Juliana Hotel — Hotel in Cairo

Approximately two months in business according to the owners. The location is great a few blocks from the Nile in the Garden District and about 10-15 minutes’ walk to the Museum.||||Rooms are clean, simply appointed and décor is nice with base essentials. Our Double room had a queen-sized bed and quality mattress with soft Egyptian cotton sheets. The room also had a nice terrace (3m x 1m) with neighborhood views and 3d story breezes.||||The traditional breakfast included with our stay was excellent and included scrambled eggs, flat bread, cheese, beans, jam, tea and coffee. I also suggest you try the delicious spiced Turkish coffee. This may well become their signature offering, or ‘house-blend’—that of course and their world-class hospitality. ||||Being new in business, owners admit that they are still working out some kinks, but none that you are likely to care much about depending on your needs or disposition. I suspect as they grow, guest experience will only broaden.||||Western news media grossly misrepresents the reality in Cairo and tourism has suffered. Now is the time to go see everything safely without the crowds. ||||TIPS:||Ask for a pick up from the Airport. None of the taxi’s can find this place, two got lost and we had to bail out with a phone call rescue. Of course that might say more about Taxi drivers than the Hotel address. But it might also have something to do with the fact that the hotel is on the 3d floor and the address given is the Arabic Bank at street level. If you plan to arrive on your own, look for signage on the 3d floor on east and north sides of the building. Hopefully they will be able to secure signage on the street level. Either way, put their contact info in your portable device for back up. ||||Exploring on foot—navigation back to the hotel might be a bit of a puzzle—but it’s a great way to meet the locals asking for directions back! A neighborhood map would be invaluable with local stores to visit, places to see, etc.||||Tourist areas--Get ready for intense in your face touts, tricks and hooks from some of the smoothest, most sophisticated nickel-dime operators on the planet. And unless you want to engage, walk fast and say ‘La Shurkan’ (no thank you) or ‘khalas’ (Enough!). Politics has crushed tourism and increased the pressure for locals to survive. Outside tourist areas don’t miss the opportunity to meet locals. Egyptians are friendly and have a terrific...

Minuses and pluses...Booking promises were not met. We arrived to be told that the manager had not reserved a room and therefore we lost our anticipated nice room with balcony. No refund. Then offered a room where the a/c was clearly broken and needing repair and other open wiring around the room. I was not happy. Although newly married, my husband has learned that he better take over or I will give the hotel hell. He sorted a different room that required ejecting a guest into the other room. Hilarious. Kidding. The new room had a better bathroom (the other one had a huge part of the wall missing; very romantic! Hmmm...breaky we took in our room cos there is no area except for a bar in reception and not pleasant. Ordinary and waited a long time. Fresh and clean however. Taxi had trouble finding.||Needs a jolly good clean. I checked three bathrooms and they were all the same. Scum build up etc. Needs some Jif and a good scrub. Sheets clean. We survived! ||||The pluses. Good location at the back of the Four Seasons. Easy walk to the Nile. Beds very comfortable, at least for me. My hubby likes them firmer. He liked the staff and spent a bit of time chatting to them when he went to have a tea and cigarette. The cost is reasonable and keeps this hotel on an ok scale. Generous late check out.||||In summary, if you are ready to pay a little more then I suggest you go to the Nile Season which is the other side of the Four Seasons and I've reviewed previously. Overall a better option. BTW I read reviews on this hotel hence the decision to try. The more recent reviews are...

Really enjoyed our stay after moving from a very bad hostel. Noha and Mohamed were great, Noha in particular is really nice and nothing is too much trouble. The rooms were bright and airy with lovely clean comfortable beds, nice wet room with a shower that had plenty of water pressure. There was a balcony, with exterior clothes line to dry any clothes you may wash, but do remember to bring a few clothes pegs. Noha was happy to make us a hot drink whenever we asked and as there is a fridge in the room we were able to bring in water and cold drinks which stayed cold. We will be back in Cairo in a few weeks and will definitely be going back. It's situated close to The British, American, Candian and Saudi Arabian embassies and is in a quiet leafy street. The location is perfect because it's also just a few minutes walk to Tahrir Square and The Egyptian Museum, with down town being about a ten minute walk away. If you turn left out the building a few minutes will bring you to a pleasant stroll...