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r'mond
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Hi,
I am planning my first trip to egypt mid october and i have gathered already many info via this great forum.
Can anyonue advise me of my hotel choices? Am I choosing the right once? I only want stay in Sheraton's because i have a preferred rate with them.

1st 3 days in Sheraton El Gezirah
then 3 days in Alexandria sheraton
then last 3 days in sheraton Royal Gardens.
What do you think?
I hope that Debbie will respond as I loved all your answers!!!

Thanks in advance to all !

Bye


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egy_prince
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Hi R'mond ... I can help u also with some good information, u can contact me anytime and u r welcome
wm_2gether@hotmail.com

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strangelookingnegro
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quote:
Originally posted by r'mond:
Hi,
I am planning my first trip to egypt mid october and i have gathered already many info via this great forum.
Can anyonue advise me of my hotel choices? Am I choosing the right once? I only want stay in Sheraton's because i have a preferred rate with them.

Understood, but I'll be very truthful with you about these Sheratons...they are not all that great. They are ok, and as long as your rate is well below $100 then they are worth it, but if they aren't then do PLEASE look at the Marriott and see if you can get a similar deal there before booking.


1st 3 days in Sheraton El Gezirah

This one is nice as all rooms except for the very bottom floor ones have a nice Nile view. It is also very well located if you want to use the Metro, BUT... other than that, there is nothing special about it. I even asked my last customers that were staying there how the swimming pool was and they said "What swimming pool?" If there is a pool there, would someone that knows where it is please post here so I can go find it next time I'm there. If there is no pool, then it goes down a few notches in my mind right away.

then 3 days in Alexandria sheraton

Truthfully, I've never spent any more time inside this Sheraton than to have lunch once. Alexandria is not yet full of brillant hotels and the Sheraton is probably as good as any. I do hear the rooms are small, but it is nicely placed on the Cornishe and next to Montaza Gardens so you should always have somewhere comfortable to go for a walk about when the mood stikes.

then last 3 days in sheraton Royal Gardens.
This one has a swimming pool and a few other possitive points, but the placement of this one is such a HUGE negative, I'd never suggest anyone stay there. It is in a really horrible poor neighborhood that only the most experienced travelers will feel comfortable getting out into for a walk. It isn't close to the pyramids (although their advertising tries to tell you it is) and it isn't close to the city. You are pretty much captive once you are there, unless you adapt to countries like Egypt well and can feel comfortable hailing a taxi that does not speak ANY or much English and trying to convey where you want to go. It can certainly be done, but you need the skills to do it.

What do you think?
I hope that Debbie will respond as I loved all your answers!!!
Thanks!!

Thanks in advance to all !

Bye


------------------
www.casualcairodetours.pyramids.net for customized excursions in Cairo and beyond
Dds71@aol.com


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tomodachi202
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Hello friends! I am heading to Cairo on June 1, to remain there until July 29. I will be living at AUC's campus. I have no idea what to expect, but do you recommend learning some phrases before my trip? Also, has anyone seen other black americans in Cairo? Not a big deal, but would be intresting to know. Regardless of where you're from (I speak japanese, english and spanish) I am eager to know your experienes and possibly link up when I arrive on June 2. I look forward to your reply and feel free to email me at: tomodachi202@hotmail.com
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strangelookingnegro
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Welcome Tom.

You will do fine. You'll meet loads of people and having all those languages won't hurt either. The AUC dorm is in Zamalek (I think that is the only location) which is a lovely place to live. About 80% of the embassies and Ambassadors homes are in Zamalek, giving it a very safe feel, as well as being more green and beautiful than most other areas. Also, (don't know how old you are, but..) Zamalek is also the part of of choice for singles. It has the largest bar and "club" scene around it of any area. Actually, not so many "clubs", but from Zamalek you will learn where the "clubs" are and which ones are close. Try to get some studying done anyway.

Being black American isn't all that unusual here. If you go to the American Embassy you will see loads of employees and military there that are black. Actually, depending on how you dress, you will more than likely be taken for Egyptian more often than American. Don't be suprised when people come up and start talking to you in Arabic. If you are very black, you may look Sudanese, but either way, remember you are in Africa when you get here, so there definately are going to be other people around you that you'll resemble.

Enjoy your summer, keep an eye on the board here and if we have a summer falouka get-together, come join us. You'd be very welcome.

------------------
www.casualcairodetours.pyramids.net for customized excursions in Cairo and beyond
Dds71@aol.com


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tomodachi202
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Thanks Debbie,
By the way, my username means "friend" in japanese and the "202" was my apartment number when I lived there. The name is Marvin and I am 29. I appreciate your comments and it sounds as if I will be in a great area. I can't imagine a place for "singles" because my impression is that men and women will rarely be able to meet up, unless you're in a large group. Correct me if I am wrong. When you speak of "singles" do you mean foreign singles of Egyptian? Chat with you later,

marv


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tomodachi202
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Last issue: As far as dressing goes, I am not trying to look american at all. I want to pick up some loose robes, or wear clothes that fit in with the culture there. I know it is possible that american there may wear "nike" or other name brand gear, but where in Cairo can I pick up some really nice shirts, pants, or even the one piece garments I see some folks there wearing on line?
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strangelookingnegro
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Marvin,

Don't be shopping too soon. I think you'll find that whatever you bring with you will be just fine. You ARE NOT going to be wanting to walk around the streets of Zamalek in a galabayia, I guarantee you. Perhaps you'll find one comfortable inside your dorm room, but only the bowabs wear them on the street outside in that neighborhood....really!!!

Re singles.... in that neighborhood, and through AUC you will be meeting singles of all sorts of nationalities I think. You aren't going to be probably picking them up and taking them home, but you will meet Egyptian girls and guys all over...as well as foreigners.


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r'mond
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Hi,

Debbie or anyone who knows, can you advise me which hotel would be better:
Sheraton El Gezirah or the Sheraton Towers casino?
Thanks,

Rmond


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wise_woman
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R'mond,

I stayed at the Sheraton Twin Towers & Casino Hotel, Doqqi, Cairo, 2 years ago.
I found it to be a hotel geared mainly for business people (we're tourists from Scotland). Rich people in suits with 2 mobile phones or dress as sheiks swanning around. They queue jumped at reception.

I had a few problems with the staff as they did not speak reasonable English. We had communication problems.
Before anyone says how dare I comment on their English, I've had better English spoken to me in 2* hotels and by shoe shine boys in Luxor and English is my first language.
I understand broken English very well but I think their hotel staff were inexperienced in speaking English to guests. It's a 5* hotel.
We saw 3 other non-Egyptian/non-Arab guests.

I don't think the hotel was geared for tourists, we picked it out of Kuoni brochure as Mena House Oberoi and Le Meridien Pyramids was fully booked. We thought the Sofitel Maadi was too far out.

There was no information for tourists to the area and our rep didnt always turn up on time - nothing to do with the hotel though.

The restaurants were booked up so we couldnt just go and eat there and then, we had to plan it.
It was so dusty and noisy outside the hotel, no local shops to go a wander to and a nightmare to cross the road to get to KFC which should have been 5 mins stroll away.

The room was large and spacious and we had Nile View and view of Pyramisa Hotel too.
Cannot fault the room in any way.
It was nice to hang out on the balcony and watch the traffic screech into the underpass just outside the hotel.

There was a swimming pool but they were doing maintenance work or something, there was no-one else lounging about the pool area where normally I would go to read my Lonely Planet guidebook for a half hour or so.
I had a massage at their health suite which was great.

On our last night we ate in the Casablanca hotel and watched the belly dancer (minimum charge per person, it was LE40 each 2 years ago) I was allowed to take photos and video tape this as we finished dinner and sipped cool drinks but after we had paid the bill I video taped her next dance routine and new costume, I was removed from the restaurant.
We had tipped big!

Overall, I would not stay there again. There must be better places to go to that offer better service.
If I were you, I would try the other Sheraton.

[This message has been edited by wise_woman (edited 27 May 2004).]


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kimo_the_maniac
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quote:
Originally posted by tomodachi202:
Last issue: As far as dressing goes, I am not trying to look american at all. I want to pick up some loose robes, or wear clothes that fit in with the culture there. I know it is possible that american there may wear "nike" or other name brand gear, but where in Cairo can I pick up some really nice shirts, pants, or even the one piece garments I see some folks there wearing on line?

Hi there, don't worry you'll have a great time here. Your race is absolutely no issue to most Egyptians so don't give it a second thought.

BUT, you are probably in for a bit of a surprise (maybe unpleasant) given your questions. Definitely, absolutely don't wear robes or capes or anything of the sort. Everyone around you will be wearing jeans and T-shirts, that doesn't make you American, it just makes you another guy which seems to be your aim. The only way you can look like a tourist is if you wear shorts, for some reason most of us think shorts are only for kids.

And yes singles can meet in Egypt and not in large groups despite what people here and abroad seem to think. When you come take a walk on the corniche and see for yourself the lovebirds doing their juvenile lovebirdying.


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strangelookingnegro
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Hotels - (for somewhat reasonable prices)

First Choice - Marriott
Second Choice - Nile Hilton
Third Choice - Cairo Sheraton
Fourth Choice - Gizera Sheraton

The Four Seasons and Hyatt would come before these probably, but they are pretty expensive.


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r'mond
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Hi again,

What about the Sheraton HEliopolis, any good experience?

Thanks,
Rmond


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Monica
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Excellent..........
For more info on Egypt check this: http://www.youregypt.com


quote:
Originally posted by r'mond:
Hi again,

What about the Sheraton HEliopolis, any good experience?

Thanks,
Rmond



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strangelookingnegro
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quote:
Originally posted by r'mond:
Hi again,

What about the Sheraton HEliopolis, any good experience?

Thanks,
Rmond


It's an ok hotel, beautiful lobby, but there is not a room in the hotel with a balcony which is kind of weird looking, especially on the side where the gardens are. It is kind of a waste of a perfectly good hotel.

The other disadvantage to it is that you are not near anything again, except for the airport. Taxis are possible to catch from the street, but difficult so that means there is no transport available except for the over priced hotel taxis.

It does have one of the best gyms and swimming pool set ups in Cairo though... and tennis courts.

The Gizera Sheraton (no pool) or the Cairo Sheraton would both be better bets for a tourist.


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