Novotel Cairo El Borg — Hotel in Geziret al Zamalik, Jazirat al Zamalik

This hotel has a great customer service-oriented attitude.

On my arrival they honoured the early check-in agreement and a room was made available to me from 6am. The staff I met were all friendly and helpful – from the security staff, through to the concierge helping with my bags, the floor polisher and of course the reception staff.

On my departure I met another member of staff – they granted me a late check-out given my Gold status. I only required an extra 1 hr beyond standard check out time but they were keen to please and suggested I could have much later if I wanted. I stuck to 1pm. As it happened, I got a bit delayed trying to get a taxi back to the hotel (from Giza) and arrived at the lobby at 1:05pm. The staff at the reception proactively told me it was not a problem and to ‘take my time’. I was relieved to hear this this positive and accommodating attitude – I felt this demonstrated a great customer-oriented mindset and were tuned into how I was feeling. This gave me enough time to head up to the room, clean up, and then check-out as I headed back to the airport at 2pm.

There was a bit of a queue to check-out (actually just one other customer, but they were asking lots of questions) so I used my Gold Member welcome drink voucher whilst I waited. I had opted for the paper voucher as I’ve had issues with the app-based voucher at many other hotels. I got a hot chocolate to take-away. It was just what I needed at that moment and took it with in the taxi.

The room was well maintained, a good size for one to two people and comfortable. The bed was comfy and I got a good sleep (although it may have helped that I was extremely tired; and in the morning I overslept). The work desk was a good size and they had two power sockets, one local style and one UK-style. The room temperature was nice. I did notice the air conditioning system would do a loud ‘whoosh’ occasionally – perhaps only once a day. I assumed this was due to the sun rising and warming things up, but it was a bit odd. I asked for a quiet room, and was given one far from the lift (which was good). As a Gold I was upgraded to Nile facing room. The view was nice, although I could hear a little bit of noise at times from the party boats, but I still slept well. If you are a light sleeper it might be best to request a room at the rear. I was positively surprised to find the window could be opened slightly which helped me to take a few photos of the river.

The breakfast spread was reasonable. As a vegetarian there were some roasted potatoes and beans, the majority of items were pastries and cold items. It was not a life-changing luxury breakfast but it was perfectly adequate. I was tempted to get a fried egg (given Accor’s commitment to source from cage-free hens), but I opted not too as there seemed to be a bit of a queue (and I was already late having overslept by 2 hours), with most customers ahead of me having meaty omelettes. The tea cups were however a bit small; typical size as most hotels, and designed more for coffee than tea. It meant I had to do the usual double cup to make my tea. Not an issue just a minor grumble.

I didn’t have time to try the pool. The internet worked at a good speed. The only annoyance with the WiFi was that it seemed to be designed to prevent/block VPNs. As such I had to rely on my data roaming instead (which did allow VPNs).

The hotel is well situated within the city area – right next to the river Nile, 10 minutes walk to the Egyptian Museum and only a little further to the local eateries; or in the other direction, 5 minutes talk to the Cairo Tower, or 6-7 minutes to the Opera (which is also a Metro station). My Uber from the Airport at 4:30am took 35 minutes to reach the hotel; and heading back to the airport at 2pm on a weekday it took about 50 minutes. 30 minutes to the Giza Pyramids (Great Gate entrance) and 35 minutes to come back from the eastern gate.

Overall I was very pleased to have chosen this hotel and be able to write this...

This our second stay at the Novotel. |Why did we book again ?|Because the staff are wonderful, the facilities really family friendly, the rooftop restaurant has the most breathtaking views of Cairo, I had to return for their club sandwich and so much more. ||One of the defining features of this hotel is that there is no alcohol on site. It is a rare gem to find an international chain hotel offering this. This helped immensely with the environment, atmosphere and safety. ||Dining at the rooftop restaurant is a must. The food is great and even during the day, the breeze makes the place perfectly cool despite the hot Summer of Cairo. The staff are always smiling. Mohammed even remembered us from last year and brought us out a welcome drink. Seif the manager organised a wonderful dinner for family who came to join us one evening. Every member of staff on the rooftop is an asset to this hotel - professional, welcoming and courteous. ||The breakfast restaurant is smaller than others I have been to but that's what makes it perfect. Less food wastage, a sustainable approach, safe for children or those with mobility issues. They have a good variety of breakfast items, including freshly made eggs and vegetarian options. Shout out to Islam who knows I like my tea and is always ready to pour me some. ||You can also order via the talabat app for outside restaurants - we managed to find a decent Indian restaurant called Kohinoor on there which gave us a much missed spice hit.| |The pool is both bikini and burkini friendly. Everyone is welcome and made to feel welcome here. It is small and often busy. But people tend to come in and out and there's usually a sunbed or two free (no sunbed reserving nonsense here). ||They also have a gym which is perfectly air-conditioned overlooking the pool. Not a gym expert but they seemed to have a wide variety of equipment. ||We also booked massages, which were amazing, thanks to Ahmed and Nour. They have male and female massage therapists which another plus. ||Also wanted to say that despite arriving in the early hours of the morning, the check in was quick and easy. Big thanks to Mohammed at reception for getting us connecting rooms for our family. ||Our rooms were cleaned daily. They have a kettle and mugs for a good cuppa. Beds are comfortable. Excellent air-conditioning. Our room had a sofa bed as well. Shower ensuite with shampoo, shower gel and hand wash. Safe for securing items. ||Above all, we felt this hotel is safe. Security make sure to check who's going in and out. Key card required to use the lift. And unlike other hotels, there's no casino or bar that people are coming in for. So it really has this perfect vibe for families. And not just families - anyone who wants a comfortable stay, whilst still located close the hustle and bustle. And it's easy to get around - taxis outside, or via uber or indrive- and cheap too. ||THANK YOU and Keep up the amazing work team Novotel ! We hope to be back again...

Disclaimer: This review is based on the value we expected for the amount paid during our stay.

Upon arrival at Novotel El Borg, we were welcomed by a pleasantly scented and well-airconditioned lobby—an immediate hint of the upscale experience the hotel aims to provide. We chose this hotel primarily for security reasons, and we were pleased to find multiple security personnel stationed at the entrance upon arrival. Their presence was reassuring and aligned well with our expectations for a hotel in this price range.

The location in Zamalek is a big plus. Nestled between the Nile, it offers a peaceful atmosphere compared to the usual chaos of Cairo. It's not adjacent to any mosques or downtown areas, which adds to the sense of quietness and safety. While the nearby roundabout is quite busy, the road directly in front of the hotel remains relatively calm. Adding to its appeal is the lovely view-our room overlooked the Cairo Tower and the park below, which was a wonderful sight to wake up to.

Our room was comfortable and clean. The bed, pillows, and linens ensured a restful night's sleep. The air conditioning worked well throughout our stay, keeping the room at a pleasant temperature. The TV functioned properly and allowed casting from our phones, and the Wi-Fi was reliable.

One of the highlights was the breakfast buffet, which offered a wide and satisfying selection. We especially appreciated the fresh carrot and orange juice. The chef at the omelet station stood out—not only for the quality of the food but also for his language skills; he spoke English fluently and, if we're not mistaken, also communicated in French and Italian, which was impressive and added a nice touch.

The staff overall were helpful and spoke English well, making communication easy and pleasant.

It also has a Starbucks situated in the lobby. Not a proper store though, it has basic coffee and pastries and is operated by the hotel staff.

That said, there were a few minor drawbacks. The key card system was inconsistent—it often took several swipes to access the lift or our room. Toiletries were basic (shampoo, body wash, and hand wash only). For a hotel at this level, we expected a more complete set, such as conditioner, body lotion, or vanity items. Lastly, the swimming pool was smaller than expected, and the poolside benches were already occupied when we tried to check them out one afternoon.

Overall, Novotel El Borg delivers a comfortable and secure stay in a prime location. With some updates to amenities and facilities, it has the potential to offer an even better...