on October 5, 2008
The hotel grounds are still pristine and, upon entering the main building, I was pleasantly surprised by the new lobby. It is top notch and surpassed only by the friendliness and professionalism of the staff. I arrived sweaty and tired from Luxor (with stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way). Did I mention it was a little after high noon in August?? The staff was sympathetic and friendly, getting me checked in in record time. Upon arrival to my room, I mentioned that I would have liked to see more of the Nile, and in no time at all the front desk called to try to get me a better view. I was slightly embarassed by all the fuss. A little later the phone in my room stopped working and again, less than ten minutes after I called reception, two technicians were in my room with a spare phone and a line tester. I cannot praise the service enough. There is a clear distinction between this year and last's. It is clear that the Moevenpick did a complete overhaul here and is taking customer satisfaction very seriously. It is appreciated. Keep it up. Everyone I came into contact with offered impeccable service..and with a smile!
The rooms - Last year, my only complaint was that the rooms, though clean, were in need of refurbishing. This year, the warm Nubian decor welcomed me. I love the open plan bathroom, ultra modern bathroom fixtures and excellent water pressure in the shower. This is something you appreciate even more in August. The view from my balcony was magical. It was a partial garden/Nile view but I could lay on my bed and watch the Tombs of the Nobles lit up at night and even better, the feluccas sailing past in the morning. Words can't describe the feeling of waking up the sight of white sails gliding on the Nile with the tombs as a backdrop. I was transported. Speaking of laying in bed, the beds are extremely comfortable and the sheets and comforters soft and snuggalicious.
The food - The breakfast buffet is quite extensive and has something for everyone. From breads and pastries, to eggs, fruit,sausages, pancakes, local Egyptian dishes and hot cereals you will not leave hungry. It's served in the Orangerie, a clean-lined, modern restaurant.
Room service was flawless and the prices were quite reasonable. Delivery was timely, the food was excellent and the staff again were professional, courteous and couldn't do enough for you. While I loved the food, my favorite dish was a dessert called Omm Ali. It was my first time trying it and I was not disappointed!
The Tower - The tower is now open and tea is served there from 4-7pm at a cost of 50LE. There is also a happy hour from 9pm - 10:30pm where drinks are half price. Definitely go have a look, if only for the view of the Nile and Aswan city.
Safety - There is the guard out front, but more importantly I noticed the sprinklers in the rooms and the fire extinguishers on every floor (3 per floor).
Spa treatments are available. I didn't try them but they are very reasonably priced. The pool is also open.
On my day of departure, my flight didn't leave until midnight. Because there were a number of groups there at the time, with more arriving that day, reception couldn't help me too much with late check-out. Instead, they advised that I pay a day room rate of $30, which allowed me to stay till 6. They further extended this until 7:30pm. From there, I just went to dinner and did last minute shopping until my flight. Something to consider if you have a very late flight. It was an excellent solution and pretty cheap.
All in all, I had a FANTASTIC stay. Well done by the Moevenpick. The renovations were worth the wait. There is still some work going on on one end of the building but I was not affected by this. I could hear noise in the hallways but not once I closed my door. Once that work is completed, the the rooms facing Kitchener Island will be open for booking and the view from those rooms will be heaven on earth. Can't wait!
Tip: I was able to book this hotel for $60/night on cheaptickets.com both last year and this year while the hotel website was asking $120+. Prices on all websites seem to have risen sharply due to the completed refurb but be sure to keep checking online agencies for deals.
Beautiful gardens, stunning views of the Nile and the Tombs of the Nobles, GREAT service.
