choice. The first impression was favourable, tall large marble floored atrium includes reception, large breakfast/dining room, cafe serving gorgeous cakes and proper tea and coffee. Breakfast is outstanding, loads of fresh fruit, toast-making facility, omelette bar, cereals and all the usual hot buffet stuff. Staff are all smart and very efficient.
Room 430 was clean, big and roomy with two big double beds (both with that horrible roll in to the middle), super bathroom with full wall-width shower, bidet, good towels and lots of smelly toiletries. CNN TV, English speaking movie channels with continuous old films. Our room looked out on to empty offices but you could pay a little extra and get a full view of the Nile. Lifts are fast and plentiful.
Downstairs there is another restaurant, the 'Asian' serving Chinese and Indian, which is better than the big one.
The location is perfect for the Egyptian Museum, downtown Cairo and faluca rides on the Nile.
It is 20 steps across the road to the Intercontinental Hotel which offers more elegant surroundings and has a restaurant on the 3rd Floor which has a non-smoking room and overlooks the Nile, roughly about the same prices as Shepheards but much classier.
Shepheards was a pleasant surprise and not at all 'tired' as one trip advisor described it.

Hotel was fine, but there were meal and mini-bar charges at check-out that were not mine. When I asked them to show me where I signed for meals they could not produce anything, yet still insisted on charging me. They also charged me for use of the mini-bar in my room when I never used it. In all, I was delayed at checkout for more than an hour before I paid the bill so as not to miss my flight. I am currently disputing the charges with my credit card company.

We booked into this hotel for 3 nights and enjoyed the stay very much. The room was large, 2 double beds, with a lovely large ensuite bathroom. The view from our room wasn't good as our room was at the back, so would recommend booking a room with a view of the Nile. Food was very good with a choice of buffet or A La Carte. We were lucky enough to see two Egyptian weddings at the hotel and the bride and groom were happy for us to take photos. Take care if buying drinks in the bar, a small glass of wine and two cokes cost £7. The location of the hotel was great - on the banks of the Nile and only minutes from the shopping centre and the souk.