Ismailia House Hotel — Hotel in Cairo

I love this little hotel. I often stayed there as a single woman in Cairo, and they always took good care of me! I have spent hundreds of days there over the last 30 years. I spent a lot of 2020 here, as my apartment was being renovated. The staff made me feel it was my second home.||||The hotel is thoroughly cleaned every day. It was redecorated in the last couple years. The building is 1920s style, with high ceilings, balconies with great views of the city, ceiling fans, and lots of charm. The old, original elevator works well--it might take some getting used to, but it is regularly maintained, so you can count on it. If it ever does not work once, the owner gets it checked right away, because he won't be able to stay in business without it. If you find the stairways dirty or the airshaft dirty--these things are typical in Egypt and not something the hotel can do anything about, since they own the eighth floor, but not the building.||||The owner, Ashraf, is very kind and accommodating to your needs, as well as an excellent source of information about any where you need to go, how to renew your visa, how to open a bank account, and whatever else you need. The staff are respectful and very honest. ||||Breakfast is bread, cheese and jam, plus an egg! Most budget places in Egypt don't include an egg. Cold drinks, water, tea and coffee are available at cheap prices. If you want to order a full Egyptian breakfast, it is excellent and not very expensive. Plus with the app "Talabat," you can order from hundreds of area restaurants, if you don't feel like going out. Reception staff can help you order.||||There are two suites with AC and a bathroom inside. The other rooms can some with a bathroo or you share the bathrooms, but many are available and cleaned multiple times a day. The bathtubs are clean, but old. It's time to redo the porcelain on them. But they work well and are clean.||||You can hang out in the reception area to meet other travelers. They are mostly students, budget travelers an occasional businessman from Saudi. If you want any tour, Ashraf can arrange it, as well as transportation wherever you want, including the airport. He is very honest, which is sometimes not easy to find in Egypt.||||The location is the best! Busses and a Metro stop are right in front of you, while taxis are plentiful and not expensive. There are new Uber busses or Svwl busses or cars you can book on apps for fair prices. The balcony views of Tahrir Square, the Egyptian Museum or the old American University of Cairo campus are fantastic.||||Bring earplugs, because Cairo never sleeps, so everywhere is...

I love this little hotel. I often stayed there as a single woman in Cairo, and they always took good care of me! I have spent hundreds of days there over the last 30 years. I spent a lot of 2020 here, as my apartment was being renovated. The staff made me feel it was my second home.||||The hotel is thoroughly cleaned every day. It was redecorated in the last couple years. The building is 1920s style, with high ceilings, balconies with great views of the city, ceiling fans, and lots of charm. The old, original elevator works well--it might take some getting used to, but it is regularly maintained, so you can count on it. If it ever does not work once, the owner gets it checked right away, because he won't be able to stay in business without it. If you find the stairways dirty or the airshaft dirty--these things are typical in Egypt and not something the hotel can do anything about, since they own the eighth floor, but not the building.||||The owner, Ashraf, is very kind and accommodating to your needs, as well as an excellent source of information about any where you need to go, how to renew your visa, how to open a bank account, and whatever else you need. The staff are respectful and very honest. ||||Breakfast is bread, cheese and jam, plus an egg! Most budget places in Egypt don't include an egg. Cold drinks, water, tea and coffee are available at cheap prices. If you want to order a full Egyptian breakfast, it is excellent and not very expensive. Plus with the app "Talabat," you can order from hundreds of area restaurants, if you don't feel like going out. Reception staff can help you order.||||There are two suites with AC and a bathroom inside. The other rooms can some with a bathroo or you share the bathrooms, but many are available and cleaned multiple times a day. The bathtubs are clean, but old. It's time to redo the porcelain on them. But they work well and are clean.||||You can hang out in the reception area to meet other travelers. They are mostly students, budget travelers an occasional businessman from Saudi. If you want any tour, Ashraf can arrange it, as well as transportation wherever you want, including the airport. He is very honest, which is sometimes not easy to find in Egypt.||||The location is the best! Busses and a Metro stop are right in front of you, while taxis are plentiful and not expensive. There are new Uber busses or Svwl busses or cars you can book on apps for fair prices. The balcony views of Tahrir Square, the Egyptian Museum or the old American University of Cairo campus are fantastic.||||Bring earplugs, because Cairo never sleeps, so everywhere is...

It seems a bit outdated because i stayed in this budget hotel, say 7 years ago. I choose it due to its location that faces the Tahrir Square. The view from the window or balcony is awesome. From my balcony, I simply love the noise and the mass of humanity in the street. As i stayed during the winter, it did get rather chilly during the night. I stayed in 3 different rooms and love it. The breakfast was toast, eggs and tea. The hall is always full of people. Within the building, there was a shaft where i look downed from the window and it was filled with rubbish!! Thats fine for me because the weather in cairo is generally dry. The bathroom is kind of dirty and messy but not smelly. I love the old school elevator and the curve of the staircase. It might not be suitable for the normal tourist. If you like architecture and old world charm with slight discomfort. This hotel should be acceptable. I will stay there again. An unforgettable...