Pyramids Valley Boutique Hotel — Attraction in Giza

It was a 10 out of 10!

Beyond the breathtaking views of Giza Pyramids and the sphinx, our stay was impeccable. Full review below!

The staff was very helpful from before departure, to arrival and check out. Thank you to Salma for looking after us. She not only made us feel at home but especially she organised effectively our transfers to and from the airport and an unforgettable tour! Also the rest of the staff from the reception to the rooftop and restaurant was friendly, polite and attentive to make our stay an ever lasting memory.

Highly recommend their tours which are very worth it for the price. Tours are all private and prices vary depending on the number of people. We choose to do the one to visit Giza pyramids, Saqqara, and Memphis with camel ride and we also stopped at an iconic artisanal shop and a typical perfumery where we had the chance to smell fragrances from all kinds. The tour also included: private driver, English speaking guide, entry to all sites, a typical lunch in a local restaurant near Saqqara which was absolutely delicious. Both driver and guide were not only insightful during the tours but very very friendly! We had the time to enjoy every single bit of it without rush.

The room (superior queen) was spacious, clean, and with all comforts including a small balcony where to enjoy the views of the sphinx, a double bed and a large single bed with comfortable mattress, clean towels, air conditioning, a safe, a boiler, a fridge and TV. The cleaning service was also a 10, after a long day of visiting around, we came back to a room that was like new.

The included breakfast was typical and again delicious, you can enjoy it on the rooftop and start your day mesmerised by the view along with an amazing meal. We enjoyed the coffee and the juices too. The restaurant offer a mixed menu with typical Egyptian dishes and international too. If you are vegetarian or vegan, the breakfast and restaurant have a good amount of options. The bar offers mostly non-alcoholic drinks which was not a problem for us as the alternative options, which were mostly fruity drinks, were equally nice. There’s the possibility to order wine but we decided to embrace the culture and try something new with no regrets.

Whether you are travelling solo, couple or family, the hotel was very safe. The area around is half gated with police and CCTV making sure the location is safe for visitors. The hotel lays on a quiet and very strategic street where you won’t be bothered from the caos of Cairo. We didn’t encounter any safety problems however still make sure you keep an eye on your surroundings when travelling around Egypt.

Location was excellent, this is the closest view you can get to the sphinx and pyramids from a hotel. The entrance to the site from the sphinx side was literally next door.

Generally, Egyptian people are the nicest. Please make sure you observe and respect the culture everywhere you go. For many coming from western countries the Muslim ethics might be cliché at first instance but this is the beauty of diversity and discovering a new culture highly influenced by the magic Egyptian history. Every Muslim country enclose a diverse array of traditions. It’s an opportunity to learn but also to immerse yourself and learn about different cultures.

Thank you again to the staff, we will...

First of all, let me make it clear: this place is about as much of a 4-star boutique hotel as McDonald's is a Michelin star restaurant. I wouldn't even give it two stars; most 2-star motels in the US have rooms that are larger, cleaner, and have better amenities. Now, let's dive into details.

Our unique "boutique" experience started with the free airport transfer. The driver played hide-and-seek, first at the wrong terminal, then without the promised sign with my name. The car looked like it had been through a battlefield. The guy demonstrated excellent skills behind the wheel, but his driving style was consistent with the beaten up appearance of his car. And, to top it off, the seatbelts were non-functional.

Despite my doubtful anticipations, we survived the transfer and were met by very welcoming check-in staff at Pyramids Valley. The lobby area was relatively clean. However, as we ascended the stairs to our rooms, the walls started telling us a different, dirtier story. Unlocking the rooms was a mini adventure, as the door locks were ancient and had a mind of their own. The desk in my mom's room had traces of food here and there (the staff cleaned it up on my request, though). My room did not have a proper shower cabin, causing the water to splash all over the bathroom floor. Hot water only lasted for 3-4 minutes, which made me a pro at speed-showering by the end of my stay. (To be honest, if I was staying there with my kids, who tend to indulge in lengthy showers, I might view this as a feature, not a bug.) After all of these experiences, encountering the "Best Hotel Award 2008" sign on one of the hallway doors triggered a sensation of a strong cognitive dissonance.

The restaurant at the roof sells alcoholic beverages, which help you relax a bit. The food is generally decent, with some very good dishes and a few barely edible ones. The view of the pyramids from the restaurant is certainly the main attraction. It is so breathtaking that you almost forget about everything else... until its time to go to bed and you realize that the room doors lack soundproofing and you'll hear every decibel of the hallway drama.

We left the hotel after 2 nights despite paying for 3. My advice would be to consider staying elsewhere unless you are dead-set on that rooftop view and willing to sacrifice your...

I would love to recommend the hotel but I truly cannot due to two unrelated reasons

First the only reason to even consider staying at any hotel near the pyramids is for ease when visiting them. AVOID THIS ENTIRE AREA as your hotel stay - every hotel in the area has this same problem.

Unfortunately the Egyptian government allows or even encourages complete chaos, scammers, and vultures to circle tourists as if they are waiting to be slaughtered like sacrificial lambs!

BEWARE!!!! BEWARE!!!! BEWARE!!!!

Literally!

NO JOKE!

This ABSOLUTELY RUINS any happiness when seeing these WONDERS!

Seeing these ancient monuments should be a magical experience.

BUT IT ISN’T!!!

II CAN’T BE!!

Most locals are rude?!!

Constantly badgering you to buy something or pay for a service - guides, taxi drivers, camel drivers, horse buggy drivers, shopkeepers, etc…IT NEVER ENDS!

You are bombarded by EVERYONE!

Moreover COUNTLESS of beggars - adults AND children. Masses of children following you for blocks pleading for money - actually using the word money, dollar, euro!! They will tell you they are hungry and to buy them chips, soda…Even adults beg for money - putting their hands to their moneys - both children and adults bang on your taxi window or even following it!

It is a physical, emotional, psychological attack.

Everyone it seems is trying to get money out of you.

The hotel itself is fine. They are a few kind employees.

But unfortunately the tendency is to charge you as much as possible.

Wanting to extend for one extra night the hotel reception said it would be 50 USD which was MORE than the price per night paid and the price online!

How is that possible?

Trying to overcharging - maybe to line their own pockets - it was CHEAPER and easier to extend online!!!

Then the hotel charged 90 USD for a driver for a few hours for another hotel guest! When in fact it is possible to do that same for less than 50 USD if you find a driver on your own!!

My advice stay in a nice hotel in Cairo - I recommend Intercontinental hotel - a haven within the chaos of Cairo - take a tour or hire a private guide/driver to take you to visit Giza and return to Cairo. You will be better off! Believe me.

The Egyptian government ALLOWING this is a stain on the government and country - Egypt deserves better and...