Loved the hotel overall but the sound insulation in the rooms is probably the worst I have ever experienced. I could hear every single door on the floor being opened and closed before I bought some earplugs.

Did have some problems checking in - took far too long after a hectic day of travelling.

The lobby is fantastic, was there for Christmas and they had carolers in the lobby everyday. There's a Buddha bar in the hotel which is a great place to go for a drink (did not get to try the food). Casino was quite good as well - not really a casino, as with most hotels in Egypt it was just a gaming room.

No complaints about the rooms other than the noise issue. Rooms are quite spacious and the showers were great. Views are spectacular, I could see the pyramids, citadel and the Nile all from my room balcony.

Other reviews indicated that some taxis had trouble finding the hotel - this may be because the hotel used to be a Sheraton, so if your taxi does not know the Sofitel you need to tell them that it is the old "Sheraton Gezira".

Have stayed at several of the good hotels in Cairo and would rank this one as 4th after the Four Seasons (First Residence), Four Seasons (Nile) and the Conrad.

I CANNOT overstate what a wonderful stay we had. We were so amamazed w/ our room we chose to actually spend our free day on our tour just lounging in the room! Located RIGHT on top of the Nile river, the balconies...yes, plural...had amazing viewsover the river. Service was spectacular, bathrooms quite large, rooms elegantly decorated, we couldn't have asked for more. HIGHLY recommended. An AMAZING value.

The hotel is in a great location with nice, modern rooms and great views of the Nile and the city. Some cab drivers had difficulty locating the hotel, but would eventually find it. The location, however, is great - right on the tip of Zamelek, you can walk to the Egyptian Museum or sit out and watch boats pass by on the Nile from one of the restaurants.

The service at the hotel left something to be desired. The check in staff were surly and not at all helpful. The bellmen and cleaning crews seemed distant and unresponsive. The restaurant staff were top notch, however.

While the rooms are very well designed, they are loud with noise coming in from both the hallways and the adjoining rooms.

Overall, I think there are better hotels in the area for the same price.

We stayed at the Sofitel El Gezirah as part of a package tour, so I really have no idea what it cost. My guess, based on the decor and meals, is that it was quite steep.

My understanding is that the Sofitel recently re-opened after an extensive remodel and it shows. Everything in this hotel is gleaming, brand-new, and ultra-modern. Elevators are computerized and surprisingly swift. Room decor might best be described as "Ikea chic", or perhaps something like late 60's Danish Modern. The bathroom was all marble with new fixtures. No tub, but a two-nozzle shower including a ceiling "rain-shower" head. I believe all rooms have balconies although they are quite small and some are just big enough to stand on. Being circular and on an island all have views of the Nile and Cairo. Rooms also have a flat-screen TV with a multitude of satellite channels. The rooms were as large as they could be given that they are wedge-shaped. Our room, on the 11th floor, was completely quiet.

We had lunch in the downstairs buffet, which at $40 USD was pricey, but quite excellent with both regional and continental food. Our dinner was a catered event on a floating platform on the Nile just outside the hotel lobby, and was also excellent. We didn't use the swimming pool, but others we were with did. It isn't terribly large, but has a view of the Nile.

Staff were friendly and reasonably efficient, although we had a minor scuffle over our bags due to a failure to understand their security procedures. Like most Cairo hotels there is a metal detector to enter the hotel, but the Sofitel goes one further and x-rays all luggage.