had read a lot of negative reviews about this hotel but luckily we had a good experience. We were given a room in the old tower on the 5th floor facing the pool and Nile. Rooms had a big balcony, a/c makes a lot of noise when started but settles soon. room was pretty big, comfortable, bathroom was good, drainage system was a bit slow. Hotel lobby is really impressive and is at par with a 5 star. We were allowed to check in early at 6 am. Conceige not that knowledgeable and could help us with the cairo airport shuttle service. They offer a taxi for 144 LE and a limo (which is nothng but a mercedes) for 274 LE. Room service and food was great, internet services are a bit expensive at $24/hour. Overall we had a positive experience.

Stayed at hotel for four nights using loyalty points and found the hotel to be just average. The rooms are rather dated and carpet, bedcovers, curtains and bathrooms are generally dirty. After one night in a substandard room, I spoke with the staff and they upgraded me to an executive suite on a higher floor (21st) and the rooms were much nicer (hardwood floor, view of the Nile, cleaner sheets). But I have status at Starwood so I can't guarantee this would happen for everyone. I would recommend waiting until the renovation of the hotel is completed in 2009. Though some rooms in the Nefertiti Tower have been updated, they are limited in inventory and in high demand.

Aside from the room, everything was great. The staff was friendly and extremely flexible, the pool area was clean, the hotel location means you're close to everything. If it wasn't for the rooms, I would recommend enthusiastically. But I can't just yet.

Our whole trip to Egypt was cashing in loyalty points, so this was one of the hotels on that trip. We stayed here for 3 nights, and had a larger - upgraded - room on the 23rd floor of the Nefertiti tower and it was fan-tab-ulous. An absolute giant room, with all new decor / bathroom, etc. The older windows were huge, wonderful and terrifying, sliding all the way open, in case any of us wanted to climb up and jump out from the 23rd floor. Luckily we didn't. We had both a view of the river and the pyramids, and it was great just standing there looking out. Even way up there we could hear the traffic, so bring ear plugs. And the smog was overwhelming, at times we could barely see the river right below us, let alone the pyramids in the distance.

The lobbies were strange. You had to wander around somewhat empty unmarked spaces trying to navigate from one tower to the other. And the pool, while nice, had a definite lack of shade cover. This wasn't a problem for us timing-wise, but I can only imagine on those 100-degree+ days. But all the staff throughout the hotel were wonderful, and great to our kid.

Internet access was outrageously expensive, the food was fine.

The room reeked of smoke. even though non-smoking was requested. There was black hair all over the old, heavily stained carpet, in addition to thick black dust along the edges of the room, which was clearly not vacuumed prior to our arrival. The bathroom was disgusting and the shower curtain was pink and black with mildew. Pictures on the website are not representative of the actual rooms. The Nile Hilton is much nicer and cleaner.