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Windsor

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  • 19 Sharia Alfi Bey
     Cairo, Egypt
    591 5810
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Ju
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
3
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2
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Editor Pick

Windsor Hotel

  • April 20, 2004
  • Rated 4 of 5 by parkerc from , United Kingdom
Windsor Hotel

This hotel was previously a British Officers Club and as such is one of many buildings throughout Cairo with classic colonial architecture. Like all of the other colonial buildings, the Windsor Hotel has seen much better days. However this lack of maintenance and upgrading has meant that the Windsor Hotel has retained many of its original features and much of its charm.

This was the hotel that Michael Palin stayed in when he went Round The World in 80 Days and was the primary reason that we choose this hotel. (It has also featured in a few films.) He found it a wonderful hotel with many quirks, charisma and helpful friendly staff. This was very much the case when we stayed there and if we were ever in Cairo again we would stay here again.

The hotel arranged tours to the pyramids et al, but be careful to establish what is and isn’t in the price. The tour to the pyramids excluded the admission cost to the pyramids or a guide inside the pyramids. We were not aware of this when we booked (not that we asked!!)

We stayed in an A/C room with an en-suite bathroom with shower (EGP 267 a night, with basic breakfast included, though eggs any style cost extra!!). There was hot water, but it was rather sporadic. While the prices were quoted in US dollars, we actually had Egyptian pounds charged on our credit card. The room had a few power outlets so you are able to recharge batteries, mobiles, laptops, etc.

There is a restaurant and bar (The Barrel Bar), which has a TV (normally showing MTV or similar).

In addition to the above they also do airport pick up for US$10 (payable in dollars, cash upon arrival at the hotel). This cost, whilst more than the cab back to the airport was money well spent. We arrived at 2am, about two hours late to be met by the driver in the arrivals hall. We were quickly whisked off to the waiting minivan, and off to the hotel. Very easy and much better than trying to navigate the arrivals hall, find a cab and bargain a rate into town.

Their website address is www.windsorcairo.com .

From journal Round The World -- Destination 1 Cairo

Editor Pick

Windsor Hotel

  • December 13, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by meadowlark from Boston, Massachusetts
The Windsor Hotel is not only accommodation but part of Egyptain history as well. This 3-star hotel in central Cairo is an old colonial-relic with all the charm to take you back to the height of the glory of the British Empire in the early part of the 20th century. Although the lobby is unassuming, the old fashioned-lift takes you up to the bar area which is a large and pleasant room for taking a break. The hodge-podge of old woooden and upholstered furniture gives a timely rustic feel to the place and the breeze through the windows gives you a feeling on being in the city but away from the hustle. On the second floor there is also internet access.

The rooms are large and have high ceilings and long, heavy, red drapes. The bed frames are metal and the mattresses sink in the middle giving you a feeling of all the people who've slept there before you. We had a 1930's black phone in the room, an old wooden wardrobe, a sink, and a shower in our room. We shared a toilet and tub down the hall with a few other rooms. Breakfast was included in the room rate and consisted of as much tea/coffee, bread, butter, and jam that we could consume. Not exactly filling.

Although you give up some comforts/conveniences of the ritzy chain hotels along the Nile, the Windsor would still be my top pick because of its charm. The Shephard's Hotel made famous in colonial times and in literature from/about that time was burnt down in the 1950s leaving the Windsor, which also suffered some but the only evidence you see of this now is in a slightly charred painting in the breakfast room, as one of the last relics of colonial rule. The owners, who live part time in the US and part time in Cairo, are very lovely people and have tried hard to preserve the old-world charm.

More info can be found at the hotel website: http://www.windsorcairo.com/.

From journal See it all in 6 days in Egypt

Windsor

  • November 20, 2002
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Ju from Wickford, United Kingdom
This is the hotel where Michael Palin stayed on his TV travels... The bar is authentic British colonial, perfect for kicking back and relaxing with your guide book before joining the meleee in the streets nearby. Situated in a quieter street near metro connections, this is a conveniently central locale and yet can still be an escape from the traffic. The small lobby is uninspiring, but the lift is a gem. Some rooms are pretty basic and it is worth reserving in advance to get one with private facilities. It's also OK to check the room first - the first they showed me was quite dingy with toilet across the hall - the one I eventually moved into was larger and came with its own bathroom.

From journal Captivating Cairo

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