A third party tour company booked my accommodations at Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa. Through the tour company, I had the option to pay an additional fee to upgrade from a 4-star to a 5-star hotel (Le Meridien). My first impression when I arrived to my room at Le Meridien was that the 5-star scale is certainly by Egyptian standards. By U.S standards, Le Meridien would be 3-star, at best. My room was very dated, my bed was very messily "made," there was a food stain on my comforter, the toilet was not functioning, and there was hair in the sink and tub, as well as grime all over the tub. However, reception was extremely sweet and immediately sent someone to fix the toilet, someone to bring me a plug adapter since I'd forgotten mine, and housekeeping to clean the bathroom. After housekeeping left from cleaning my bathroom, I realized a lot of the dirt is deeply ingrained in the surface of the tub and non-removable at this point. As a germ-freak, this really put me off and I never showered without shower shoes. I felt very afraid to touch any surfaces within my own "5-star hotel room." The toilet broke again the same night it was "fixed", at which point I gave up on having maintenance in and out of the room. The shower water leaked outside of the tub (due to poor architecture) and flooded my bathroom throughout my entire stay. Also, if you're a light sleeper, ask for a room that does not face the hotel entrance. Thursday is the end of the week for Egyptians and it gets VERY loud outside with car horns and music about at late hours. The walls seem paper thin, as I could hear everything and had a hard time sleeping. And, as mentioned in many other reviews, the WiFi is non-existent. I burned through my personal data at Le Meridien. It is mainly for these reasons that I give the hotel 3 stars. Outside of these caveats, (though major) Le Meridien does has some positives:

1). The staff was so extremely sweet and accommodating at all times. Anytime I needed anything, they were prompt in answering my requests and they seemed genuinely happy to help each time. One time when I ordered room service, the server didn't bring all of the condiments and while waiting for him to bring them, my food got cold. The kitchen immediately sent up a plate of complimentary fruits due to the inconvenience. I did not eat the fruits, as they looked dried up, but the gesture was kind. Whenever you return to the hotel, doormen are there to tell you "welcome back." Generally, everyone is very smiley and kind.

2). The food is amazing and, for a hotel, prices are decent. The complimentary breakfast features a diverse spread of food (cold and hot). There's an outdoor grill where you can order delicious barbecue, and the indoor restaurants also have great food and drinks. As mentioned, the staff is very friendly as they're serving you and helping you take away dirty dishes.

3). The amenities were by far my favorite part. The pool deck, spa, and gym are amazing. Of course, the view of the pyramids from the pool deck is breathtaking. I didn't get to take advantage of the jacuzzi and sauna, due to my busy touring schedule, but I got two massages since they're so affordable. (About $36 for a 50-minute full body massage). The spa environment was relaxing and my therapists were awesome. I highly suggest the deep tissue neck, back, and shoulder massage for athletic or over-stressed folks. My only complaint is that the last swim for the pool is at 6:30 pm, so I never got to actually get in the pool. Late night swims are standard in most 5-star hotels. I spent most of my day(s) touring and would've loved to come back for a late night dip, especially when the sun isn't blazing, but unfortunately I did not get to experience the pool at all.

Overall, it is my understanding that Le Meridien is scheduled to undergo major renovations. Based on my experience, I'm not completely adverse to visiting Le Meridien again if appropriate changes are made and preferably with a room upgrade. The hotel has a lot of potential.