Although it’s been a while since I got back from Egypt, my trip is now sinking in. I can’t thank enough GM Tours for putting together this life changing trip. I felt like a princess the whole time as the trip was organized with the most attention to every detail, ensuring that we felt in good hands during our stay.
View from my hotel room at Cairo Marriott
Another partner that can’t go unmentioned is the Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino. The most luxurious hotel I had the privilege to call home while in Cairo. The hotel is about a half an hour ride away from the airport. From the moment I saw the hotel I was speechless; I was greeted by a Palace and two tours overlooking the Nile River. The Palace “Al Gezira” was built by Khedive Ismail and was to be a residence for guests during the inauguration of the Suez Canal celebrations in 1869.
Palace Al Gezira circa 1869
Palace Al Gezira today
Many monarchs, namely Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, lived in the Palace. It was also to be the first venue of the first performance of Verdi’s Opera Aida. The Palace still remains in place today at the Cairo Marriott – all that is left from the estate. Many of the rooms and furniture have been restored to their original state, and the Palace is now used for receptions, function rooms and lounges.
Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
Cairo Marriott Hotel is comprised of two twin tours and the Palace. Each tower has 20 floors and the Garden Court win has 3 floors. The hotel boasts 1087 rooms in total. We even got to see some of the more luxurious suites: The Royal Suites, Ambassador Suites and the Presidential Suites. What a site! There are also 15 multi-purpose event rooms- including a ball room but of course, its a Palace after all. The hotel also has a casino and tons of great restaurants including: French cuisine, Italian, Japanese, American to name a few.This hotel was more than I expected and was filled with elegance in the details and decor. I’ll definitely be back.
If you’re planning a trip to Cairo, this is the best hotel – period. Not only because I can attest to it ‘s splendor, but also because of the history behind the Palace. It felt great to know that I was in the same Palace that Princess Eugenie once spent much of her time, and to know that the rooms were designed to be a replica of her palace in France was surreal. Dreams come true, I have always dreamnt of feeling like a princess and this hotel did exactly that – the view of the Nile from my room was fantastic, the service was outstanding. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting Cairo.
