Basma Hotel

We spent three nights here in late December 2006 and found the rooms satisfactory, if small, with lovely views. The food was quite good and not overpriced but it would get tedious for longer periods. Service not a problem. There can be problems with the plumbing - when our group of 16 all got up together, the water ran out completely. The location is good, just up the hill from the Old Cataract and opposite the excellent Nubian Museum. There is a shuttle bus into town.

Sadly the pool, which could be nice, was unheated and freezing despite warm sunny weather.

I would recommend the Basma as a useful place to stay if you can get a good price, but not as a resort hotel or destination in its own right.

We are old hands at Egypt - having been 8 times over the last 15 years. So we've seen most of the sites/tombs/temples etc. but wasted to see Abu Simbal (worth the wait). Two weeks at the Basma was just toooooo long. The meals were very much the same and the public rooms and bedrooms were gloomy. Also the pool was ICEY - The view from the roof terrace was simply MAGNIFICENT.

SO we packed and moved to The Isis on an island on the Nile. Just the job for a longish stay (some folks were there for 3 months) Food was VERY good, everywhere was clean and the staff most kind and helpful. Would love to go again.

This hotel was fine for a one night stay, but the rooms are not very comfortable and need to be remodeled. I would recommend, but not if you're looking for a luxurious stay.

What a brill hotel. Stayed 3 nights as part of a 3 week stay in Egypt and Jordan. Our room was at the end of the building with a balcony to die for. The hotel and rooms were really nice. The pool and service from the pool bar was 100% - nice big pool. The gardens around the hotel were well kept and the views over Aswan were FAB. Hotel staff 100% and could not be better. If you can take the trip to Abu Simbel and Philae Temple.Aswan town comes alive at night time and crossing the road is almost an impossible task. The people are friendly but the guys with the horse and carts can bother you a bit to take a ride with them.

Stayed in this hotel for 1 "short" night due to us travelling to Abu Simbel at 4:30am in the morning.

LOCATION: The hotel is located on a small hill pretty much opposit the Nubian musuem. Aswan is not exactly big, so although the hotel is not centrally located it is still just a short 5 mins max. stroll to the Corniche (main street on the Nile river).

Arrived early in the morning from the overnight sleeper train from Kairo - took a taxi for 20 egyptian pounds to the hotel (I'm sure its possible to get it cheaper, its just a short ride)

NOrmal check-in time would have been 12:00am - however due to our early arrival the reception staff was kind enough to allocate us our room much earlier at about 9:30am (without any surcharges!)

The room was spacious -seriously, me and my girlfriend have never slept in a bigger bed (I asked at arrival for a king sized bed and got it!)...really great bed! The view was towards the pool yet you could see the mountains, palm trees etc. in the background - nice! Only critique would be the bathroom (shower head was not perfect) - however that was just i minor thing for us.

As I mentioned we left very early for ABu Simbel - so we could not attend breakfast, however we received a breakfast take away box instead, nice!

Check out was smooth - plus we could leave our luggage until late afternoon locked in a secure area.

Really service was great with staff trying to accomodated all our (extra) wishes - and this all for a great price USD 75 in high season (xmas period)

Would definately stay in the hotel again!

Allocated room 530 on arrival which has a stunning view over the Nile, the cataracts and in the distance, the Agha Khan mausoleum, Kitchener Island and the start / end of the Western desert camel train track.

Pleasant and welcoming staff, and a perfect pool for cooling down. The hotel covers a considerable area with nice gardens and it is possible to miss some of the best bits by not going 'exploring'. There is a second small pool that nobody uses and yet is fully maintained way out on an extremity of the premises, and superb 360 degree views all over the Aswan and the Nile from the hotel roof. Tables and chairs are set out, so it is intended for use (take the lift to the 6th floor), however the low parapet would give our health and safety police a heart attack!

The a la carte restaurant is reasonably priced and good quality but if taking the local wine, stick to the red - the white has a resemblence to Harpic.

Only disappointment was the lack of fresh fruit at breakfast - apart from a bowl of diced apple and melon, localy grown bananas, peaches, plums, mangoes & figs all which were in season, were considered to be a chargable extra.

Unfortunately we only stayed here one night before joining our Nile Cruise, but that one night was great. The pool was fantastic which was good as we had four kids with us. Staff were very friendly. Ordered lunch from the Pool Bar, but they forgot one part of the order. What food did arrive was plentiful and very reasonable. Rooms were good size, as were bathrooms. Our room had a balcony overlooking the pool which was lovely. A must do if staying here is the Nubian Museum across the road which is fascinating.

Stayed at the Basma hotel last week in April 2006, lovely place but a little out of town, good views over town and the nile though from rooftop restaurant. Food good, rooms clean and tidy as was the lobby, pool area etc. Good security. Definitely recommended.

A must when you go to Aswan is the trip to Abu Simbel, its a 3 hour ride from town through the desert, they get you up at 4am, to join a "convey" at 4.30am, you get there 7.30am, stay about 3 hours then get back by lunchtime to snooze by the pool in the afternoon. Well worth the trip though and a fascinating place to visit as was the damn and its Russian tower. Very relaxing to take a fellucca ride from here - not too impressed with the nubian village though.