Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan — Hotel in Taqouk Mountain

Only went to the spa and afternoon tea. Clear to me that this hotel has deep seated operational issues and a few outstanding employees among the fray are used to doing damage control

First off the spa is pretty poor. We called and were told we could not make reservations as non hotel guests but could just show up and see about availability. Now I work in a company that has a strong operational element and I do not understand how this hotel thinks they could provide a luxury spa experience thus. Their 1 hour massages go for 150 usd (50 min per person) - they are not a walk off the street Chinese reflexology massage in LA Chinatown) so I did not understand how they thought this is appropriate functioning both for their control of employee staffing and for the customer experience. Then I email to ask about making a spa reservation and guess what boom allowed to make the reservation.

We go there. Massages was standard Thai and solid. One of the masseuses spoke loudly though - again not in keeping with a luxury spa geared towards relaxation. Then after the massage we wanted showers because oils make me itchy. Shower broken. No shower.

The impression you get is the spa employees and masseuses simply wanted to be done wth you and kick you out. The bathrobes and slippers were sitting there but they were not offered to us. Again - not a luxury spa standard. I’m thinking appropriate pricing for this one hour (50 min really massage is in the streets of Los Angeles Chinatown is for 50 USD - this is not a Sofitel standard experience nor anywhere close to not a luxury or Sofitel experience.

My husband was trying to find an excuse for them and say they’re not used to dealing with non hotel guests so ok - um do we pay a discount for the Chinatown LA massage at the Sofitel Aswan - which claims to be kind of luxury?

Tea was another ordeal in some respects. We ask for directions and got to two different places since reservations again not allowed for non hotel guests. My husband was getting hangry ( hungry and frustrated at this point) when luckily hamad(?) ( tall thin black gentleman) working at the terrace restaurant) talked my husband and I down from leaving and managed to sooth ruffle feathers - upgrading our tea set and free chicken wing appetizers. He even got the manger of guest relations to let us join a short tour of the hotel that was meant for in house guests and a Viking cruise tour group. That was nice. Really nice.

But really the spa. An embarrassment for the Sofitel by all standards. Especially the lazy spa receptionists whose job it is to control and create the appropriate atmosphere for a spa experience.

I don’t know if I’d stay here. With the prices they’re charging, I’d expect better treatment. Reminds me of a Chinese saying which goes - if you like to spend money and be a punching bag … I guess you could come here…

I’m thinking these operational issues are deep seated …. I might stay here in the future but I’ll wear thick padding and be prepared for some...

This is our second time at the Old Cataract in Aswan and again this time it is a memorable experience. By far our favourite hotel in Egypt. All staff members make sure you have an amazing experience and stay they really go the extra mile so you are happy and they do not expect to get money (tips) when they are helping you with something, in fact most will insist that it’s their job and won’t accept the tip. ||We are a small group of 13 friends travelling together. We arrived early morning, our rooms were not ready, we decided to go to the pool for the wait, the pool boy went out of his way to help us with our small bags so we can have a pleasant experience by the pool without worrying about our bags.||The food is very good, the suites with Nile view in the old part of the hotel are simply gorgeous, extremely clean everything is just perfect.||We decided this time to take the tour of the hotel that takes place every day at 5:00 pm where they show you Agatha Christie’s room where she wrote her novel Murder on the Nile as well as Winston Churchill’s room. The Tour is free. Sarah was our guide for that small tour she was a young dynamic trainee that took her role at heart, she would tell the story in a way to immerse yourself in what it could have been back then. She made the experience a fun and memorable one. We have a family of 3 part of group that watched a TV serie that was filmed in this hotel and for which they were passionate about. We asked Sarah if it would be possible for her to walk them through some of the places in the hotel the series’s was filmed and she accepted after manager approval. This small detail brought this trip to the next level for this family and will for sure be an experience they will never forget. This is what The Old Cataract is all about making the experience memorable and why we come back when we are in Aswan. ||Every one in our group has had an amazing experience at this hotel we definitely recommend it, it is...

This is our second time at the Old Cataract in Aswan and again this time it is a memorable experience. By far our favourite hotel in Egypt. All staff members make sure you have an amazing experience and stay they really go the extra mile so you are happy and they do not expect to get money (tips) when they are helping you with something, in fact most will insist that it’s their job and won’t accept the tip.

We are a small group of 13 friends travelling together. We arrived early morning, our rooms were not ready, we decided to go to the pool for the wait, the pool boy went out of his way to help us with our small bags so we can have a pleasant experience by the pool without worrying about our bags.

The food is very good, the suites with Nile view in the old part of the hotel are simply gorgeous, extremely clean everything is just perfect.

We decided this time to take the tour of the hotel that takes place every day at 5:00 pm where they show you Agatha Christie’s room where she wrote her novel Murder on the Nile as well as Winston Churchill’s room. The Tour is free. Sarah was our guide for that small tour she was a young dynamic trainee that took her role at heart, she would tell the story in a way to immerse yourself in what it could have been back then. She made the experience a fun and memorable one. We have a family of 3 part of group that watched a TV serie that was filmed in this hotel and for which they were passionate about. We asked Sarah if it would be possible for her to walk them through some of the places in the hotel the series’s was filmed and she accepted after manager approval. This small detail brought this trip to the next level for this family and will for sure be an experience they will never forget. This is what The Old Cataract is all about making the experience memorable and why we come back when we are in Aswan.

Every one in our group has had an amazing experience at this hotel we definitely recommend it, it is...