A majestic staircase leads to the Mayfair Hotel, which is on the first floor of a six-storey apartment building. Three apartments have been combined and offers room with and without facilities. All along the front there is a terrace with a view of the French Embassy opposite, a beautiful old villa. We sat here in the evening and had breakfast: two rolls (40 centimetres long), one glass of tea or coffee, boiled egg, one wedge of spreading cheese (le Vache qui Rit type), butter and jam.
We paid 70 Egyptian Pounds minus 10% (31 euros) because we are ‘Rough Guide Readers’. You must show your copy.
The hotel is on Gezira, which means island, and indeed it is an island in the Nile. The elevated 26th July Road is one of the main thoroughfares in Cairo and runs across the island. It is two blocks away from the hotel. We had an inside room so no window on to the street only to a light / air shaft. At first I did not like this, but I soon found out that this a great advantage as there was no traffic noise to keep me awake nor did the sun shine in to the room to make it unbearably hot.
The island has leafy streets, there are many embassies, the apartment blocks are well maintained. It’s a pleasant place to be. It’s a 15 minutes walk to the nearest metro station: Nasser. The Egyptian museum is a 20 minutes’ walk.
Next to the hotel is a small shop selling bottled water. Water in Cairo is not dangerous to drink but it has a very unpleasant taste: too chlorinated. On the 26th July Street there are some restaurants.
We wanted to visit Giza, Memphis and Saqqara in one day. The hotel can arrange a taxi with or without guide. We paid 150 Egyptian pounds (35 euros) for a full day without guide.
If you let them know your flight number they can also meet you at the airport. This will set you back 50 Egyptian pounds (12.50 euros).